CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Wellard traces its origins to Italy and the first shipment of livestock in 1950 Its first shipment from Australia took place in 1979 and the following year it was incorporated as Wellard the company turned to purpose-built newbuilds including Ocean Drover (13,500 dwt) which when built in 2002 was the largest purpose-built livestock carrier The company highlighted its capability of transporting 75,000 sheep or 20,000 cattle along with advanced ventilation The vessel which is registered in Singapore carried its one-millionth head of cattle in October 2015 The company reported the vessel had transported nearly 1.8 million cattle and more than 5 million sheep traveling over two million nautical miles as it turned 20 years old Pressure on the industry grew and in recent years there has been an increased focus from animal rights activists which documented poor conditions in the industry New Zealand banned live export in 2023 followed by moves in Great Britain Australia has limited the trade and is scheduled to end the export of sheep in 2028 Wellard which had recently had a fleet of five vessels began selling capacity in 2017 they reported the sale in 2024 of the Ocean Ute (7,300 dwt) leaving it with a single ship The business in 2020 had reduced operations and transitioned to chartering and logistics working with importers and exports.  Wellard’s board reported it was commencing a strategic review They said they would explore the long-term future of the company as well as the future and future commercial environment The Ocean Drover was cited as its flagship and the best in terms of profitability and capacity The ship was operating between South America and Turkey with the company reporting it has charter commitments till June 2025 Wellard agreed to sell the Ocean Drover for $50 million to Meteors Shipping a Marshall Islands company controlled by Göktaslar Et-Et Ürünleri Yan Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi a significant Turkish agribusiness with which Wellard has conducted business for some time the sale will require the approval of Wellard shareholders and is expected to be completed in July 2025 The company plans to distribute the proceeds to shareholders The board said it was exploring the future and was also considering delisting the company from the ASX (Australia Securities Exchange) They highlight the sale price of the vessel is substantially above the current net book value Telstra’s Enterprise division is on the hunt for a new head of marketing as Kate Wellard has left the business Wellard had been in the role for 10 months after previously serving as acting head of marketing at Telstra Enterprise for an additional four months an Australian-born cloud-native technology consultancy She also spent five years in marketing roles at IAG building a strong track record in financial services and technology marketing In May 2024 Telstra began a “reset” of its Telstra Enterprise business to help address issues “Our Enterprise business faced significant challenges in FY24 but we believe our reset with a streamlined product portfolio simplified customer sales and service model and reduction in the cost base of Telstra Purple will improve focus in the coming year,” the telco said in its annual 2024 report last year At the time it was also revealed that Telstra would cut up to 2,800 jobs A spokesperson for the telco told B&T: “We can confirm Kate wrapped up with us in December” Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday TimesShare to FacebookShare to XEmail UsCopy the LinkResources Minister Madeleine King and Premier Roger Cook have made their last pitch to voters on election morning urging West Aussies to make the choice that keeps the country moving forward Hitting up a polling booth at Wellard Primary School in Ms King’s Federal electorate of Brand and Mr Cook’s State seat of Kwinana the pair were all smiles as they chatted to voters volunteers and took a few selfies with locals Brand is a very safe Labor seat with a 17.1 per cent margin The Premier sung his Federal counterpart’s praises saying he was “really proud” to have “another member of the great local community” in Ms King She works hard every day for the community in Canberra and is a great and powerful voice in the Albanese Labor Government,” Mr Cook said Federal election 2025VideoCommentsRECAP: How Anthony Albanese’s historic election win unfoldedDylan Caporn Sticking to Labor’s well-worn campaign lines Ms King said West Aussies “face a clear choice” in this election “A choice between the Albanese Labor Government or Peter Dutton’s volatile Liberal Party and National Coalition that will simply cut and cut and cut,” she said Western Australians have a chance to support an Albanese Labor Government that will deliver the services we know they need and they want but also investing in the mining and resources sector and investing in the services that all West Australians need and rely upon.” The Brand MP said that she and her colleagues “have invested in Western Australia have invested in Australia and believe in Australians” “And there will be no deals in a minority government But I am going for that majority government just like the Prime Minister is,” she said Federal ElectionCommentsLabor unbackable to win with majority now punters’ focus Matt Shrivell Faced with a growing trend of younger voters turning away from the major political parties Ms King said that she remained “very optimistic that young people in Australia will support the Albanese Government” “Every voter has a choice when they go into that ballot box,” she said and put him against the volatile and often angry Peter Dutton who has no vision for the future of this country.” saying West Australians should not take the “risk” of a Coalition government “He’s come to Western Australia more times than the last four prime ministers combined “His Cabinet has come to Western Australia on repeated occasions “The fact is the Albanese Labor Government gets WA And I need a strong partner in Canberra to make sure that we can continue to take this State forward.” Camera IconWA Premier Roger Cook at Wellard Primary School Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper/The Sunday TimesMr Cook also took the opportunity to remind voters about the GST deal which he said could put West Aussies in a precarious situation if Mr Dutton becomes prime minister Peter Dutton didn’t back our fair share of the GST for all Western Australians — that should send a chill up your spine,” he said “The Liberals will rip literally billions out of the Western Australian economy.” But the Premier conceded that should Mr Dutton take the reins the State Government would work with him to continue taking WA forward “Western Australia is the engine room of the national economy So if Peter Dutton wants to continue to take this country forward he has to work with us and we will work with him,” Mr Cook said “But I need a trusted partner in Canberra and that trusted partner is Anthony Albanese.” Will you run the chevron city to surf for Activ with us The Wellard West Community Facility will feature a large community hall with kitchen storage, changerooms and first aid rooms.  Mayor Peter Feasey said the building would also feature a veranda/spectator shaded area and externally accessible public toilets.  “We want to hear directly from our community about what types of sporting clubs and community groups local residents want to see at this new facility,” Mayor Feasey said.  “We encourage all residents to visit our Love My Kwinana engagement platform and complete the community survey to share their ideas and preferences for activities at the facility and oval,” he said.  the City will open a formal Registration of Interest (ROI) process for sporting clubs and local community groups.  The $6.284 million project will be funded by developer contributions.  "It was a significant day for Kwinana as we broke ground in preparation for the new Wellard West Community Facility yesterday,” Mayor Feasey said “This project will support community wellbeing and local sporting clubs well into the future and we want it shaped by the people who will use it." Have your say now at https://www.lovemykwinana.com/wellard-west-community-facility Design image of the new Wellard West Community Facility. Something went wrong.The page you are looking for could not be found The fire was reported around 6.13am on Friday. A bushfire advice remains in place for people bounded by Mortimer Road, Woolcoot Road, Millar Road and Kwinana Freeway. There is currently no threat to lives or homes but residents are being advised to stay alert. Fire crews are no longer on scene and have left the area safe. ABC News News HomeWellard soup night champions local projects, brings community together in Perth's suburbsShare feel good This soup night with a twist is helping fund community projects in Wellard. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) An annual soup night in Wellard in Perth's south gives residents the chance to get grassroots neighbourhood projects off the ground. The best project idea, as decided by attendees, takes home the kitty of donations to help bring their pitch to life. Organisers say neighbourhood soup events have taken off across Perth in response to increasing loneliness in the suburbs. Link copiedShareShare articleOver a steaming bowl of soup, residents in Perth's south have four minutes to sell their ideas for positive change in their community. The Wellard Neighbourhood Soup event has helped fund everything from fairy lights in street trees to hot lunches for a local outreach service. The concept of the night is simple – everyone pays $10 for a bowl of soup, some bread and a vote. The pitch with the most votes takes home the kitty to help bring their idea to life. The event's fourth round was held on an otherwise quiet Tuesday in September at the John Wellard Community Centre. About 50 people navigated the line of trestle tables stacked with pumpkin, veggie laksa, potato and leek and chicken soups. Although it was hard for residents to pick what soup to eat, the choice of which community pitch to vote for was even harder. Wellard Village People co-founder Claire Cardew, one of the brains behind the soup event, said the night brings the community together in many ways. Claire Cardew said the event brings the community together. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) "First of all, we've got everyone coming together to share a meal and food is such a great way to bring people together," she said. "Four different members of the community made the four different soups that we're sharing." Neighbourhood Soups first took off in Detroit, Michigan in 2010, and have been replicated in communities around the world ever since. The event was created to bring community-based projects to life through voting and crowdfunding, filling gaps in services and local spaces in Detroit people had noticed. The Wellard event was inspired by a Detroit initiative started in 2010. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) Some 18,000 kilometres away from the US city, soup nights are having the same impact in Wellard. "Getting people out on Tuesday night when they may normally just be sitting at home bingeing Netflix and [now] they're bonding over something really important," Ms Cardew said. "You can see people getting really excited about actually getting involved in whatever's next." Previous Wellard Neighbourhood Soup winner Dion Harris was back with another cracking idea. She took out the top prize again with her pitch to fund music stands and sheet music for a newly formed community choir. "The funds will definitely be put to good use – nice sturdy music stands for when we perform out in public, shirts to make us all look uniform and comfortable together," she said. Dion Harris's ideas have proved popular with the community. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) Other pitches on the night included additional Containers for Change bins at a local school, a key chain library to swap and borrow key chains for school bags, and a community ABBA flash mob for locals to enjoy. Ms Harris said she came back to pitch again because the night was a "great opportunity to raise funds for something in the community". The event is uniting people on the outskirts of Wellard. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) "A lot of people in this room, we're familiar with each other because we do things like this in the community where you get to know people and aren't just a number," she said. "I live on the outer edge of Wellard… so it really unites us." Wellard is a fast-growing suburb of about 14,000 people and was built around its central train station. The train line connects the suburb with the city in 30 minutes and Mandurah in 20 minutes, but residents have craved more connection within Wellard itself. "It's quite easy for people to get on the train and go somewhere and then potentially get on the train and come home and not necessarily get involved in their community," City of Kwinana Mayor Peter Feasey said. Peter Feasey hoped other suburbs picked up the event. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) "So events like this are important to actually create community and build people's opportunities to create their own community within their street or neighbourhood." Mr Feasey said he hoped the event would spread to other suburbs. "It's important in any of our suburbs, not just Wellard, to have activities where local residents can feel some belonging and get to know their neighbours," he said. Ms Cardew said the soup event engaged people who might typically feel more isolated living in the outer suburbs. Wellard is about 30 minutes south of the Perth CBD. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) "For many of the people that are pitching, this is the first time that they've ever got up and spoken in public," she said. "It's an environment where everyone is here to support each other, it's a safe space, people can try something new in terms of getting up and testing their nerves and then everyone gets a big round of applause and is truly appreciated at the end of it." The soup nights are some participants' first attempt at public speaking. (ABC News: Courtney Withers) Soup nights have also been popular in other suburbs across Perth, including in Victoria Park and Hamilton Hill, and Ms Cardew said there's plenty more planned for Wellard to keep connecting residents together. She also said despite not winning the final vote, people should expect an ABBA flash mob in Wellard sometime soon. The accused allegedly approached the victim who was asleep on a ramp outside a building on Lake Street about 12.10am on Tuesday He then allegedly stabbed him with a steak knife before fleeing the area The victim sustained stab wounds to his neck and head He was conveyed to Royal Perth Hospital by ambulance for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries police located the accused at the Murdoch Train Station The Wellard man has been charged with one count of attempting to unlawfully kill and will appear in the Perth Magistrates Court today UPDATE: Three juvenile males have been taken into custody by the Rapid Apprehension Squad and are currently assisting with inquiries.  