SA has lost one of its elder statesmen and a legend of the state’s livestock industry with Dudley Kemp, Roseworthy, passing away on Saturday, aged 91.
A stock dealer, farmer and carrier, Mr Kemp was a familiar face and larger-than-life character to many in the SA livestock industry. Mr Kemp grew up in Gawler, where his father's livestock trading business was based.
He married wife Ellen in Gawler’s Tod Street church in 1947. With Ellen and their son Peter, he established the transport business DF&E Kemp & Son in 1965, starting with one truck that transported their own stock.
Mr Kemp was a fixture of the state’s rodeo scene, firstly as a rider and with non-competitive involvement after cutting his Achilles tendon.
He had a strong community spirit and was not only involved with the rodeo circuit but also local football.
Mr Kemp played a major role in reviving the Roseworthy Football Club and as secretary, helped guide it to premierships in 1962 and 1964. He was also a passionate Central District Football Club and Adelaide Football Club supporter.
Mr Kemp was the first vendor to sell at the South Australian Livestock Exchange at Dublin when it opened in July 1999.
There was a minute’s silence at the Dublin saleyards this week in his honour. He will be farewelled at a funeral at Globe Derby Park on Friday at 10.30am. Mr Kemp is survived by wife Ellen, children and children-in-law Peter, Annette, Alison and Peter, grandchildren David, Kristen, Robert, Tina, Ben, Jadine, Kylie and Andrew, and great-grandchildren Kelly, Josh, Anna, Daniel, Campbell, Jack, Harry and Thomas.
