Chris O’Keefe left dairy farming 16 years ago but he didn’t leave the industry.
Although Chris sold his family farm in 2010, his commitment to the dairy industry never wavered and his ongoing involvement has led to a prestigious honour.
Chris has become one of a select few dairy farmers to be recognised as a Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) life member, honouring more than three decades of volunteer service to the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria (UDV) and the broader dairy industry.
This follows his induction in 2020 onto the Western Victorian Dairy Industry Honour Board.
UDV Wannon branch president Bruce Vallance said Chris had made an outstanding contribution to the branch.
“Chris managed our money and was very diligent with it, making sure all the books were kept in order,” Bruce said.
“His persistence and absolute determination for the UDV to be a way for farmers to get through to government was commendable. His longevity in the job proved his commitment to that ethos. It is a big honour. Not many dairy farmers get VFF life membership.”
Now in his mid-70s, Chris has retired from his UDV role but still maintains a strong interest in the industry.
Chris took over the family farm at Winslow in 1979. At the time they were milking about 100 cows on 161 hectares; by the time he sold it in 2010 the herd was 600 and there was a new rotary dairy and extra leased and purchased land.
At 57, Chris retired and moved into Warrnambool with his wife Beryl. “I was quite young but I had no-one following on to take over so I felt I may as well sell,” he said.
Chris had started going to local Warrnambool branch UDV meetings with his father in the mid-70s and in the early 80s he became secretary-treasurer and he was elected to the district council and became treasurer in 1987.
When the Wannon regional branch replaced the district council, Chris continued as treasurer and then added secretarial duties in 2013.
“It means a lot, I was very honoured to get it,” Chris said of the life membership. “I was in the UDV when it started about 50 years ago and then I was treasurer for 35 years and held various positions through the years on branches and district councils.”
Chris kept his commitment local.
“I only served on local branches and district councils, not on policy councils or positions in Melbourne,” he said. “I kept the home fires burning.”
He says it’s important that the dairy industry has strong advocacy. “The industry is battling on a lot of fronts but the ones in it are up to the challenge. It’s good to see them addressing issues, such as fighting for visas so people can come in and work on farms.”
The industry size has diminished but it’s still very important. The costs of running a dairy farm and the returns you get for the work involved can be very challenging. A lot have gone into beef, which is an easier enterprise to run, but it’s important to keep a strong dairy industry.”