Rapid Apprehension Squad detectives are urgently seeking the public’s assistance to identify and locate three people seen travelling on a red motorcycle in the Wellard The people pictured are believed to be involved in several burglary offences and one may be armed with a knife members of the public are advised not to approach any of the people but to call police immediately on 131 444 Anyone with any information relating to the identity of the person’s pictured or the movements is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at www.crimestopperswa.com.au People reporting information may remain anonymous if they wish Australia’s Wellard is readying for a future shorn of ships The company has announced it is selling its last livestock carrier for $50m with the ship expected to be delivered to a Turkish agribusiness firm by July The ship is the world’s second-largest purpose-built livestock carrier capable of transporting 20,000 cattle or 75,000 sheep “We believe that this sale represents the highest possible value that can be realised for shareholders from the Ocean Drover in the current market,” Wellard executive chairman John Klepec said Wellard said today it is now looking at delisting from the ASX IMO is bound by the membership of its Flag.. This aspiration could only be achieved whe.. Don't have an account? Wellard Ltd. ( (AU:WLD) ) just unveiled an announcement Wellard Limited’s recent presentation highlights the company’s strategic plans and financial position emphasizing the inherent risks and uncertainties associated with the livestock industry The announcement underscores the potential impact of various factors such as market demand and regulatory developments on Wellard’s future performance while advising investors to consider these elements before making investment decisions Wellard Limited operates in the livestock industry focusing on the transportation and export of livestock The company is known for its services in managing the logistics and supply chain of livestock exports catering primarily to international markets Find detailed analytics on WLD stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Wellard Ltd. ( (AU:WLD) ) just unveiled an announcement Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Wellard has signed a contract to sell off its last remaining livestock vessel and will exit the live export industry later this year All articles from our website & appThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueThe company announced on Tuesday that it would sell the MV Ocean Drover for $US50 million or A$81.2 million and return the proceeds to shareholders The ship will be bought by Meteors Shipping SA a Marshall Islands company controlled by Gktalar Et-Et rnleri Yan Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited irketi Once a leading player in the live cattle and sheep export trade Wellard will exit the industry following the sale The vessel will continue with confirmed charters until June and the sale is expected to be completed in July The sale requires shareholder approval to become final and binding and is also subject to the parties performing the contract terms and signing and performing a Norwegian Shipbrokers' Association's Memorandum of Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Ships the Wellard board intends to return all of the net sales proceeds of the MV Ocean Drover to shareholders plus an additional capital return of any surplus cash on hand at the date of completion Wellard executive chairman John Klepec said the board was pleased to have achieved a sale price substantially above the current net book value of the vessel and they believed the sale represented the highest possible value that could be realised for shareholders from the MV Ocean Drover in the current market "The MV Ocean Drover has been the flagship of the Wellard fleet in terms of profitability and capacity and I have no doubt it will be a fantastic asset for its new owners," he said "Subject to Shareholder approval the sale of the MV Ocean Drover will bring to an end to Wellard's 46-year involvement in the global live export industry Wellard has set a quality benchmark for global livestock trading and logistics has been a major force in driving and maintaining the highest standards that the public expects of a modern agri-business linking livestock producers with consumers "I thank our many local and international customers and other stakeholders particularly current and former staff and service providers who have been supportive of Wellard's business throughout its journey." Wellard was placed on a trading halt on the Australian Securities Exchange on Friday pending the announcement The MV Ocean Drover was Wellard Limited's last remaining vessel after it sold the M/V Ocean Ute for about $18 million in September the company recorded a $US0.8 million loss for the financial year having recorded a $US15.5 million loss the previous year There were 744,298 cattle exported by sea from Australia in the 2024 financial year along with the 2022 financial year had represented 10 year lows While Wellard hasn't exported any live sheep for some years the company had raised concerns the live cattle trade would also come under threat following the legislated live sheep ban The company also reported that demand for dairy breeders into China was "patchy" with lower volumes expected in the 2025 financial year The annual report highlighted that while the MV Ocean Drover was contracted for the entire 2025 financial year a forward commitment Wellard had not been in for some time charter rates remained under downward pressure due to excess cheap livestock shipping capacity particularly in the South America to Turkiye market Wellard's only remaining potential income would be possible future compensation from the Brett Cattle Company class action Wellard's board will consider delisting from the ASX and continuing as a public unlisted company given the sale of the final vessel another decision that would require shareholder approval shareholder meeting timing and approvals process will be announced in due course National sheep and wool writer for ACM's agricultural publications. Former livestock editor for Queensland Country Life. Send your story tips to vnugent@austcommunitymedia.com.au Newsletters & AlertsView allDaily Today's top stories curated by our news team. Our twice weekly wrap of the latest in rural property sales. Our twice weekly wrap of the big news in the red meat sector. Industry news from Australia's dairy sector. The week's top stories curated by our news team. File picture.West Australian livestock shipper is looking at other business options after it collects a premium $80.2 million sale price for its last remaining vessel and quits the "volatile" live export industry All articles from our website & appThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueThe Ocean Drover's sale to Turkish shipping and feedlot agribusiness Goktaslar Et-Et Urunleri Yan Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited will reap at least double the ship's recently calculated fair market value and 65 per cent more than its $17.5m book value on Wellard's balance sheet The Ocean Drover has been the flagship for Wellard fleet which once totalled five live export vessels but the company said the offer price was too tempting to ignore and "exceptionally strong given historical benchmarks" Wellard contemplated buying a second-hand replacement or commissioning construction of new state-of-the-art ships to rebuild its fleet but said livestock transport market volatility and the sort of capital required for such a strategy made those options unachievable Shareholders have been called to an extraordinary general meeting on April 15 to approve the sale of the 22-year-old purpose-built Ocean Drover which is capable of accommodating 20,000 cattle or 75,000 sheep They will also vote on having sale proceeds paid to investors by August 28 as a special 15 cents per share dividend The 45-year-old Wellard is also considering a business restructure including potentially delisting its shares from the Australian Securities Exchange to return more cash to shareholders It could then continue operating as an unlisted public company While the Drover's charter work and current global live export shipping market conditions were profitable the company noted the vessel's long term potential and maintenance costs did not justify the risks to the business including more possible changes to live-ex sector regulations said it was likely the board would recommend the company's strategic restructure no decision about an ASX delisting had been made and shareholders should not assume it would happen Wellard's directors flagged they would be open to other business opportunities to deliver returns to shareholders after the transaction was completed by July "It is possible the company may identify some opportunities which may bring value to shareholders and the board will actively pursue such opportunities if they are realistic," Mr Klepec said Opportunities include Wellard's potential payout from the class action compensation claim owed to cattle producers and others in the live export industry following the previous federal Labor Government's 2011 temporary ban on shipments to Indonesia In 2020 the Federal Court of Australia ruled in favour of the class action participants but the current government has rejected the total quantum of the claim Wellard told