Rob retires from Rural Services

But last month the well-respected member of the Royal Agricultural &Horticultural Society of SA’s Rural Services team retired. 

He says “time has flown by” with his role including  administering breed societies, to organising shows and sales and livestock registrations, liaising with sponsors, promotional activities, finance and insurance.

Over the years he has built a strong rapport with SA’s stud stock fraternity, and earned great respect among them with his industry knowledge and attention to detail.

He has been made a life member of two breed societies the Australian White Suffolk Association in 2010, and the Australian Dohne Breeders Association last year.

Rob worked on the family property at Parawa until 1986 when he moved his family to Adelaide.

In his first six months in the city he had various jobs from working at a nursery to the Farmer & Stockowner buying service in Gilbert St.

A discussion with a RA&HS council member concerning a vacancy in the RA&HS stud stock office would seal his future.

“Being from a fifth generation farming background I realised I needed to again become involved with an activity to do with agriculture and livestock,” he said.

“I can still remember driving through the Kidman gates (as they are now known) on my way to have an interview with Gary Campbell who was the director at the time. On arrival at the gates I asked where I could find Gary’s office to which he replied he was Gary Campbell.” 

“I expected the society would be interviewing quite a number of candidates but at the conclusion of the interview I was informed that I had the job.”

The Stud Stock Department (later changed to Rural Services) has steadily grown business since his first day in February 1987, in addition with staff numbers doubling in size.

The Rural Services now provide administration support to around 25 associations and societies including SA Beef, the Ag Societies Council of SA and the SA Grains Industry Trust in addition to the core livestock groups.

“The majority of Royals have shut down or reduced their involvement with breed societies whereas we have maintained our involvement.  We believe it is a good front line to the livestock stud industry in Australia for the society and are proud to be able to offer a professional secretarial service.”

Rob managed the Rural Services department for 19 years until 2006. Following this he spent the final nine years of his working life as a senior livestock advisor.

There have been many highlights but particularly rewarding for Rob has been Rural Services’ involvement in the rise of two popular sheep breeds - the White Suffolks and Dorpers - from their infancy. 

“We became involved when the White Suffolks had 22 members from almost day 1. This involvement has been a really interesting journey, this association is now managed by Nikki Ward.”

“We were there when the clean skin breeds commenced and with the Dorpers developing to 700-800 members before that contract ceased,” he said.

He has witnessed enormous genetic gain in the terminal sire sheep and cattle breeds, which he puts down to many progressive breeders embracing performance recording as an assistance selection tool.

“These gains are evident in the show ring, in sales and in the type of quality carcases being produced nowadays.”

Rob believes the competition between the Poll Dorset and White Suffolk breeds and others has had a positive impact on the lamb industry.

“The industry itself has become very professional with its marketing. Producers are being more specific with their production programs for the purpose of turning lambs off far more quickly,” he said.

The SA Beef Field Days remains an important fixture on the beef calendar despite the five-day program contracting to four days. 

Rob says the quality of SA stud cattle remains “second to none” despite the loss of many studs in the Mid North, Yorke Peninsula and even the Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula. There has also been a mass migration of studs to the South East. 

“The field days are a brilliant mechanism for cattle breeders to display and offer cattle for sale, especially those breeders who have smaller numbers who can’t conduct their own auction sales.”

Over the years Rob has enjoyed his involvement with SA country shows and says it has been interesting to watch how they have each handled “generational change”.

The Rural Ambassador competition celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the State Young Judges competition have been great initiatives encouraging the next generation to participate in shows and the livestock industry.

Rob is certain Rural Services has a bright future especially with the addition of a new online membership registration system and a dynamic, capable team led by manager Malcolm Buckby.

“I’ve enjoyed meeting country clients and developing my knowledge of the livestock breeds and activities surrounding those breeds.”

“I never expected to move from farming to working in an office but I’ve really enjoyed it and will miss the great people I have worked with and the client friendships I have developed over the years.”

Daryl Schaefer who took up a role with Rural Services last May has taken on Rob’s clients.