March 11, 2025 • 7 mins
We catch up with the founder and the two transtasman winners of the 2025 Zanda McDonald Awards.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You might remember on Friday show we caught up with
Shane mcmanaway and the eye of the storm with tropical
Cyclone Alfred. Of course he's the founder of the Zander
McDonald Awards. Unfortunately the Impact Summit on the Gold Coast
had to be canceled because of the impact of Alfred.
But Shane, you've forged on nonetheless, and you have named
(00:20):
your Zander McDonald Award winners, one from each side of
the Tasman for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Good afternoon, Jamie. We certainly have and I can report
the weather on the Gold Coasters quiet and down, although
there's a hell of a mess left behind, but she
would have been pretty wild and moly if we're to
help the conference, so we made the right call there.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I was delighted yesterday to be able to announce the
two winners, which we would have done at our gala
event on Tuesday night. However, it gave me great pleasure
to announce Meghan blom from Blenham, New Zealand and Jack
O'Connor from New South Wales, Australia. And so somebody very
cleverly came up with a headline here in Australia Surf
(00:59):
and Turf. That was a very smart way of describing
the situation. We've got Megan who's from agriculture and Jack
from agriculture, and that's our first person that we've had
in the award from aquaculture and we're delighted that we're
now sort of spreading our wings a bit with the award.
But a fantastic opportunity to announce those two people yesterday, Jamie, Well.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Let's talk to ladies before gentlemen. To Megan Blom only
twenty four years of age. Remember you can be up
to thirty five years of age and still be eligible
for the Zander McDonald Awards one and a chiever she is.
She's the operations manager at the family owned business Mills Bay,
Mussels and Marlborough. But Megan, I know a wee bit
about your family because originally you grew up in Southland,
(01:45):
just up the road from my hometown. You were in
Belfa Are where your mum and dad were dairy farmers.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Yep, sure did.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Grow up in Belfa and then moved up to Malgre
So my heart's in two places. But yeah, grew up
in Delfa and my parents are still there, and my
brother and sister dairy farming there.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Too, So why the move from dairy farming to mussels.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, the cool thing about muscles and our involvement in
the muscle industry is we're very close to the customers.
So in dairy you're producing milk in it, you sell
it to the dairy factory and you don't know what
price you're going to get for it, and you have
a big focused on reducing your cost of production. With
(02:27):
muscles and how we've set it up here, we are
more vertically integrated, a lot closer to the customer, so
we have a lot more control over the supply chain
and the value chain across the board. So that's been
a real draw card. I think my parents wanted to
live in Mulbret's bit warmer than Southland, but yeah, they
(02:47):
lived up here for ten years and then actually moved back,
so the weather was a draw card. But yeah, they
love it in both places.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Well, it's the call of northern Southland. Why would you
not want to live there. So the founding member of
Young Fish and Z which connects young professionals in the
seafood industry, and you've got a great champion behind you guys,
and the old Prince of the province's Shane Jones. He's
big on aquaculture.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, he's real big on aquaculture. And over the weekend
he was here in Marlborough at the Havelock Muscle Festival,
which was cool. And he's announced that Havelock Marina is
getting quite a nice bit of money to dredge out
the marina and it will help the muscle boats coming
in and out. Quite a nice boost into infrastructure here,
which is cool.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
So Meghan Blom twenty four years of age, just twenty
four years of age as the New Zealand winner, the
Australian winner. Let's welcome him on. Jack O'Connor thirty two
from Harden, New South Wales, which is just northwest of Canberra.
And Jack, you're the You're into general agribusiness, livestock administration
and cropping on the family farm at Oxton Park. Tell
(03:58):
us about your operation. Why you think they picked you?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Thanks, Jamie. I yeah, I assume we're talking about the
Xena McDonald ward. I was sitting in my Brumbies jersey
thinking you might want to talk about that win over
the Blues last weekend. But I suppose we'll we'll talk
about the Xender Award instead, But mate, we yeah, we're
sitting out here, like I said, about an hour and
a half northwest of Canberra, and we yeah, we run
(04:24):
a mixed a mixed farming enterprise here specializing in broad
acre week canola and m tredicli from the cropping side
as well as we raised non mules dull purpose self
replacing marinos as well, and we joined about about eighteen
thousand of those of every year. So yeah, Jamie, I'm
(04:45):
a bit taken back, mate, I was very shocked and
you'ah obviously pleasantly surprised with the with the result yesterday,
just the caliber, which I'm sure Megan can attest to
with the other with the other contestants. You know, to
be selected is a honor, and I think, yeah, for
us personally, we're you are a fourth fourth generation farmers
(05:07):
here and we've been here since nineteen twenty and I
like to think we're very sort of progressive, progressive business
that adapt to what we're finding is the changing climate
and market conditions over there over our time. And yeah,
I think, amongst other things, we definitely are open to
(05:28):
looking at new enterprises as well, and always trying to
find you in the things that we're very passionate about
and like to think we're not too bad at either.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Well, I'm told you're an early adopter when it comes
to things like renewable energy, carbon accounting and agri voltaics.
