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Terraweena’s main strength is undoubtedly its dedicated team of management and staff. Through its many years of operation, the stud has seen many employees but the current team is largely responsible for maintaining the stud's overwhelming success both in the show ring and in the market place. It is through their dedication and diligence that the stud is poised to tackle this new era in its history.
Geof Burnett-Smith
Since the company's inception, Geof has been the Managing Director of Australian Breeding Services. It was through his and Celia’s vision that, not only the Terraweena stud, but the Australian Boer goat industry was launched.
Having introduced the South African Boer goat to the world, Geof has worked tirelessly to promote this wonderful breed. His passion for the breed has taken him to almost every corner of the globe where he shares his knowledge and returns with a broadened understanding of the breed's capabilities in differing environmental and management conditions.
Geof has spent a lifetime involved in rural practices both in Australia and in Africa, but it is from his years of devotion to the Boer goat industry that the stud has most benefited and become recognised and acclaimed, world wide. Geof, a founder member of the BGBAA, started the very association that we have today, with Celia and a group of enterprising early breeders. Having contributed so substantially to the Boer goat industry, Geof is now content leading a more ‘hands on’ role within the stud.
Celia Burnett-Smith
Celia's primary role is that of company Stud Director. In consultation with the team, Celia is charged with the responsibility of determining the breeding direction of the stud. It is through her diligence and remarkable eye that the stud enjoys such continual success in its breeding development and in the show ring.
Having assisted over the years with the development of Terraweena and the Boer goat industry generally, Celia has, more recently, devoted a large amount of her time and energies to formalising her knowledge of the finer points of 'judging the Boer goats' through advanced training, both here in Australia and in South Africa.
In order to pursue the higher levels of education, Celia attended and passed a South African Senior Judging school in 2006. She has now been greatly honoured by receiving an invitation to attend a South African Judges Course, in South Africa in September 2007. This is the highest accreditation in the judging of Boer goats that is achievable world wide. Such an invitation is an honour that many breeders may wait a life time and never receive.
Angus Burnett-Smith
Angus has, in one way or another, been involved with the industry and the stud since its inception. He is now the Farm Manager for Australian Breeding Services and, in this role, is responsible not only for the welfare of the animals, but for the day to day management of all operations conducted on any of the properties under management by the company.
Angus is also responsible for marketing and promotion. His flair for photography has proven to be a valuable asset to the stud, ensuring the stock is always well depicted in promotional material. Angus' appreciation for modernism, taste and style has energised the profile of the company.
The years of dealing with Boer goats has enhanced Angus' natural regard for the breed and developed an interest that will span a lifetime. His enthusiasm for the industry has led Angus to pursue his own judging accreditations and, in 2006, Angus became one of the country's first Level 2 Judges.
Angus is the current (2007 - 2008) Chairman of the Queensland Boer Goat Assocation and manages the Stud and Commercial Developement Portfolios
Angus is a devoted member of the ABS team, providing input into all aspects of the stud and its properties.
Bill Harms
Bill is an invaluable member of the Terraweena team who is very much called on as an ‘all purpose Manager’. Bill’s years in the cattle industry and a lifetime on the land brings an ability to handle any situation that arises. This talent extends from mending a needy fixture to innovation of new infrastructure which, in turn, allows us to run an exceptionally streamlined organisation.
Bill is largely responsible for property development and farm up keep and is kept busy ensuring the overall order (and orderliness) of the mechanics of the company. He is respected and appreciated for his ability to accomplish any task no matter how challenging the task solution might appear to the rest of us.
Lara Burnett-Smith
Lara is the company's Assistant Manager, usually found attending to newly born kids and other livestock needs. She doubles as the stud's ‘on farm vet’ which she accomplishes in-between attending to a never ending demand for administrative matters.
Her natural affection for all stock ensures that each animal is cared for individually, a dedication which is reflected in the overall health and vitality of the flock. The welfare of the animals would be poorer without her input, knowledge and application.
Emma Cabot
Emma is the Office Manager.
Whilst the animals are tended to and the company's marketing is in hand, it is Emma that carries the responsibility for the company's pressing statutory, accounting and financial matters.
Emma’s tasks include everything from paying the bills, to shareholder liaison, to maintaining the registrations of the company's stock, and most things in-between. Emma’s thoroughness and attention to detail is certainly one of ABS’s greatest assets.
Emma's husband, Peter, who has assisted the company in many ways over the years through his computer and technology knowledge, has designed, specifically for Terraweena, a comprehensive package named 'Stud Mate' which records extensive data on each animal's breeding history. Emma is responsible for the input and upkeep of all this data which dates back to the original Terraweena animals.
The order which prevails in Emma's domain is a comfort to us all!
Cathy Lee
Few people in the world, outside Africa, are as familiar with the breeding of goats as Cathy Lee. In recent years she has expanded her capabilities to include the breeding of Dorper sheep. We are very fortunate that Cathy assists and shares her knowledge with us at Terraweena.
Cathy has been as much a part of Terraweena's history as the goats themselves. Originally from New Zealand, she was employed in 1989 to prepare the recipients for implantation of the original embryos. Cathy was responsible for maintaining the animals through the 5 year quarantine period in South Australia and for the first ten years of Terraweena's operaion. Cathy has and still is providing an invaluable contribution to the stud and to the industry since the outset.
The practical nature of her expertise and her tried and tested techniques in all facets of goat husbandry have ensured the safe delivery and establishment of untold numbers of animals for the Terraweena stud over the years. Greater loss of these early animals would have resulted in loss of bloodlines which are now an integral part of the Australian Boer goat registry.
Cathy's input and loyalty is second to none and is highly appreciated by all who know her here at Terraweena.
Farm Staff
An operation of such diversity proves very labour intensive and it is only with the further input of Tristram and Nathaniel Smith that the stud is able to operate on such a scale. The devotion and willingness of the staff, past and present, is of crucial importance and it is due to their contribution that Terraweena has achieved to its current level.
We are extremely appreciative of the ongoing contribution that the team makes on a daily basis, in fair weather and foul, and we look forward to continuing with this dedicated team.
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