Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay tribute to the life and legacy of Sir Graham McCamley, a leader in Australia's beef industry and a proud Central Queenslander. Sir Graham stands alongside tennis great and Rockhampton legend Rod Laver as a national treasure. In fact, the two used to play tennis together at the Rockhampton tennis centre.

Born in 1932 near Dululu, west of Rockhampton, Sir Graham's life was shaped by the land and by the values of hard work, integrity and community that define regional Queensland. From humble beginnings on his family's cattle property, he became one of Australia's most respected cattle producers. From a young age, Sir Graham's talent was evident. At 16, he won the Queensland Country Life Young Judges competition at the Rockhampton Show, displaying an eye for quality and an understanding beyond his years. A study tour of the United States marked the beginning of a journey that would see him help establish the Brahman breed in Australia and build a cattle enterprise across Central Queensland, including Tartrus, Royles, Glen Prairie, Oakleigh, Stoodleigh and Tanderra.

In 1975, Sir Graham became a founder and president of the Cattlemen's Union of Australia and a tireless advocate for producers. He believed in innovation, research and collaboration, working with the CSIRO and the University of Queensland to strengthen the future of Australian beef production. Sir Graham was the force behind the growth of the beef industry into the multibillion-dollar sector it is today. His service to agriculture was recognised with the award of an MBE in 1981 and his knighthood in 1986.

Sir Graham loved the stunning natural beauty of Central Queensland and the warmth of its people. In later years, he chose to retire to Yeppoon, where he remained connected to the community. It was in this time that Sir Graham released his book Roads in the Sky: The Life of Cattleman Sir Graham McCamley, which was more than three years in the making and reflects on his life in the cattle industry.

Above all, Sir Graham was a devoted husband to Shirley and father to Jennifer, Jacqueline and Russell and their respective families. He was a generous mentor to many, including me. His legacy lives on not only in the cattle industry but in the lives of those he supported, encouraged and inspired. Central Queensland and our nation are better for the contribution of Sir Graham McCamley. May he rest in peace.

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