Did I get that right? What the hell's that?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah? Yeah, they're just sort of more so probably little
passion projects for myself, Jamie, And that's sort of just
a bit of a bit of a moving beastus as
a lot of people know, and in our space, those
sort of emerging emerging industries are still you know, finding
their feet in a lot of different areas, and I think, yeah,
we've just always been of the view that we like
(06:10):
to arm ourselves with, you know, with the right information
and as much as we can before we're making you know,
sort of bigger businesses decision business decisions rather. But you know,
for a lot of those industries in our area, they've
got a tremendous amount opportunity and you know, very exciting,
you know, amongst a list of others too. So yeah,
(06:30):
that's sort of where we see it.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Hey, Sean mcmanuay, just to wrap this, what are these
two outstanding young leaders and entrepreneurs and agricultural one courtesy
of winning the Zanda McDonald Award.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Well, they pick up ten thousand dollars to go towards
and education project of their choice. So we've mentor that, sorry,
we tailor that to suit what they need. It's not
just a standard package and everybody has a different sort
of requirement and the need. So that's the first thing.
But then they get the opportunity to basically get the
keys to the door about it. Hundred and fifty of
Australasias top farmers, movers and shakers as mentors. So that
(07:05):
has been probably one of the greatest things for this
award is the connections contacts that are made through it.
And you know, the growth that we see in the
people and is just enormous. And you know, just if
you're in if you get into this Zanda McDonald Award,
family life seems to just be accelerated for you. And
I know my great mate Zan who was taken in
(07:25):
twenty thirteen would be unbelievably proud. Not only have the
winners before, but of these two people gaming, well.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Good on you Shane and to Megan Blom and Jack O'Connor.
Congratulations at twenty twenty five Xander McDonald Award winners. Thanks
for your time, guys
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Thank you, Thanks U Jam
You might remember on Friday show we caught up with
Shane mcmanaway and the eye of the storm with tropical
Cyclone Alfred. Of course he's the founder of the Zander
McDonald Awards. Unfortunately the Impact Summit on the Gold Coast
had to be canceled because of the impact of Alfred.
But Shane, you've forged on nonetheless, and you have named
(00:20):
your Zander McDonald Award winners, one from each side of
the Tasman for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:26):
Good afternoon, Jamie. We certainly have and I can report
the weather on the Gold Coasters quiet and down, although
there's a hell of a mess left behind, but she
would have been pretty wild and moly if we're to
help the conference, so we made the right call there.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
I was delighted yesterday to be able to announce the
two winners, which we would have done at our gala
event on Tuesday night. However, it gave me great pleasure
to announce Meghan blom from Blenham, New Zealand and Jack
O'Connor from New South Wales, Australia. And so somebody very
cleverly came up with a headline here in Australia Surf
(00:59):
and Turf. That was a very smart way of describing
the situation. We've got Megan who's from agriculture and Jack
from agriculture, and that's our first person that we've had
in the award from aquaculture and we're delighted that we're
now sort of spreading our wings a bit with the award.
But a fantastic opportunity to announce those two people yesterday, Jamie, Well.
Speaker 1 (01:21):
Let's talk to ladies before gentlemen. To Megan Blom only
twenty four years of age. Remember you can be up
to thirty five years of age and still be eligible
for the Zander McDonald Awards one and a chiever she is.
She's the operations manager at the family owned business Mills Bay,
Mussels and Marlborough. But Megan, I know a wee bit
about your family because originally you grew up in Southland,
(01:45):
just up the road from my hometown. You were in
Belfa Are where your mum and dad were dairy farmers.
Speaker 4 (01:51):
Yep, sure did.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Grow up in Belfa and then moved up to Malgre
So my heart's in two places. But yeah, grew up
in Delfa and my parents are still there, and my
brother and sister dairy farming there.
Speaker 1 (02:02):
Too, So why the move from dairy farming to mussels.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
Well, the cool thing about muscles and our involvement in
the muscle industry is we're very close to the customers.
So in dairy you're producing milk in it, you sell
it to the dairy factory and you don't know what
price you're going to get for it, and you have
a big focused on reducing your cost of production. With
(02:27):
muscles and how we've set it up here, we are
more vertically integrated, a lot closer to the customer, so
we have a lot more control over the supply chain
and the value chain across the board. So that's been
a real draw card. I think my parents wanted to
live in Mulbret's bit warmer than Southland, but yeah, they
(02:47):
lived up here for ten years and then actually moved back,
so the weather was a draw card. But yeah, they
love it in both places.
