Today Lion Dairy & Drinks (LDD) in partnership with the Dairy Farmer Milk Cooperative (DFMC) held a centenary celebration to honor nine Far North Queensland (FNQ) farming families who have supplied milk to LDD’s Malanda Dairy Farmers brand for 100 years or more.
Representatives of the families attended a special centenary celebration at Malanda today, together with Cr Rosa Lee Long, Mayor of the Tablelands Regional Council, dairy industry leaders, LDD and DFMC representatives.
LDD Marketing Director Nicola Richardson said: “We’re proud that Dairy Farmers is the leading milk brand in Far North Queensland, made fresh everyday right here in Malanda – as it has been for decades. Today we’re delighted to be recognising the farming families who have made this possible by producing the best quality milk for generations. We share their commitment to the Malanda Dairy Farmers brand, the regional dairy industry, and to delivering great tasting dairy nutrition for all Far North Queensland families.”
DFMC Chairman, Duncan McInnes, said: “The DFMC has been in partnership with LDD for many years, and while times may have changed, we agree that success in the dairy business is still about hard work, a commitment to quality, building relationships and thinking long-term. These nine DFMC families have demonstrated these qualities for 100 years or more, and we’re very proud to recognise their achievements today.”
QLD Dairy farmer and 100 year awardee Greg English said: “My great grandfather James English started the dairy industry in Malanda in 1908, originally from Goonengerry, northeast of Sydney. He was impressed by the stories he had heard of the rich land in Far North Queensland so, they made the long journey north. The cattle were transported by boat from Brisbane to Cairns and supplied milk to the whole ship during the journey.
“Bronwyn and I took over the Malanda farm in November 2001, and our current herd still contains descendants of the original English Family herd that was brought up from Lismore. We currently milk 180 Illawarra and Holstein cows. We’re certainly very proud our milk helps to create quality products like Malanda Dairy Farmers.
“We have seven children so everyone in the family helps out. We are hopeful that the fifth-generation of the English family will carry on the family’s dairying tradition.”
Today’s ceremony also provided LDD the opportunity to give farmers a sneak preview of the new Dairy Farmers advertising campaign, which goes to air in Queensland on Sunday 25 October 2015.
The campaign has been designed to remind Australian’s why milk matters. Milk matters to our dairy farmers who dedicate their lives to it, to our manufacturing teams who ensure its produced to exacting standards, to our milk men and women who deliver it daily, to local shops who rely on it and to everyone who enjoys a soothing drop in their morning cuppa or a splash on their cereal.
Dairy Farmers knows that milk matters too much to under value it. Now we’re asking consumers to contemplate why it matters – not just to us, but to them too.
In this campaign, Dairy Farmers shows and shares its love for milk, before politely asking people to consider the importance of milk, next time they’re faced with a choice at the supermarket fridge.
Further Information
Elise Gare
External Relations Director
Lion Dairy & Drinks
Tel: +61 3 9188 6177
Mob: +61 437 306 437
E-mail:elise.gare@lionco.com
Michelle Eynon
External Relations Manager
Lion Dairy & Drinks
Tel: +61 3 9188 8633
Mob: +61 423 290 808
E-mail: michelle.eynon@lionco.com
NOTES TO EDITORS
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FNQ DAIRY FARMS SUPPLYING THE DAIRY FARMERS BRAND
Farmer | John Bevan from Ravenshoe |
Herd Annual output History
| 200 cows 1.3 million litres John’s family began running the farm in 1910, he is a fourth generation farmer and his son Henry now the fifth generation manages the farm. |
Farmer Herd Annual output History | Cherie Davis from Millaa Millaa 150 – 200 cows 250,000 litres Cherie and Ricky are fourth generation farmers, with 105 years dairying combined on the one farm. They purchased their first cows from the Soley family in Malanda.
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Farmer Herd Annual output History
Farmers Herd Annual output History
Farmers Herd Annual output History
Farmer Herd Annual output History
Farmer Herd Annual output History
Farmer Herd Annual output History
Farmer Herd Annual output History | Lex Emerson from Jaggan 125 cows 610,000 litres The Emerson family has been farming in Jaggan since 1908, when they over landed 1,000 head of cattle from Lismore to Malanda. They got as far as Mt Garnett and unfortunately lost 500 head of cattle to tick fever. Today Lex and her son Wayne a fourth generation, work on the farm.
Greg and Bronwyn English from Malanda 150 – 180 cows 970,000 litres The English family literally started the dairy industry in Malanda, they shipped their original cattle up to Malanda from Goonengerry, northeast of Sydney in 1908. Their current herd contains descendants of the original English Family herd that was brought up from Lismore. Greg is a fourth generation farmer and has seven children who love helping him out on the farm.
Peter and Veronica English from Malanda 125 cows 1.13 million litres Relations of the originally English family who began dairying in Malanda in 1908, Dennis, Peter and Veronica’s son, is a fourth generation farmer. Peter’s father was a major businessman in the town, owning the pub, the supermarket, toyshop and the dairy farm.
Tom Hamilton from Jaggan 60 cows 305,000 litres Tom and his brother Rob are third generation farmers.
Bob Kelso from Evelyn Central 230 cows 1.65 million litres Bob and his brother Jim are third generation dairy farmers. The Kelso family took up the property in 1914.
Max Neal from Butchers Creek 100 cows 235,000 Max’s grandfather selected the home farm when he was 21. He had horse and bullock teams that carted timber to Peeramon mill for the Butchers Creek Hall. Max’s son is the fourth generation working on the farm.
Steve Soley 210 cows 1.15 million litres The Soley family drew the farm in the early 1900’s. They needed to clear 11 acres per year to retain the land. Steve is the fourth generation to manage the family farm.
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ABOUT LION
Lion is a leading beverage and food company with a portfolio that includes many of our region’s favourite brands.
We employ more than 7,000 people across Australia and New Zealand predominantly and take great pride in our local manufacturing footprint, which spans 35 sites – including dairy farms, milk, cheese, yoghurt and juice sites, large breweries, craft breweries, wineries, distilleries, as well as venues and over 40 Liquor King retail outlets in New Zealand.
Lion is a company focused on long-term, sustainable growth. We have a clear ten-year strategy to transform our dairy and juice businesses and champion the nutritional credentials of our portfolio, reinvigorate our beer markets and contribute to vibrant and responsible drinking cultures and build our presence in high-value categories in targeted Asian markets. To achieve this we invest in our core strategic assets – our people, brands, production facilities and supply chain.