SACune Function 1 October 2017

Visit to the I’Anson Property

Kym I’Anson is a UNE Distinguished Young Alumnus who has contributed significantly to our local chapter, always supported by his wife Katie, also a UNE graduate. We had heard and read so much about the I’Anson’s significant work in promoting sustainable farming in the mid north of SA, that once our AGM and the hotel lunch was over, we were all keen to follow Kym and Katie to their property near Saddleworth, to discover just what the family had achieved.

It was a perfect spring day and the countryside was covered in lush green crops of wheat, oats, barley, beans and canola. Sharing lifts, about 26 of us processed along the dusty track and finally sighted Kym and Katie’s home aptly named Prospect Hill – a gracious old stone homestead with generous verandahs that has been in the I’Anson family for six generations. We wound our way up the drive through ancient gums and parked in their shade at the top of the hill.

We were invited into a new stone annex of their home for tea and coffee and plates of fresh scones prepared by Katie. Kym explained that he had rescued stones from old ruins on the properties his families had purchased, to expand their holding. Every stone had a significant story to tell and Kym knew them all. However, it was the illustrated story he had to tell about his family that engaged us all. From the taking up of land by his forebears and the hard, hard work that they did to make a living for themselves and their families, we began to appreciate and understand the I’Ansons’ passion for sustainable productivity.

Walking through the restored garden, we realized that Kym and Katie and Kym’s parents, still resident on the farm, had done so much to enhance the property, not only in the paddocks, but also the houses and sheds and the extensive grounds. It was so exciting to see the I’Anson’s machinery. Huge machines to plant, to fertilise, to harvest and to bale; old machines that previous I’Ansons had used and the small machines that could, through digital technology, take soil samples and map the quality of soil on any given part of the property. Intriguing us all was the magnificent machine that fertilized and sowed each seed with minimal disturbance to the soil, hence the ‘no-till’ cropping technique.

Kym and Katie shared their story with us so generously and we really did notice an obvious difference in crop quality between theirs and others in the mid north. Their methods do work and they are constantly exploring, researching and practising farming methodologies that optimally balance productivity, sustainability and stewardship.

The I’Anson story will go forward as Kym and Katie discover new ways of doing things better. The passion of their forebears, their UNE degrees and their unquestionable commitment to their own land and the wide brown land of Australia, make them 21st century pioneers to be celebrated. And last but by no means least, George, Julia, Maria and baby Bryce, who are already immersed in their parent’s farming world, will undoubtedly continue the I’Anson tradition boldly and with confidence.

2017 SACuneAnnual General Meeting

Current President, Wendy DiMonte and her Committee must be congratulated on another successful AGM. Members and friends, approximately 26 in all, gathered at the Rising Sun Hotel in the mid north town of Auburn. (A few people were late, having forgotten the daylight saving change of time!) We were all delighted to welcome Kym and Katie I’Anson and their four young children to the gathering.

The business of the meeting was conducted pleasantly and efficiently with some good suggestions for the incoming committee. The recommendation that rural alumni can become committee members electronically, has allowed Katie and Kym I’Anson to become more actively involved in our Chapter. The annual report, prepared by Secretary Janet Skewes, demonstrated that SACune in its 21st year, is still a vibrant group that knows how to celebrate its members, to thoroughly enjoy alumni functions and to raise sufficient funds to award an annual scholarship. Bruce Dommenz’s audited financial report, showed just how fortunate we are to have yet another efficient treasurer.

The meeting over, and with late-comers well settled, we ordered and enjoyed a pleasant rural pub lunch with a rich flow of conversation throughout. The presence of the I’Anson offspring added a lovely dynamic to the gathering. Lunch over, we made our way to the I’Anson’s farm where two extra important components of the AGM took place. First, we were delighted that our 2016 scholarship winner Chris Hallion, was able to join us. Chris is a strong supporter of the I’Anson farming philosophy and has been given considerable responsibility by them on their expanding property. We wish him well in his continuing studies at UNE and hope the SACune Scholarship will have helped him achieve the Rural Science degree he is working toward.

Finally the Blind Auction, instituted by the late Dr Peter Jackson, took place. Dr Bob Teasdale may not be as audacious as Peter, however he enthused the group, and people willingly joined in the fun, even the children who began bringing out framed family photos to auction! The bidding was spirited especially when long bottle shaped parcels were offered, though it was obvious that all bottles did not contain wine, when parcels were eventually opened! The auction was very successful, and overall, we raised $212 for our scholarship fund. Thanks to those who provided well disguised objects for the auction, to the many generous bidders and to Bob who extracted bids from those gathered in such a humorous way.

Jennie Teasdale

8 October 2017