shareholders at this point the possibility of a payout was the company's only remaining potential income but given the uncertainty around when and what may eventually be paid the claim was not being recognised as a likely asset decisions about the company's future structure would consider how to ensure any future payment could go to investors If the sale of Wellard's only significant remaining asset and revenue source to the Turkish company's subsidiary the Ocean Drover would continue to be chartered to international operators A 60 per cent decline of the dairy heifer trade to China in the past two years has meant the Drover has been primarily shipping beef cattle between South America and Turkey The ship is too big to efficiently service live beef cattle movements between Australia and Indonesia or other nearby Asian countries Owning and operating a livestock vessel like the Ocean Drover is likely to become more costly and complex over time Although Wellard acknowledged current spot market charter demand for its vessel was strong its board had a lengthy list of reasons for exiting the live export industry including tightening regulatory requirements around animal welfare "The Australian government has already legislated the phase-out of live sheep exports by May 2028 and similar regulatory shifts could affect other markets in coming years," the company told shareholders "In this context owning and operating a livestock vessel like the Ocean Drover is likely to become more costly and complex over time "By selling the vessel now Wellard mitigates the risks associated with future regulatory changes and avoids potential cost escalations which could impact profitability." The company noted spot livestock markets were prone to rapid demand fluctuations and freight rate volatility was also increasingly price-volatile because of geopolitical factors and supply chain disruptions The Ocean Drover is also due to be in dry dock for maintenance and inspection work in 2027 biosecurity concerns such as lumpy skin disease and foot and mouth disease had already impacted trade flows in the past and underlined the live export trade's vulnerability Wellard began its Australian shipping and livestock buying operations in 1980 listing on the ASX in 2015 with a capitalisation value of $556m its shares never lifted above their opening value around $1.35 each This week the share price gained 6pc to 16.5 cents on news of the decision to call a special general meeting to approve the Ocean Drover's sale and giving the proceeds to its patient shareholders Andrew Marshall is the group agribusiness writer for ACM's state agricultural weeklies and websites. He is a former editor at The Land and has worked in various Rural Press group roles in Canberra, North Richmond (NSW) and Toowoomba (Qld). Today's top stories curated by our news team Our twice weekly wrap of the latest in rural property sales Our twice weekly wrap of the big news in the red meat sector Industry news from Australia's dairy sector The week's top stories curated by our news team The impact of Australia’s impending sheep live export ban is already being felt in the livestock transport supply chain, with industry giant Wellard Limited finalising the sale of its final livestock vessel – the M/V Ocean Drover – for $81.2 million. Wellard Limited has been operating since 1950 and commenced its first live export shipment from Australia in 1979. The Drover was constructed in 2002 and was capable of transporting 75,000 sheep or 20,000 cattle and had travelled over two million nautical miles in its first 20 years of operation. The vessel has been purchased by Meteors Shipping SA, a Marshall Islands company controlled by Göktaşlar Et-Et Ürünleri Yan Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Şirketi, a significant Turkish agribusiness with which Wellard has conducted successful business for some time. The Wellard board announced the company would be commencing a strategic review to explore the future of the company and the commercial environment. As the last asset of the company the sale of the Drover is subject to shareholder approval. “We are very pleased to have achieved a sale price substantially above the current net book value of the vessel, and we believe that this sale represents the highest possible value that can be realised for shareholders from the M/V Ocean Drove in the current market,” Wellard Executive Chairman John Klepec says. “The M/V Ocean Drover has been the flagship for the Wellard fleet in terms of profitability and capacity, and I have no doubt it will be a fantastic asset for its new owners. “Subject to shareholder approval the sale of the M/V Ocean Drover will bring an end to Wellard’s 46-year involvement in the global live export industry. “Throughout its history Wellard has set a quality benchmark for global livestock trading and logistics, has been a major force in driving and maintaining the highest standards the public expects of modern agribusiness, and has helped feed the world. “I thank our many local and international customers and other stakeholders, particularly current and former staff and service providers, who have been supportive of Wellard’s business throughout its journey.” Given the sale of the Drover, which represents Wellard’s sole remaining revenue-generating asset, and the costs of remaining a publicly listed entity, Wellard’s board will consider the possibility of delisting from the ASX and continuing as a public unlisted company. Wellard currently has confirmed charters for the vessel until June 2025, and subject to fulfilment of all conditions, expects completion of the sale to occur in July 2025. For more than 30 years, Australasian Transport News (ATN) and its digital platform Fully Loaded have been the leading source of intelligence for owners and managers of medium to large transport businesses. All articles from our websiteThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueThe Ocean Drover's sale to Turkish shipping and feedlot agribusiness John Klepec with the livestock exporter's last remaining vessel File picture.Wellard may be about to quit the livestock shipping industry flagging rising nervousness about a potential federal Labor-Green coalition government imposing a sunset date for Australian live cattle exports All articles from our websiteThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueDown to just one vessel after selling its MV Ocean Ute for about $18 million in September the one-time leading player in the live cattle and sheep export business is now considering multiple offers for its 170 metre-long Ocean Drover A strategic review of the company's options and an investigation of the "credible offers" for the Drover are due to be completed in December The review coincides with Wellard chairman telling the company's Perth annual general meeting the live export market was experiencing a steadily declining trend in the number of feeder beef cattle being transported to Australia's traditional South East Asian markets Last financial year's total Australian cattle exports were just 57 per cent of the numbers sent in 2019-20 Feedlot capacities in Indonesia would need to increase to see any noticeable upside in shipping demand but prices and trade activity this financial year were expected to be similar to 2023-24 The shipment of breeder dairy cattle from Australia and New Zealand to China was "patchy there had been times when the dairy heifer trade was at a standstill about half of all accredited live animal shipping capacity has been engaged on this route Mr Klepec said the Australian Labor Party's long-running policy to unwind live sheep exports had already progressively undermined that trade Although the federal Labor Government currently supported live cattle exports industry unease existed about the sheep ban being extended to cattle if Labor was forced into a coalition or minority government bargaining position with staunch live export opponents in the Australian Greens or independent "teal" crossbench parliamentarians He said the security of supply was critical to live export customers Labor had previously buckled to pressure from those who wanted live exports stopped when it controversially banned shipments to Indonesia temporarily in 2011 causing considerable