A flagship cattle event that will bring people from around Australia to the Manning will take place late next year.
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Speckle Park Future Legends will see Speckle Park cattle breeders converge on BigWig Speckle Park Stud in Hillville for an annual weekend-long sale and conference.
With the help of Destination NSW and funding from the State government Regional Business Development Fund, stud owners Martin and Marilu Luitingh have set aside eight hectares of their property to construct cattle and sale yards, an exhibition centre and media centre.
Based on previous similar events in other locations, it is estimated the annual event will bring in $500,000 to $800,000 in tourism dollars to the area on an annual basis.
"We are proud to be bringing this event to the region as there's a concentration of high-end cattle genetics that have come to the area with some very specialised studs," BigWig Speckle Park Stud owner, Martin Luitingh said.
"With our impressive array of consignors, we hope to focus the attention of the cattle breeding community on the premium genetics being produced in the Manning Valley and Barrington Coast."
Martin says one of the most difficult things to do with regard to cattle breeding is marketing them.
"It's a very big market and sales are difficult," he said.
"So we decided to build a sales centre to make a facility available to people, that instead of selling little bits and pieces over a period of time, they are able to come to a proper sale centre and sell their animals."
Speckle Park Future Legends is the first big coastal cattle sale for the breed, with a lot of breeders usually making their way to Queensland for big sales.
Martin plans for the event to host purebred Speckle Park sales on the first evening, with cross breed sales taking place the following evening. The event will also include a conference on breeding.
A specially built media centre with television facilities will allow for people who can't physically attend the event to take part.
We can establish something here to gain a reputation.
- Martin Luitingh
"Destination NSW has given us money particularly for the television program. So it will be televised country-wide, phone in, the auctions will be run by Elders or one of those organisations," Martin said.
"We will be able to house 100-150 animals with feed and water laid on for them."
The centre will not lay fallow for the rest of the year. He intends opening the facility up to anybody who wants to sell cattle.
"Within reason. Obviously we've got neighbours, so we wouldn't want to disturb them more than three or four times a year," he said.
Member for Myall Lakes Stephen Bromhead was at BigWig Speckle Park Stud for the announcement on Thursday, July 8.
"Speckle Park Future Legends will be an opportunity for the Myall Lakes to showcase that it is at the forefront of breeding Speckle Park cattle and we look forward to welcoming first-time and returning visitors to our region for this event, which will no doubt become an annual highlight in the Myall Lakes calendar," Mr Bromhead said.
Martin Luitingh said he is really looking forward to the event and he has already had a lot of interest from breeders.
"We can establish something here to gain a reputation," he said.
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
