Obituaries Australia

Widely respected stud Merino industry identity, Jamie Richmond, late of “Mogila”, Goodooga, has died in Dubbo aged 81.

Mr Richmond was known throughout the Merino industry and the community as an innovator, a gentleman of the old school, a caring and paternal boss to his men and a true character who loved a joke – especially against himself.

The Mogila stud property at Goodooga where he was born in 1921 has a historic connection to the famous Haddon Rig stud now owned by the Falkiner family.

It was his grandfather, James Richmond, who founded the Haddon Rig stud at Warren in 1882 and the Gingle stud at Walgett on Haddon Rig bloodlines in 1889.

Mr Richmond’s father, George Richmond, established the Mogila stud in 1909 and the next year stocked it with ewes from “Gingle”.

Jamie Richmond and his four sisters were taught by a governess at “Mogila”, then at the age of 12 he was sent to Tudor House School at Moss vale, then to his father’s school, Harrow in England.

He was still at school when the Second World War broke out, but gained a commission and entered his father’s old regiment, the Black Watch, to serve in the famous “Chindits” division behind enemy lines in Burma.

In demobilisation in 1945, he returned to “Mogila” and threw himself into industry and community activity.

In association with Warwick (Qld) vet, Syd Miller, he initiated an objective measurement program to help in the classing and sale of rams – the first big stud to do so.

Mogila was also a pioneer in artificial insemination, at one time having the largest such program in the world.

At the height of its popularity in the 1960s, Mogila stud was selling upwards of 1500 rams a year, mainly in the local Brewarrina area where the bloodline was particularly well regarded.

Mr Richmond was president of the NSW Stud Merino Breeders Association from 1970 to 1972 and in 1976 received an MBE for services to the sheep industry. At community level, he was a major employer of local Aboriginal workers (with whom he forged a strong bond) and a ready patron of any worthy cause.

He was a foundation councillor on the local shire, foundation president of the Goodooga Bowling Club, secretary of the pony club and a member of the hospital board.

In 1997 the family sold “Mogila” to the Indigenous Land Corporation and Mr Richmond and his wife retired to Dubbo.

He is survived by his wife, Deidre, their children, George, John and Alexandra and their families and his sisters Jean (Macdonald) and Mary (Becke).