economic and trade relationship pain Mr Klepec also noted the current government was showing no interest in resolving the Brett Cattle Company's class action court case which followed the 2011 ban and found Canberra liable to pay damages to a cohort of industry participants caught out and financially penalised by the shutdown He said those supporting an end to sheep exports from Australia believed the same circumstances could be applied to cattle - beliefs which were not based on science or economics "There only needs to be one catalyst which could result in the live export of cattle from Australia banned," Mr Klepec warned "This could come in the form of a future Labor coalition with either the Greens or teals who have both voted previously in parliament (except for one teal independent) to ban live cattle exports from Australia." Banning cattle exports was one of the concessions being sought by the Greens in any agreement to support Labor with a capacity to carry 75,000 sheep or 18,000 cattle was too big to operate efficiently on the feeder cattle market to nearby Asian markets and could not be gainfully employed on the China dairy route it had been chartered to take cattle from South America to Turkey Mr Klepec told the AGM any board decision to sell Wellard's final vessel would need approval from shareholders at a special general meeting Cash proceeds from a sale would be returned to shareholders while selling the Ocean Ute had generated a bigger return than the 30-year-old one-time car carrier vessel was expected to deliver if it had remained with Wellard selling the 22-year-old Drover was not guaranteed to be the best option the world's largest purpose-built livestock ship was already chartered until the end of 2024-25 and revenue from the route grew to 53 per cent last financial year a decline in the number of ships meeting accreditation and market requirements in the global live export sector had created fresh opportunities for Wellard Wellard had achieved an industry-leading 99.8pc voyage success rate for animal mortalities and continued to enjoy strong safety results Mr Klepec said unless shipping standards were improved further and enforced by governments operators of old and outdated vessels would have little financial incentive to replace them with purpose-built state-of-the-art livestock ships "The current Australian government has shown no interest in improving national livestock shipping standards," he said "Those who place our valuable livestock and the long term sustainability of the livestock export industry at risk will continue to ply their trade." All articles from our websiteThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueThe company announced on Tuesday that it would sell the MV Ocean Drover for $US50 million or A$81.2 million and return the proceeds to shareholders Newsletters & AlertsView allAs it happens By Hamish Hastie Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time An anxious look washes over Roger Cook’s two minders as he graciously accepts our photographer’s directions to grab a knife and fork in both hands and face the camera “I’m hungry for government,” he says with a grin while holding the cutlery upright Premier of Western Australia Roger Cook at The Wellard With just five days left in the state election campaign it’s obvious the Premier is feeling comfortable and why wouldn’t he be – we are on his home turf WAtoday meets the premier for lunch at his local which “the Dad from Kwinana” boasts is a few minutes from his house He says he knows the menu like the back of his hand and orders a cheeseburger with no chips – just salad – and a Side Track XPA from local brewery Gage Roads It’s been 22 months since former premier Mark McGowan resigned, catapulting Cook into the leadership position and sending him into his first electoral test as Labor leader this Saturday. The sheer number of Labor MPs in parliament makes a Liberal comeback to government near impossible, so Cook will be judged on how many formerly blue ribbon seats he can retain from that 2021 landslide. He offers the same “we’re not taking any seat for granted” guff but, ultimately, he wants a clear mandate for Labor’s election platform. Balingup “Because my dad’s got a place there...it’s our sanctuary.” Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay - “It’s off the charts.” “I don’t sit awake at night wondering if it’s this many seats or that many seats, but we expect in any election, particularly after the 2021 election, that there’ll be some rebalancing,” he says. “What that looks like is up to the people of WA.” While Cook says he isn’t taking anything for granted, it is clear he has an eye to March 9 and what his new cabinet will look like. Finance Minister Sue Ellery, Attorney General John Quigley and Culture and the Arts Minister David Templeman have all retired, leaving room for new faces. As our pub grub arrives, Cook hints that his new cabinet may reach gender parity. “I want it to be diverse. I think gender diversity in particular is important in relation to the cabinet, and want to make sure that there are a range of voices around the table,” he said. “It’s an ambition. I have to make sure that we bring more voices in.” There are 17 cabinet positions, so true gender parity is unachievable, but to bring it closer at least two or all of his new ministers would have to be women. Roger Cook’s cheeseburger from The Wellard. Credit: Colin Murty Cook, the youngest of six siblings, sings the praises of gender parity as a positive influence in his entire Labour caucus, which has been remarkably united and disciplined these past four years despite the huge number of MPs needing wrangled. “I don’t want to make any gender stereotypes here, but I think the fact that 50 per cent of the caucus is made up of women now does make a difference to the way it operates,” he says. “It’s much less aggressive, and I think people hold each other to a higher standard of behaviour.” What will be harder to wrangle in the next term is the upper house, which Labor is likely to lose control of. Labor MPs will be replaced with more opposition members, Greens and a smattering of minor parties like Australian Christians, One Nation and Legalise Cannabis. Cook says he is not worried about this looming new political dynamic. “There’s only been four years in the entire life of all WA labor governments where we’ve held a majority in upper house. That was the last four years,” he says. “If we don’t have a majority there, we will do what we’ve always done, which is negotiate and work with the cross benchers and with the opposition parties to get good legislation through.” The Greens have been vocal over demands to curb the state’s oil and gas industry if the next government wants its support to pass legislation, while Legalise Cannabis want the government to – you guessed it – legalise cannabis. Cook shuts that down immediately, but says there are things they could negotiate in that space around medicinal cannabis. To the Greens’ demands he says: “There are areas which, quite frankly, are not up for grabs, such as keeping the economy strong and keeping jobs growth going.” Cook says day one of the new government will involve acting on promised cost of living supports like the $150 and $250 student assistance payments. However, much of the next four years will see his government pursue its Made in WA plan, which involves hundreds of millions of dollars spent on establishing green industries here like battery manufacturing, powerline manufacturing and green steel. It seems like the perfect time to ask him about his future in politics. “I was only elected 18 months ago, so I’m just getting started. What this election has allowed me to do is to really enhance and accentuate those issues that I see as incredibly important,” he says. He says Made in WA will take several years to come to fruition, so will he see it out? Cook has had plenty of great days in his short time as premier and some awful ones too. He says his toughest day in the office and his proudest moment were on the same day – the day after his mother died in June last year. “I had to greet Premier Li Qiang from China, then the full day of activities that required,” he said. “I was obviously deep in grief about the loss