Media Release

8^th September 2025

116 years ago in Central Victoria, Howard Yelland began weighing cattle, recording and making selection decisions based on the performance results he obtained.  Information based on measurement was the basis for the mating program decisions he made within his herd.

Each year, Howard Yelland, our industry’s champion of objective measurement and performance recording for improved selection in the Australian Beef Industry, is remembered with the presentation of the Howard Yelland Award to worthy recipients.  There have been 40 recipients since its inception in 1987.

The Australian Beef Industry Foundation and Marcus Oldham College are proud to present the 2025 and 41st Howard Yelland Award to Bruce Milne.  It recognises his outstanding contribution to our industry “above and beyond” his normal role.

Bruce Milneisn’t just a successful breeder of Hereford cattle – he is an innovator.

Passionate about maintaining a healthy and diverse environment for his cattle operation, Bruce and the Milne family were leaders in the Potter Farmland Plan which changed the farm landscape in Western Victoria through tree planting and pasture management.  For his work with the Potter foundation and as a leader in promoting on farm conservation, Bruce was awarded the OAM in 1993.

To match the improved production environment, Bruce now needed improved livestock performance for his Helm View Stud. A close associate of John and Howard Yelland, Bruce adopted their genetics to meet his breeding objectives and became one of the first herds to adopt and validate Hereford Group Breedplan 

Not content with improved production through improved genetics Bruce now sought an improved method to market his genetics.

In 1990 he developed and promoted the HELMSMAN auctioning system. The design of the bull and ram buying system arose out of concerns that the traditional systems served the needs of the agents and vendors but neglected the needs of the “customer” – the bull and ram buyers.

The Helmsman system allowed a buyer to bid on multiple lots at one time without the pressure of the auction environment, to select traits that suited individual breeding objectives and to better manage the buying budget. 

Helmsman, and the subsequent development of Auctions PLUS, has produced not only benefits for bull buyers in identifying future market trends, but also has introduced significant benefits in animal welfare – less stress on animals, better meat quality and better eating standards for consumers.

In presenting the award to Bruce, John Gunthorpe, Chairman of the Australian Beef Industry Foundation, said: 

“For his leadership in on-farm conservation as a basis for a healthy and diversified production environment, his passion for promoting genetic improvement through objective measurement and his innovation in developing the Helmsman buying system, we award the 2025 Howard Yelland Beef Industry Award to Bruce Milne.  These words are included in his citation.”

Contact: John Gunthorpe        

Phone:   0400 403 456          

Email:    jgunthorpe@bigpond.com 

8^th September 2025

Bruce Milne receives the 2025 Howard Yelland Award from John Gunthorpe, Chairman of ABIF and Sam Inglis, Director, ABIF Education Fund.

Media Release

8^th September 2025

116 years ago in Central Victoria, Howard Yelland began weighing cattle, recording and making selection decisions based on the performance results he obtained.  Information based on measurement was the basis for the mating program decisions he made within his herd.

Each year, Howard Yelland, our industry’s champion of objective measurement and performance recording for improved selection in the Australian Beef Industry, is remembered with the presentation of the Howard Yelland Award to worthy recipients.  There have been 39 recipients since its inception in 1987.

The Australian Beef Industry Foundation and Marcus Oldham College are proud to present the 2024 and 40^th Howard Yelland Award to John Carter.  It recognises his outstanding contribution to our industry “above and beyond” his normal role.

John Carter has an extensive background in the Australian red meat industry through his tenure in the Cattlemen’s Union, CEO of the NSW Meat Industry Authority and Chair of the Australian Beef Association.

Before his recent passing, Don Lawson OAM in nominating John for the award said:

“John’s major contribution to the meat industry has been his pioneering work in establishing the Australian Intercollegiate Meat Judging (ICMJ).  When John was in the USA, he saw the ICMJ and he liked it that much, when he returned to Australia, he brought the idea back with him and turned into reality for Australia.”

Under his auspices as CEO of the NSW Meat Industry Authority, John was able to promote and develop the concept in undergraduate programs at Universities in Australia – the first competition was held in 1990 and since its inception over 2000 students have participated in the program.

Not limited to Australian universities, teams from USA, Japan, Indonesia and Korea compete in the program – Australian Teams also travel to USA to compete against the American Colleges.

