As guest speaker Mr Youman traced his own path from opening Black Mountain Nursery after propagating 85 stringy barks which sold immediately through to large scale tree planting and propagation across the eastern seaboard and inventing a machine that planted trees through rock, to seed collecting.

Along the way he invented the machinery he needed – rippers, fertilizer applicators, feral pig traps with infra red detectors for National Parks, fox bating equipment and devices for back burning.

He also developed a tree planter for orchards and won many awards for his inventions. He and Pam studied Horticulture and frontline Business and became work place Trainers and Assessors in the late 1990’s and now work for a number of Training Organisations including TAFE. They have also started the training employees at the Guyra Tomato Farm.

Mr Youman described his business system as MDK (mum, dad, kids) with all family members making a strong and vital contribution.

He attributed part of his business success to assistance from New England Mutual which granted him a loan when he needed it most.

“It was when all the big banks were abandoning country areas,” he said. “We were very careful about the way we developed the business and never got into too much debt but when we needed a loan the Credit Union looked after us well. The personal touch of the credit union is so important and I hope it never loses its focus on communicating with people. That’s so important.”

He said his own experience had taught him there was nothing stopping people from doing anything if they set their minds to it.

“Change is the important thing,” he said. “Things can’t stay the same as they did yesterday. You just have to look at where the opportunities are and chase them.” Although he says he and his wife are trying to slow down after a lifetime of working “eight days a week”, he is taking up sailing and Pam golf. Our staff are very important to us too.