of my mum just the day before so that was the toughest day of the office, and also one of the proudest. “I proved to myself that I’m a pretty resilient character, but also I was able to do something that would have made my mom proud.” An anxious look washes over Roger Cook\\u2019s two minders as he graciously accepts our photographer\\u2019s directions to grab a knife and fork in both hands and face the camera. \\u201CI\\u2019m hungry for government,\\u201D he says with a grin while holding the cutlery upright. With just five days left in the state election campaign, it\\u2019s obvious the Premier is feeling comfortable, and why wouldn\\u2019t he be \\u2013 we are on his home turf. WAtoday meets the premier for lunch at his local, The Wellard, which \\u201Cthe Dad from Kwinana\\u201D boasts is a few minutes from his house. He says he knows the menu like the back of his hand and orders a cheeseburger with no chips \\u2013 just salad \\u2013 and a Side Track XPA from local brewery Gage Roads. He is watching what he eats, he says. I\\u2019m not. I order a parmy. It\\u2019s been 22 months since former premier Mark McGowan resigned, The sheer number of Labor MPs in parliament makes a Liberal comeback to government near impossible, so Cook will be judged on how many formerly blue ribbon seats. He offers the same \\u201Cwe\\u2019re not taking any seat for granted\\u201D guff but, ultimately, he wants a clear mandate for Labor\\u2019s election platform. \\u201CI don\\u2019t sit awake at night wondering if it\\u2019s this many seats or that many seats, but we expect in any election, particularly after the 2021 election, that there\\u2019ll be some rebalancing,\\u201D he says. \\u201CWhat that looks like is up to the people of WA.\\u201D While Cook says he isn\\u2019t taking anything for granted, it is clear he has an eye to March 9 and what his new cabinet will look like. \\u201CI want it to be diverse. I think gender diversity in particular is important in relation to the cabinet, and want to make sure that there are a range of voices around the table,\\u201D he said. \\u201CIt\\u2019s an ambition. I have to make sure that we bring more voices in.\\u201D \\u201CI don\\u2019t want to make any gender stereotypes here, but I think the fact that 50 per cent of the caucus is made up of women now does make a difference to the way it operates,\\u201D he says. \\u201CIt\\u2019s much less aggressive, and I think people hold each other to a higher standard of behaviour.\\u201D \\u201CThere\\u2019s only been four years in the entire life of all WA labor governments where we\\u2019ve held a majority in upper house. That was the last four years,\\u201D he says. \\u201CIf we don\\u2019t have a majority there, we will do what we\\u2019ve always done, which is negotiate and work with the cross benchers and with the opposition parties to get good legislation through.\\u201D The Greens have been vocal over demands to curb the state\\u2019s oil and gas industry if the next government wants its support to pass legislation, while Legalise Cannabis want the government to \\u2013 you guessed it \\u2013 legalise cannabis. To the Greens\\u2019 demands he says: \\u201CThere are areas which, quite frankly, are not up for grabs, such as keeping the economy strong and keeping jobs growth going.\\u201D \\u201CI was only elected 18 months ago, so I\\u2019m just getting started. What this election has allowed me to do is to really enhance and accentuate those issues that I see as incredibly important,\\u201D he says. \\u201CSubstantially, yes,\\u201D he says. He says his toughest day in the office and his proudest moment were on the same day \\u2013 the day after his mother died in June last year. \\u201CI had to greet Premier Li Qiang from China, then the full day of activities that required,\\u201D he said. \\u201CI was obviously deep in grief about the loss of my mum just the day before so that was the toughest day of the office, and also one of the proudest. \\u201CI proved to myself that I\\u2019m a pretty resilient character, but also I was able to do something that would have made my mom proud.\\u201D Balingup \\u201CBecause my dad\\u2019s got a place there...it\\u2019s our sanctuary.\\u201D Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay - \\u201CIt\\u2019s off the charts.\\u201D will again be officially owned by the shipping company by October File photo.One-time big name in live export shipping is hinting it may be about to exit the industry entirely as higher cattle prices and unreliable market prospects loom All articles from our websiteThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueWellard which now owns just one ship carrying beef cattle between South America and Turkey has commenced a review of its long term future said the shipping company was examining the best path forward for the company and its shareholders The decision to scrutinise the options followed Mr Klepec's cautious assessment of global live export market options in the beef and dairy heifer trade after Wellard posted an $1.2 million ($US800,000) net loss for the 2023-24 financial year jumping 1700 per cent from a loss the previous year to $6.4m depreciation and amortisation climbed back from a $6.3m loss to a $6.1 profit Although the shipping company's financial result was a significant recovery on the previous year's $22.5m loss and it had a busy order book for charter work until May next year Wellard's sole remaining vessel is only suited to long haul work That means the Ocean Drover relies on the Brazilian and Uruguayan export market to Europe and the Middle East and high value dairy breeder movements to China from Australia and New Zealand as its primary sources of potential business the Perth-based Wellard said live export trading conditions for all exporters ship operators and importers were highly variable While Brazil had the world's largest cattle herd and food security concerns in the Middle East were generating steady demand for cattle industry analysts were tipping price rises as the US beef industry went into a rebuilding phase "The market for breeder cattle into China is best described as patchy with lower volumes expected in 2024-25," Mr Klepec said The Australian live export market for dairy heifers had "sustained a material price correction" and NZ's export trade remained closed Wellard tipped Vietnam to remain an opportunistic and price sensitive export market with activity dependent on the cost of sourcing animals in Australia Expectations were for the volumes and fluctuations experienced during 2023-24 to continue in 2024-25 Mr Klepec said the business review would explore a range of considerations including Wellard's assets and long-term future the current and future commercial environment and how to maximise returns to shareholders from its Ocean Drover The shipping company cut staff numbers substantially in the past financial year after recently selling its ageing Ocean Ute and ending a charter deal to operate its former ship It also moved business operations from Perth to Singapore as part of its cost cutting strategy After years of trading headwinds he said the company was welcoming the tailwinds from increased trading activity between South America and Turkey Wellard has also overcome years of huge debts to end 2023-24 with the cash equivalent of about $12m on its books and has just netted $17.5m from the Ocean Ute sale Most of that money has been promised to shareholders as a dividend likely to be worth about three cents a share if shareholders vote in November to take the money The much improved financial results have been great news for Wellard's share price which has also revived from less than 2 cents in June to around 6.5c this week the long awaited financial recovery has followed the enforced sell-off of its shipping fleet which numbered five vessels in 2017 which Wellard technically won't actually own until mid-October The Drover became caught in an ownership wrangle which Wellard has agreed to settle by paying $7.3m to the liquidators of Ruchira Ships Limited which had bought the vessel and leased it back to the Australian business on a rent-to-buy arrangement was supposed to release it to Wellard in June last year except the tempory owner went into liquidation and its assets