Speaker 1 (02:55):
Well, it's the call of northern Southland. Why would you
not want to live there. So the founding member of
Young Fish and Z which connects young professionals in the
seafood industry, and you've got a great champion behind you guys,
and the old Prince of the province's Shane Jones. He's
big on aquaculture.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Yeah, he's real big on aquaculture. And over the weekend
he was here in Marlborough at the Havelock Muscle Festival,
which was cool. And he's announced that Havelock Marina is
getting quite a nice bit of money to dredge out
the marina and it will help the muscle boats coming
in and out. Quite a nice boost into infrastructure here,
which is cool.
Speaker 1 (03:34):
So Meghan Blom twenty four years of age, just twenty
four years of age as the New Zealand winner, the
Australian winner. Let's welcome him on. Jack O'Connor thirty two
from Harden, New South Wales, which is just northwest of Canberra.
And Jack, you're the You're into general agribusiness, livestock administration
and cropping on the family farm at Oxton Park. Tell
(03:58):
us about your operation. Why you think they picked you?
Speaker 2 (04:02):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (04:02):
Thanks, Jamie. I yeah, I assume we're talking about the
Xena McDonald ward. I was sitting in my Brumbies jersey
thinking you might want to talk about that win over
the Blues last weekend. But I suppose we'll we'll talk
about the Xender Award instead, But mate, we yeah, we're
sitting out here, like I said, about an hour and
a half northwest of Canberra, and we yeah, we run
(04:24):
a mixed a mixed farming enterprise here specializing in broad
acre week canola and m tredicli from the cropping side
as well as we raised non mules dull purpose self
replacing marinos as well, and we joined about about eighteen
thousand of those of every year. So yeah, Jamie, I'm
(04:45):
a bit taken back, mate, I was very shocked and
you'ah obviously pleasantly surprised with the with the result yesterday,
just the caliber, which I'm sure Megan can attest to
with the other with the other contestants. You know, to
be selected is a honor, and I think, yeah, for
us personally, we're you are a fourth fourth generation farmers
(05:07):
here and we've been here since nineteen twenty and I
like to think we're very sort of progressive, progressive business
that adapt to what we're finding is the changing climate
and market conditions over there over our time. And yeah,
I think, amongst other things, we definitely are open to
(05:28):
looking at new enterprises as well, and always trying to
find you in the things that we're very passionate about
and like to think we're not too bad at either.
Speaker 1 (05:36):
Well, I'm told you're an early adopter when it comes
to things like renewable energy, carbon accounting and agri voltaics.
Did I get that right? What the hell's that?
Speaker 4 (05:47):
Yeah? Yeah, they're just sort of more so probably little
passion projects for myself, Jamie, And that's sort of just
a bit of a bit of a moving beastus as
a lot of people know, and in our space, those
sort of emerging emerging industries are still you know, finding
their feet in a lot of different areas, and I think, yeah,
we've just always been of the view that we like
(06:10):
to arm ourselves with, you know, with the right information
and as much as we can before we're making you know,
sort of bigger businesses decision business decisions rather. But you know,
for a lot of those industries in our area, they've
got a tremendous amount opportunity and you know, very exciting,
you know, amongst a list of others too. So yeah,
(06:30):
that's sort of where we see it.
Speaker 1 (06:31):
Hey, Sean mcmanuay, just to wrap this, what are these
two outstanding young leaders and entrepreneurs and agricultural one courtesy
of winning the Zanda McDonald Award.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
Well, they pick up ten thousand dollars to go towards
and education project of their choice. So we've mentor that, sorry,
we tailor that to suit what they need. It's not
just a standard package and everybody has a different sort
of requirement and the need. So that's the first thing.
But then they get the opportunity to basically get the
keys to the door about it. Hundred and fifty of
Australasias top farmers, movers and shakers as mentors. So that
(07:05):
has been probably one of the greatest things for this
award is the connections contacts that are made through it.
And you know, the growth that we see in the
people and is just enormous. And you know, just if
you're in if you get into this Zanda McDonald Award,
family life seems to just be accelerated for you. And
I know my great mate Zan who was taken in
(07:25):
twenty thirteen would be unbelievably proud. Not only have the
winners before, but of these two people gaming, well.
Speaker 1 (07:31):
Good on you Shane and to Megan Blom and Jack O'Connor.
Congratulations at twenty twenty five Xander McDonald Award winners. Thanks
for your time, guys
Speaker 4 (07:40):
Thank you, Thanks U Jam
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!