MICHAEL McBride was bestowed one of the highest honours in the recent Queen's Birthday awards but the humble pastoralist attributed the recognition to the people he had worked with across the years and the opportunities he received.
He was made a member in the general division of the Order of Australia for his significant service to primary industry in SA, particularly through the administration of pastoral and wool organisations.
“I think the award was only possible through working with like-minded people and having opportunities in different fields,” Michael said.
While Michael grew up in Adelaide, but as part of the McBride pastoral dynasty, farming was in the blood.
With his late wife M’liss, Michael ran Rowena Station, north of Broken Hill, NSW, in the 1960s.
Michael said during his time at Rowena, a lesson he learnt from a chat with a local mining manager stayed with him.
“The mining manager said no matter what (miners) did, they always ended up with a hole in the ground, but if we did the right thing out at the station, we could be here forever,” he said.
It was also during his time at Rowena that Michael got involved with farming representation, joining the Pastoralists Associations of the West Darling, on which he also served as president.
After a stint running Rowena, Michael returned to Adelaide for his children’s secondary schooling and to work in the family company, AJ&PA McBride.
During his time in Adelaide, Michael became involved with the United Farmers & Stockowners of SA, later known as the SA Farmers’ Federation.
He was the chairperson of SAFF’s wool and meat section and when the National Farmers Federation was looking for members to join a committee on kangaroos, Michael also took up that post.
In 1984, Michael received the opportunity to run Kia Ora Station, north-east of Burra. The new role at Kia Ora did not stop him taking on industry representative roles, such as Wool Council of Australia treasurer.
This was at one of the industry’s most challenging times, when the wool price had collapsed.
“It was a very testing time for many farmers and it put a lot of people out of the sheep business,” he said.
Michael was also the first non-government representative on the state’s Pastoral Board, after being appointed to the role by then Lands Minister Don Hopgood.
During his time on the Pastoral Board, Michael worked alongside University of Adelaide lecturer Bob Lange, who developed a scientific assessment process to assess what was happening on pastoral lands.
The new process involved a series of photo points across pastoral leases documenting land condition, with the process repeated every 14 years, to provide benchmarks for monitoring land management.
“Naturally, there was a bit of apprehension about it when it first came out,” Michael said.
“My role was to ensure industry was supportive of it.
“I believe, because of this process, SA pastoral lands are well managed.
“I would suggest they’re the best in Australia.”
Michael said another highlight of his time on the Pastoral Board was being involved with setting up Indigenous land use agreements.
“SA pastoral lands have always been unique because when the state was established, the instruction from the British home office was that Indigenous people had the right to traverse, hunt and camp on pastoral lands,” he said.
“Through the Indigenous land use agreements, certain elders were nominated as contact people, and the agreements gave them the right to say to other Indigenous people who wanted to come onto the land – ‘no, this is our patch’.”
Michael had a long involvement with the Pastoral Board, spanning almost 30 years, from the 1980s to the 2000s.
Michael encouraged other farmers to get involved with their industry groups.
“I think it’s important for young farmers, whether they be from a station or other areas, to be involved in grower groups,” he said.
“There’s always work to be done in informing government of the problems that are out there and of getting farmers’ voices heard at a federal and state level.
“While it can be hard for young people to find time, this work is vital.
“To me, it’s really only the people on the land that can provide the input that’s needed. Most people in government haven’t had an opportunity to be on the land, so they’re not across the problems that can occur.”
Michael says it is important decision makers are made aware of the importance of the pastoral lands to the state.
“Pastoral lands make up more than 70 per cent of the state,” he said.
“I continue to impress on people that you can’t sit back and complain about something if you’re not prepared to put some time in to get the message right.
“It’s important people in the bush are able to get their messages across to those in power.”
Michael said the time spent being involved in farming groups was well-worth the effort.
“Through being involved with various organisations, I’ve met some wonderful, like-minded people, who I believe share the Queen’s Birthday award with me,” he said.