Loyalty, independence, financial strength, and a sound knowledge of livestock and real estate underpin Southern Australia Livestock (SAL), celebrating 40 years in business.

As the SAL story rolls on, its priority remains developing a team of people who their clients can go to, rely on and trust.

In 2018 Platinum Operations joined forces with SAL, providing significant financial strength, linkages and expanded market access.

Under current ownership, the company is now one of the larger independent operators of its type in South Australia, employing 50 people State-wide, including almost 30 livestock agents and a strong real estate network.

Locking in a strong future, SAL as part of the Platinum group, enjoy benefits including scale of economy, strong financial backing, market intelligence and industry networks.

Part of SAL’s 40 years of success includes reflecting on the triumphs of its founding fathers, maintaining many initial core values.

Founding fathers

In 1984 Frank Escott, Bob Atkinson (administration), Kevin Lewis, Brian Russell and Peter Vile.

They were soon joined by other high calibre agents – Peter Cooper, Darcy Nolan, Dean Hampel, Ian Flett and Chris Manser.

Passionate to service big and small farming families equally, they were on a mission to stick by their clients during good times, and bad.

The founders quickly gained three key clients, including the families of Bob Bainger – Conkar Park; WH Wylie – Kangaringa and Robert Seymour – South Killanoola.

In June 1984, SAL sold their first pens of livestock presented by those families, creating a credible livestock business.

Always innovative, two years later they hosted at the Naracoorte saleyards the State’s first ever multi-vendor weaner sale.

As the months and years flicked by, SAL had stretched beyond its Naracoorte headquarters. Agents were also stationed at Bordertown, Keith, Lameroo, Kingston, Robe and Mount Gambier and loyalty was one of their hallmarks.

Loyalty

“Robert Seymour is still a client today,” SAL livestock agent Matt MacDonald said, highlighting the importance of loyalty between SAL and its clients.

Mr MacDonald’s grandparents had a farm and he had developed a passion for agriculture. He joined SAL 17 years ago in 2007, four years after the death of trailblazer, Frank Escott.

Mr MacDonald feels lucky to have had the mentorship from the other founding fathers as well as those who later joined SAL such as Bruce Redpath.

“I joined SAL as part of a school-based apprenticeship.” That meant during Year 12 he spent Mondays and Tuesdays at the Naracoorte saleyards learning new skills such as guessing the weights of livestock and how to draft and present them in pens.

Thanking all SAL clients for their loyalty, with agents and farmers sticking together through some tough times, Mr MacDonald reflected on staff and ownership changes over the years.

“I think we are stronger as a group now. We can push forward to the next stage and have the volume and the respect we had in the early days,” Mr MacDonald said.

Independence

Naracoorte livestock agent Will Nolan is founding member Darcy Nolan’s nephew and grew up on a farm near Lucindale.

After working at Collinsville merino stud he became a livestock agent for 12 years with a corporate agency.

But eventually Mr Nolan believed his clients could be better serviced by SAL.

“Loyalty is part of the purpose of what the SAL business was set up for,” Mr Nolan said.

“What I liked about SAL is that it had the independence that we had not had previously in the corporate companies. I liked the thought of working for an independent company that could make its own decisions.”

All but one of Mr Nolan’s clients followed him to SAL and he believed it was good to be part of an independent agency which was “on the rise”.

Mr Nolan also praised the teamwork and administration done behind the scenes.

A well-known company

Based at Bordertown, son of founder Kevin Lewis (dec), Craig Lewis has been with the company for 20 years.

Moving from Mount Gambier to Bordertown in 2006, the district was in the grip of a severe drought.

“Things were pretty, pretty tough,” Mr Lewis said.

In addition to loyalty, independence, strong financial backing and market knowledge, Mr Lewis said the success of SAL was that it was a well-known local business which was well respected “not only within the Limestone Coast, but throughout SA, Victoria and parts of NSW”.

“I remember when I was a kid and SAL was only starting out – there were no mobile phones back then and dad would spend hours and hours on the phone at night and at weekends.

“Now we can do it all during the day with iphones and emails. Just in the 40 years that SAL has been going – (communication) has changed a lot.”

Mr Lewis said he would recommend the job to any young person interested.

“I personally enjoy the social side – getting out and seeing clients, working at the markets and talking to buyers. You get a feel for where the industry is going at different times of the year.”

Mr Lewis was particularly pleased the next generation was coming on board with the recent employment of 24 year old Josh Pahl.

Striving for the best

Alistair Haynes was also trained by most of the founding fathers and is “very proud” to have worked with SAL for 16 years.

“Our mentors had a wealth of knowledge and they also had fantastic connections throughout the whole livestock Industry Australia wide,” said Mr Haynes, explaining the knowledge was passed on to young agents.

“Over the journey with SAL I have experienced the best times within the livestock industry, and also the hardest times.

“Our aim is to always achieve the best possible price for our client’s livestock wherever the market price is currently sitting.

“Personal and professional service are our most important attributes.”

Real estate specialists

SAL’s livestock agents are backed up by specialised rural and residential real estate teams.

In 1992 Naracoorte icons Graham Brammer and Denis Overall teamed up with SAL to operate their highly regarded real estate business Overall and Bremner.

It was eventually taken over by SAL during the sale of the company following the death of Frank Escott in 2003.

South East rural real estate specialist Cameron Grundy has been with SAL for more than 12 years after an extensive corporate background.

Mr Grundy said a lot had changed during the past 40 years, particularly with the advantages of the internet and advent of electronic and digital marketing.

Video clips and drone footage also enabled prospective purchasers to view and gain an understanding of what was on offer.

“But some things don’t change over 40 years – credible staff with sound knowledge,” said Mr Grundy, praising the sales statistics of residential specialist Margot Shortt.

Regarding rural land, a sound knowledge of the agricultural pursuits on offer throughout the South East, the various land types available and the associated assets such as irrigation were required as well.

Mr Grundy said it was also essential to have a good understanding of people – “the primary producers who make up our community and who will be both sellers and buyers from the district”.

The future

Platinum Livestock and Real Estate general manager Mark Thiele said SAL had built a legacy, a brand, a client base, loyalty, and a history that the “current management is the proud custodian of”.

“We are focussed, active and enthusiastic that whilst the first 40 years is to be celebrated, it is our intention and aspiration to build on this legacy, grow the business and ensure SAL is a significant and sustainable part of the future of livestock and real estate business in South East South Australia,” he said.

“Through the Platinum group linkages and via access to an expanded market base, (we can) ensure SAL clients and customers are getting maximum opportunities and value from their relationship with SAL.”

This article appeared in the Naracoorte Community News.