Agriculture pioneers recognised with Order of Australia awards

The late Andrew Sladen Gubbins, Te Mania Angus stud principal from 1971 to 2000, was recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to the beef cattle industry.

Mr Gubbins was heavily involved with the advancement of beef cattle genetics in Australia and ran the first on-farm Angus progeny test program in 1995.

He worked closely with scientists and technicians world-wide and pioneered trials which included on-farm IVF, bull fertility testing and objective measurement to develop the Angus breed.

He was chairman of the Victorian Angus Progeny Test Program and a councillor for the Angus Society of Australia for eight years.

Angus Australia recognised him with a life membership in 2013 and he was awarded Steedstock Producer of the Year from the Beef Improvement Association in 2000.

The late Stanley Ian Artridge, of Ruffy, was awarded an OAM for his service to the wool industry and to the community.

Mr Artridge was a renowned wool producer, shearer, instructor, judge and volunteer.

He was a foundation member of the Euroa Shearing Association and was awarded a life membership to the Sports Shear Australia Association.

Mr Artidge was also a life member of the Country Fire Authority, a Shearer's Hall of Fame inductee, and the recipient of a Queen's Service Fire Medal.

David Gordon Morgan, Newtown, was also awarded an OAM for his service to the wool industry.

Mr Morgan is a former wool technical manager for Dalgety Wool Marketing Company and a former senior wool valuer and chief wool auctioneer with Australian Estates.

Angus Alexander Hume, Inverloch, was recognised with a Member of the Order of Australia for his significant service to water catchment management and agribusiness.

Mr Hume has sat on numerous water management and environment and resource committees, including chairing the Victorian Catchment Management Council and as director of Southern Rural Water.

A dairy farmer since 1985, he was also director and secretary of the GippsDairy Regional Dairy Board from 1996 to 2002, and was a director of Agribusiness Gippsland Inc from 2004 to 2007.

He also worked as advisor to the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in 2009 and 2010 and as Victorian Department of Primary Industries community relationships manager from 2005 to 2009.