Rural Youth to reunite

The organisation’s “1961 P and O Shipping Canberra Award” winner, Graham Blight, has accepted an invitation to speak at the Grenfell reunion on Saturday, October 8.

In winning the award of being one of the State’s best young farmers from his rice-growing family property at Stanbridge, in the Riverina, Graham Blight embarked on an unfinished 55-year career which has seen him at the forefront of Australian and world agriculture.

Currently on a European fact-finding mission on behalf of the Australian National Farmers Federation (NFF), and World Farmers Federation(WFF), Mr Blight has dedicated his life to farming, agricultural politics, food manufacturing, along with community and organisational leadership.

Grenfell Reunion convenor Jim Griffiths, said Mr Blight’s acceptance was a fantastic boost for the 2016 reunion as part of Grenfell’s 150th celebrations through September and October, with all former members from across NSW and Australia invited to attend.  

“Men and women from all walks of life, who learnt their early skills in the NSW Junior Farmer/Rural Youth organisation representing a wonderful cross-section of achievement, will gather at Grenfell’s historic show ground pavilion,” he said.

“Graham Blight has been at the helm of Australian agriculture with noted achievements in the rice and wool industries, along with great success in industrial relations.

“We are fortunate to have this agricultural leader again give his time to the root organisation which launched him onto the Australian and world scene.”

Reunion organisers have adopted a mid-day luncheon format to assist in drawing former members from a wide area to enjoy the home of iconic Australian poet Henry Lawson, bushranger Ben Hall, Australian test cricketer Stan McCabe, and tennis great Jan Lehane, intermingled with 150 years of gold rush based history and today’s modern farming and livestock enterprises.  

“From Broken Hill to the Sydney suburbs, and all points north and south across NSW, the inaugural Junior Farmer organisation flourished under a club-based structure beginning in November 1928,” Mr Griffiths said.

“State leaders of the time saw the structure as a way to encourage wide ranging agricultural objectives, promote interest in community affairs, ignite a spirit of competition, and promote personal development amongst 10 to 25 year-olds.

“Focusing on these life objectives gained strong financial and personnel support over the decades from the likes of Ampol, Rural Bank of NSW, P & O Shipping, Dunlop Australia, Bank of NSW, and a host of other sponsors, with annual conferences, agricultural shows, and awards seminars highlighting club and individual achievements.”

Records indicate that more than 100,000 members, along with 20,000 club leaders and helpers passed through the ranks of the Junior Farmer/Rural Youth organisation during its existence from 1928 till 2001.

“Graham Blight was one of these young members, coming from his Stanbridge Club, who excelled  and benefited from the project based structure, which also encompassed public speaking, debating, and meeting procedure,” Mr Griffiths said.

Towns like Grenfell, villages and localities across NSW supported the formation of clubs which operated under the Junior Farmer banner until a name change to Rural Youth was adopted from July 1, 1966.

“Designed to address emerging lifestyle alternatives, expanding education options, and cater for increasing suburban youth interests, the name change gave the organisation broader acceptance among young people,” Mr Griffiths said.  

“The Weddin Shire, based on Grenfell, hosted many clubs and members from the early 1930's until the organisation’s gradual statewide demise in the 1980's, wrapping up in 2001 with less than 300 members.”

The reunion is in Grenfell on October 8.

Former members are invited to register for the event by emailing bonusdowns@gmail.com