Ashley Dowden assumes new leadership role at Pastoralists and Graziers Association

Fourth-generation pastoralist Ashley Dowden has been appointed chair of the Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA’s pastoral committee. Mr Dowden, who runs Challa Station near Mount Magnet with wife Debbie, replaces PGA vice president Locky McTaggart, who has stood down after five years as chair. The shakeup was announced on August 22 after a meeting of the committee on August 17. Trevor Hodshon, of Atley Station, about 110km east of Mount Magnet, was appointed vice-chair. A former member of the Pastoral Lands Board, Mr Dowden has been involved with the PGA for nearly 30 years and in 2019 received the PGA Rural Achiever of the Year award. As inaugural chair of the Meekatharra Rangelands Biosecurity Association and former Mount Magnet Shire president, he was instrumental in securing Federal and State Government funding for the 1400km Murchison Region Vermin Cell Fence, which was completed last November. Mr Dowden said he was honoured to take on the role and was a firm believer in the importance of advocacy. “One of the big things I am passionate about is getting people to support advocacy rather than seeing it as a poor cousin of production,” he said. “The WA pastoral industry is facing numerous opportunities and challenges, including the WA Government’s draft amendments to the Land Administration Act, which will allow for changes to existing lease diversification as well as changes to tenure and rent valuations. “Other opportunities and challenges include the introduction of new heritage and environmental regulations, increased protests from animal rights activists about livestock production and trade, and further biosecurity threats such as foot-and-mouth and lumpy skin disease. “I believe strongly that the interests of pastoralists need to be forefront in the minds of government policy makers when dealing with these policy issues.” Mr McTaggart, formerly of Bidgemeia Station in the Gascoyne, will remain on the committee and continue to serve as vice-president. “I think change is vital in leadership, and after five years, I feel it is time for someone else to take on the role,” he said. “I have no doubt Ashley is going to do a really good job, supported by Trevor. “They are both really good pastoralists and passionate about the WA pastoral industry.”