A small contingent of dedicated OBE farmers are swapping their work shirts for black ties and ball gowns as they travel around the world to attend the Black Tie Gala Dinners during Australia Week in Hollywood and New York. They wanted to see for themselves just where their OBE organic beef ends ups. They will enjoy swapping stories about life in outback Australia with film stars and movie directors and hopefully even get to walk the red carpet in Hollywood!
The contingent includes OBE Beef Chairman David Brook and his wife Nell Brook. OBE’s General Manager, Simone Tully is a regular visitor to the United States, but this time she will be travelling with our Director, Scott Fraser and major organic livestock supplier,Sharon Oldfield. A strong advocate of the OBE group’s principals is Hugh Clarke who is joining the group for the first time. To make contact with the group during Australia Week, please phone Simone Tully on USA cell: 303 725 2240.
Nell Brook
Nell Brook is a partner and manager of Brook Proprietors, a pastoral enterprise that produces tonnes of beef for OBE. The business is centered around the remote Queensland town of Birdsville. Nell is responsible for the daily administration of the business. Brook Proprietors produces and markets organic cattle and supplies organic beef and beef products to domestic and international markets. Along with her husband David, she owns and manages six organic properties.
In the 1980s Nell passed her flying exams and obtained her private pilot’s license.
Flying around outback Australia in a Cessna 210 is an integral part of her duties managing the family pastoral business.
David Brook
David lives in the town of Birdsville, located in central Australia. Together with his wife Nell, they own and operate pastoral properties in the Channel Country area of the Lake Eyre Basin.
David has been active in local government for the last 30 years including 13 years as Mayor of the Diamantina Shire. In 2002 David received the Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the community, local government and the establishment of Organic Beef production in the region. He is a board member of the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame.
Like his wife Nell, David holds a private pilot’s license and navigates his pastoral enterprise in a Cessna 210 aircraft. He is credited with over 10,000 flying hours. David is Chairman of OBE Beef Pty Ltd. He has travelled extensively both domestically and internationally to promote and market OBE organic beef.
Sharon Oldfield
Sharon was born in Scotland and spent her youth in Sydney Australia. Her career started in the health industry, where she trained as a registered nurse. Newly qualified, Sharon left the bright lights of Sydney, for the tiny outback community of Birdsville. Here she took up the position of senior registered nurse liaising closely with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS).
Sharon left nursing to marry an Aussie farmer and manage their property ‘Cowarie’. The 1,000,000 million acre property is situated in the far north of South Australia. As their children have grown, they all share her commitment to continuing the family enterprise with plans to expand in the future.
Sharon is avidly involved in Natural Resource Management and has represented her community at both State and Federal levels, on a multitude of committees over many years. Sharon is a strong advocate for the Channel Country of outback Australia. She has a passionate belief that the management of natural resources and the aspirations of the people who manage them are inseparable. In 2001, Sharon was awarded the Centenary Medal in recognition of her tireless efforts and services to rangeland communities in Australia; and in 2005, Sharon was recognized through her dedication and personal interest in rangeland management and sustainability by the Australian Federal Government by being offered a federally funded scholarship. Today she is currently undertaking a Masters Degree in Rangeland Management.
Simone Tully
Simone co-founded OBE in 1996 with other cattle producers while living on a 250,000 acre cattle station in the Channel Country. She continues to manage the growing operation from her country base with frequent visits into the ‘big smoke’ to supervise the export office and liaise with clients.
The long term success of the organic beef sector relies on partnerships, transparency, integrity and stringent controls. By setting high standards OBE is recognised as a quality partner and is working with other players in the global beef industry to continue to build this market segment.
Simone held board positions with the Queensland Sheep & Wool Institute for 3 years, was awarded a $30,000 scholarship from the Federal Department of Agriculture, personally presented by the Prime Minister. Simone was invited to participate in the Executive Development Program for Primary Producers, hosted by Rabobank and Monash University. She is a member of several Federal industry boards that oversee funding research and development in Agriculture and has been appointed to the Queensland Biosecurity Advisory Council.
Scott Fraser
As one of the founding members of the OBE Beef group, Scott brings a wealth of experience to his role as both an organic rancher and Director of the company. Since its inception in 1996, Scott has guided the expansion of the OBE group.
Scott’s family has farmed their land for over four generations and together with his wife Paula, Scott owns and manages an organic cattle and fat lamb operation. His family property, “Nooyeah Downs” is located 700 miles inland from the east coast of Australia. The property is situated on a river and floodplain system called the Bulloo River catchment and is located in the Channel Country region of Australia. His organic livestock roam freely over 220,000 acres of certified organic land. The cattle breeds are Santa Gertrudis, Shorthorn and Angus cross compositions.
The operation of his organic enterprise is further enhanced through Scott’s ownership and operation of a Cessna 182RG aircraft. Scott is credited with over 26 years experience as a bush pilot and 3,500 hours flying time navigating the outback of Australia.
Scott’s cattle property is in a low rainfall area of Australia, receiving just 250 millimetres per annum. This provides perfect climatic conditions for organic livestock production as the low rainfall does not allow disease and pests to thrive. The floodwaters which travel slowly down through the inland river systems of the Channel Country provide nourishment for the organic pastures. The floodwaters across Scott’s property can be up to 18 miles wide wide.
Hugh Clarke
In 2000 Hugh established Aust Leisure Group having spent 17 years in the hotel trade and hospitality consultancy. Hugh has extensive experience spanning over 70 hotels and Clubs throughout Australia and overseas. Over the last decade, Hugh has established a reputation and relationships with Australia’s leading financial institutions and accounting firms as a professional hospitality consultant.
Hugh is retained as an advisor for the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and Outback Heritage Centre, located in the iconic Queensland town of Longreach.
http://www.outbackheritage.com.au/
Hugh’s close association with outback Queensland through the Stockman’s Hall of Fame sees him regularly travel through-out the Channel Country. OBE organic cattle ranches are located through-out this fertile region of Australia. Hugh’s commitment to the rural sector is cemented with a cattle property in Central West NSW.
