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18 | OUR STORY: ZADOW

Asamumitmakesyoureally
proudasit’saprettygoodfarming
enterprise,aswe’reallinittogether.

- ANNE ZADOW

Farming fortunes impact local community

The cost of farming has had a significant
impact on the East Murray community, Anne
said, with several community teams being
disbanded.
The East Murray tennis club was the first
club to be closed, followed by the East Murray
football and netball club, before the East Murray
Area School was closed.
Fred said the Zadows prided themselves on
helping the community.
“Dad was the Country Fire Service captain for Colin with Evie, 7, her mum Emily and Darren Zadow have enjoyed plenty of smiles as a small part of the Zadow
20 years, I’ve been there for 17 years,” he said. family.
“Mandy held the books at the footy club for 20
years, I spent 16 years on the governing council
at the school and 11 of them as chairperson.
“Dad did nine years as football club president
and I did eight and Mum was the first female
governing council chairperson at the school.”
Looking to family future

Colin had said his proudest moment would
have been when the three generations
cultivated the same paddock, while this also
stood out as a highlight for Anne.
“As a mum it makes you really proud as it’s a
pretty good farming enterprise, as we’re all in it
together,” Anne said.
Bronte said as the youngest generation, he
was keen to pursue a future on the farm once
he had finished school.
Fred said the Zadows had found quality
country to farm on with four of the past 13
years having been “bin busters”.
The whole farming system was set-up for
succession and the farm had offered Cameron
a lot of learnings, he said.
“Everything that Cameron knows, he learnt
here pretty much,” he said.
“He’s one very sought after commodity, ‘can
Cameron do this’ and ‘can Cameron do that’,
people ask.” Cameron and Bronte Zadow are never shy to lend a helping hand on the farm.
Fred said he was constantly asked what the
value of agricultural land was in the Mallee and
he said it was dependent on if he was selling it
or buying it and said the prices at the moment
had him thinking he would sooner be selling it
rather than buying it at the moment.
As he looked to forge his future on the family
farm, Cameron had his sights firmly fixed on
living in the family house, however Mandy said
that could be a few years away.
“We’re sort of just getting this property to how
we want it to be, so Cameron’s going to move
down Anne and Colin’s farm,” she said.
“I guess by the time Bronte comes, there
might be a big debate over whether Cameron
comes back here or Bronte moves to Anne and
Colin’s farm.”
With Cameron and his younger brother Bronte
focused on forging a future on the family farm,
the Zadows are set to be farming for years to
come.

As they progress in farming, the Zadows have been
constantly looking for new ideas.