MANAGERS and senior staff from Consolidated Pastoral Co’s 20 cattle properties scatted across northern Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland gathered in Brisbane last week for their annual conference and get-together.

A two-day day program featured guest speakers on wide-ranging topics, and a rare chance to interact face-to-face with fellow CPC staffmembers – both from head-office and across the stations.

One of the speakers to leave an impression on managers was former New Zealand farmer of the Year Doug Avery, who led a session on innovation in agriculture.

More than 60 station managers and their partners, plus board directors and other stakeholders closely aligned with the CPC beef and live export supply chains were in attendance.

The program culminated in an awards dinner held at Brisbane’s Rydges Hotel on Friday night.

Season-wise, CPC’s far-flung northern properties are a mixed bag this year, with some managers from the NT and VRD regions reporting ‘once in ten year’ seasons after big wet season rain, while others in western Queensland face a very tough lead-in to autumn.

Providing a great light hearted end to the two-day conference was Australia’s Lambassador, Sam Kekovich who kept the crowd entertained in his own inimitable way.

The night also included long service recognitions of CPC staff, William Bulo from JJAA, Indonesia (10 years); and Nyoman Budiasa, Supardi, and Cameron Kruckow (15 years).

Tomorrow we feature one of CPC’s station managers heading off overseas next week to further his education about grazing land management.

Here’s a selection of images of award winners from the night (click on image for a larger view:

Workplace Health and Safety award winners Mick Hoare and Jana Leppien, Ucharonidge, NT, with CPC chief executive, Troy Setter

People Developer award winner Simon Cobb from Wrotham Park, near Chillagoe, Qld, with Troy Setter

Teamwork award winner Glen Brooker from Carlton Hill station, WA, with CPC board chairman Mark Bahen.

Operational performance award winners from CPC’s Indonesian feedlot operations, Juang Jaya Abdi Alam (JJAA) included Willy Bulo, general manager, Nanang Kusmardiyanto, head of finance/admin, Nyoman Budiasa, operations manager and Supardi, livestock operations, with Brooke Barkla, Quality Control Advisor to JJAA.

Station of the Year award went to Jimmy Beale and Shannon Chatfield from Bunda, NT

People’s Choice award winner Emma Williams, CPC’s Qld region commercial business partner, based in Longreach, is congratulated by NFF president Fiona Simson and Troy Setter.

Ambassador’s award winner was Cameron Kruckow from Manbulloo station near Katherine, with NFF’s Fiona Simson and Troy Setter

Notching-up 25 years service with CPC was Jacqui Cannon, chief development officer, with Troy Setter.