Tributes for Gold Coast-based prawn farming pioneer, dead at age 80
Tributes are flowing for the Gold Coast businessman who founded Australia’s prawn farming industry. He’s being remembered for his tenacious spirit and leaves behind a profound legacy. READ THE TRIBUTES
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TRIBUTES are flowing for the Gold Coast man who founded Australia’s prawn farming industry.
Noel Herbst is being hailed for his tenacious spirit and significant influence on the agriculture sector following his death on Friday, three weeks after his 80th birthday. He had suffered a long illness.
Mr Herbst is survived by his children Debbie and Darrell, who both worked in the industry.
Long-time friend Nick Moore first met Mr Herbst in 1987 and described him as a “true pioneer”.
“The industry has been full of larger-than-life figures but none could claim the same influence Noel had in his lifetime,” Mr Moore said.
“He was a very generous man with his knowledge and there isn’t a prawn farmer in Australia who hasn’t been to his farm at least once.
“He stayed with the old ways and traditions of farming but what he did was grow prawns with a focus on quality rather than quantity and that set him aside from the more corporate farmers.”
Mr Herbst’s family had been farming the northern Gold Coast for more than a century.
He began his career as a cattle and cane farmer and moved into prawn farming in 1986 when he founded Gold Coast Marine Aquaculture.
The Australian Prawn Farmers Association said in a statement that Mr Herbst left behind a profound legacy.
“He opened his mind, his heart and his farm, to all those that wanted to learn or know anything about prawn farming,” the statement read.
“And he never gave up when faced with adversity including the white spot incursion.
“He was a true pioneer of Australian prawn farmers and the industry has lost a great man who will always be remembered.”
The funeral will be held on Friday at Bethania Lutheran Church in Logan.
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