Great South West Dairy Awards 2024: Kim and Greg Wilson, Rachael McGrath honoured

Six of the best dairy operators in southwest Victoria have been honoured in a sold-out Warrnambool award night. See the winners.

Rachael McGrath pictured on her Orford farm in 2019. Picture: Dannika Bonser

Colac region farmers Greg and Kim Wilson have taken out top honours at the 2024 Great South West Dairy Awards.

More than 200 people attended the Warrnambool event on Thursday night with the Wilsons, based at Irrewillipe near Colac, winning the Dairy Farm Business Management Award.

Judges praised the Wilsons for their “exemplary integration of drive, knowledge and capital to achieve solid business returns.”

“The hands-on approach, which sees them close to the operations of the farm every day, is complemented by a big picture and long-term view of where they want to be,” they said.

“Also impressive is their awareness of things that present risks to their business and the strategies put in place to mitigate these.”

Minhamite’s Harold Benzon was runner up in the business management category.

Orford’s Rachael McGrath received the Young Dairy Leader Award, with Kirkstall’s Chloe Brown winning the runner up prize.

Judges said examples of Ms McGrath’s commitment were her involvement in the Dairy Australia Dairy Ambassador Program, Western District Jersey Breeders Club and WestVic Dairy Young Dairy Leadership Team.

“Rachael’s accomplishments serve as a testament to her dedication and hard work in the dairy industry. Her willingness to promote dairy in a positive light is truly commendable and makes her very deserving of this award,” the judging panel said.

Kerry-Leigh Hume was honoured with the Employee Award for her work at the Aurora Daires Glenfyne farm, where she is second in charge.

Runner up for the Employee Award was Gregor Mews, who farms at Southern Cross.

Maher Refrigeration and Electrical director Eamon Maher won the Service Provider Award. Based in Naringal East, the business specialise in dairy construction and upgrades.

The Harris family from Larpent received the Natural Resource Management and Sustainability Award with the Aurora Dairies Poorinda team winning the runner-up prize.

On the farm, Alistair Harris has installed solar pumps, established native shelterbelts, and used effluent water for irrigation and yard wash.