NOTICE TO MEMBERS OF A GENERAL ELECTION BY BALLOT
Nominations were called for vacant positions on the Association's national bodies. Since 2017 the pathway for elections to the national bodies has changed. It is important that members understand the various aspects of the direct election process.
Board Vacancies
According to Part 5 – Section 3 – Election of Board members and tenure of office of the Association Rules should the number of nominees exceed the number of vacancies on the Board, an election shall take place.
Each voting member is entitled to vote for any number of candidates not exceeding the number of vacancies. There are four (4) vacancies for the Board as follows:
- Two 3-year terms
- One 2-year term
- One 1-year term
Listed below in random order are the candidates in the 2025 general election by ballot for four (4) vacant Board positions.
- William Morgan
- Craig Cochrane
- Philip Hall
- Victoria Patten
- Garry Carpenter
Candidates have preferenced the following terms:
- William Morgan, Craig Cochrane and Victoria Patten have preferenced a 3-year term, followed by 2-year and then 1-year terms.
- Philip Hall has preferenced a 3-year term only.
- Garry Carpenter has preferenced a 1-year term only due to term limits.
william morgan
Waterloo Holsteins, 1185 Lowrie Road, Bamawm, VIC 3561
I am seeking your support as a candidate for the Board of Holstein Australia. Together with my wife and family, we milk 320 registered Holsteins under the Waterloo and Louden Hill prefixes in Northern Victoria.
My career has included working on dairy farms, serving as a Holstein Australia classifier, and working in genetics and herd improvement. For the past two years, I have also served on the BDCC. These experiences have given me skills in negotiation, relationship building, communication, business, and finance, which I believe will benefit the Board.
Holstein Australia’s core focus must remain delivering member services efficiently and competitively while ensuring financial sustainability. A viable organisation can continue to support members and invest in new initiatives.
Equally important is maintaining Holstein Australia’s strong sense of community among people passionate about Holstein cattle.
Feel free to contact me to discuss further. Thank you for your support.
Mobile: 0448 575 807 Email: morganwj1980@gmail.com
craig cochrane
Parrabel Holsteins, 451 Comerong Island Road, Nowra, NSW 2541
Raised in Bega and actively involved with our stud Parrabel, I’ve been immersed in agriculture my entire life. I’ve milked up to 800 cows, owned and shown Holsteins globally, and currently co-own cattle in North America, Europe, and Australia.
I’ve attended Holstein Sub Branch meetings since childhood and remain involved with the South Coast and Tablelands branch. I believe the breed and Association are at a pivotal moment in maintaining relevance within the industry.
Professionally, I bring strategic planning, budgeting, and goal-setting experience. As Director of Strategic Planning & Corporate Development at Bunge, I see strong alignment between my expertise and the leadership needed to guide the Holstein breed forward.
Mobile: 0407 418 094 Email: cccochrane@outlook.com
Philip Hall
Roblynne Holsteins, PO Box 35, Harvey, WA 6220
With a lifelong commitment to Holsteins and the Australian dairy industry, I am seeking re-election to the Holstein Australia Board to continue delivering value to our members, strengthen breed development, and ensure our services meet the evolving needs of today’s farmers.
Over my time on the Board, I’ve focused on practical outcomes – improving service accessibility, supporting innovation in animal registration and classification, and being a strong voice for both commercial and stud breeders.
I bring a collaborative, solution-oriented approach to Board discussions and a deep understanding of what matters most to members.
If re-elected, I will continue advocating for:
- Member-first service delivery and pricing
- Greater engagement with young breeders and future leaders
- A strong, modern voice for Holsteins in industry decision-making
Thank you for the opportunity to represent you. I welcome your feedback and support.
Mobile: 0407 773 517 Email: phall@holstein.com.au
victoria patten
Ryanna Holsteins, 1351 Lardners Track, Lardner, VIC 3821
I have been a member of Holstein Australia since 1979 when I married Shane, and together we have farmed as Ryanna Holsteins ever since.
For over 35 years I have served as Secretary or Treasurer in both the East and West Gippsland sub-branches and am proud to be a Life Member of the East Gippsland branch — an honour I deeply value. I was also a member of the South Gippsland branch when we were first married.
For 10 years I cooked and ran the kitchen at the All Breeds Youth Camp, which strengthened my passion for supporting and encouraging young people in the dairy industry.
My vision is for Holstein Australia to remain a strong, viable organisation that unites breeders who share a love of their cattle. I believe I am a clear thinker who understands the industry’s challenges and the direction we should take for the future.
Mobile: 0427 451 486 Email: ryannaholsteins@netspace.net.au
Garry carpenter
Garerley Holsteins, 577A Preston Road, North Motton, TAS 7315
I am pleased to nominate for re-election to the Holstein Australia Board. As a dairy farmer in Riana, Tasmania, running a 350-cow Holstein herd, I have seen first-hand both the challenges and opportunities facing our breed and industry.
At this important time for our Association, I believe we must stay focused. The changes recently recommended for Holstein Australia are essential, and I am committed to seeing them through to ensure the organisation becomes stronger, more resilient, and ready for the future.
My experience in commercial dairying, genetics, and pasture development, along with long-term involvement in Holstein Australia, provide valuable perspective. I bring practical understanding of the pressures farmers face and a deep belief in the strength of our Holstein community.
I want to help position Holstein Australia so that our breed continues to lead, support members, and meet the evolving needs of Australian dairy farming.
Mobile: 0407 376 256 Email: gcarpenter@holstein.com.au
How to vote
Eligible members who opt to receive their Association communication electronically, will receive an email after 5pm AEDT on Thursday 23rd October 2025 from the Simply Voting secure online election platform, containing full details on how to cast your ballot.
Eligible members who opt to receive their Association communication by mail will receive the notice of election, ballot paper and candidate resumes by post.
Members financial at the time of the election are entitled to participate in the ballot. Votes must be registered no later than 5pm AEDT on Thursday 13th November 2025.
Appointment of Returning Officer
The Board has appointed a Returning Officer to oversee the return of ballots and scrutiny of results.
Declaration of Results
The election results will be announced at the Annual General Meeting to be held at the Holstein Australia office, Dairy House, AgriBio, 5 Ring Road, Bundoora, Victoria 3083 and online on Thursday 20th November 2025 and recorded in the minutes of the meeting.