Results from livestock selling complexes across southwest Queensland
JUDY Honor breeds cattle as tough as she is.
Surviving three different types of cancer since 1996, Judy said the cattle played a big part in her getting through.
“I started with bowel cancer in 1996, then not quite two years later I ended up with a secondary liver cancer. I got over that, then in 2010 I had breast cancer,” Judy said.
“I am out of the five-year remission period. But I have a rare cancer gene so I always have to be on the lookout for it.
“When I had my liver cancer I’d be out feeding my cattle molasses and they’d be licking my hair and I’d have molasses all over me.
“But that’s what got me through some of those hard times. I’d sit out there for hours just talking to them.
“They give you a very loving feeling, they just love being around you.”
Judy started Brooklyn Droughtmasters in 2000 with the help of her husband, Wayne.
“We bought our first females from the national sale in Gympie. At that time we were sugar farmers,” Judy said.
“We always had a mixed herd of cattle, just enough to turn off a few weaners. We were in a partnership with Wayne’s parents at the time.
“We had a huge drought at that time and we lost a whole heap of cane.
“We decided to value-add by getting into droughtmaster cattle.”
Judy first found her interest in cattle while working with her mother, who had a livestock carrying business.
“I saw the droughtmaster cattle coming through when they were first being developed. And I absolutely loved everything about them – their temperament, structure, colour... everything.
“My husband works off-farm so I had to have something I could enjoy and I could appreciate the quality of the breed.
“My parents had cattle and horses. We did the show circuit for many years in the equestrian team.
“At the moment we’re just doing the cattle.”
Judy runs both a commercial and stud droughtmaster herd on their 300-hectare property outside Gin Gin in Central Queensland.
“At the moment I’ve got the least I’ve ever had,” Judy said.
“I took a punt that we were going to have a dry term. So I took advantage of the high cattle prices and destocked.
“I have 56 females at the moment – that’s my main breeding herd. Then I have a few heifers and I’m deciding which will be commercial or stud.
“And I have six bulls I’m getting ready for sales.”
The growth of Judy’s stud operation has been slow and steady as she battled with her health, but this year she is hoping to pick up the pace, selling her first bull in 16 years at the February All Breeds Bull and Female Sale in Gracemere.
“I’ve had a number of return buyers for herd bulls. I did sell a stud bull in a national sale back in 2003. So this will be my first stud sale since 2003,” she said.
“I have 26 registered females, and they are the younger ones I’ve been improving the genetics and the breeding on.”
Judy’s husband Wayne is very supportive of her cattle operation, and proud of her recovery.
“The rest (of her cattle) are very good. They have been registered and de-registered just because Judy is on an improvement and just wants to keep a nucleus herd,” Wayne said.
“Judy has a full line of droughtmaster cattle that she runs, and I would say the commercial herd is just as good as the other ones.
“It’s been difficult with the drought and Judy’s illness.
“The cattle have been part of her recuperation. She has kept up the breeding through the whole time.
“It’s been a wonderful thing and I’m pleased I can be with her and support her.”
Wayne is a third-generation farmer.
His family has been on the property since the early 1900s.
“My great-grandfather, Howard Honor, bought the farm in 1909 and started growing the first cane in the black soil country,” he said.
“My dad is 92 years old. He only left the farm two years ago.
“Unfortunately he had to move into aged care because of my mum’s health. He spent 90 years on the farm.
“I’m 60 years old, and my son Rhiess Honor and his wife Lindsay own two farms next door. He has commercial droughtmasters.
“He’s the fourth generation and his two children Wyatt, 6, and Chelsea, 4, are the fifth. They support Judy greatly.”
Wayne has been a local councillor for 15 years.
“I’m in Division 3 of the Bundaberg Regional Council,” he said.
“It covers 3749 square kilometres of the Bundaberg region out of 6500 total square kilometres.
“It’s the majority of the farming and residential grazing areas.”
Judy and Wayne always work to a 10-year plan in their cattle operation.
“When we began in 2000 we gave ourselves 10 years to see whether we could advance the stud side forward,” Judy said.
“And within that 10 years we had achieved a lot of good things. We had advanced our bloodlines and had AI work done.”
Wayne does all the AI work at Brooklyn Droughtmasters and got his accreditation from the Belmont Research Station.
“We basically have a closed herd. We bring in a herd of females either privately or through a dispersal sale,” Judy said.
“We select the bloodlines, types and structures of the particular female. Temperament plays a big part on the farm.
“I’m also impressed with the breed for their crossing abilities – they’re versatile.”
Wayne and Judy said their season had been quite tough.
“We had 200mm just before Christmas, but it’s been very ordinary since then. We’re starting to see very stressed pasture,” Wayne said.
“They are on pasture at the moment. I have been looking at feed recently though.
“We have about 100 round bales of hay on hand that we grew last year.”
40 YEARS OF ROMANCE
Wayne and Judy first met at four years old.
“Our parents were keen dancers and they used to go to dances in town. I used to play with Judy at the dance hall,” Wayne said.
“We didn’t realise until after we were married. But I have the photos to prove it!”
They didn’t meet again until they were 18.
“We came from different areas,” Judy said.
“Wayne was from Gin Gin and I was from Bingara.
“We had no real connection until my mother had to pick up a horse from Wayne’s mother and father.”
Wayne said Judy left her hat at the loading ramp, and he volunteered to follow the truck and take it back to her.
“I got chatting to her and found out where she worked,” Wayne said.
“Judy managed the baker’s shop in the main street of Bundaberg. I went in the next week to buy a pie and a malted milk, and asked her if she’d go to the pictures with me.
“I almost had a car accident because I was so distracted that this pretty little girl wanted to go out with me.”
Judy and Wayne will have been married for 40 years on March 10.
“I am so thankful I have such a wonderful family – three great kids and two great grandkids and a wonderful wife,” Wayne said.
“23 years ago I wasn’t sure if I’d have her this far down the track.”