Graeme Stoney, Dalene Wray, Colin Bell: Aussie Ag’s Australia Day award winners
11 people across Australian ag have been recognised in this year’s Australia Day honours, including a prominent Victorian cattleman. See the list.
A prominent High Country cattleman has been honoured in this year’s Australia Day Awards alongside 10 others from Australia’s agricultural and agribusiness sectors.
With life memberships to four different clubs and more than 14 years served in the Victorian parliament, Graeme Stoney has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his significant service to the community and to the parliament of Victoria.
The former Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria president said he was surprised when he was told he received the honour.
“I didn’t know what to think. It had never occurred to me that I could receive such a thing,” he said.
“I have been part of many different rural groups for a long time and served in some positions of power and been in the right place at the time for some of the things we have achieved.”
Mr Stoney’s list of achievements is extensive including time as the Liberal member for Central Highlands, Victorian Legislative Council (1992-2006), president of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria (2018-2019), VicForests board member (2011-2017) and Mansfield Historical Society president (2007-2010).
He is also a life member of the Mansfield Autistic Centre, Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria, Victorian Tourism Industry Association and Mansfield Historical Society.
Mr Stoney said volunteering was a major part of his life, encouraging other rural Australians to do the same.
“It is very rewarding. Whether it is at the historical society, the school or with the fire brigade, rural communities rely on volunteers,” he said.
Mr Stoney has also spent the majority of his life as an activist and lobbyist for alpine grazing.
“For most of my time I have been fighting for alpine grazing, which has been a very big issue in the High Country for 50-60 years,” he said.
“I have been very involved since I was 18 when I became a member of the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria.”
AGRICULTURE AND AGRIBUSINESS AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS 2023
Officer of the order of Australia (AO)
DR MICHELE ALLAN, ARMADALE VIC
Serving as the Apple and Pear Australia Limited chair since 2015 and Meat and Livestock Australia chair between 2011-2019, Dr Allan has been recognised for distinguished service to the agricultural, food production and business sectors, and to tertiary education.
DR JOHN CRAVEN, MIDDLE PARK VIC
With a career that has included time as the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority director (2011-2016) and Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Victoria regional manager (1986-1989), Dr Craven has been recognised for distinguished service to food biosecurity and environmental safety, to veterinary science research, and to the dairy industry.
Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
DR JOHN ANGUS, GIRALANG ACT
Through work with the Australian Society of Agronomy and the CSIRO, Dr Angus has dedicated his life to agricultural research and study. His significant service to the agricultural sector through research roles, and to education has been recognised.
DR THERESA CRAIG, MALENY QLD
In a career spanning more than 40 years from a consulting nutritionist with Elders to a stint as the LNP Women president (2014-2017), Dr Craig has received an AM for her significant service to politics, and to the agriculture industry.
Ms Wray has worked as a prominent player in the organic beef industry while also serving various professional organisations including Queensland’s Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment and the Australian Meat Industry Council. In 2003 Ms Wray joined OBE Organics as a business development manager before climbing to managing director by 2017.
Ms Sefton has been a pioneer in many agribusiness ventures including roles as Graziers’ Investment Company foundation director and Nangandie Pastoral Company co-owner, for which she has been awarded an AM for significant service to agribusiness, and to the community in a range of roles.
GRAEME STONEY, MANSFIELD VIC
A 14-year stint in the parliament of Victoria and a lifetime of High Country volunteering are why Mr Stoney has received an AM in the 2023 Australia Day Awards.
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Mr Bell was posthumously honoured with an OAM for his services to the financial services sector.
He was the co-founder, chairman and chief executive officer at Australian Food and Agriculture Limited from 1993-2021 and was a non-executive board member of the Australian Wool Innovation during the 2010s.
DR PHILIP HOLMES, HUSKISSON NSW
Holmes and Company principal and University of Sydney Faculty of Agriculture past Honorary Fellow Dr Philip Holmes has been awarded an OAM for service to the livestock industry. Since 2018 he is also an adjunct professor, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England Armidale.
JAMES WILSON, CAMPERDOWN VIC
Camperdown’s James Wilson was also posthumously honoured with an OAM for a lifetime of community service across groups including the Camperdown and District Historical Society, Angus Cattle Society of Australia, Camperdown Pastoral and Agricultural Society and Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria.
GRAEME STEVENSON, SOMERSET TAS
Mr Stevenson’s devotion to conservation and the environment through his writing and researching while with the Tasmanian Department of Agriculture as a senior research officer have been recognised this year. He is also a life member of the Wynyard Landcare and is a former independent agricultural consultant.
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