JOGGING along the River Murray and past his family’s cellar door, Zac Caudo, Cadell, makes sure he has a tight grip on the wine bottle he holds to the sky.
Carrying the bottle high and ensuring it doesn’t drop is all part of Zac’s preparation for his debut in the Queen’s Baton Relay.
The news that the Caudo Vineyards general manager had been selected as one of 3800 baton bearers came as a surprise, especially considering Zac is not sure who nominated him.
“I was really excited to find out, my mum more so, which makes me think she is the one who nominated me,” he said.
Baton bearers are required to meet selection criteria, including the individual’s contribution to sport, education, the arts, culture or charities.
Zac believes it is his community involvement that granted him the “unique opportunity”.
In 2014, Zac was named Young South Australian of the Year and in 2015 won the Rabobank Emerging Leadership Award.
But it is his involvement with Foodbank, donating more than 100,000 kilograms of oranges to the food relief organisation, that has aided his community.
He said when citrus prices were very poor, they decided not to sell the fruit, but knew they could not leave trees unharvested.
Instead, Caudo Vineyards set up a pick and pack shed where they could train staff to help them get jobs in the local area, while donating fresh food.
“Today the cirtus goes to Kick Start for Kids and a bunch of different school programs that give kids who are a bit less fortunate healthy, fresh food in the classroom.
“Some has also started going to Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands.
“It has been instrumental in helping us promote our business as well as doing something good for the community.”
Zac is one of a handful of farmers and growers who will participate in the relay.
“Growers are certainly part of the community, and in the Riverland they are an extremely large part of the community,” he said.
“I think it’s extremely important that we are represented there.”
The land Caudo Vineyards entails today was first worked in 1886 and was originally farmed as a dairy and piggery.
In 1956 a flood wiped out the farm and since then, it has passed through a few owners.
The Caudo family acquired the property in 1988, turning it into a vineyard and adding to the existing citrus farm before opening a cellar door in 2012.
Today they have about 145 hectares of winegrapes and 28ha of citrus.
Ali Kuchel
Journalist at the Stock Journal, passionate about all things farming and equestrian also doubling as a photographer.
Journalist at the Stock Journal, passionate about all things farming and equestrian also doubling as a photographer.
