2009 Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees
From Left: Mathew Padbury (Grandson of William Padbury), Robert Hayes Thompson and Bill Henderson.
William Padbury (1867-1951)
William Padbury’s contribution to Western Australia’s agriculture is the product of a long and astute liaison between business and farming that saw him achieve success in both. He began in business in the grocery trade in Oxfordshire, in his native England. Then, when he migrated to Western Australia at the age of 25 in 1892, he continued in his uncle’s Colonial Stores at Guildford. He took over the business soon after and developed it into one of the largest stores dealing in merchandise and agricultural produce in the State. This led to his becoming a major importer-exporter and his taking control of the famous Peerless Flour Mills to process wheat from his farmer clientele and his own holdings. He developed his farming interests on a number of properties stretching from Three Springs to Dumbleyung and set up highly acclaimed studs of cattle, sheep, pigs, horses and poultry with astute breeding and importations from England and the Eastern States.
He was a strong supporter of agricultural societies and the RAS in particular of which he was president in 1913 and a member of its council for 51 years. The quality of his livestock was such that he won the Governor’s Cup eight times between 1912 and 1922.
Robert Hayes-Thompson (1921- )
Robert Hayes-Thompson is an outstanding representative of that small band of dedicated people whose contribution to the agricultural community in their region has significantly enhanced the community’s way of life. He was involved in a wide range of organizations and projects working to improve the medical, social, physical and sporting facilities in the eastern wheat belt. He was a councillor on the Merredin Shire for 11 years and president for 6 of them, president of the Kelleberrin RSL for 25 years, member of the Kelleberrin Hospital Board for 28 years, member of the Merredin Hospital board and its inaugural president. In these roles he played a key part in such diverse undertakings as developing live theatre in Merredin, initiating major projects for limiting urban salinisation, improving water supplies to remote areas and provision of aged-care facilities at Merredin.
Robert Hayes-Thompson has been a councillor of the RAS for over 20 years and has contributed to the growth and professionalism of the organisation during this time.
Gregory William (Bill) Henderson (1929- )
Farmers from all over Australia, many of whom may not know the town of Kondinin, are well aware of and appreciate the contribution the Kondinin Group has given to the agricultural welfare of this country. Bill Henderson was the driving force behind not only the founding but the promotion and development of this highly influential organisation. He oversaw its transition from a local pasture improvement group in 1968 to a broad based institution with branches in every state, shrewdly combining science and practical know-how to evaluate and improve farming practices, machinery, tools and ideas independently for the benefit of farmers. He was chairman of the group for 5 years, its promotion officer for 20 years and has been a life member since 1982.
The evolution of the Kondinin group reflects Bill Henderson’s own extraordinary farming career which started with 550 hectares at Doodlakine and grew to 16 000 hectares 30 years later. He was an “early adopter”, a successful innovator and a respected mentor who saw in his own success the opportunity to help other farmers develop their own expertise and knowledge of crops, animals, machinery and management.