A GUARD of honour will next week farewell Midfield Group founder and managing director Colin McKenna after the passed away on Sunday morning following a short illness.
The meat processing giant’s home base of Warrnambool received confirmation of Mr McKenna’s passing yesterday morning with a Facebook post by his family.
Colin McKenna
“It is with heavy hearts the McKenna Family wishes to advise our founder, fearless leader and mentor to many passed away this morning with his family by his side after a short illness,” the post said.
Tributes on social media came from a myriad of personal and business acquaintances for Mr McKenna.
During his time in agriculture, Mr McKenna started as a shearer and then a stock agent, before founding one of the most efficient beef and sheep meat processing plants in Australia, with significant pastoral holdings and a dairy processing division.
He bought the local Warrnambool abattoir in 1988, gradually developing it over the next 36 years into one of southern Australia’s largest beef and sheepmeat processing plants. The Midfield Group’s pastoral division includes several leading Western District properties, including The Union Station at Woolsthorpe and Cooramook at Grassmere.
Along the way Mr McKenna became a well-known and respected figure in the livestock, farming and racing industry locally and nationally, and as a philanthropist who donated millions of dollars to cancer research, hospitals, local sporting clubs and schools.
Mr McKenna’s wife Janice told The Standard newspaper at Warrnambool: “We just want to say thank you to everyone for their support in what has been an extremely tough time for our family.”
“We’ve been very lucky to have received amazing love and support from our friends.
“The caring doctors, nurses and staff at the Cabrini Hospital have been amazing and all the people who have offered messages of support,” she told Standard correspondent and close friend Tim Auld.
“We just can’t thank everyone enough.
“Colin loved life. He was a hardworking person, who loved his family.”
In 2023 Mr McKenna was awarded a Member for the Order of Australia (AM) for significant work to community through various organisations.
Former Midfield quality assurance manager Noel Kelson said Colin McKenna leaves an incredible legacy with his activities in Victoria, South Australia and beyond.
“The company is strong and it is there to continue and will under Dean’s (son) guidance I’m sure.”
Mr Kelson worked full-time for the group from December 1995 until June 2017 after leaving his government meat inspector position. He continued to represent Midfield on AMIC boards and committees until recent years.
“It was an extraordinary period of time with lots of changes,” Mr Kelson said.
Midfield was one of the first plants in Australia to develop robotic lamb carcase cutting, the Middle East bag lamb trade and hot beef boning.
“Probably the biggest achievement for Colin was the development of hot boning of beef in the (Warrnambool) plant, it was designed for that, and it continues to this day.
“It was a significant shift in the way in which boning was handled in Victoria at that time,” he said.
“It was an extremely efficient beef boning and handling system, and a significant outcome for the plant.”
The Midfield Group employs more than 1500 people across the region. The group now includes several divisions including international meat sales, trading, the United Dairy Company and the innovative Meat Barns retail business.
Midfield general manager Dean McKenna, Colin’s son, advised that the Midfield office and meat processing plant will be closed on Friday 8 November.
He advised that on 7 November Mr McKenna’s coffin will be driven through the plant coming in gate 3 and out gate 4 “which will allow those here at work who wish to, to pay their respects in the form of a guard of honour and give Colin one last chance to thank the people that make Midfield what it is today, as we are a people’s business that processes Meat, Milk and Farms.”
On Friday 8 November at Noon Mr McKenna’s funeral will be held on the lawn at Union Station Farm followed by a private burial. The wake will be at Union Station Hotel. All are welcome to join and celebrate Colin’s life, Dean McKenna advised.
Thanks for giving me a chance Colin, absolutely loved working at Midfield’s along side of you
Amazing, generous man that changed the meat game for the best . Starting buying cattle from Colin with Arthur Lackenby in 1988 with his young salesman Rick Hahn .
All men mentioned above great blokes and always gave people a chance to have a crack !
A good honest straight up man.
I have great memories of visiting The Union doing trial work on a number of products to help assist calf rearing practices. Colin was a remarkable man who embraced new technology and ideas to enhance animal health and production. A great loss to the community. My condolences and thoughts are with his family and many friends.
As an ex employee of Colin’s,all I can say is what an absolute pleasure it was to work for him. He was tough but fair. It only feels like yesterday I was a wide eyed teen starting at midfields,but prior to that you had been a family friend for years, knowing my now late mother since she was 14.
Colin I don’t think you realise just what a massive impact you have had on so many people. Thank you for your wisdom, advice and the amazing memories.
A
Family friend for many years.
Obviously a highly driven man to anyone that knows him.
Incredible memory.
Remarkably generous .
A good man gone too early.
Never forgotten. RIP.
Wonderful memory visiting the Midfield group.
Thank you
As an ex Warrnambool citizen my wife and Di would like to offer our condolences to Colin’s family and friends as we all know how much he was loved and respected.
I went to school with Colin in the old CBC days he was a great classmate & like us all
had a bit of lariken in him.
God bless you mate.
My late husband Ian and I employed a young enthusiastic Colin McKenna (16) as an after school casual in the 60’s at “Injemira”, Grasmere.
Colin always showed energy, drive and ambition.
His natural people skills and eye for opportunity allowed him to take some huge steps in the red meat industry and develop Midfield into a global success.
Australian Agriculture has lot a visionary.
Thanks. Helen
We all fondly remember working on Injemira with Ian and yourself and the three of us had a great start from those days
Well said Helen ! Colin will be remembered as a great Australian !