The landmark merger of cross state dairy advocacy groups marks the beginning of a new era in industrial representation and advocacy for producers on Australia's eastern seaboard, from the lower border of NSW to the tip of Queensland.
The members of the Queensland Dairyfarmers' Organisation (QDO) who attended the EGM on November 3 and those QDO members who voted by proxy, supported the establishment of a new fresh milk body to be called 'eastAUSmilk' by a 92 per cent majority in favour of constitutional change, which will also facilitate the merger with NSW-based Dairy Connect Farmers Group.
A revised constitution will enable the creation of two District Councils within NSW from which two representatives will be appointed to the interim Board of eastAUSmilk. This is a historic result which is a positive and collaborative step towards uniting dairy farmers in NSW and Queensland under the banner of eastAUSmilk.
The Queensland representatives on the board will be Matt Trace, Gary Wenzel, Waylon Barron and James Geraghty. The NSW representatives will be Graham Forbes and Ruth Kydd.
Waylon Barron has just started his term on the QDO board in recent weeks and I welcome Waylon in the new role.
The members of the interim Board will hold office for 12 months until elections are held late next year.
There was great strength in industrial unity and that the merged dairy organisation would have an enhanced capacity to represent producers in dealing with dairy processors and governments at all levels.
This is an exciting time for dairy farmers in NSW and Queensland, with eastAUSmilk developing policies to help stop the decline of dairy farms in our two states. It is strongly believed that a united organisation will strengthen the advocacy and improve the delivery of current and new services over the coming months and years.
QDO president Brian Tessmann, who will step down with the formation of eastAUSmilk, was a pivotal part of the process towards the merger of the two dairy organisations. It will be sad to see Brian go after many decades on the QDO board and the extremely positive role he has played in the past five years leading QDO forward in a period of substantial pressure and change.
It is intended that eastAUSmilk will commence on December 1 and the transition process into the merged organisation will start immediately.
