A glittering Roaring 20s ball was enjoyed by a large crowd at Birchip last Saturday night to celebrate BCG’s 20th anniversary.
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Robyn Ferrier, Cherie Reilly and Larissa Patton dressed in ‘Roaring 20s’ theme to celebrate |
The atmosphere was jubilant and joyful as former and current members of the Board, staff, sponsors and BCG members gathered to toast 20 years of local farmer-driven research.
Addressing the 140-strong crowd at Saturday night’s ball, long-time BCG consultant and collaborator Harm van Rees praised the initial committee of ten who 20 years ago had the “hair-brained idea” of establishing the Birchip Cropping Demonstration Sites (later to become BCG).
“It is because of the dreams and visions of a group of local farmers that we stand here today,” he said.
Harm’s comments were particularly poignant and his words seemed to hang in the air as founding BCG Board members and early staff went on to share their memories of the group’s early days and reflect on how far the organisation had come.
Such was the belief in BCG by its founders that local farmer Trevor Grogan agreed to donate 40 acres to perform research trials on for the next ten years. Equally impressive was the time and commitment put in by the initial board and staff when resources were limited.
Felicity Harrop, who was BCG’s first manager, recalled the high level of volunteerism and the can-do attitude of early BCG supporters which she credited with much of the organisation’s success.
“I remember all these people just turning up to the paddock to help get everything ready for our first field day,” she said.
“It was quite a sight, seeing all these farmers on their ride-on mowers mowing the plots.”
The enthusiasm of these early volunteers clearly paid off with over 500 people attending the first BCG field day.
This sentiment was reiterated by BCG’s longest serving CEO Alex Gartmann.
She said not only has BCG been important to agriculture, but it had made a significant contribution to Birchip and many other Wimmera and Mallee farming communities.
At a gathering of the current and original BCG Board members and CEOs last Friday night, inaugural BCG Board chairman Ian McClelland (who only stepped down from the position last year) remarked on the ethos of team-work at BCG that has carried through to today.
“Everyone pitched in to help. It’s been a team effort,” he said.
From a committee of ten and a skeleton staff who operated out of shed, BCG has grown to become a highly regarded farmer-driven research, development and extension organisation.
Current CEO David Chamberlin said that with over 400 members, 20 plus full time staff and a fully equipped modern office, lab and glass house at Birchip, BCG’s 20th anniversary was a landmark to celebrate.
He joined current BCG Board Chairman Caroline Welsh in congratulating BCG’s founders, past and present staff and all who was, or is, involved with the organisation on a job well done.
For more photos check out the photo gallery here.
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Bianca Abbott, Lousia Ferrier and Abbey Frew looking the part at the BCG ‘Roaring 20s’ Ball. |
