South – Leading Sheep

Committee Details

	Name: Noel O’Dempsey Role: Coordinator & Producer “Linallie” Texas Phone: 07 4653 1441 odempseyn@gmail.com	Veterinarian and sheep producer Noel O’Dempsey has taken on the role of regional coordinator for Leading Sheep South region. Mr O’Dempsey runs fine wool sheep at “Linallie” in the Traprock country between Texas and Inglewood, and within that business he puts special emphasis on selecting sheep for worm resistance. He is an accredited facilitator and will work with the Leading Sheep South regional committee in pursuing knowledge and skills to help develop more profitable and productive sheep enterprises. Mr O’Dempsey was previously a sheep husbandry officer with the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries for more than 20 years and also now runs a vet consultancy.
	Name: Sam Harwood Role: Extension Officer DAF Charleville 0400 256 427 sam.harwood@daf.qld.gov.au	Before joining Leading Sheep, Sam previously worked with the NSW Local Land Service in Tenterfield. In this role he worked in the Animal Biosecurity and Welfare team. Sam’s background also includes time in the meat industry where he worked in mixed species abattoirs at Frederickton. Sam looks forward to bringing some of the skills and knowledge gathered in these previous roles to Leading Sheep. When he’s not working you will find Sam fishing or enjoying the outdoors.
	Name: Bruce Toms Role: Producer “Beltana” Stanthorpe Phone: 07 4685 6075 flockscan@gmail.com	Bruce Toms along with his wife Melinda and sons Clancy and Dougal own “Beltana”, a 4600 acre sheep property west of Stanthorpe. They run 2000 Merino and Merino/SAMM cross ewes using Dohne rams. A graduate of Longreach Pastoral College, he has worked on Merino studs in the Riverina and in Western Australia. Bruce has also held sheep and wool positions with Elders and landmark. , In 2011 he started Flockscan, a sheep ultrasound pregnancy scanning business and is the Queensland wool representative for Fox & Lillie Rural. Bruce is a professional wool classer and Dohne assessor for the Australian Dohne Breeders Association and has been appointed to the Traprock Group sheep committee.
	Name: Don Perkins Role: Producer “Nelyambo” Dirranbandi Phone: 07 4625 8686 dbperkins@bigpond.com	Don Perkins runs a woolgrowing and breeding property at Dirranbandi with his wife, Belinda and sons Tom, Lachie and Nicholas. His main focus is to improve the productivity of the property through pasture improvement and genetic gains. He is also particularly interested in investigating ways to improve the communication between woolgrowers and their customers with a view of better supplying what the customer requires. Don thinks that Leading Sheep has a role to play in boosting the morale of Queensland sheep producers.
	Name: Debbie Cowley Role: Producer “Munda” Goondiwindi	Debbie and husband John run a mixed grain, pulse and sheep enterprise at “Munda” Goondiwindi. Debbie loves to embrace new technology for sheep handling, data management, animal health and so on. Debbie’s background includes 8 years as a Rural Financial Counsellor for the Goondiwindi district and she is a Chartered Accountant. Given her background, Debbie loves to crunch data on every individual sheep on Munda to assist with decision making.
	Name: Anthony Wallis Role: Producer	Anthony farms with his wife and children at Hannaford in Southern Queensland. They have a mixed farming operation growing grain crops and running a self-replacing flock. They have a focus on increasing their lambs weaned percentage and also on increasing weight gains leading to earlier turn off. Anthony holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Rural Managment and a Masters in Accounting. His experience includes a year as an agronomist on the Darling Downs and several years as an agricultural business consultant. He and His wife have been managing their family property since 2004. He is passionate about agriculture and seeing increases in productivity through research and advancing technology. Something that excites him is seeing the next generation getting involved and driving productivity with new energy and eagerness to achieve.
	Name: Sarah Prior Role: Producer “Allendoone” Yelarbon	Sarah Prior, along with her husband, Matt, run a merino sheep and broadacre cropping property near Yelarbon. Sarah’s main interest has been in the livestock industry and improving profitability and diversity of enterprises on their property, along with a focus on regenerative agriculture. Sarah has always been keen to explore soil regeneration further and feels this can improve resilience in both livestock and cropping enterprises. Sarah has been able to implement changes to their sheep management system by obtaining the knowledge and skills to run a profitable livestock business. Leading Sheep is a fantastic network to be involved in with such passionate people and Sarah jumped at the opportunity with work with Leading Sheep!
	Name: Luke Murphy Role: Producer “Alanko” Goondiwindi	Luke Murphy is co-principal and stud manager at Karbullah Poll Merinos north of Goondiwindi, particularly focussing on grazing management and Sheep Genetics data management. Luke has been on the committee of the local Landcare group, having a keen interest in sustainable agriculture. Luke is keen to bring new ideas to the table and help shape the future of the Queensland sheep industry.