2001 Inductees
Maud Dempster (Nee Sweeting 1861 – 1953)
Maude Dempster was married at the age of seventeen and widowed at thirty. Left with six children and with no previous experience of farming, she successfully managed the property at Buckland in the Avon Valley, later moving to Grass Valley in the same district. She gained such respect that in 1906 she was made a life member of the Northam Agricultural Society.
A versatile and successful stockbreeder, she developed one of the first merino stud flocks in Western Australia and was credited with introducing muscovy ducks and bronze wing turkeys to the State.
Remembered most for her quality of Ayrshire cattle, she was also a noted breeder of horses both for the turf and as draught animals. Her awards included a Department of Agriculture medal for butter production and the Governor’s Cup in 1902, the first woman to win the cup.
Hon Harry (Mick) Gayfer (1925 -)
Has contributed too many aspects of public life, most notably to the advancement and improvement of techniques for transporting, storing and marketing of grain. He was a Director and Chairman of CBH, and Chairman of the Federal Body.
He negotiated the construction of the Kwinana Grain Export Terminal, and was a keen promoter of research and development, stimulating the adoption of many important technological advances. A Member of State Parliament 1962 – 89, he was a highly effective spokesman for the grain industry combining practical experience and breadth of vision.
Wilhelm Liebe (1862 – 1950)
Already a highly skilled builder and contactor when he arrived in Western Australia in the early 1890’s. His works in Perth include His Majesty’s Theatre, The Peninsula Hotel and The Western Australian Art Gallery. In 1907 he turned his attention to wheat farming, taking up land in Wubin and Waddi Forest. Clearing and developing on an unprecedentedly large scale, Liebe was a pioneer in the use of advanced machinery whose innovations were later copied by many smaller wheat farmers.
By the late 1920’s he had more than 8,000 hectares under crop and grew a crop of 106,000 bags, then thought to be world record. During the 1930’s depression he diversified into sheep and until his death at the age of eighty-eight continued to be a model of broad-acre farming.
Sir Ernest Thorley Loton (1895 – 1973)
A member of a family distinguished in primary production, gained his practical experience as a farmer and grazier at his property ‘Belvoir’ in the Upper Swan, taking a special interest in the systematic promotion of sheep-breeding. Was a Member of Council of the Royal Agricultural Society of WA for 38 years and in Office as President twice, exercising a role of leadership during the 1930’s depression and the Second World War.
A Director of Westralian Farmers Co-operative Ltd from 1936 – 1965 (and Chairman from 1953) he oversaw the emergence of the Company as a major merchandiser, and the development of special service companies and marketing arrangements to meet the needs of specific sectors of the agricultural industry.
His interest in education was attested by service on the Board of Governors of Hale School from 1934 to 1957, including ten years as Chairman, and by Membership of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University Of Western Australia.
Sir Eric Smart (1911 – 1973)
Came to Western Australia in 1934 from South Australia with his life savings of 200 pounds to take up a share farming venture at Watheroo. After marriage he moved to Wongan Hills in 1940. In 1949 he acquired Erregull Springs Mingenew. A 10,000-hectare property of which slightly more than half was light sand plain country.
Eric Smart experimented with superphosphate and lupins to build up the fertility of the soil on light land for cropping. Grain production increased by two-thirds, and by 1967 the crop exceeded 500,000 bushels (13,400 tons). The property also pastured over 100,000 sheep. His success reflected the use of such innovations as aerial spraying of pests and the use of nitrogen fertiliser in the form of urea.
He showed his appreciation of science by endowing research on light lands and the use of lupins. He remains the pre-eminent example of the application of scientific methods to large-scale wheat farming.
Sir John Teasdale (1881 – 1962)
One of a family of builders who migrated to Belka in the Western Australian Wheat belt in 1911. Became an early supporter of the Co-operative Movement and the Primary Producers Association. In 1921 he became one of the original trustees of the Voluntary Wheat Pool, and within a few years was a recognised authority on marketing who helped in the shaping of policy during the 1930’s depression, In 1939 he was appointed an original member of the Australian Wheat Board, becoming Chairman in 1950.
He was also President of the Primary Producers Association for eight years, and Chairman of the 1946 Royal Commission on Wheat Marketing. It has been said of him that ‘throughout his career he was probably trusted more by wheat growers than any other man in public life and his advice and speeches on wheat matters were heard out intently’.
Professor Reginald Moir (1918 - 2004)
Studied agricultural science at the University of Western Australia in the early years of Professor Eric Underwood’s leadership. After graduation with first class honours he was appointed to an academic position there, rising to the status of Professor on retirement in 1983 he received an honorary doctorate in recognition of his research on animal nutrition. His public service included Membership of the Australian Meat Research Committee and the Australian Academy of Sciences National Committee on nutrition.
As a member of the planning board for Murdoch University between 1970 and 1973 he contributed much to the establishment of the School Of Veterinary Sciences. Euphemia Mackintosh (1826 – 1921)A daughter of James Drummond Senior married a shepherd, Ewan Mackintosh in 1849. Her strong sense of purpose and great skill in the breeding of dairy cattle contributed much to her husband’s success. While he concentrated on sheep and the breeding of good farm horses she developed their Avon Valley property ’Glendearg’ into the colony’s leading producer of fine quality dairy produce.
The quality of the property’s bloodstock and the planning of its facilities set standards well beyond the average of the time and provided an example for many. After her husbands death in 1881 Euphemia continued to manage ‘Glendearg’ unaided for nearly forty years. Her skill at breeding stock and farm management became legendary.