Dairy farmers and industry members came together to celebrate and acknowledge their peers at the 2024 Great South West Dairy Awards. The awards - across six categories - were handed out at a gala dinner, held in Warrnambool on May 16. Greg and Kim Wilson, who share farm at Irrewillipe, took out the premier award of the night - The Dairy Farm Business Management Award, sponsored by Dairy Australia's Our Farm, Our Plan.
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. Also impressive is their awareness of things that present risks to their business and the strategies put in place to mitigate these," said the judging panel.
The runner up Business Management Award went to Harold Benzon from Minhamite. Rachael McGrath received the Young Dairy Leader Award, sponsored by the Gardiner Foundation, for her active contribution to the dairy sector and her community. Alongside her family, Ms McGrath farms in Orford - milking 400 cows with stud Jerseys and Brown Swiss.
Examples of Ms McGrath's commitment are her involvement in the Dairy Australia Dairy Ambassador Program, Western District Jersey Breeders Club and WestVic Dairy Young Dairy Leadership Team. Judges praised Ms McGrath's leadership qualities and her profound understanding of the importance .
