MICHAEL Davidson, one of the founding fathers of the NSW Farmers and the National Farmers Federation, was a visionary grazier who united people on the land.
In the 1970s, as president of the NSW Graziers Association (NGA), Mr Davidson saw the need for one voice for agriculture to speak to the government about farmers’ issues, and set about making that happen.
Francis Michael Davidson, OBE, “Little Yarran”, Young, died suddenly at Southern Highlands Private Hospital, Bowral, last Thursday, August 7, aged 86 years.
Born in 1928, Mr Davidson was widely respected as a man of integrity, wisdom and decency.
Mr Davidson and United Farmers and Woolgrowers Association (UFWA) former president Milton Taylor, and their respective association chief executives, the late John White, and Brian Regan, were pivotal in forging an amalgamation of the two associations in the mid-1970s.
In 1975 they formed a committee that included the late Jack Doohan and Fred Fisher, and drafted a constitution for what was to become the NSW Livestock and Grain Producers Association (LGPA).
Mr Davidson and Mr Taylor had consulted their constituents in the bush for two years leading to the formation in 1978 of LGPA, which changed its name to NSW Farmers Association in 1987.
“Our backgrounds were different but we had no problems sitting down and talking about how the only way to get the government to listen was to work together,” Mr Taylor said.
NSW was the first State to achieve single representation.
“I was more prominent in marketing primary producers and Michael was much more prominent in the political part of agriculture,” he said.
“We thought both organisations would benefit and history’s proved that right.”
Such was their success that 93 per cent of members of the NGA and 94pc of the UFWA voted for the amalgamation.
The pair were joint presidents for the first six months, smoothing the way for their respective associations to become one.
Their gentlemen’s agreement over the first presidency came down to a draw out of a hat.
Mr Taylor won and led the LGPA from 1977-78.
Mr Davidson followed in 1979-81.
Mr Taylor said Mr Davidson played a “very major role in the formation of the State organisation and the National Farmers Federation (NFF),” he said.
“When we accomplished the NSW agreement it prompted change at a federal level and eventually the NFF (was formed).”
Mr Davidson was NFF president from 1981-84.
NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said Mr Davidson was remembered for unifying the voices of agriculture in NSW.
“He played a critical role, had vision, tenacity and foresight in getting the association to become one body,” she said.
“As president of the NFF he led that federation through some turbulent years in the early 1980s and through one of the more successful lobbying periods that led to quite a lot of reforms.”
Former NSW Farmers chief executive Peter Comensoli said he sought advice from Mr Davidson.
“Of all the people I associated with at NSW Farmers, Michael was the most clear in his view that a single, federal body must emerge, and he was a thorough gentleman in all his dealings because he though hearing that view was fundamental to the making of the right decision.”
Mr Davidson leaves behind his wife Pammie, children Victoria, Susan, David and Edwina and their partners, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild.
A memorial service will be held at Yarran, Young, at noon on Tuesday, August 19.