were taken over by liquidators Mr Klepec said Wellard directors decided to accept a deal to pay $US5m to ensure their certainty of vessel ownership "We have taken a commercial approach avoiding lengthy and expensive litigation that we would have taken to enforce our rights," he said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange "The extensive negotiations have resulted in a fair and reasonable outcome for the parties involved and was a major focus of Wellard management." Australian livestock carrier operator Wellard has struck a deal to sell one of its two ships The ASX-listed firm is offloading the Ocean Ute to Marshall Islands-registered Bassem Dabbah Shipping for $12m converted from a containership into a livestock carrier in 2010 and purchased by Wellard in 2015 is expected to change hands in September this year Wellard said it intends to return the majority of the net sales proceeds to shareholders “The Ocean Ute has been a good vessel for Wellard and helped us meet a price point in the market But it is about to reach a tipping point with respect to market value so the sale is a good outcome for Wellard and its shareholders,” noted executive chairman John Klepec The company has one more ship left in its fleet shuttling between South America and Turkey and has charters committed right through until the end of the year Wellard said in a filing that it continues to engage with KPMG Singapore as the liquidators of Ruchira Ships to seek a resolution that will enable the company to regain full legal title to the vessel This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Future of Australian company unclear as it plots Sydney delisting A question mark is hanging over Australian owner Wellard’s future after the sale of its last vessel. The company said on Tuesday that it has agreed a disposal of its 13,500-dwt livestock carrier Ocean Drover (built 2002) for $50m. The proceeds will be returned to shareholders. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Your data on TradeWinds TradeWinds is part of DN Media Group AS From November 1st DN Media Group is responsible for controlling your data on TradeWinds We use your data to ensure you have a secure and enjoyable user experience when visiting our site. You can read more about how we handle your information in our privacy policy DN Media Group is the leading news provider in the shipping, seafood, and energy industries, with a number of English- and Norwegian-language news publications across a variety of sectors. Read more about DN Media Group here TradeWinds is part of NHST Global Publications AS and we are responsible for the data that you register with us and the data we collect when you visit our websites We use cookies in a variety of ways to improve your experience such as keeping NHST websites reliable and secure personalising content and ads and to analyse how our sites are being used For more information and how to manage your privacy settings please refer to our privacy and cookie policies with what will be the shipping company's last remaining vessel after September Photo supplied.The one-time big shipping name in Australia's live animal export trade All articles from our websiteThe digital version of This Week's PaperBreaking news alerts direct to your inboxAll articles from the other agricultural news sites in your areaContinueEven ownership of that remaining vessel is technically in dispute as it plies ocean waters between South America and the Middle East doing charter work for overseas live cattle traders The West Australian-based export carrier has just sold its 30-year-old workhorse generating some fresh cash to reward Wellard's long-suffering shareholders on news of the sale to the Marshall Islands registered livestock carrier and meat processor lifting to three cents from June lows around 1.5c/share In port at Townsville in North Queensland this week the 5000-head capacity MV Ocean Ute will make its final voyage under Wellard's flag in September What was once a fleet of six ships after the then 35-year-old company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in 2015 said while the 140 metre-long MV Ocean Ute had been a good vessel for Wellard it was getting old The Ocean Ute is about to reach its tipping point with respect to market value The decision to sell it at higher than book value had produced a good outcome for Wellard and its shareholders "The Ocean Ute is about to reach its tipping point with respect to market value future cash generation and profitability," Mr Klepec said "The board took the decision to crystalise its value now." The Ute has been Wellard's only ship operating from Australia in recent times transporting export beef cattle from Townsville and Darwin to Indonesia and Vietnam A decade ago Wellard shipped about 27 per cent of Australia's live cattle exports while also operating three pre-export quarantine properties in WA and two in Brazil It marketed and transported beef and dairy cattle and sheep The company also owned WA's Beaufort River Meats abattoir with capacity to process about 2500 sheep daily Since then its market capitalisation has withered in value from about $556 million to just under $20m Ships and property assets were sold off to pay down debt and simplify the business as earnings were buffeted by various headwinds including Australia's recent post-drought record cattle prices which made stock too expensive for Indonesian and Vietnamese buyers Sheep shipments to the Middle East stopped about six years ago the world's largest purpose-built livestock vessel was sold to Kuwaiti owners for $77m as part of Wellard's financial remediation efforts That deal followed the sale of its Ocean Swagman to major shareholder and Perth businessman Paul Holmes a Court's Heytesbury pastoral and investment business which then leased the vessel back to Wellard until that arrangement ended six months ago was abandoned while still under construction in Croatia because the shipyard bankrupted never made it to the shipyard before Wellard discarded those plans in 2022 It said soaring steel prices and congested shipyard order books were causing too many delays and budgeting problems while its cash flow was tight Mr Klepek said assuming sale terms and conditions went ahead as expected most proceeds from the Ocean Ute's sale (about $17m after fees and commissions) should be available to shareholders and options to pay out the funds were now being considered Wellard's major shareholder is the Chinese group Hongkong Fulida International Trading Company which also owns cattle stations in northern Australia and shares in the historic beef giant but sank to about 20c within a year and continued to lose ground the remaining Wellard ship the Ocean Drover is still not officially owned by the company despite a lease-to-buy agreement concluding with Singapore-based financier Ruchira previously bought the Ocean Drover from Wellard six years ago as part of a sale and leaseback deal The leaseback period was to end in June 2023 when Wellard's commitment took receivership action last year and claimed possession of the vessel Wellard has been engaging with Ruchira's liquidators to regain its legal title and continues to operate the Ocean Drover under a long-term charter contract at no cost "Importantly we have charters for the Ocean Drover committed right through to the end of the year ensuring its utilisation rates will remain very high," Mr Klepec said The ship had been fully utilised shuttling between South America and Turkey Mr Klepec expected to update shareholders about the progress of the KPMG negotiations when Wellard's full year financial results were released in late August ABC News News HomeABC Rural Live exporter Wellard to sell ship Ocean Swagman to Heytesbury Cattle Co for $31mDBy Daniel Fitzgerald The Ocean Swagman is a purpose-built live export vessel with a capacity of 7,000 cattle or 25,000 sheep Link copiedShareShare articleAustralia's largest live export company Wellard has agreed to sell one of its livestock ships to Heytesbury Cattle Company for $US22 million ($31.2 million) Wellard will sell the Ocean Swagman, which has a capacity of 7,000 cattle or 26,000 sheep, just over two years after the company sold its sister ship the Ocean Outback. The vessel was