When the Port Campbell Dairy Discussion Group was formed, Australia was introducing decimal currency, The Beatles ruled the charts and prime minister Harold Holt hadn’t taken his fatal swim.
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.
The group celebrated its 60th anniversary in February with a dinner that brought together farmers, industry representatives and community members.
It is understood Port Campbell is the longest continuously active discussion group in Australia, and it’s not done yet.
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.
Initially, the group was farmer-led with logistical support from the Department of Agriculture, but that backing now rests with WestVic Dairy.
Exactly how it started isn’t documented, but it is believed to have evolved from a meeting in Timboon and advanced by Department of Agriculture officers.
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.
“We’ve been told it’s the oldest in Australia, and we’re still going,” he said.
“We try to keep it simple. A good-old farm walk and talk is as good as anything to see what other people are doing.”
Some of the prominent names from the early years included Jeff McCue, Geoff Townsend, Gus Ward, Geoff Gale, Ken Ackerley, Ross and Andy Powell.
Legendary Victorian dairy extension officer Jack Green was a pivotal player in the early years, as was John Cruickshank, an inspector from the Department of Agriculture.
Ashley admits the group is fading a bit.
“There are less farms and less people and good farming land on the Heytesbury Settlement has gone into blue gums – that doesn’t help.
“A lot of members have retired, and it’s harder to get young guys involved, but we cover a fair area and have branched out quite a bit.
“The group has been holding more joint days with the Princetown/Simpson group and might have to look at amalgamating.”
Farm walks and Christmas get-togethers are still popular, and the group has organised tours to NSW and Tasmania, most recently in 2025.
There was a discussion group meeting on treasurer James O’Brien’s first day in the job as an agronomist with Nutrien Ag Solutions in Timboon in 2008.
“I went along to start building contacts,” he said.
“From day one in that role, I have been involved. It definitely helped me to build contacts”
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.
“It was the first place I got to meet people outside of shops,” James said.
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.
“Andy 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.”
In December 2018, James went to work alongside Andy on the Powell family farm at Cooriemungle.
The next April, Ross and Andy, both experienced lifesavers, died while trying to rescue a tourist near the Twelve Apostles.
James stayed on to support Ross’s widow Val and Andy’s widow Amber during the transition and took over as farm manager under new owners in October 2019.
Member for 50 years
At 75, Ken Ackerley is one of the group’s senior members.
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.
“John Cruickshank was with the Department of Ag at the time and he got us involved, and Jack Green was another big influence,” Ken said.
“The farmers came up with the ideas, and we had a lot of good field officers who would organise them.
“Every farm you went to, you’d 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.
“All young farmers should get involved. I know a lot don’t do it, but you learn a lot.”
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.
“As 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,” Peter said.
“We got to understand how those farms work, which allowed us to work more effectively as veterinarians.
“Farmers 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.”
Retired farmer John Renyard, 78, joined the group about five years after it started and quickly reaped the benefits.
“As 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,” he said.
“I’d 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.”
John stayed involved until his son and daughter-in-law took over management of the family farm.
Along the way, he represented farmers at UDV meetings and also went on to complete a Master’s qualification, despite leaving school early.
“I wouldn’t have had the guts to do that if I hadn’t gone through the management understanding that I gained through being a member of the Port Campbell discussion group,” he said.
To find more about Port Campbell Dairy Discussion Group, contact Sheeraz Ahmad on 0414 684 065 or email sheeraz@westvicdairy.com.au