Man of vision and values

Rural and regional Queensland is all the poorer this week as the larger-than-life character with the distinctive voice leaves an indelible mark on an industry in which he was as vocal as he was forthright.

To paraphrase Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Australia has lost one of its most loved sons in the saddle with the untimely death of this unique and passionate beef producer, at a still-too-young 63.

Mr Acton, together with his brother Evan, operated Acton Land and Cattle Co, which runs nearly 180,000 head of cattle and more than 1.5 million hectares of cattle stations spread across central and north-west Queensland.

Today the family business supports both the live cattle export trade, plus the boxed beef trade exported to Asia and the Middle East under the Acton Super Beef brand.

But close to his heart was his love of the bush, cattle, horses, and a commitment to the preservation and growth of the unique Australian sport of campdrafting.

Mr Acton’s home of Paradise Lagoons near Gracemere annually hosts Australia’s largest campdraft, worth $400,000 in prizemoney, in a purpose-built complex.

The $3 million Val and Tom Acton MBE Memorial Complex was designed and constructed specifically for the sport. It was opened in 2003 and dedicated to the Acton brothers’ late parents.

At the opening, both brothers said their decision to name the magnificent complex in honour of their parents was because both shared a passion for horse sports of all disciplines.

But in a tragic ironic twist, ultimately it was campdrafting that ended Mr Acton’s rich and full life when he died last Friday night after suffering from massive head injuries from a horse fall while competing at the Clarke Creek Campdraft on May 2.

Mr Acton, a fourth-generation descendant of William and Eliza Jane Acton who emigrated from Ireland in the early 1860s, was born the second child to the late Tom and Val Acton, Wilpeena, Dingo.

After completing correspondence, Mr Acton attended The Southport School as a boarder before returning to the family property, Wilpeena.

It was during the beef crash of the 1970s that Mr Acton drew the brigalow scrub block, Orana Downs in the Middlemount district, setting the foundations of the large-scale Acton Land and Cattle Co to expand its land holdings.

The original Acton family company traded as Wilpeena Pastoral Co, which included parents Tom and Val, and siblings Robert, Evan, Elizabeth and Allan.

The family then added Weetaleba and Figtree Station in the Collinsville district, and in the early 1980s changed trading names to Acton Land and Cattle Co.

In July 1985, the family bought Millungera at Julia Creek in the CSR property portfolio sell-off.

Next the Collinsville district properties were sold, along with Orana Downs, and the family bought Croyden Station, Marlborough.

Brother Evan, just 18 months younger, said as brothers “we grew up together and did what most brothers do, but from a young age we always had the aspirations to make a mark in the industry, and own large-scale properties and lots of cattle together.

“We both loved cattle and horses, and we have spent our whole lives working with them.

“Graeme was the driving force behind this, and he worked on this vision everyday.”

In August 1975, Mr Acton married wife of almost 40 years Jennie (nee Beak), and they became proud parents to Victoria, Tom, Hayley and Laura.

His son Tom described his dad as a loving father who instilled great values into his children.

“My father taught us right from wrong at an early age, while other strong values he instilled into us kids included respect and the value of friends,” he told Queensland Country Life.

“Apart from these values, he taught us our love for the land and cattle, which he was so passionate about.

“During his life he built up a large-scale land and cattle operation, which was a dream that he and Evan shared as small boys.

“One of the reasons Dad was so successful was he worked as a happy family team where harmony between family members was important, and we have all been given significant management roles in the family company.”

Along with his wife and children, Mr Acton is also survived by 14 grandchildren, and siblings Robert, Evan, Elizabeth and Allan, and the extended Acton family.

Mr Acton will be farewelled on Monday, May 19, from his home at Paradise Lagoons, at 1pm.

The Acton family has requested in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Capricorn Helicopter Rescue Service or the Royal Flying Doctor Service in memory of Graeme.