A former AMLC chief, a cattleman from Cloncurry, a livestock transporter from the Northern Territory and a Brisbane-based livestock geneticist were among several beef industry identities honoured for their service in today’s Australia Day Awards.

Former Australia Meat and Livestock Corporation (the predecessor of Meat & Livestock Australia) managing director Dr Bruce Standen was appointed a member in the general division of the order of Australia (AM) for service to primary industry, particularly to agricultural economics, sustainability and research.

Dr Standen, of Gordon, NSW, was the final managing director of the AMLC from 1989-1998 at the time it merged with the Mear Research Council to form MLA. He was also deputy managing director of the AMLC from 1985-1989.

Roles he has served in include deputy chairman of Ocean Watch Australia, since 2005, and director since 1997; independent director of Sydney Fish Markets since 1994;  associate consultant, AgEconPlus Consulting, since 2004; New South Wales Coordinator, Crawford Fund, 2000-2013, and member, since 2013; chairman, University of New England Foundation, 2001-2007; president, Australian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society, 1981-1982, and life member; and past chair of the International Livestock Resources and Information Centre.

Bob McDonald of Brightlands Station, Cloncurry and a director/co-owner of McDonald Holdings (MDH Pty Ltd), one of Australia’s largest family owned cattle companies, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM) for his service to local government, and to the beef cattle industry.

Bob served on the Cloncurry Shire Council for 40 years as a councilor and deputy mayor until 2015. The Cloncurry library, The Bob McDonald Library, is named in his honour.

He also previously served as a member of the Local Government Association of Queensland.

In 2012 the McDonald Family was inducted into the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame, 2012.

Dr Michael Leo Tierney, better known to his many friends across the industry simply as Mick, was awarded an OAM for service to rugby league, and to dairy and beef cattle production.

Mick served as a livestock geneticist with the Queensland Department of Primary Industries from 1972-2002, during which time he was involved in research in the development of breeding programs for beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep poultry and pigs. From 1982 to 1995 he was responsible for the pioneering development of the AFS (Australian Friesian Sahiwal) breed of tropical dairy cattle.

He has been Federal Secretary of the Australian Society of Animal Production, a member of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics and an Honorary Steward for the Dairy and Beef Cattle Sections of the Royal Queensland Show, since 1986.

Mick is also a passionate rugby league supporter and volunteer, reflected in a long record of service to the sport including chairman of the Brisbane Second Division Local League from 2000-2014, inaugural secretary from1979-1999 and life member. He was also a member of the Queensland Rugby League Board of Directors from 2003 to 2006.

Northern Territory livestock transporter Tom Fawcett from Adelaide River has been awarded an OAM for his service to the livestock transport industry.

Mr Fawcett has been managing director of Fawcett Cattle Company since 1963 and a long-serving member of the Coomalie Community Government Council, the Adelaide River Show Society and the Adelaide River Race Club.

Western Australian farmer and politician Murray Nixon of Greenwood Farm, Gingin received an OAM for his service to the Parliament, to the agricultural sector, and to the community, of Western Australia.

From 1993 to 2001 he served on the Western Australian Legislative Council as a Liberal member representing Agricultural Region. He has also been a Liberal Party of Australia federal councilor since 2004.

Mr Nixon also has extensive experience in agricultural representation, with past positions including state president of the Junior Farmer Movement of WA in 1960; president of the Central Midlands Agricultural Society 1969-1970, former president, of the Moora Branch Farmers Union, Miling Zone and Member General Executive (now WAFF), former federal councilor and WA Committee Member, Angus Society of Australia.

Mitch Hooke spent 15 years in Canberra as an agriculture sector lobbyist and economics forecaster, before shifting his attention to the mining industry as chief executive of the Minerals Council of Australia. He was  named a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

Former Beef Australia executive secretary Wal Taylor from Rockhampton was recognised with an OAM for his service to the information technology sector, and to rural development.

His extensive service to the international community includes positions as founding director and chairman of The Information Society Institute (a not-for-profit policy and framework developer focused on enabling society with information technology in South Africa and other developing countries), since 2005 and facilitator and senior advisor in the establishment of the iKamva National e-Skills Institute, South African Department of Communications, 2008-2014.

He was an instigator and thought leader for the Building Rural Leaders Foundation Program from 1991 to 1994, instigator and founding executive of the Centre for Agricultural Technology 1989-1996; adjunct associate professor, Rural Development, Central Queensland University 1996-1998; Executive Secretary, Beef Australia, 1996-2001; regional manager, Agribusiness, Central and Western Queensland, Queensland Department of Primary Industries, 1992-1997. He was also involved in the establishment of the Cattleman’s Union in the 1970s, and served as executive secretary of Beef Australia fro 1996 to 2001.

Joan Treweeke from Angledool Station, Angledool, was awarded an OAM for her extensive service to rural and remote communities in New South Wales.

She has represented communities in local government, natural resources, the arts, education and community development.

She has been a Board member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section since 1996, served three years as President, is currently Vice President and spent three years on the National Board. Joan currently serves on the Boards of the Western NSW Local Health District and the Far West Medicare Local. She has a commitment to seeing better health and education services to rural and remote communities.

In 2014 she was named Barwon Woman of the Year.