Bingara’s Elli Sinclair is the newest member of the Northern Tablelands Local Land Services biosecurity team.
Recently landed in the role, the home-grown Local Land Services Biosecurity Officer brings with her education and a range of production system experience to the critical role for local producers.
The University of New England graduate will join District Vet Dr Andrew Biddle, and another recent addition to the biosecurity team, Max Newsome, to support regional producers to maximise their market potential and meet national industry requirements.
With several years working part time on Bingara’s Booroomooka Angus Stud, Ms Sinclair then had two years as a full-time hand for the Munro family after graduation from Inverell High School.
She then headed to Armidale where she focused her study on livestock production, and after earning her degree, Ms Sinclair spent two years in an innovative Queensland agricultural start-up company.
“I was working in Ipswich at a camel dairy where I was training camels in preparation for milking,” she said.
“That was interesting just to work with different livestock and a different production system.
“By the time I left, the dairy was milking 60 camels twice a day and wanted to expand to milking over 500.
“It was really different because there’s not a lot of research in Australia on camels; their health, reproduction and milk production.”
Ms Sinclair’s role was to handle the camels that would arrive as feral captures and train them to go into the dairy.
The company created value added products with the camel milk, such as cheese and skin care products.
Now that she’s back on familiar ground she has already been welcomed by many familiar faces around town and at the Inverell saleyards.
Ms Sinclair said the role of Biosecurity Officer provides a way to assist producers in aspects of animal health, the creation and execution of farm biosecurity plans to follow best management practices, and control of invasive species.
“I’m hoping to gain more experience and exposure and be able to connect with farmers and work with them to help them boost productivity,” she said.
Andrew Biddle was very pleased to welcome Ms Sinclair to the team.
“She has been a tremendous addition to the team, bringing new ideas and experiences to the challenge of getting our biosecurity messages out to local farmers,” he said.
“The key to good on farm biosecurity is monitoring the health of your livestock.
“If you have concerns or questions relating to animal health please give us a call on 02 6720 8300,” Mr Biddle said.
