WESTERN Division pastoralist and Adelaide resident Robert McBride has been a woolgrower at Tolarno Station, between Mildura and Broken Hill since 1996.
The sixth generation woolgrower is also a director of one of Australia’s largest woolgrowing operations, A.J. and P.A. McBride Pty Ltd. He believes the industry must enter a phase of sustainable development encompassing research, finance for young woolgrowers, marketing and training.
Skills
- Good accounting qualifications with finance and business management experience.
- An active woolgrower with significant industry involvement
- Has travelled extensively to gain a better understanding of wool processing and has an interest in research, development and wool marketing.
Levy mix
Believed the current levy spend was a good mix between on-farm/off-farm, research and marketing. Woolgrowers have set it so we should respect their decision, though the board could have some flexibility in exceptional circumstances, he said.
Wool marketing
Believes AWI’s marketing should be focused on mid-micron wools for mainstream business and corporate wear, school wear and affordable knitwear and blends, giving greater returns to most woolgrowers.
Mulesing stance
He supported surgical mulesing’s continuance until a suitable alternative is found. He believed woolgrowers needed to be informed, strong and united in this view to consumers.
