Industry to salute high achievers

According to QCL general manager John Warlters, the awards will be announced at a glittering dinner, when industry stakeholders gather at the curtain-raising event to Beef 2015, on Monday, May 4.

The four categories include the QCL Red Meat Achiever, which recognises an industry stakeholder who has contributed significantly to the betterment of the Australian beef industry.

"Previous winners have come from fields including research and development, industry advocacy, processing, lotfeeding and supply chain development," Mr Warlters said.

"We promote these awards to acknowledge the hard-working people within our industry and give them due recognition - and it is usually those who otherwise would not seek any limelight.

"We first introduced this award at Beef '97, and the inaugural winner was Woolworths meat executive Phil Morley. Other previous winners include David Crombie, Larry Acton and Don Heatley, just to name a few."

Also open is the Rabobank Young Beef Ambassador, which is open to nominees aged from 21 to 25 years. These nominees must be currently working in a successful, progressive farming business.

The winner will attend the Rabobank Farm Managers Program, a week-long intensive business-training course.

Previous winners include Rockhampton-born Sarah Becker, who was selected from a high calibre of young industry leaders for her commitment to a senior management role in her family's rural chartered accounting business, along with management of the family's Jarrah Cattle Company, near Banana.

The MLA Genetic Improvement Award is open to a commercial beef producer who best demonstrates a commitment to genetic improvement in their herd.

The Australian Registered Cattle Breeders Association will present its RW Vincent Award in recognition for outstanding contributions to the beef cattle breeding industry.