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<\/p>\nWhen the Port Campbell Dairy Discussion Group was formed, Australia was introducing decimal currency, The Beatles ruled the charts and prime minister Harold Holt hadn\u2019t taken his fatal swim.<\/p>\n
The year was 1966, and while many dairy discussion groups have come and gone over the years, the Port Campbell group has stayed the distance.<\/p>\n
The group celebrated its 60th anniversary in February with a dinner that brought together farmers, industry representatives and community members.<\/p>\n
It is understood Port Campbell is the longest continuously active discussion group in Australia, and it\u2019s not done yet.<\/p>\n
While COVID and the changing dairy landscape have impacted its vitality, the group is still looking forward to many more years of supporting local farmers around the famous Great Ocean Road in south-west Victoria.<\/p>\n
Initially, the group was farmer-led with logistical support from the Department of Agriculture, but that backing now rests with WestVic Dairy.<\/p>\n
Exactly how it started isn\u2019t documented, but it is believed to have evolved from a meeting in Timboon and advanced by Department of Agriculture officers.<\/p>\n
Current group leader and Port Campbell dairy farmer Ashley Gristede has been a member for more than 25 years and said the group had a lot to offer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been told it\u2019s the oldest in Australia, and we\u2019re still going,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to keep it simple. A good-old farm walk and talk is as good as anything to see what other people are doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Some of the prominent names from the early years included Jeff McCue, Geoff Townsend, Gus Ward, Geoff Gale, Ken Ackerley, Ross and Andy Powell.<\/p>\n
Legendary\u00a0Victorian dairy extension officer\u00a0Jack Green\u00a0was a pivotal player in the early years, as was John Cruickshank, an inspector from the Department of Agriculture.<\/p>\n
Ashley admits the group is fading a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are less farms and less people and good farming land on the Heytesbury Settlement has gone into blue gums \u2013 that doesn\u2019t help.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of members have retired, and it\u2019s harder to get young guys involved, but we cover a fair area and have branched out quite a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe group has been holding more joint days with the Princetown\/Simpson group and might have to look at amalgamating.\u201d<\/p>\n
Farm walks and Christmas get-togethers are still popular, and the group has organised tours to NSW and Tasmania, most recently in 2025.<\/p>\n
There was a discussion group meeting on treasurer James O\u2019Brien\u2019s first day in the job as an agronomist with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Timboon in 2008.<\/p>\n
\u201cI went along to start building contacts,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom day one in that role, I have been involved. It definitely helped me to build contacts\u201d<\/p>\n
When Cooriemungle dairy farmer James Maxwell arrived in south-west Victoria in 2010, the Port Campbell Dairy Discussion Group was a lifeline and a way of getting to know the community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was the first place I got to meet people outside of shops,\u201d James said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Sixtieth anniversary dinner MC Chris Hibbert with guest speaker AFL Hall of Fame legend Doug Hawkins.<\/p>\n
The group also had a profound personal effect on him when he met Andy Powell, creating a friendship that led to work on the Powell farm that continues today.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndy was one of the first people I met down here through the Port Campbell Dairy Discussion Group, and one of the most approachable people in the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
In December 2018, James went to work alongside Andy on the Powell family farm at Cooriemungle.<\/p>\n
The next April, Ross and Andy, both experienced lifesavers, died while trying to rescue a tourist near the Twelve Apostles.<\/p>\n
James stayed on to support Ross\u2019s widow Val and Andy\u2019s widow Amber during the transition and took over as farm manager under new owners in October 2019.<\/p>\n
Member for 50 years<\/p>\n
At 75, Ken Ackerley is one of the group\u2019s senior members.<\/p>\n
Still active with two farms in the region, Ken joined in the mid-1970s for the learning opportunities and still tries to participate when he can.<\/p>\n
\u201cJohn Cruickshank was with the Department of Ag at the time and he got us involved, and Jack Green was another big influence,\u201d Ken said.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Farm walks and talks are the backbone of the discussion group\u2019s success.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe farmers came up with the ideas, and we had a lot of good field officers who would organise them.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery farm you went to, you\u2019d pick up something. It helped with cow management and feeding. It meant we could stock a lot heavier because we learnt how to feed the cows properly and things like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll young farmers should get involved. I know a lot don\u2019t do it, but you learn a lot.\u201d<\/p>\n
For vet Peter Younis, who recounted the history of artificial insemination in the region at the 60th anniversary dinner, joining the discussion group was like a second education.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a young vet coming back to work in Timboon in the early 80s, discussion groups were a terrific way to learn about the farms we were working with,\u201d Peter said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe got to understand how those farms work, which allowed us to work more effectively as veterinarians.<\/p>\n
\u201cFarmers would teach us stuff, and it allowed us to be far more effective as dairy cattle vets, and then in more recent years we contributed stuff on animal health as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Retired farmer John Renyard, 78, joined the group about five years after it started and quickly reaped the benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as I can remember, Gus Ward was the first leader, and he was still group leader when I joined, which was about 55 years ago,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Guest speaker Peter Younis and group leader Ashley Gristede cutting the cake.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d see John Cruickshank as the dairy inspector and he was a sort-of substitute field officer for the discussion group, and he invited me to go along.\u201d<\/p>\n
John stayed involved until his son and daughter-in-law took over management of the family farm.<\/p>\n
Along the way, he represented farmers at UDV meetings and also went on to complete a Master\u2019s qualification, despite leaving school early.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wouldn\u2019t have had the guts to do that if I hadn\u2019t gone through the management understanding that I gained through being a member of the Port Campbell discussion group,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n