Holstein breeders Liz Clowes and David Johnston
Holstein Australia has recognised the outstanding contribution made by two of its members who were awarded Honorary Lifetime membership to the Victorian branch.
Liz Clowes (Lauriston Holsteins, Shepparton) and David Johnston (Segenhoe Park, Boorcan) received the awards at HA’s Victorian branch celebratory dinner held in Bendigo on July 4.
Both members were recognised for contributing above and beyond the call of duty over many years of involvement with the association.
In congratulating the reciepients, HA CEO, Graeme Gillan, said the awards were an important recognition of the thousands of hours of time volunteered by members to keep the spirit of the Association alive.
“Breed societies such as Holstein Australia are best known in rural communities for show casing cattle, encouraging youth and providing a forum for friendship and support. It is the volunteers who make these things happen and our organisation would be soulless without them,” he said.
Liz Clowes, Lauriston Holsteins, Shepparton
Liz Clowes is perhaps best known for her passion for promoting the Holstein breed in a variety of roles over decades. She was a youth camp volunteer for many years, always willing to share her knowledge and encourage young members. As a cattle photographer, she was a regular face at sales, shows and sub-branch events, where she would provide photos and articles for the media. She shared her skills generously, giving demonstrations at field days and industry events on how to photograph cows. She voluntarily supported Holstein Australia field officer Brian Vallence with the CheckMate program and designing displays for field days. Eventually she took on the formal role of promotions officer, representing the Holstein breed at field days and industry events. Liz has also been actively involved the Northern Victorian sub-branch for more than 20 years. As Victorian Branch Secretary for the past 19 years she has co-ordinated countless events, meetings, youth exchanges and IDW Youth Challenges. During the early 2000s Liz and Neil Tresidder from WFI spent countless hours providing guidance and support to many Victorian dairy farmers facing great financial and emotional hardship, including delivering relief hampers to some. In addition to organising the 2014 Victorian branch celebration of the HA Centenary, Liz spent many hours researching the history of the association, the breed and its members, providing what is considered by many a highlight of their involvement in Holstein Australia. In nominating Liz for Honorary Life Membership, Northern Victoria State Branch delegate, Geoff Horrocks (Foxleigh) acknowledged Liz’s quiet and dependable contribution, a dedication he said arose from pure devotion and love of the black and white breed.
David Johnston, Segenhoe Park, Boorcan
David Johnston is currently the Federal President of Holstein Australia but he has contributed to the Association in many different ways in the 40+ years since he first became a member. Although David has contributed in many formal roles with Holstein Australia (more on that later), local youth activities and community are perhaps closest to his heart. These were the words he used to describe his vision for HA when he took on the role of Federal President in 2015. And his contribution to the association over the years reflects these values. He is a driver behind the highly successful Western Districts Youth Camp, but won’t take credit, instead acknowledging the team effort and generous sponsors. Never forgetting how much he benefited in his early dairying career from the encouragement of more experienced HA members, David has gone out of his way to ‘pay it forward’ to generations of Holstein Youth. He is also proud of the contribution Holstein Australia makes to the broader dairying community by collecting and supplying classification and other data for use in developing Australian Breeding Values for various type traits; and providing ideas to DataGene for the evolution of breeding values, tools and policies. David’s involvement with HA began with the Manning, NSW sub branch where he and Glenyce dairied for 14 years and with the Western Districts sub branch when they moved to Boorcan in 1988. David has taken on responsibilities at the sub branch, branch and federal levels. He was President of the Manning and Western District sub branches and Victorian State President. Federally he has had numerous roles including a Victoria State Delegate, a representative on the Breed Development and Conformation Committee and the National Advisory Council. He has been on the HA board for 10 years, including the position of Federal Treasurer for six years and Federal President for three years. In the past two years David has led the membership through major changes, in restructuring the Association’s governance. He also represents the Holstein breed on the All Dairy Breeds Show Ring Committee which has taken a stronger stance on show ethics and animal welfare in recent years. In nominating David for Honorary Life Membership, Western Districts Sub Branch Secretary, Libby Swayn (Jordney Park) said he was highly respected in the Holstein community for his positive attitude, friendship, easy-going nature, and commitment to the next generation of farmer