In 2025, 10 teams and 150 students contested the ICMJ competition in Australia with Texas A&M University being the overall champion team.  UQ Gatton were runners-up.

John Carter was a guest of honour at the ICMJ National Competition Gala Awards Dinner in July where he presented the John Carter Founders Buckle to the individual overall meat judging champion, Katya Zapf from the University of Queensland, Gatton Campus.

In presenting the award to John, John Gunthorpe, Chairman of the Australian Beef Industry Foundation, said: 

“For his vision and inspiration in the development and ongoing support of the Intercollegiate Meat Judging Competition through an extensive program of competition and events as a pathway for encouraging the next generation of leaders in the global red meat industry, we award the 2024 Howard Yelland Beef Industry Award to John Carter.  These words are included in his citation.”

Contact: John Gunthorpe        

Phone:   0400 403 456          

Email:    jgunthorpe@bigpond.com 

8^th September 2025

John Carter receives the 2024 Howard Yelland Award from John Gunthorpe, Chairman of ABIF and Sam Inglis, Director, ABIF Education Fund.

Media Release

15^th September 2025

“Failures are okay, it’s how you respond that can make you a leader”

This is one of the “little things” that stuck with Edwina Warby, Senior Client Manager with Black Box, after attending the Marcus Oldham Rural Leadership Programme earlier this month with the support of LarnOO Agricultural Investments, a Benefactor Donor to the Australian Beef Industry Foundation.

Edwina was one of 8 scholarship recipients this year with the support of ABIF and their donors.  There were some other take aways for Edwina –

• Leadership is everyone’s business, it is not limited to positions
• Sweep the shed – don’t be afraid to walk in your team’s shoes
• The standard you walk by, is the standard you accept.

Edwina said: “I think the biggest thing that I have already found since returning to my work life/community, is really being more self-aware and mindful – taking the time to really understand before either jumping to judgement, conclusions or solutions. “

Those who shared Edwina’s experience by attending MORLP2025 with ABIF scholarships were –

Centralian Beef Breeders Association Scholarship

Ms. Annie Harvie    – Mount Riddock Station, via Alice Springs, NT

LarnOO Agricultural Investments Scholarships

Mr Ryan Ackers – Rose Grange Pastoral, Trawalla, VIC

Meat & Livestock Australia Scholarships

Ms Bella Hanson – Grazier, Hanson Cattle Co, Theodore, QLD

Ms Zoe Puls – AuctionsPlus, Rocklands, VIC

Ms Jo Tulloch – Bindaree Food Group, Inverell, NSW

Australian Beef Industry Foundation 

Ms Bethany Rands – North Australian Pastoral Company, Brisbane, QLD

Ms. Sarah Patterson – Santa Gertrudis Breeder, Rolleston, QLD 

Chairman of ABIF, John Gunthorpe said: “These eight impressive young people join an alumnus of over 100 who have attended MORLP with an ABIF scholarship over the past 14 years.  They are now making important continuing contributions to Australia’s beef industry supply chain.”

Ryan Ackers from “Trawalla” west of Ballarat commented on his time at Marcus Oldham: “The skills and knowledge I got from attending the Marcus leadership course were excellent. I have brought back many of these skills and tips back to the workplace and we as a team have unlocked new potential. 

Again, Jo Tulloch, who has recently taken up a new role with Bindaree Food Group in Inverell, NSW said: “It was an incredible week, and I came away with a wealth of knowledge and a fantastic new network that I’ll draw on throughout my career.”

John Gunthorpe said: “Clearly this is a life-changing event for those fortunate enough to receive the week’s tuition.  Personal development and networking ensure others will seek out this opportunity in the future and ABIF will be there with the support of their donors to offer encouragement and financial support.”

From left to right: Zoe Puls, Jo Tullock, Bethany Rands, Ryan Ackers with Simon Falkiner, Chairman of the ABIF Education Fund.  They attended the first intake of MORLP 2025 in May 2025.

From left to right:  John Gunthorpe, Chairman of ABIF, Annie Harvie, Bella Hanson, Edwina Warby, Sarah Patterson with Simon Falkiner, Chairman of the ABIF Education Fund.  This is the second intake this month.

Contact: John Gunthorpe, Chairman ABIF

E: jgunthorpe@bigpond.com

T: 0400 403 456