The red meat industry has lost one of our great leaders with the passing of Colin McKenna. Colin was an icon in South West Victoria and he leaves behind a legacy of innovation and generosity.
The story of the Midfield Group outlines the innovator that was Colin McKenna. Then a stock and station agent, he established the business in 1975 when he entered into an arrangement to custom process livestock at the local council abattoir in Warrnambool. With rationalisation in the 1980s, the opportunity arose in 1988 to take a punt and purchase the abattoir that he had long used as a service works. From that decision, he became a major player in the Australian processing sector.
Midfield’s processing operation in Warrnambool is unique, comprising two separate export abattoirs on the one site. The original council-run abattoir, was virtually rebuilt to meet export standards. The newer of the two abattoirs was commissioned in 1995 as a hot boning plant to maximise labour and freezing efficiencies, particularly manufacturing beef. In 2013, the operation of both plants was consolidated under the registration.
The Midfield Group expanded under Colin’s leadership to encompass wholesaling, retailing and export trading businesses, and emerged to be one of the top 10 processors in Australia.
Colin was a quiet and hardworking achiever amongst the AMIC membership. He mentored many in the Midfield business and his style was one that assisted those within the AMIC executive team and councils. This was evident by Colin’s support of engaged industry leaders, firstly in good friend and long-time Midfield executive, Noel Kelson, and subsequently in AMIC Board Director and daughter, Stacey McKenna.
Colin McKenna is a great loss to AMIC and our industry, and our thoughts and prayers are with his immediate and extended family. Our industry is so much better for having him in it.
