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Prominent People

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This section lists industry people who have made a significant contribution to the achievements and success of agriculture in South Australia and Australia. Where information is available from a readily available source, a link is provided.

J

James, Frederick Alexander 1884 - 1957

Merchant and litigant. From 1915, Frederick James built a business as a dried fruit dealer under his Traverno trade mark, using innovative business and marketing strategies. By 1923-24, soldier settlement schemes had increased production of dried fruits significantly while world markets were becoming depressed. This led to establishment of state dried fruit marketing acts and the Commonwealth Dried Fruits Control Board. Quotas introduced to control marketing of dried fruits in 1926 impacted dramatically on James’ business. This triggered a long running legal battle between James and various governments. These legal cases centred largely around Section 92 of the Australian Constitution.

Image: http://www.campbelltown.sa.gov.au/page.aspx?u=4613&c=28056

James OAM, Kenneth Ralph (Ralph) 1916 - 2004

Ralph James was a farmer at Lucindale and played a significant role in agri-politics at the National and State level for many years. As a leader of State and National Farmers bodies, he skillfully represented farmers on many issues.

Image: The Advertiser

Jenkins, Evan ? - 1954

Pastoralist and sheep breeder. Jenkins was a highly respected pastoralist and breeder of large framed, back country Merino sheep. His ability as a keen judge of stock, particularly sheep and cattle, ranked him among the most prominent stock breeders in South Australia.

Joyce, William James (Bill) 1940 - 2005

Bill Joyce was a significant apple orchardist with numerous orchards throughout the State. He built up his holdings into a most successful horticultural business filling a number of market niches. He was also a member of the State and National Apple and Pear Growers Associations.

Image: The Advertiser

K

Kelly, William Stanley 1882 - 1969

Sheep breeder and agriculturalist. With his father Robert Kelly, William Kelly bred sheep and lambs for export. In 1922-24 he was chairman of the South Australian Advisory Board of Agriculture, and then worked overseas. In 1945-53 he was a co-opted member of the advisory council of the CSIR (now CSIRO). When the Australian Mutual Provident Society began to develop the Ninety Mile Desert in the upper South East in the late 1940's, it benefited from Kelly's expertise in developing similar country on Kangaroo Island. For three years he was chairman of the AMP Society's land development committee.

Image: Cyclopedia of South Australia

Kelly, Dudley Gould 1908 - 2003

Dudley Kelly was a pioneer farmer in the Parndana area on Kangaroo Island, clearing his property into a productive enterprise. He was founding chair of the local agricultural bureau and kept up the latest research on trace element deficiency, a problem for early farmers.

Image: The Advertiser

Kenny, Michael 1808 - 1892

Farmer at Morphett Vale and Shea-oak Log, and became secretary of the Light Farmer's Club. He was instrumental in achieving uniform rates for railway freight, particularly wheat. He was also active in discussions leading to the South Australian Waste Lands Amendment (Strangways) Act of 1869, which encouraged closer settlement and the spread of agriculture.

Image: SLSA Image B8510/9

Keynes, Joseph 1810 - 1883

Sheep breeder. Founded Keyneton Estate near Angaston. From 1840 he was a committee member of the Royal Agricultural and Horticultural Society. He systematically amassed thousands of acres of land and had a high reputation as a merino sheep breeder.

Image: SLSA Image B47042 1875

Keynes, Richard Robinson 1857 - 1928

Sheep breeder. On his father's death in 1883, Richard took over the management of Keyneton Estate and he too became a notable sheep breeder. He expanded the station's business to include the breeding of draught horses and Shorthorn cattle. The studs wool had won prizes at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876 and the Colonial and Indian Exhibition in 1886 as well as at local and interstate shows.

Image: Cyclopedia of South Australia

Kidman, Sir Sidney 1857 - 1935

Pastoralist. Created an empire of pastoral properties that formed two chains of stations. One chain stretched in nearly a continuous line from the well watered tropical country around the Gulf of Carpentaria, south through western Queensland to Broken Hill, and across the border into South Australia within easy droving distance of Adelaide. The second chain of stations strung along the Overland Telegraph line from the Fitzroy River and Victoria River Downs in the north to Wilpena station in the Flinders Ranges near Adelaide. Thus he was able to move stock from drought stricken areas to others and sell in markets where the price was highest

Image: SLSA Image B6749 1927

Kluge OAM, Michael John 1933 - 2015

Mike Kluge was a popular farmer from Claypans in the Murray Mallee who developed his run-down property into a viable success by seeking advice and trialing his own ideas in developing the land. He was a leader in soil conservation and sustainable land management.

Image: PIRSA Ag History

Krichauff, Friedrich Eduard 1824 - 1904

Politician. Krichauff had a lifelong interest in scientific agriculture and made many experiments in his own garden. He was a member of parliament, was appointed to the Central Agricultural Bureau and the council of Roseworthy Agricultural College. He then became a life member of the new Council of Agriculture.

Image: SLSA B48253 1870

Kroehn, Herbert Edward 1900 - 1979

Herb Kroehn was a pioneer farmer in the Swan Reach district and grew pastures of medics and was a very good breeder of sheep. He won many awards for his sheep, lambs and wool and was a great promoter of .the sheep industry.

L

Laffer, George Richards 1866 - 1933

Fruit-grower and politician. In 1883, Laffer followed his father as a fruit grower at Belair. Although he later was an elected member of Mitcham Council (and Chair) and elected to the South Australian Parliament, his main interest was agriculture. He was prominent in the South Australian Fruitgrowers' Association (later SA Fruitgrowers’ and Market Gardeners’ Association), a life member of the Agricultural Bureau, founding member and chairman of the Advisory Board of Agriculture and a member of the Royal Agricultural Society.

Image: SLSA B 4540

Legoe, John Walker 1951 - 2006

John Legoe was a successful farmer and local government leader from Kingston SE who served on the SA Natural Resources Management Council and the Australia Land Council.

Image: The Advertiser

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