Marion Gibbins, the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Association of the Stud Merino Breeders from 2013 to March 2016, was awarded an honorary life membership of the AASMB on Friday 8^th of April at the Balmoral Sire Evaluation Field day at “Mepungah”, Wannon, west of Hamilton, Victoria.

This meritorious award was presented to Marion by Phil Toland, past president and treasurer of the AASMB, for outstanding service to the AASMB and to the Merino industry at large. As CEO, Marion made a major contribution to the association’s restructure and modernization of online stud registrations and the Flock Register Database. Marion proved to be a highly skilled business manager, with a strong work ethic and exceptional organizational skills. Her vast knowledge of and passion for the Merino industry has been fully appreciated by all those who have had the privilege to work with her.

Apart from running her own business in Topstud sheep computer software, and data manager for various producers across Australia, Marion has been involved all her life with her family’s commercial and stud Merino property at Gringegalgona in the Balmoral district of western Victoria, where she grew up.

Other major contributions to the merino industry include

Executive Secretary, Victorian Stud Merino Sheep Breeders Association – 7 years

Manager, Balmoral Sire Evaluation Group – 7 years

CEO/ Director/ Secretary, Australian Woolgrowers Association – 5 years

Facilitator, Merino section of the Australian Sheep & Wool Show Bendigo – 12 years

Secretary, Horsham Agricultural Society – 5 years

Secretary/ Director, Wool Market Linkages Ltd. – 12 years

Member, Australian Wool Innovation, industry rep. Merino Consultative Group

Member, National Wool Forecasting Committee.

Of special note is the Hamilton Sheepvention Monarch Award and her latest skillset, that of check-out chick at her family’s grocer outlet on the BellarinePeninsula.

Article by: Phil Toland