growers@sgcotton.com.au Roger Tomkins - Greenmount Press

New look for Cotton Australia
MOREE based cotton grower and beef cattle producer
Lyndon Mulligan has been elected the new chairman of
Cotton Australia.
Coming into the role Lyndon said the challenge for the
industry was how to profitably manage very large crops, such
as this season’s record 4.8 million bales and the associated 1.5
million tonnes of cotton seed.
At the Cotton Australia Annual General Meeting on the Gold
Coast, out-going chairman Andrew Watson, Boggabri said it had
been a very exciting two years as chairman, that coincided with
two records crops as the industry rapidly recovered from drought.
Andrew said the recovery had allowed Cotton Australia to
rebuild its reserves and staff capabilities, and in light of this he
announced that starting with the 2013 crop, the voluntary levy
would be dropped from $2.25 to $2 per bale.
“We have taken a precautionary approach to the way we have
expanded Cotton Australia’s capabilities,” Andrew said.
“We want to be in the position to handle the next drought
and associated smaller crops, without having to reduce Cotton
Australia’s capacity to represent the interests of the industry.”
He also said that he was delighted to announce that Cotton
Australia had just signed a joint venture with the Cotton
Research and Development Corporation (CRDC) and Cotton Seed
Distributors (CSD) which would ensure a very strong focus on
extension following the finalisation the Cotton CRC in June.
“In addition we have clearly identified the need to build
human capacity across the industry, and to that end Cotton
Australia is working with CRDC to develop an industry strategy,”
he said.
Andrew also noted that this year was Cotton Australia’s
40th Birthday, and that the organisation had been successfully
representing the interests of the cotton industry since 1972.
He acknowledged the major contribution outgoing board
member and former Australian Cotton Growers Research
Association board member Andrew Parkes had made to the
industry in many roles, and welcomed to the board Mungindi
grower Barb Grey.
Namoi Cotton’s CEO Jeremy Callachor was also returned to
the Board.
Cotton AustrAliA
CelebrAtes 40 yeArs
After notching up four decades of service, the body which
has represented Australian Cotton Growers for all of those
years, Cotton Australia, recently celebrated that event in
Narromine.
The birthday dinner brought together the very first
chairman of Cotton Australia, Alan Brimblecombe along with
the (then) current Chairman Andrew Watson as well as past
and present directors and staff.
Held at the Narromine Aero Club, the birthday event
included a cake and some stories from another former Cotton
Australia Chairman and Director, Peter Corish.
After 40 years, current CEO Adam Kay says Cotton Australia
remains as relevant today as when the industry began.
“In the early days of cotton, there was a lot to learn about
successfully growing the crop down under as well as being
a united voice for a much smaller grower base. These days
Cotton Australia is still focused on ensuring our growers have
a consistent voice to government as well as a direct input
towards research and development.”
Adam says the Narromine birthday event was an important
opportunity to reflect on the past, looking back at where the
industry has come from as well as considering what the future
might hold for cotton in this country.
Peter Corish, Adam Kay, Andrew Watson and Alan
Brimblecombe at the Cotton Australia 40th birthday.
8 — The Australian Cottongrower August–September 2012