WIA NEWS

MEDAL FOR INDUSTRY SUCCESS - BORDER CHRONICLE

Category: WIA News Published: 19 January 2021

BORDERTOWN Merino breeder Richard Halliday was presented with an Australian Wool Industry Medal for his four decades of industry representation late last year. This included serving as inaugural Livestock SA president, eight years on WoolProducers, and seven years as a member of the SA Sheep Advisory Group.

Mr Halliday said he was humbled to receive the award and could not have done it without his wife Jacquie and children Sarah, Angus and Thomas.

"You don't go into things seeking personal accolades you get involved to hopefully make the industry a better place for everyone- hopefully I have done that," he said. "I have always been a big believer that you don't stand outside the tent and throw rocks, you get inside the tent and make things better for everyone."

In the early 1990s, Mr Halliday became involved with the South East Merino Breeders group as secretary for three years and then had a term as president. He credits participating in the inaugural Breeding Leadership course run by the SA Stud Merino Breeders Association to gaining the confidence to take on more leadership roles. He joined South Australian Farmers Federation in 2010 and became the SA representative on WoolProducers in 2011.

When Livestock SA was formed in 2013 he led the organisation for 18 months until he was elected WoolProducers president in 2014. Mr Halliday said he has enjoyed meeting woolgrowers from across Australia as well as other wool growing nations, travelling to IWTO conferences in England, Hong Kong and China. Since stepping down from Livestock SA in 2019, he has been using his leadership skills in the community, serving on the Bordertown & Districts Health Advisory Council.