Media Release

February 17, 2003

CHANGE OF guarD FOR THE QUEENSLAND DAIRYFARMERS’ ORGANISATION LTD

Today marked a milestone in history for the Queensland Dairy Industry with QDO President of more than 25 years, Mr Patrick Rowley, handing over the reins of the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation Ltd to his deputy Mr Wesley Judd.

At today’s QDO State Council meeting Pat Rowley announced his resignation as President of the Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation.

Mr Rowley has been at the helm of Queensland Dairy Industry as president of the QDO since 1977, and has steered the industry through its fair share of rough sailing, during a time of unprecedented change.

Pat commenced dairying in 1959 on the family property at Mt Pleasant, Dayboro, Queensland, which he has continued to farm through the ongoing management and capability from his wife Mary.

Mr Rowley said “Even though I am resigning as President of the QDO, I will continue to fight for the dairy industry on a national level as Chairman of Australian Dairy Farmers Federation and Australian Dairy Industry Council.

“In hind sight it seems that there has been more rough waters than smooth but all in all I believe the job was done as well as it could have been given the challenges and external pressures the industry has faced over the years.

“Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s the Queensland industry experienced some of its most stable and profitable periods. We not only held our own but the industry grew and become more efficient and on a national front we kept a competitive footing against New Zealand industry, some would have said against the odds.

“I believe that there is a bright future for the dairy industry in Queensland, but at the moment we are doing it tough.  In all my time in the Dairy Industry I have never witnessed a more difficult period.  This drought has gone beyond any drought of the past”, said Mr Rowley in his final president’s report. However despite these extremely difficult times the Queensland industry will bounce back.

“However, as I look back over my 25 years of Presidency, we’ve faced hardships before, which at the time seemed insurmountable.  We did not sit around wringing our hands.  We acted in the areas where we could make a difference.  I have every confidence that the QDO will continue this legacy”, said Mr Rowley.

“The financial and emotional pressures of the drought have brought out a rerun of the question, ‘Why did deregulation occur?’  This is a futile argument.  We understood the impending impact of deregulation, and for 15 years (1983 – 1998), much of my work as president of the QDO was spent fighting to retain regulation of the industry against the increasingly mounting odds.  Looking back, the fact that we managed to fight off deregulation for so long was a major achievement.  When we found that deregulation was utterly inevitable, we changed our focus, and fought and won the largest restructure package in the history of Australian agriculture.  We achieved a major miracle with the package and supplements amounting to $2 billion.

“As I step down after 25 years, I wish to thank the QDO State Councillors both present and past for their support and confidence in allowing me to serve as President.  It has been an honour”, said Mr Rowley.

“It is time for me to hand the reins of the QDO over to a younger generation, who will continue to fight hard for a far go for dairy farmers. Over the past year and more, Wes has been working with me on many issues critical to the Queensland dairy industry, while I have been focused on national issues.  I have every confidence in Wes’s capability, skills and experience to take on the challenge. It is a big commitment.

“Wes is a dairy farmer from Yangan near Warwick and has a young family whom are actively involved in running the farm”, said Mr Rowley.

Mr Wes Judd said “he welcomed the appointment as the incoming President of the QDO, and is committed to dealing with the ever-present challenges that confront QDO members.”

“I am also glad to announce that Mr Brian Tessmann, a very capable dairy farmer and industry advocate from Kingaroy has been elected as Vice President of the QDO.