The Murray Bain Service to Industry Award honours the outstanding achievements of those in our industry who champion exceptional service to industry and hands-on practice. This year's Murray Bain Services to Industry Award recipient is Ms Julie Harris.
When it comes to hard work in a hands-on capacity, Ms Harris fits the Murray Bain Service to Industry description perfectly.
Growing up in the Widden Valley as the child of respected horse people Madge and Alan Harris, Julie was associated with horses before she could walk and riding them as soon as she could walk.
She is well known and highly respected throughout the industry for her knowledge, dedication, attention to detail and the results she achieves, especially in getting difficult mares in foal and supporting them to deliver healthy foals.
Julie's professionalism and passion for breeding, coupled with the results she achieves have led to her very successful partnership with renowned West Australian breeder Bob Peters who has dominated WA racing for many years on the back of numerous good horses and Group winners bred and raised at Holbrook.
Julie is an indefatigable 24/7 stud manager. She is known in the industry as a great boss and a mentor to young staff and she has played a role in developing the careers of numerous people who have passed through her farm, including Emily Starr, a past recipient of the HTBA Scholarship to the Irish National Stud and who credits Julie with the development of her thoroughbred career and achieving the scholarship.
Julie is not only outstanding at looking after the horses and people in her care, but also finds time for community activities such as volunteering for the Scone Community Centre. She has been a member of the Scone Horse Festival Committee for the past ten years and is responsible for the recent increase in the number of horse entries in the parade.
Julie Harris is recognised as a hard worker, a great horse breeder and a genuinely good person and merits this year's Murray Bain Award for Service to the Industry award.