MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 2 October 2008
Rewarding excellence in agriculture
South Australia’s most experienced industry stalwarts will be recognised by the Agricultural Bureau of South Australia at its ‘Spirit of Excellence in Agriculture Awards’ on 14 October.
Those nominated for their outstanding services to the state’s agriculture sector are Bill Murdoch from Karoonda, Lindsay Dowley from Loxton, Graham Hein from Willaston and Colin Lienert from Shea Oak Log.
Hosted by Advisory Board of Agriculture Chair, Mark Dennis, the awards will also celebrate the 120th anniversary of the Bureau and the presentation of the Services to Primary Production Award and the Peter Olsen Fellowship for Young Farmers.
Mr Dennis says the Services to Primary Production Award recognises exceptional service to primary production, and nominees were chosen by Agricultural Bureau Branches from across the state.
“Our four nominees this year are definitely outstanding recipients and all worthy of the award. I think it will be a hard decision,” he said.
The other top award to be presented will be the Peter Olsen Fellowship for Young Farmers.
Mr Dennis says this will be awarded to a young farmer aged 18-35 years of age, with innovative, positive ideas to improve primary production in this state.
“The winner will be presented with $7000 to use towards a special project, which will ultimately benefit industry,” he said.
“Past winners have used the funding towards advancing a beekeeping business, upgrading production at a boutique winery, investigating precision agriculture and studying artificial insemination.”
Last year’s winner, Steven Newman, a Gumeracha horticulturalist and production manager of his family’s business Hills Fresh, will present his findings on his soil moisture and salinity project at the awards.
BACKGROUND
Services to Primary Production Award Nominees
Bill Murdoch, 76, Karoonda
Bill was nominated by the Karoonda and Districts Bureau Branch of which he is a life member. A member of the first committee of the Karoonda Sheep Fair, Bill helped develop it into the Farm Fair it is now known today. He served as Chairman of the Farm Fair for 10 years and is still actively involved as the yard dog convenor. He is also involved in local grain silo work and a local sheep stud. Bill has also been awarded Life Membership of the SA Farmers Federation for his commitment to agriculture and community from the 1950s to the mid 1990s.
Lindsay Dowley, 60, Loxton
Lindsay was nominated by the Loxton Irrigation Bureau Branch of which he has been a member since 1972. He has served on the Riverland Vine Improvement Committee since 1976 and is now chairman. Lindsay has also been actively involved in the Loxton Irrigation Trust, and after 10 years of lobbying is now seeing the rehabilitation of the Loxton irrigation area complete. He is now Presiding Officer of the Trust, as well as Director of the Central Irrigation Trust, which manages and runs the Loxton Irrigation Trust. Lindsay was secretary of the Riverland Gadget Days (a forerunner to the Field Days) and a catalyst in making the event grow to what it is today.
Graham Hein, 67, Willaston
Graham was nominated by the Freeling Agricultural Bureau for his lifetime of dedication and expertise in seed multiplication and seed processing. Over the years he has worked at shearing and grain lumping, and built additional expertise in mechanics. Graham has been a technician at Roseworthy Agricultural College, a Pest Plants Officer with Adelaide Plains Pest Plant Control Board, and eventually a joint venture partner with crop seed processing plant DR & JM Verner, a position he held for 17 years until retirement. He is also in high demand as a judge for crop competitions, shearing competitions and demonstrates the old art of blade shearing, of which he is an expert. He is still a very active member and supporter of the Crop Science Society of SA, and involved in the Gawler Corporation Council and Gawler Show Society.
Colin Lienert, 81, Shea Oak Log
Colin was nominated by the Freeling Bureau Branch for his contribution to the Stud Pig Industry and services to the Freeling Agricultural Bureau and the community. Colin and his wife Joy established the world renowned Lynjoleen Berkshire Stud in 1955 at Shea Oak Log and at 81 years of age still farms. Dedicated to promoting the Berkshire breed of pig, he has exhibited Berkshire pigs at the Royal Adelaide Show for 51 continuous years, winning most successful pig exhibitor in 2007. He is also involved in the Gawler Two Day Show and CFS. A member of the Freeling Ag Bureau for 51 years (holding office bearer positions), Colin was awarded life membership in 1995. In 2008 he won three Freeling Ag Bureau crop competitions and has been crop judge for the Murray Plains and Rosedale crop competitions.
