One hundred years ago the Herne dairy farming family, of Brundee, was on top of the world.
They had just taken out the “Grand Champion Cow” at the 1919 Nowra Show, tagged the Victory Show, as it was the first after the end of World War I.
One hundred years on and the family, which runs Boscawen Holsteins and Jerseys, has again risen to lofty heights at this year’s Nowra Show, winning the Joe Calcraft Memorial Award for most successful breeder and the most successful exhibitors in the Holstein ring.
They also won intermediate Holstein champion with Boscawen Addiction Gala and senior champion Jersey with Boscawen Action Rosebell.
Something family patriarch Geoff Herne is extremely proud of.
Mr Herne proudly showed off the 1919 Grand Champion Cow ribbon at this year's show, a prized family possession among other prestigious ribbons the family has won over the years.
“I’m not all that into the showing,” Mr Herne said - a line family members have certainly heard on numerous occasions over the years.
Mind you he is still a keen spectator on the ring's edge watching all his family members in action.
“It was nice to be able to bring out a piece of our family and Nowra Show history," he said. “And to again taste success 100 years on was a proud moment.”
The 1919 grand champion ribbon was won by Mr Herne's grandfather, Thomas Freeman Herne, with Maud of Bowscawen, a roan milking shorthorn.
"No doubt a relation of Maud of Darbarlo, a cow the family purchased from Ballarat in Victoria," he said.
“Darbarlo was a pretty famous cow family name at the time. Grand champion would have been pretty big back in day. It’s certainly a huge ribbon. I’m not too sure if they won most successful breeder or exhibitor back then. I’m pretty proud to still have the ribbons from that stage in the family.
I’m pretty proud to still have the ribbons from that stage in the family.
- Dairy farmer Geoff Herne
“It was fantastic to again taste success 100 years on. To have two champions, both home bred cows was great.”
Seven generations of the family have worked on the Brundee property, which is now run by his son and daughter Bob and Tracey, with Mr Herne’s grandchildren and great grandchildren now also talking to the showring.
The article first appeared in the South Coast Register
Robert Crawford
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Robert Crawford is a senior journalist at the South Coast Register, for Australian Community Media . Everyone's got a story, what's yours? Email robert.crawford@austcommunitymedia.com.au
