Great South West Dairy Awards 2024 finalists revealed

A youthful focus on making money from milk will be celebrated this month at the Great South West Dairy Awards. Here’s the finalists.

Irrewillipe dairy farmers Greg and Kim Wilson run Oakhampton Dairies milking 1100 cows on 1000ha. Pictured with their children Ella, 7,Henry, 4 and Lenny, 3. Pictures: Nicole Cleary

More than a dozen dairy dynamos have been short-listed for the Great South West Dairy Awards, with the winners set to be announced this month.

Fifteen entrants across five categories will be announced at the Warrnambool event on May 16 with Chloe Brown (Kirkstall), Rachael McGrath (Orford) and Gregor Mews (Southern Cross) all nominated for the Young Leader category.

Irrewillipe dairy farmers Greg and Kim Wilson run Oakhampton Dairies milking 1100 cows on 1000ha. Pictured with their children Ella, 7,Henry, 4 and Lenny, 3. Pictures: Nicole Cleary

Irrewillipe’s Greg and Kim Wilson are in the running for the Dairy Farm Business Manager category alongside Minhamite’s Harold Benzon and Glenfyne’s Dave Stewart

The southwest Victorian sharefarmers have built a thriving dairy operation from the ground up, starting with 700 cows and three staff in October 2018.

Ms Wilson said in less than six years they’ve grown the herd, boosted productivity and profitability.

Their Oakhampton Dairies business now employs 11 full-time workers milking 1100 cows, which graze 1000ha and supply more than 700,000kg of milk solids a year to Coles.

“There are so many great stories and experiences in the dairy industry and we’re happy to share ours. I think it’s important to promote all the opportunities there are in dairy,” Mrs Wilson said.

“We started in October 2018 and really hit the ground running. There’s been so many changes in that time, obviously property prices have risen, cattle prices are higher. It’s been a time of a lot of change.”

WestVic Dairy chairman Brendan Rea said the awards were a great way to celebrate the achievements of the region’s dairy sector.

“With 2024 marking the 16th year of running the Awards, we’re proud to continue our tradition ofrecognising the hard work and dedication of our region’s dairy farmers,” he said.

Other categories include the Natural Resource Management and Sustainability Award with Alistair Harris and Caitlin Sauro (Larpent); Aurora Dairies Welbourne (Simpson) and Aurora Dairies Poorinda (Cooriemungle) short-listed.

In the Employee Award, Romar Grolleman (Mepunga), Kerry-Leigh Hume (Glenfyne) and Gregor Mews (Southern Cross) are in the running.

In the Service Provider Award category, Harold Hanlon (Colac), Eamon Maher (Naringal East) and Lisette Mill (Laang) are in the final three.

The winners of each awards category will be announced at the awards evening on Thursday 16 at Warrnambool’s City Memorial Bowls Club.