Ashgrove Farms founder John Bennett remembered

A man who took Tasmanian dairy farmers from “the worst paid in the world” to international acclaim has been remembered as a “humble and gracious” leader after his passing.

John Bennett.

Tasmania is in mourning after the passing of one of the founders of the state’s most recognisable brands, who was also a loved husband, father and grandfather.

Ashgrove Farms announced on Tuesday morning co-founder John Bennett AM had passed away.

Mr Bennett was born on Eddington farm in 1939 and grew up on the fertile farming plains of Northern Tasmania.

He received a P&O Young Farmer Scholarship to study agriculture in the United Kingdom in 1961.

“The experience ignited his drive to innovate and lead change both at home on the farm and in the Australian Dairy Industry during the extremely challenging times for Tasmanian dairy farmers in the 1970s,” Ashgrove Farms said in a statement.

“John was strongly committed to dairy research and helping dairy farmers and manufacturers to better compete, grow and stay relevant in the ever-changing market.”

John Bennett.

Mr Bennett was president of the Australian Dairy Farmers Federation from 1976-1985 and deputy chair of the Australian Dairy Corporation from 1981-1986.

In 1991, Mr Bennett was awarded Member Order of Australia for his services to the Australian dairy industry.

“John was instrumental in shaping the modern Australian dairy industry through the reforms that were implemented to the sector’s marketing system in the 1980s,” Ashgrove Farms said of Mr Bennett’s impact.

“Until 1983, the dairy industry operated under a marketing system developed in the 1930s, which was antiquated and needed change.

“Under John’s leadership, the dairy industry remained united and successfully negotiated essential reforms to the industry’s structure.”

Mr Bennett’s idea for on-farm dairy processing was launched in the late 1980s and arose from his experience in the UK, where he observed cheese manufacturing on family farms.

It was the birth of Ashgrove Farms and Ashgrove Cheese, which he founded with his brother, Michael.

John Bennett with wife his Connie and grandchildren Jess, Angus, William and Emily.

John Bennett with wife his Connie and grandchildren Jess, Angus, William and Emily.

“At the time unemployment in North West Tasmania was high,” Mr Bennett said before his passing.

“Tasmanian Dairy farmers were the worst paid in the world, and five generations of the Bennett families were proudly in gumboots and were going nowhere.”

Outside of farming, Mr Bennett shared a 58-year marriage with his wife, Connie.

Together they had children Susan, Mary, Paul and Anne before becoming proud grandparents.

“He meant everything to us; love, stability and security,” Anne said.

“Dad was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He was humble and a quiet achiever known for his graciousness to others.

“He was a man of action who stayed focused on goals, whether building a dairy or a cheese factory, or projects with his grandchildren or representing Tasmanian on the national and international stage.”

Originally published as Ashgrove Farms founder John Bennett remembered