FARM WEEKLY HEIFER COMPETITION WINNERS FOR the first time in its 13-year history Farm Weekly’s Win 10 Angus Heifers competition has seen two prize winners drawn from the more than 16,000 entries received.
Dewar said he was excited for his brother-in-law and would be happy to have them depastured at his Spring Park property.
Ironically the heifers, selected from a herd of 650 breeders at Old Bambun Grazing owned and run by Gingin producers Steve and Irene Neville, their daughter Megan and her husband Leigh McCallum will now almost be able to walk to their new home.
“Now we just need a bit of rain for lawns because we’ve been missing out badly but we did get 6.4mm last week,” Mr Hill said.
“Kate’s always been at all of us about getting our entries The major prize of 10 unmated 2019 drop Angus heifers in so it’s good to see someone in the family have a win,” and a John Deere E140 Select Series ride-on mower Mr Dewar said. from AFGRI Equipment Australia was won by Dale GowAdding to the irony, he used to work for the late Matty land, Midland, while the minor prize – a matching John Dewar, Gingin, a distant relative for a while in the 1980s Deere ride-on mower also from AFGRI – was won by and 90s often crossing paths and working with Steve Peter Hill, Laverton. Neville, who moved to the district in 1984. Matty Dewar Mr Gowland was still trying to absorb the news several would become a close friend and mentor to Mr Neville, hours after being told of his good fortune. later bequeathing part of his property and Angus herd to him, the foundation of the Old Bambun herd. “There has been a bit of a rivalry between me and my sister (Heather) and her daughter (Kate), also subscrib- While disappointed not to have won the major prize ers, about getting our entries in to these Farm Weekin Farm Weekly’s competition, Laverton octogenarian ly competitions,” Mr Gowland said. Peter Hill was genuinely thrilled to have won the second prize of a John Deere ride-on mower from AFGRI. “I have never won anything before, so I am really chuffed.” “I turn 87 in March so that’s a pretty good birthday present,” Mr Hill said. Mr Gowland, who works in a State government customer service role, grew up reading Farm Weekly at the “I have been entering all your (Farm Weekly) competifamily property in Bullsbrook where his father traded tions since you were giving away motorbikes as prizes sheep and cattle. He returned to the fold as a subscriber and I was even at Dowerin Field Days watching the year four years ago when he and his brother Andrew, who you did the draw for the big machine there. works in logistics, bought a graingrowing property at “I’m proof you are never too old to win,” he said. Kununoppin together. Mr Hill has lived his entire life in the Laverton region, “I don’t think the heifers will like it too much at mostly on Bandya and Lake Wells stations where he ran Kununoppin so I’ll ask my sister if she will run them at sheep and later cattle, before selling up and joining the her place at Gingin,” Mr Gowland said. Water Corporation for 20 years. He still lives in Laverton “But the mower will be fantastic out there at the house with his wife Maureen, who turns 87 one month after and for a bit of fire control around the yard.” him in April.
WA Angus Society chairman Liz Sudlow, Northampton, congratulated the winners and said her members were delighted to again be a part of the competition.
Mr Gowland’s sister Heather and her husband Stephen Dewar run 130 Red Angus breeders with some legacy “I believe it is quite unique across Australia and it’s a Red Poll infusion on properties north of Gingin which wonderful example of collaboration between Angus would be barely 10 kilometres from where the Old Bambreeders and Farm Weekly in what is very much a win/ bun heifers are based. win,” Ms Sudlow said. While a bit miffed he didn’t win the heifers himself, Mr (CONTINUED ON PG 7 >>>) WA ANGUS NEWS June 2020
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