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Dairy Farmers suppliers in the upper Hunter Valley region of New South Wales are set to benefit from the extensive farming knowledge and expertise of new farm services officer, Kathrine Colaci.
Recently an Animal Health Officer for the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) in Victoria, Kathrine’s experience inspired her to apply for the challenging farm services position with Dairy Farmers. Her new role will see her providing advisory services to farmers on matters as diverse as animal nutrition, natural resource management and sustainability.
“I have always wanted to work in the dairy industry so this job with Dairy Farmers is perfect,” Kathrine said.
“I’m looking forward to working closely with dairy farmers in helping to the issues affecting their businesses.”
Kathrine recently packed up her home in Melbourne to make the move north to Dairy Farmers’ office in Hexham, New South Wales, where she will be based. She will also spend a significant amount of her time on the road travelling between farms from Maitland to Tamworth, where a large number of the Co-operative’s suppliers are based.
Kathrine holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) from Melbourne University, with a research focus on dairy heifers, and also has experience as a laboratory manager for the University.
Her passion for the dairy industry doesn’t stem from Kathrine’s own upbringing on a farm but is instead credited to her secondary schooling years.
“I grew up in Melbourne but spent most school holidays on friends’ dairy farms after I started studying agriculture and working on our school farm,” she said.
“I also started showing cattle through school and now it’s my passion.”
Kathrine recently returned from a six-month stint in America where she worked on a large dairy stud farm in Ohio and helped to show cattle at events around the country. She also worked at the World Dairy Expo in Maddison, the world’s largest dairy event, and counts the experience as one of the most satisfying of her trip.
“I learnt so much travelling around America and working with different farmers. It was a valuable experience and I have no doubt it will help me in my role offering support to Hunter farmers, for Dairy Farmers,” she said.
