GOLDFIELDS NULLARBOR RANGELANDS BIOSECURITY ASSOCIATION
YOUNG PASTORAL ACHIEVERS AWARD
Goldfields Nullarbor Rangelands Biosecurity Association and Munda Reds Droughtmasters is proud to announce the:
Young Pastoral Achievers Award
Sponsored by Michael Thompson of Munda Reds Droughtmasters
This award is prompted by the inclusion of Young Leaders and Future in Agriculture topics
Selection Criteria:
- Nominee is 35 years or under
- Is currently working within the Pastoral Industry or associated industry servicing the GNRBA region (eg veterinary, livestock, research, administrative)
- Can demonstrate a sound understanding and connection with the Goldfields Nullarbor Pastoral Industry.
- Currently project their expertise back into the region either as a pastoralist or associated industry.
Eligible persons will demonstrate work ethics, ambition, decision making and dedication to promote their industry.
Candidate Nominations:
Candidate Nomination can be made by any member of the GNRBA or persons associated with the group, staff, sponsors, or interested persons. Nominations are to be in the form of an email to admin@gnrba.com.au outlining the following:
- A description of whom the person is and where they originate within the GNRBA area
- Their current role, study or association with pastoralists in the Goldfields Nullarbor region
- Why they are nominated for the Award
GNRBA CEO, GNRBA CoM and one independent person will review the applications and make the final decision of the recipient. The winner will be announced at the GNRBA AGM and Field Days Dinner.
Award Entitlements:
The candidate will be, once selected, the recipient of a $1000 bursary. This is to be used to further their pastoral training, experience, travel, attendance at Field Days, whatever is required to continue supporting their connection with Goldfields Nullarbor pastoral industry.The recipient will be on receival, how they will use the award to develop their ideas for young people in the pastoral industry of the Goldfields Nullarbor.
Award Acquittal:
The Award Recipient is required to report on how this award inspired them during the year. They will be asked to be present at the AGM. Additionally, the recipient will respond directly to Michael Thompson at Munda Reds with appreciation for the sponsorship to enable the inception of this Young Pastoral Achiever Award.
Award Winner 2024: Duncan Campbell
Duncan was born and raised at Mundrabilla Station on the Eyre Highway and studied School of the Air until he went away for high school and attended Mazenod College (Western Australia) 2013 – 2016. Then, WA College of Agriculture – Narrogin.
He worked at KD Rural which is a family run contract mustering / fencing business. They are based on Broadmere Station, located 500km from Katherine in the NT.
Duncan has been an ambassador for the Nullarbor and regarded highly in industry with skills from truck driving, cattle work, tourism, fencing contracts, overseeing staff, mechanical, machinery operation, all areas of a pastoral station operation and a sound understanding of the markets, futures, livestock production and pastoral operations.
Duncan would be a sound candidate for the award with potential to represent GNRBA at events and field days. It would be interesting to see where this young man takes his career in the industry and the benefits he can bring to the recognition of the Nullarbor Pastoral Industry. Duncan is well recognised and would be an inspiration to other young people embarking on a career in the pastoral industry.
Award Winner 2023: Nicholas Forrester
Nicholas moved to the Kanandah with his family when he was four years old and as a consequence is a natural stockman with a strong connection to the Nullarbor.
Working in the family business is not always easy and Nicholas has had big boots to fill coming up behind his older brothers and sister. In the past year Nicholas has stepped out of the shadow of his siblings and shown himself to be a superior stockman, intelligent trouble shooter and handy bush mechanic. He always has the best interests of the animals at heart and is a level headed and calculated manager. He does his best to accommodate the needs of his employees and is happy to teach those keen to learn.
He is also keen to learn new ways of doing things himself and is constantly striving to up skill. In his early twenties Nicholas travelled to Canada to immerse himself in their cattle industry and was able to bring new knowledge and ideas back with him. His time oversees also gave him an appreciation of the many varied ways in which cattle could be run and saw him return as a more mature and innovative young man.
Nicholas is currently studying for his private pilot’s licence, recognising that the lack of available staff and vast distances needed to travel out here mean that pastoralists need to be able to be everywhere at once and what better way then being able to fly there.
He is a quiet achiever who deserves to have his hard work and commitment to the well being of the land and his livestock recognised. Nicholas isn’t just an assistant manager on a family run station, he is an inspiring leader of the next generation.
Award Winner 2022: Matilda McQuie
Matilda McQuie was born at Madura Plains where her parents, Dougal and Ange, were managers. She was brought up on Pastoral properties on the Nullarbor, in the north west of SA and in the Goldfields until her parents moved into Kalgoorlie to run Goldfields Air Services when she was about 10.
Matilda first came to Rawlinna for work experience when she was 16. In the December after completing year 12 (2019) she moved out to Rawlinna to work fulltime as a Jillaroo. In the 18 months she worked for us she went from a level one junior Jillaroo to a level 4 head Jillaroo.
Matilda excelled at both stock-work and infrastructure work at Rawlinna as well as having a keen interest in the operational organisation and management of a large sheep station. She was always willing to have a go at new tasks and showed an excellent work ethic. She was always happy to go above and beyond what was asked of her and never skirted the tough jobs. She had cultivated strong leadership skills and was more than capable of running a number of people well, often including older staff with more years in the industry.
Matilda left Rawlinna in mid 2021 to gain experience at Madura Plains operated by the Cooper family. She returned to Rawlinna in early 2022 for shearing. After completing shearing she moved back into Kalgoorlie to complete her pilot’s licence with the intention of returning to pastoral work in the near future. She is currently also working part time at Kalgoorlie Boulder Urban Landcare Group, whilst not in the pastoral industry the knowledge that she is gaining at KBULG will give her a greater understanding of the local flora and possible land care needs of the next station she works on.
Matilda has the potential to be a future leader in our industry. She is a dedicated and innovative young woman who has a strong desire to do the job properly. She cares about the livestock and the land whilst also being able to manage others and remain level headed under pressure.
Award Winner 2021: Sophie Campbell
Sophie Campbell’s family own Mundrabilla Station near Eucla WA, the furthest east of the GNRBA pastoral stations.
Sophie was born October 12, 2001 and educated through primary school with Kalgoorlie School of the Air then went to WA College of Agriculture Narrogin.
She has demonstrated the love for the pastoral industry through returning to work with her family at Mundrabilla and working at the ambition to be part of the Eyre Highway/ Nullarbor community.
Sophie has a keen interest in photography and has placed her photographs of life on the station through social media. The opportunity this award presents will encourage Sophie to further develop her photography skills, attend a Young Leaders Course, and/ or attend field days ie Dowerin and/or attend study in another area of life skill to assist her future in the industry.
