Bardy McFarlane honoured for leaving 'lasting legacy'
From the farm to law books, Bardy McFarlane has made a honourable impression on his local community and government.
Wellington East farmer turned lawyer, Bardy McFarlane has been recognised for his contribution as a legal practitioner.
Mr McFarlane is the joint owner of the historic Brinkley Station at Wellington East on the River Murray and has a family background in law.
The Roseworthy Old Collegians Association (ROCA) has bestowed Mr McFarlance with its highest honour, the 2024 ROCA Award of Merit.
In 1972 Mr McFarlane graduated from Roseworthy Agricultural College with a Diploma of Agriculture, commencing his career assisting the nation’s rural and regional communities
After this he then managed the family’s 9,700 hectare Brinkley Station, transitioning the livestock management from a largely pastoral operation to a more intensive legume/grass pasture-based enterprise.
The initial stage of this enterprise transition involved clearing 1,600 hectares of the unpalatable tobacco bush and replanting the area with cover crops under-sown with lucerne or medics.
A shallow water table in the part of the property abutting Lake Alexandrina resulted in extremely healthy lucerne stands.
In the 1980s, Mr McFarlane studied law as a mature age student at the University of Adelaide, graduating with a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) in 1987, and later a Master of Laws (Environmental) in 2000.
Dale Manson, President of the Roseworthy Old Collegians Association said the agricultural training and qualifications in addition to a lengthy career as a legal practitioner have resulted in him making a significant difference to the world, with a lasting legacy of widespread change and benefit for others.
"One of the major achievements of Bardy McFarlane was being instrumental in ensuring financial assistance provisions were included in the Native Vegetation Act."
He also acted for miners, oil & gas operators, pastoralists, local government & commercial fishers in all but one Native Title claim in SA.
He worked with industry, government and environmental NGOs for a five year period to ensure the seafood industry’s interests and sustainability objectives were incorporated in the new Fisheries Management & Marine Park Acts of 2007.
As a full-time member of the Native Title Tribunal, he was a key mediator and principal facilitator in negotiations between parties to Native Title claims in SA, WA, NSW and QLD, resolving claims by identifying ways to reconcile conflicting interests in land.
He also facilitated an agreement between BHP and three native title claim groups for expansion of Olympic Dam mine site in South Australia.
Despite the enormous workload of his legal career, Mr McFarlane continued to contribute to local SA groups including NFP and community initiatives.
He established the operational basis and rules of the Roseworthy Campus and Student Fund.
This is a mechanism to enable the Roseworthy Old Collegians Association to offer prizes and financial support for students studying the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus based courses.
Over past decades, Mr McFarlane has also donated his time and expertise for a range of other organisations.
This includes serving as Honorary Solicitor for the Royal SA Yacht Squadron, member of the Lower Murray Water Allocation Advisory Board and Chairing the Board of Directors for Roseworthy College.
"It cannot be disputed that Bardy McFarlane is a worthy recipient of the 2024 ROCA Award of Merit, having selflessly served Roseworthy Agricultural College, ROCA, the nation’s indigenous communities, the agricultural sector and rural industry organisations," Mr Manson said.
