An astute, well-respected cattleman and true gentlemen of the bush is how members of the Santa Gertrudis Breeders’ (Australia) Association are remembering their former president and longest-serving councillor, Alastair Bassingthwaighte, who died on Sunday, October 6 at the age of 81.
SGBAA President Liz Allen, Alice Downs, Blackall, said Mr Bassingthwaighte’s contribution to the Santa Gertrudis breed and the broader Australian beef industry was immeasurable.
“We’ve lost a man of grand vision, a mentor to countless cattlemen and women across Australia,” Ms Allen said.
“He was always generous with his time, guidance and advice. He was someone we all aspired to be like.”
Renowned for his decades long career as a stud breeder, commercial beef producer and tireless promoter of Santa Gertrudis cattle throughout the show rings of Australia, exhibiting animals from the Yarrawonga and Waco studs operated in tandem with wife Louise at Wallumbilla and Mungallala near Roma in Queensland, Mr Bassingthwaighte was drafted early in life to play a key role in the SGBAA’s administration.
Born June 28, 1943, he was elected to the SGBAA Council in August 1971, a position he would hold for a further 46 years until his retirement in 2016.
He served as President from August 1987 until August 1989, earning Life Membership in 1992 with Louise, who survives him, and elected Patron in 2016.
His legacy, started by his parents David and Mary who established Yarrawonga in 1956, fours year after Santa Gertrudis genetics first came to Australia, continues with his sons David, the current SGBAA Deputy President, and Andrew, operating the Waco and Yarrawonga studs respectively, while daughter Wendy Ferguson is the co-principal of Glenn Oaks Santa Gertrudis stud, Nobby with husband Scott, also an SGBAA councillor.
Ms Allen said the indelible impression left on the Santa Gertrudis breed via Mr Bassingthwaighte’s unparalleled length of service and many noted achievements in taking the breed forward would make his passing keenly felt throughout the Santa Gertrudis community, both in Australia and overseas.
“His energy and contribution to the Santa Gertrudis breed was without peer,” she said.
“The entire Santa Gertrudis family extends its condolences to the Bassingthwaighte and Ferguson families.”
Funeral arrangements will be communicated via the Santa Gertrudis Australia Facebook page once advised.
