Page 10 - OurStories-2022_Preview

10 | OUR STORY: POCOCK H Y D R O S M A R T

FAMILY FIRST: Robert and Courtney Pocock say they hoped
Lampata would be something they can pass on to their children
Hugo, Ruby and Thomas, one day.

Pocock family

LOCATION: Lameroo

FARMING SINCE: 1908
OPERATION: Sheep, cropping

BY KATIE JACKSON grown from its humble beginnings to more than “He would have been 34 when he ended up
3500 hectares of mixed cropping and sheep having everything and pretty well buying two-
HE Pocock name is synonymous with country. thirds of the property from his siblings,” he said.
Merino breeding across the Mallee, with Looking back at the family’s history, growth has “To just be thrown into the deep end without
Tmore than 110 years of history sown into not always been easy and the struggles of family his father there to guide him would’ve been so
the region’s soil. farming have always been present, but Lampata tough.
Roy Cecil Pocock moved to the Mallee from has evolved into something Robert hopes his “But he took it in his stride and he’s done
Reynella in 1906 to settle on a block north-west grandfather and namesake would be proud of. a fantastic job to keep the farm succeeding
of Lameroo. “My grandfather Bob was really innovative,” throughout the years.”
Four of his family’s five sons then became the Robert said. Bruce said he was thrown in the deep end
Pocock Brothers - one of the state’s biggest “He always tinkered around and built without someone to bounce ideas off when his
barley operations. equipment and looked at what he could father passed away.
In addition to cropping, the brothers were also improve, which has probably helped the farm be “It was tough to lose my father so young and
keen sheep breeders, with agistment lots and what it is today.” to have a young family but we made it work,” he
leases across the region. Unfortunately, Robert was unable to soak up as said.
In 1950, Robert Melrose Pocock and his wife much knowledge as he would have liked from his “My mother Shirley was still here and very
Shirley founded Lampata and in the 1960s, grandfather, with Bob passing away in his early much a part of the family as well as my wife
separated from the brothers to create their own 60s. Gaylia and daughters Ann and Sally.
standalone operation. “He passed away in 1989 when I was only “I had a young lad working for me at the time,
The family has been found on the property ever five-years old, but I still somehow remember him who was a great help, and my father had done
since, with the fourth generation living on the land. and he has really shaped the farmer I am and my so much to get the property to where it was.
Presently managed by Robert Pocock and his Dad is too,” he said.” “Although it was hard, I had good support
wife Courtney (nee Wait), in conjunction with Due to the loss of Bob, Bruce was thrust into a around me and a good foundation from my
his parents Bruce and Gaylia, the operation has tough succession, according to Robert. father to grow from.”