by ELIZABETH ANDERSON, The Stock Journal – 01/01/2015
THE Ayrshire breed will be moving forward this year as a united organisation.
From January 1 (today), the two existing national organisations have merged into one; Australian Ayrshires.
This follows almost 40 years of division after a split in 1977 led to the formation of a second representative group.
Australian Ayshire Breeders Association president Scott Braendler, Jervois, and Ayrshire Australia Limited president Michael Hentshcke, Glencoe, are both optimistic about what the move will mean for the future of the breed.
“This is something really positive for all Ayrshire breeders in Australia,” Mr Hentschke said.
“Time has healed any conflict and the administration and members could see the benefit of one organisation.
“It’s good to be back together.”
Mr Braendler said that in the past, there could be a slight “us and them” feeling at shows between the two groups, but as new generations have come up in the breed, that has disappeared.
“All that has been and gone now,” he said.
He said the process of working towards a single national body took between 18 months and two years.
“The two federal committees have worked together to come up with a solution that was equitable and positive for the breed,” he said.
“Being a minor breed in the industry we know it’s silly to have two organisations. There was doubling up on everything.
“It’s not feasible or financially viable in the long term.”
A new constitution was developed and voted in, with the initial committee to include five members from each existing group.
The new committee plans to meet later this month and vote in a new president for the combined body.
Membership of the federal organisation also includes membership of each of the state groups.
Mr Hentschke said once the two had come together and decided to make the change, it was simply a matter of “ticking the boxes and making sure all processes are covered”.
He said there were many benefits to the newly merged body, including reducing job replication.