New GSSA president Meg Bell, right, with vice president Georgina Rees

NEW Grassland Society of Southern Australia president Meg Bell hopes to reinvigorate branches across three states to shore up the society’s future.

Ms Bell, from Konongwootong north of Coleraine, was elected president at the society’s 60^th annual conference in Creswick last week and says the GSSA’s history provides a solid base for a positive future.

“I’d like to get all our branches across Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania functioning really well and ensure we shore-up the future of the society.

“Being a society that relies on industry and project funding is hard work.

“We’re constantly applying for projects and seeking funding sources and that’s an ongoing challenge,” she said.

“But we’re the only pasture and livestock-based society and with such a positive history in improving farming systems, we have a good base for the future.

“We’ve had a good reputation for such a long time and there’s still a lot to offer.”

As the chief executive officer of MacKillop Farm Management Group, a farming systems group based in south-east South Australia, Ms Bell also coordinates the Better Beef Producers Group in Victoria’s Western District and is co-ordinator for South Australian Livestock Consultants’ advisor updates.

Ms Bell was raised on a beef and cropping property at Millicent and joined the Grassland Society as part of the organising committee for the 2015 conference at Naracoorte.

“I got involved because I’d moved onto the family farm and could see there would be great benefits,” she said.

“I’ve learnt a lot and made really good networks and contacts through the society.”

Ms Bell said the GSSA was beneficial for all farmers and agricultural consultants.

‘There are benefits for industry people because they get contact with farmers and there are benefits for farmers because they have access to industry events and information,” she said.

Ms Bell replaces Matt Mahoney as president. Georgina Rees was elected vice-president.

The society was formed in 1959 and has branches in Albury-Wodonga, Central Ranges, Central West, Gippsland, East Gippsland, and Western District in Victoria, Limestone Coast in South Australia, and Tasmania. It provides a forum for the transfer of information, ideas and experiences in all aspects of grassland establishment, maintenance, utilisation, persistence and research.

For further information or to join the Society, please visit the website www.grasslands.org.au.