The grain industry’s finest
Big surprise at AgForce Grain Industry Awards
PAUL McIntosh and Greg Platz were the joint recipients of the 2018 AgForce Grains Service to Industry award.
In a reference to cricket, Paul McIntosh described the feat as similar to that of sporting legends Donald Bradman and Mark Taylor.
Greg Platz worked for the Department of Primary Industries for 50 years, and now works at Hermitage as a Plant Pathologist.
Paul McIntosh has been an Agronomist for almost 40 years.
“They couldn’t choose between Greg Platz and I so they gave it to both of us,” Mr McIntosh said.
“Don Bradman’s record was 334 runs, in one test match Mark Taylor got 334 not out, and he retired from the batting.
“And he said ‘my name will forever be linked with Don Bradman’s on the list, and that’s something special’.
“And I think the same way about Greg Platz. I’m pretty happy to always be associated with Greg Platz at the 2018 AgForce awards.”
Mr Platz and Mr McIntosh were both surprised by their awards on the night.
“A huge surprise at the Gala AgForce dinner night,” Mr McIntosh said.
“Which, I may add, was kept very secret by many farmers and my family from me, in the weeks leading up to the dinner.”
PAUL MCINTOSH
PAUL McIntosh was born and bred in Goomeri in the South Burnett. He first began working in the agriculture industry in 1974 as a trainee stock and station agent with Elders.
“Agronomy started to assume bigger proportions of my job in late 1970s in the Australian Estates Co, after I finished played cricket for Queensland Country,” Mr McIntosh said.
Over the past 40 years, Mr McIntosh has worked in a number of areas including Murgon, Miles, Wandoan, Dalby, Springsure, Emerald, and the Toowoomba region.
He is currently working for Pulse Australia and the Australian Herbicide Resistance Initiative as well as being a columnist for the
Rural Weekly for over 20 years.
Mr McIntosh said the best thing about his job is meeting the people on the land and working with them in their farming endeavours.
“Also the numerous morning teas and lunches at their kitchen tables was fantastic too,” he said,
“The many knowledgeable industry people that have assisted me along the way has been a tremendous partnership and I am very grateful for their part in my agronomic journey.” Mr McIntosh thanked AgForce for the industry award.
GREG PLATZ
GREG Platz is a plant pathologist and has worked for DAF for 50 years. “I grew up on a farm near Nobby and virtually I’ve been in research and extension since I left school at 18,” Mr Platz said.
“Over that 50 year period I’ve been working over most of the winter cereals – wheat, barley and oats – mostly in pathology and little bit of breeding.“
He has greatly assisted the farming community with his work with barley diseases.
Along with his fantastic contribution to the agriculture industry, Mr Platz also had a international rugby career playing for both Queensland and Australia in the 1970s.
Mr Platz said receiving the AgForce award was a very nice gesture.
“Some of the accolades I’ve got have been very generous, but also very rewarding,” he said.