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Welcome to the first edition of WG. An annual magazine to showcase and give some insight into Wattle Grove Speckle Park. Wattle Grove Speckle Park was established in 2008 at "Wattle Grove" Oberon NSW. It is a family-run business with all of us (there are six) using our strengths and managing our weaknesses for the greater good. Dale is the visionary with our cattle. He has an amazing talent for combining the right Sire and Dam to create the cattle we like to breed and sell. He loves his cattle, he loves his kids and he loves what he does. We have four children and 250 head of Purebred Speckle Park. They are run across lease properties in Queensland and New South Wales with Oberon, NSW being our home. My intention for 2018 was to find ways to increase creativity and inspiration for myself in the family business. The endless hours of MYOB, hair samples, registrations and compliance paperwork although very necessary can be soul destroying or at the very least mind-numbing. After a few years of finding the creativity whilst working off farm it has been exciting to find that Stud cattle is all about creativity. We have the freedom to make it what we want. Everything you come across as part of Wattle Grove Speckle Park has our thought and creativity behind it and I am excited to bring you this magazine as my first foray into publishing. This magazine is a peak into our lives and the passion we have for Great Cattle, Great People and Good Times. Thank you for taking the time to read it. Cheers Bin
A building job in 2008 was the beginning of our journey with Speckle Park. Back in 2008 Dale was a builder. We were running a very successful construction company in our home town of Oberon, New South Wales along with a commercial cattle herd. A house renovation came up in the nearby town of Portland. It was on this job that Dale first spotted Speckle Park in the paddock. It was love at first sight. He came home that day with a vision. A vision to create his own legacy with a breed that was new to Australia yet ticked all the boxes of what Australian cattlemen were looking for. I still remember our first outing to Sydney Royal Easter Show in 2010. We had one bull Wattle Grove 2H Eclipse E7 and one heifer Wattle Grove 2H Luna E1. I was visiting my parents for Easter and Dale was at the show. I had a phone call at about nine at night from a slightly inebriated Dale who was so proud that he had cattle in the show ring. Luna was 3rd in her class. The Humphries' name has a long history in the show ring at Sydney with Dale's Grandfather Dolf and Father Martin both heavily involved in Poll Dorset and prime lambs. I could hear the connection with his heritage in Dale's voice. He was "Peacock Proud". Looking back now starting our Speckle Park herd was a gamble. This new "pretty" breed was entirely untested in Australian conditions. The decision was based on gut instinct, followed by solid research and a belief in the cattle. We were committed from the very beginning and still are. We see the future in the breed and we see the future in our kids.
This is not a how to. I am still figuring it out.
It is Easter Sunday morning as I am writing this. Dale is away in Canada for the spring sales and the kids and I are enjoying a long weekend after 10 huge days at Sydney Royal. I am weary after being kept up by an anxious 8 year old and then waking up too early to complete Easter Bunny duties. I look through the filthy bedroom window, and see the weaner bulls wandering past. Everywhere I look there is work to be done. Balancing the joys of stud cattle and a large family is honestly not something I ever thought I would have to try let alone master, yet here I am. I do get asked "How do you do it?" often enough to wonder if it is something special I am doing. The answer I come up with is a resounding no and at the same time a little quiet voice that says yes. It is special because of it's uniqueness. Having been in construction for 10 years prior to starting our stud, I know what it is to be a work widow. Construction does not allow for family involvement apart from book keeping. And despite having babies with me in the office and having the flexibility to work around kid schedules it in no way compares to the involvement our children now have in our family business.
Balancing the time between family and cattle is definitely becoming easier as the kids are getting older. They can now be involved in a hands on way and we make full use of them during sale and show time. In fact I'm not sure we could do what we do without having made the early investment in four children. The benefits that I see the kids getting from being involved in the cattle industry are so immense. The confidence, resilience, teamwork and respect that they gain from working with a team and with cattle is fantastic. Being surrounded by people that are passionate about their industry and simply love what they do is a wonderful way to learn to follow your dreams and do what you love. The kids come with their own views, personalities and challenges and as the Mum it is my job to absorb all of those differing views and maintain a peaceful, nurturing environment. An environment where all special interests are researched and catered for, where all ages and stages are allowed. So we play Netball, Rugby and Soccer in winter, Cricket and Swimming in Summer. We attend school functions, we fundraise and are involved in our wider community. We join the school cattle team and band, we attend youth days and shows, and sometimes we have to choose one thing over another. Although there are days when finding the balance between kids and cattle seems totally out of reach, the pros absolutely out-way the cons. We are a team, each with our strengths and weaknesses. We balance each other and we believe in what we are doing together. When it works it is great and when it doesn't there is wine.
A dam to be build a herd on. A dam to be build a herd on.
photo of e2 photo of e2
Star Dust came to us as a weaner calf in early 2010. It was very obvious from the beginning that she would be an integral part of our herd. After a Star Dust us as a weaner calf in early 2010. It was very short stintcame in thetoshowteam she became our first donor cow. Andobvious the rest from the beginning that she be an integral partshe of our herd. as they say, is history. Withwould 44 registered progeny is one theAfter mosta short stint in the showteam she cows became our first donor cow. And prolific Speckle Park breeding in Australia. Consistency is the her rest as they say, is history. registeredcorrect, progenyperfect she isfeet. one She the most greatest asset. Long, With deep,44 structurally has bred prolific Park cows in and Australia. Consistency is her her strongSpeckle and true. Herbreeding sons, daughters granddaughters continue greatest legacy. asset. Long, deep, structurally correct, perfect feet. She has bred strong and true. Her sons, daughters and granddaughters continue her legacy.
The Sales and the Shows
Everything looks better with a WG
WATTLE GROVE KEY RING - $20
WATTLE GROVE BUCKLE - $50
WATTLE GROVE FLEXFIT BLACK CAP (ALSO AVAILABLE IN RED OR PINK) - $30
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