Page 6 - National Poultry Newspaper

Peter Newing and Jan Penter, both of AAA Egg Company, at the 19th Australian Egg Corporation Limited industry forum in Perth in November 2013.
Ray Cant, just like his mate Peter Newing, was a bird lover right to the end. In this case Ray, despite being weak, on oxygen and only a year or so before he passed away, was still actively trying to breathe life into this struggling little silvereye.

OUT of the blue, so to speak, I took a call the other day on my mobile from a doyen of Western Australia’s egg industry.
I say out of the blue for two reasons, one because I hadn’t seen or heard from Peter Newing since I caught up with him over a cuppa in late-2013 while I covered the Australian Egg Corporation Limited industry forum in Perth for Poultry Digest, and two because even in his 70s Peter still has a dash of red hair, albeit more a combover these days than a genuine stand-up rooster comb.
I’m not sure if he ever had the nickname ‘blue’, but I guess he may have as a youth back in the WA bush where he grew up after his birth in the wheatbelt town of Kunu- noppin in 1941.
A former long-standing chairman of Golden Eggs and founder in the late 1990s of AAA Egg Com- pany, Peter still lives at Pickering Brook in WA’s eastern hills where he has farmed laying hens and deer for more years than he cares to remember.
Our connection also goes back a long way.
My father, Ray, who passed away in April 2014 at 80 years old, was, like Peter, a founding father of the WA deer and venison industry back in the early 1980s.
They also shared a life- time of love for their hob- by of aviculture, with both especially noted for their achievements keeping and breeding ornamental pheasants (as opposed to those you eat).
Magnificent exotic spe- cies such as Golden, La- dy Amherst, Reeve and Silver (none native to Australia) were bred and
Cant Comment by BRENDON CANT
swapped between the two of them.
They also successfully bred many species of par- rots and cockatoos.
I fondly recall heading to the hills with Dad in the 1960s and 1970s to visit Peter to enjoy swapping bird yarns (and birds).
An intelligent, strong- willed character, Peter was (and still is no doubt) quick to offer an opinion on any subject, if invited, and sometimes even if not.
But that big persona is what made him such a powerful leader for many decades in an industry that has always cried out for tough, articulate ad- vocates who will stand up and devote time and ener- gy for the greater good of the industry they profess to love.
Now, probably more than ever, the likes of egg producer veterans such as Peter Newing, lay awake at night hoping that not only their much-loved hens are safe and sleeping soundly, but that new ad- vocates are ready, willing and able to step up to the public ‘perch’.
I’m willing to bet, albeit not a betting man, that Peter holds strong views about consumers having freedom of choice in what they buy, specifically in the case of eggs, where caged, barn laid and free range currently present as the three available op- tions, but face mounting pressure, certainly from
activists and increasingly from selective shoppers, to cut one, if not two, of those options out for good.
Peter’s contribution to the egg industry has been acclaimed and widely recognised, most recently (that I’m aware of) two years ago when he re- ceived the Lindsay Bell Award for outstanding leadership and achieve- ment from Australian Egg Corporation Limited.
Then MD James Kella- way said the award re- flected Peter’s commit- ment and dedication to the development of the indus- try, including representing the Commercial Egg Pro- ducers Association of WA on government advisory committees.
“Since establishing his first farm in the 1950s, Peter has been a hands-on member of the Austral- ian egg industry and a driving force for change and growth, not just in the west, but nationally,” James said.
“It’s wonderful to see his contributions acknow- ledged.”
The Lindsay Bell Award was established in 2004 by Lindsay’s wife Mary- anne and the Poultry In- formation Exchange to recognise outstanding contributions to the egg industry.
Accepting the award, Peter, as always looking to the future, noted the importance of egg indus- try stakeholders working together to ensure the industry operated to the highest possible stand- ards.
“I like to think all egg farmers care deeply about the welfare of their hens,” Peter said.
“To ensure we continue to get the best results for the industry and for our hens, it’s important for us to continue communi- cating and working with government and our cus- tomers.”
That’s the perfect note on which to conclude this column too, with appro- priate animal welfare and clear communication the two drivers I believe are capable of steering the egg industry to a bright, sunny future.
Get one or both wrong and the future could look more cloudy than bright.
Make no mistake it was my blue
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First AgMAC meeting sets agriculture agenda
QUEENSLAND farm- ers and their communi- ties are one step closer to achieving a vision for the future of agriculture in the state following the inaugural meeting of the Agricultural Ministe- rial Advisory Council in Brisbane recently.
Queensland Farmers’ Federation president Stu- art Armitage said QFF and industry members were looking forward to further engaging with government to progress and resolve agricultural issues.
“QFF has been advocat- ing for AgMAC to be es- tablished for some time and welcomes this meet- ing as a positive first step in addressing and genu- inely working through is- sues the sector is facing,” Mr Armitage said.
“Many of the issues impacting on agriculture are complex, with various competing policy priori- ties and objectives.
“AgMAC provides a forum to address these cross-portfolio challenges and progress some critical competitiveness and pro- ductivity issues, as well as exciting growth opportu- nities within the agricul- ture sector.
“There is also a real need for long-term orien- tation and investment to drive a more competitive and sustainable system.
“AgMAC has the op- portunity to re-establish the agricultural sector as a strategic economic pil- lar and provide the best outcomes for agriculture going forward to benefit all Queenslanders.”
www.qff.org.au
Page 6 – National Poultry Newspaper, August 2018
www.poultrynews.com.au
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