Co-operative Farming: Future proofing Aussie farmers, fishers and foresters. We provide primary producers with the resources and advice they need to start or grow co-operatives.
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In this month’s podcast, we again focus on one of the leading co-operatives in the flood-ravaged Northern Rivers region of NSW – The Casino Food Co-operative.
The Northern Rivers region of NSW is no stranger to floods. But this resilient community has been stretched to breaking point this year, with record-breaking floods reaching heights beyond what anyone had ever imagined.
When the town of Sea Lake was left with no local pub, the community took matters into their own hands, renovating a derelict building and opening The Royal as the Sea Lake Hotel Co-operative Limited.
Meet our team
Representing SA, VIC and TAS
Since 1998, Simon and his wife have owned and operated a 200-acre property 50km south of Adelaide. They run 80 cattle, produce approximately 2000L of olive oil annually and look after a 300-hectare eucalypt and pine forest. Simon has a great love of the land and of the people in rural communities. Simon is also the former chair of Almondco Australia Limited, a SA-based almond processing company. Almondco has a powerful cooperative culture focusing on the best interests of its almond grower members. It is a fully vertically integrated company with both domestic and export markets and an annual turnover of approximately $250m. Simon finished this role in early 2020.
Representing NSW, ACT and QLD
Greg has spent his entire life working in the agricultural sector, firstly as a dairy share farmer, then moving to farm ownership in his mid-twenties. Greg currently runs a 300-strong dairy herd in partnership with his wife and son at Goolmangar near Lismore. Greg is also a member of the Northern Rivers Cooperatives Alliance. He is a strong believer in working co-operatively for better outcomes for all. Greg was a Director of Norco Co-operative Limited since 1996 and held the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1999 to 2020.
Representing WA and NT
Greg is the former Group CEO of Capricorn Society and serves as a director of the International Cooperative Alliance (ICA), the global peak body for co-operatives. He is also the Chair of the ICA Audit and Risk Committee and the Chairman of the Margaret River Wine Association. He has held a variety of relevant directorships including CUSCAL, Edith Cowan University, Automotive Holdings, COOPS WA and Home Building Society. Greg was the Chairman of the Australian International Year of Cooperatives Secretariat, led the formation of the Business Councils of Mutuals and Cooperatives in Australia and was a director. In 2019 he was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia, recognising his outstanding achievement and service to business and to the community.
The work Sorted. and the BCCM did to bring together a likeminded group of fishermen and their families, and solidify the direction for the establishment of the LCFC has been and continues to be, instrumental to the LCFC’s successful operation.
Justin Phillips, Secretary & Assisting ConsultantLimestone Coast Fishermen’s Co-operative LimitedOur partners
