Stuart Beveridge awarded Merino's life membership

The award follows a lifetime among Merino sheep and his beloved Wyuna stud at Armatree, but in particular Mr Beveridge's never-tiring service to the Association.

The citation read prior to the presentation by Wal Merriman, immediate-past chairman of Australian Wool Innovation, Mr Beveridge's service began in 1979 when he was elected to NSW Stud Merino Breeders Association (NSWSMBA) council, then vice-president in 1987 and made a delegate to the AASMB in the same year and elected president in 1991 to 1994.

In 1989 he was elected president of NSWSMBA and vice-president of the AASMB and appointed by the Australian Wool Corporation to the Federal Woolplan Committee and by the NSW Government to the Trangie Fleece Measurement Service.

Mr Beveridge was an active member of NSW Farmers' Association and Gilgandra branch chairman on several occasions. In 1992 Mr Beveridge stepped in as president of the World Federation of Merino Breeders on the death of foundation president, Don Vanrenen AO and confirmed in that position at the general meeting on 1994, and was re-elected for a second term in 1998, serving until 2002.

Closer to home Mr Beveridge has been president of the Macquarie Merino Field days Association; president and also treasurer of the Dubbo National Ram Sale Association; director of the Coonamble Rural Lands Protection Board; committee member of Gilgandra Show Society.

In 2001, he was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the Australian Merino sheep industry and to the community of Gilgandra.

Mr Beveridge said the Merino industry had been very special to him.

"Today I see a lot of young people, and that is a great thing for the Merino industry.

"So to all the young people I say, keep at it because it is a great life to be in."

He said he was involved in the work to achieve in naming comfort factor for wool comfort instead of the original "itch factor" wording.

"Scientists would not move from the name, as once itch was mentioned it downgraded wool's quality," he said. "But the Australian association agreed and comfort factor became our policy.

"The second big thing has been the sponsorship of Rabobank, formerly PIBA, Primary Industry Bank of Australia.

"Max Smith at the time was getting the Australian supreme award going, and the bank came in and supported us.

"Thirty-odd years later Rabobank is still with us and with the schools wether challenge, I hope with Rabobank's continued support this will become a very important school classroom."