purpose-built for a cost of $40 million in 2010 with its sale to expected to settle in August The sale is part of a broader plan by Wellard to restructure and turn around its poor financial performance Wellard will charter the Ocean Swagman from Heytesbury until March 2021 with an option to extend for another four years Heytesbury, which runs a herd of around 160,000 head of cattle in the Northern Territory and Western Australia, started buying into Wellard in March 2017, and now owns 11.42 per cent of the company. In a statement, Wellard executive chairman John Klepac said the funds generated from the sale of the Ocean Swagman will primarily be used to pay down debt. "Heytesbury's purchase of the Ocean Swagman provides an attractive opportunity for Wellard to realise the equity value in the ship, while retaining continued use of the vessel for chartering or exporting opportunities," Mr Klepac said. "Heytesbury has a deep understanding of the business, and we look forward to continuing our very productive working relationship." Heytesbury Cattle Company runs around 160,000 head of cattle across the NT and WA. (ABC Rural: Daniel Fitzgerald) After the sale, Wellard expects its overall debt to reduce from approximately $US85 million to approximately $US64 million. "The sale of the Ocean Swagman and the ongoing cooperation of [a group of our major creditors] … will make additional restructure initiatives more attractive to investors." Wellard became the first live export company to list on the stock exchange, when it made its debut on the ASX in December 2015. Its share price began life at $1.36 and has been on the slide ever since, bottoming out at just 2 cents a share earlier this week before going into a trading halt. News of the Ocean Swagman deal injected some life into the Wellard stock, with shares up 4.17 per cent at the time of publishing. President of the Queensland Livestock Exporters' Association Greg Pankhurst said despite Wellard's financial woes, the cattle export industry remains fundamentally strong. "The trade's good, it's solid, Indonesia will import the best part of 500,000 cattle this year, so demand is still there and strong," he said. Mr Pankhurst said the news that Heytesbury would lease the Ocean Swagman back to Wellard, to continue servicing Australian exporters, was excellent news. "That's a great thing, Heytesbury are massive supporters of live export, it's a great thing for them to do that," he said. "It's a good ship, state-of-the-art with good ventilation and water systems, it's a good thing to keep it in Australian waters." While he believes supply is adequate to meet demand for both feeder and slaughter cattle, citing stable prices out of the ports of Darwin and Townsville, Mr Pankhurst said concerns remained about future cattle orders. "Especially cattle for the Vietnam slaughter cattle market, those heavy bullocks for there would traditionally be available, [but] in six to eight weeks supply could be a concern if rain is recorded," he said. We like to bang on about how great (or rather OK!) Perth is – but our greatness doesn’t just happen out of nowhere We’re partnering up with Town Team Movement so we can shine a light on some of the people who help make our communities so unique and just a few of the excellent initiatives they’re working on This week, we’re featuring Claire Cardew, one of the brains behind the Wellard Village People Town Team I am a wife and mother residing in Kwinana running a small home baking business specialising in macarons Could you elaborate on how you became involved with the Town Team Movement a housing estate established about two decades ago advocating for amenities like a Community Center and bus routes our residents’ group transformed into a more comprehensive community-building effort we played a role in launching our local pub We chose to name ourselves the “Wellard Village People” because we truly embody our local community here in Wellard This name encapsulates our diverse talents and roles much like the iconic Village People with their various characters from the policeman and cowboy to the biker and more It’s a fun and fitting way to symbolise the many facets of our village life just as I often mention how I wear many hats in our community would you say that there were many people interested in getting involved in the community and aligning with your vision people shifted to engaging in smaller events we now have the “Gift and Take Market” at Brentwood Village on the first Sunday of each month It’s not just about giving and taking; it’s about creating a communal space in the public realm activities for kids like chalk and bubbles and even folks from the nearby cafe would join us and connect with others While only eight to 20 people might attend over two hours these interactions foster more meaningful community bonds compared to larger events his approach to place-making is fascinating He transformed his backyard into a public park for the community His insights are quite profound; he talks about how our sense of home extended beyond our front doors and into the town centre Kids rarely play in the streets as they once did Holding events like the “Gift and Take Market” just across the road from the coffee shop in a beautiful public space with trees helps people feel a sense of ownership and belonging to their community Can you provide more insight into how you interpret placemaking and its relevance to your work with the Town Team Movement placemaking means the transformation of public spaces into inviting comfortable environments where individuals feel at home It involves creating spaces that foster connections and instil a sense of belonging go beyond simple item exchange; they create an environment where the community can gather and connect Would you say that your vision for community and your role as a town builder stem from your personal experiences Community-building and stability are fundamental values for me which made it challenging to establish roots and connections This influenced my decision to stay in one place for an extended period and help others feel that sense of belonging how did you transition into this role of town builder My previous role involved culture-building in a corporate environment I enjoyed it but felt there was more to explore I also pursued a career as a bucket list coach When attending a Town Team Movement conference in Port Hedland I shared my plans to leave my corporate job with Jimmy and Dean They suggested I’d make a great town builder I’ve always been passionate about community and now have the opportunity to turn that passion into a career What are your thoughts on the impact and effectiveness of social movements and organisations Social movements and organisations can wield great influence but there remains work to be done in terms of raising awareness and educating people about their potential It’s imperative to continue spreading our message across Australia and showcase the positive effects of such initiatives Many Town Teams struggle to recruit members is there a message close to your heart that you’d like to convey to our audience resonates deeply with me: “What is the most important thing in the world It is people.” People are undeniably our most valuable asset and nurturing human connections is paramount Want to get involved and become a doer in your own community? Head to the Town Team Movement website to learn more Wellard listed on the ASX at the end of 2015 but almost immediately ran into trouble relating to its forecasts and subsequent profit downgrades In 2020 it completed an asset rationalization and debt restructure program Wellard fleet now consists of MV Ocean Drover China-based textile company Fulida was announced to become the agribusiness’s second-largest shareholder with a 16.5 per cent interest it had agreed to purchase from the majority shareholder of Wellard interests associated with chief executive Mauro Balzarini whose Italy-based family had founded the company in order to restructure the financial affairs of the private holding company Access to our data for Wellard is only available to paid subscribers with Data & Insights access our subscribers have access to the list of executives and directors along with company financials Subscribe today