Spargo has seen the highs and lows

ALEX Scott and Staff’s livestock manager Greg Spargo is retiring after more than 48 years in the industry.
After following his father’s footsteps into the industry, he started at the pig and calf Monday markets which don’t exist anymore.
“I just kept going from there. Years of service gets you up there,” he said.
Throughout his career, Greg has seen the highs and lows of the beef industry and is pleased to be leaving it when it is such good shape.
“It is good to be going out on a high, the cattle prices now are as good as they have ever been,” he said.
“I have seen lows. I remember one day we sold 330 head of cattle and the whole sale grossed $3000. That is one of the low lights, when cattle were valueless.”
One of the highlights of Greg’s career was being given the honour of selling the last animals at the Korumburra saleyards when they closed.
“That was one of the best honours given to me. I was also the first one to sell in the new yards at Korumburra when they put an addition on there,” he said.
After nearly five decades in the industry, Greg has seen some pretty big changes which he said have been positive.
“The industry itself has progressed so much in so little time. Here we are now undercover and with a soft floor,” he said.
“It is so much simpler now. For nearly 27 years we did pre sale weighing, which meant we had to work all day and all night to get ready for the sale.
“We did that for far too long, it was a hard time. When I was young, the old blokes would tell me how easy I had it and how hard it was for them.
“Now that’s what I am telling the young blokes.”
Greg said he is going to miss all of the people he works with, not just from Alex Scott but all the people at the yards.
“I will miss them, I have been seeing many of the every week for many years now, but I have done my time,” he said.
Once retired at the end of the month, Greg plans to spend the next 10 to 12 months tending to a 10 acre block which “needs a lot of attention”.
Then, once his wife has also retired, an around Australia caravan trip or an overseas holiday are on the cards. Maybe, even both.
There will be a retirement party thrown for Greg at the Korumburra Golf Club this Sunday, July 3 from 12pm until late.

Last days: after nearly 50 years as a professional in the livestock industry, Alex Scott and Staff livestock manager Greg Spargo is calling it a day at the end of the month.

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Posted by Sarah Vella on Jun 28 2016. Filed under Rural News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry