FOURTH-GENERATION Millicent farmer Meg Bell has been elevated to the vice-presidency of the 550-strong Grassland Society of Southern Australia.
Ms Bell is currently the president of the Limestone Coast branch of the society and her election took place at the annual general meeting at Millicent last week.
The yearly forum was part of a two-day conference attended by 200 people.
It included seminars and farm visits and a formal dinner where media personality Andrew “Cosi” Costello was an entertaining guest speaker.
Meanwhile, Dr Matt Mahoney was elected as the new president of the Grasslands Society.
Dr Mahoney graduated in agricultural science from Melbourne University and went on to complete his honours degree and PhD at La Trobe University in Bundoora.
He worked as a pasture agronomist for various companies before recently launching his own farm consultancy business Agridome Consultancy based in Mansfield, Victoria.
Agridome advises farmers on agronomy and whole-farm planning, providing strategic and operational guidance to grow farm efficiency.
Dr Mahoney also has sheep and cattle on his farm near Mansfield.
“I know too well the importance of pastures and home-grown feed and the cost at which that ‘homegrown’ feed is produced,” he said.
Dr Mahoney has been a member of the society since he left university and says it has a big role in helping farmers to be productive and profitable.
However, he says it is facing stiff competition and must change to remain relevant.
“Where we have come from historically as a society and where we’re going to in the future is possibly going to be completely different,” he said.
“We need to continue the good work the previous president and central committee have started to make on giving real value back to our members.”
One significant change being considered this year is employing a part-time liaison person to help with important tasks which currently rely on volunteered time.
“Relying on volunteers is hard … with a larger member base, it would be possible to resource a liaison officer and with the right person we could support the branches better and continue to grow our membership,” Dr Mahoney said.
“That will be a critical opportunity over the next year.”
He remains passionate about the Grassland Society.
“I have been in the society since I left university,” he said.
“I joined because of my passion for pastures and it was a good connection to have when working for a pasture seed company.
“Once I got involved I got the bug and have not been able to give it up.”
Dr Mahoney has been involved with organising previous conferences and local events and bus tours.
The society was formed in 1959 and has branches in Albury-Wodonga, Central Ranges, Central West, Gippsland, East Gippsland, and Western District in Victoria, Limestone Coast and Tasmania.
It provides a forum for the transfer of information, ideas and experiences in all aspects of grassland establishment, maintenance, utilisation, persistence and research.
During the coming year, it will continue to organise regular MLA Pasture Update events for various regional branches, along with other Grasslands activities.
