WHEN Luke Bowen became the chief executive of the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA) in 2008, both sides of the contract were dealing with some unknown quantities.
Mr Bowen came to the NTCA after a decade with the Indigenous Land Corporation, not the obvious source of talent to run a cattle industry association.
But by the time Mr Bowen handed the NTCA reins to Tracey Hayes in mid-2014, adversity had forged some bonds of deep respect between Mr Bowen and the Territory’s cattle producers.
That was acknowledged by the formal presentation to Mr Bowen of the NTCA Life Medal at the organisation's recent post-conference dinner.
Inaugural NTCA president Grant Heaslip, in presenting the medal, said that when the fallout from the 2011 live export suspension was at its height, Mr Bowen’s ability to present the industry position had made him the de-facto spokesman for the nation’s beef industry.
During Mr Bowen’s time with NTCA, the organisation grew to national prominence. Its annual conference has become the best attended beef-related event on the national calendar, with more than 600 people on hand to see Mr Bowen awarded his medal at the Darwin Turf Club.
Matthew Cawood
National writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
National writer for Fairfax Agricultural Media.
