GOUGH, James William OAMIn the 2022 Australia Day Honours, James William Gough received a Medal pf the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the livestock industry.
Continuing in the footsteps of five generations of farming in Branxholme, Jim Gough is a pioneer in his industry. He has been working on the land for 55 years, and in that time has pioneered selective breeding practices in Australia for Corriedale sheep and Hereford cattle.
Jim was educated at The Geelong College and then completed his Agricultural Science degree in Melbourne before returning to the family farm. In his early years, Jim invested in Corriedale sheep. He joined the Australian Corriedale Association and was keen to improve genetics in breeding, starting with his own meticulous record keeping. He later became the first President of the Corriedale Performance Group.
After the drought of 1967, Jim diversified his business by investing in Hereford cattle. Again, with this new livestock, he soon was leading the pack. He became a founding member of the National Beef Recording Scheme (now BREEDPLAN) and led the first selective breeding program of Herefords in Australia.
Apart from Jim’s pioneering selective breeding practices, he also led changes in wool sales. He was the first to sell pre-sale tested Corriedale wool in Australia. It is now a common practice.
Jim has invested much of his life to his industry and community. He is a show judge and long-serving federal councillor of Australian Corriedale Association and Herefords Australia and served as vice president of the Beef Improvement Association of Australia. In 2012 he received the Howard Yelland Award for outstanding service to the Australian beef industry.
Jim boarded at The Geelong College from 1954, completing his matriculation in Form VI in 1957. A member of Calvert House, he was involved in the rowing program as well as football. Jim achieved the rank of Corporal in the Cadets. His father Ray had also attend the college, 1926-1929.
Sources: Pegasus, Rural Achievers Recognised in 2022 Australia Day Honours List in 'Beef Central' , Pioneering Branxholme Farmer to Receive Australia Day Honours in 'Stockland', OGC 1953.