Vale: Robert “Bob” Macdonald

Robert Macdonald was granted Honorary Life Membership of the Murray Grey Society in 2005.

Robert Macdonald, known to his friends and associates as Bob, lived with his wife Beryl on their property Blairwood on the picturesque Bellarine Peninsula. On their 1500 acre property Bob’s family run a beef, sheep and cropping enterprise consisting of 400 cattle and 2500 sheep.

In 1956 Bob started breeding Angus cattle and in 1975 he purchased a stud Murray Grey bull. Greenslade Gemstone and joined him to his own Angus females. Bob immediately joined the Murray Grey Society and submitted a number of these females to be approved by the Society. Within a few years and after the purchase of several top bulls Bob had approximately 100 A Class breeders and was selling bulls to Stud and Commercial breeders. In recent years due to ill health and years of drought conditions he had to reduce the number of registered cows to a smaller herd while continuing to maintain a herd of commercial Murray Greys.

In the mid 1970’S Geelong and district Murray Grey breeders organised a Murray Grey cattle sale and soon after formed the Geelong Murray Grey Promotions Group. From then on it was a very busy time organising Farm walks, Field days and Sales in various parts of Victoria and interstate.

During his 17 years as President of the Geelong Promotions Group Bob represented the group at all coordinating council meetings and AGM’s as well as Sales Committees.

In 1989 the Geelong Promotions Group ran a Murray Grey feature show at which Bob and several other stud members each donated a heifer to the Geelong Grammar School for the establishment of the Timbertop Murray Grey stud. In recognition of this donation Bob was made a Fellow of the Murray Grey Society.

In 1990 Bob was involved in the organising the Inaugural carcase competition at the Geelong Show. His steers won 1^st and 2^nd in their class. The Chairman of the Carcase Competition, Norm Fort, congratulated Bob and other members on their outstanding success and informed the Geelong Promotions Group of the “crowning glory of Murray Grey’s dominating the event”.

In 1996 Bob was again involved in organising another successful Murray Grey feature show at Geelong.

Throughout his life Bob had been actively involved in community organisations. He is a member of the R.S.L. He joined the Fire Brigade in 1944. Attended Victorian Graziers meetings from 1947 and later became a member of the VFF. He was a School Council member and treasurer for 21 years. Bob is a Life Member of the Geelong Agriculture & Pastoral Society and the Bellarine Agricultural Society.

Bob was President of the Geelong Murray Grey Breed Promotion Group for 17 years, from 1982 till 1999 and contributed both personally and professionally to the Murray Grey Society and the Geelong Promotion Group.