Four new shareholder directors joined the Murray Irrigation Limited board in May this year. Each was elected after the resignations of Steve Fawns, Troy Maguer and Brendan Barry. In a new series of articles, Murray Irrigation invites us to get to know the directors that now make up the board. We continue with Noel Graham AM.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Highly experienced agricultural and irrigation industry stalwart Noel Graham AM has made a return to the Murray Irrigation board.
Noel holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA), is a graduate and fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (FAICD) and a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Program (ARLP).
Appointed as a member director on May 13 this year, Noel has since transitioned to an independent director after passing his farm and subsequent Murray Irrigation shares to his son Alex and daughter-in-law Zara on July 1.
Noel previously served as a Murray Irrigation director from 2009, and as chair from 2012 to 2013.
He was on the board during the sign off of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan where he, along with the board and management, assisted in negotiating the best possible outcome for irrigators, both in terms of water recovery, and the Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program (PIIOP).
“The development of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan was and continues to be one of the most challenging events in recent history for local irrigators," Noel said.
“Our communities are and will continue to feel the impacts of the plan for some time to come.
“We all still struggle with the basic premise that just adding water is going to solve the problems the Basin Plan has been established to address, but unfortunately that is the reality we are facing.
"As a company, and as farmers, we need to stop tearing ourselves apart over this and come together with solutions for the best way forward.
“We need to recognise that there is another major water holder in the mix (Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder) and Murray Irrigation has a right, and an obligation to its shareholders, to engage with the Basin Plan to enhance the company position and ensure water delivered on farm is as cheap as possible.
“I believe that Murray Irrigation is the most important agribusiness in this area.
“Farmers will choose what they grow, whether that be rice, nuts, citrus, dairy, cotton, corn, sheep, or cattle; and Murray Irrigation has to supply the water for that. That is pivotal.”
When asked where he sees Murray Irrigation in 10 years' time, Noel said “it will still be as absolutely vital as it is today”.
“I would like to think that from now, but certainly in 10 years’ time, Murray Irrigation will be an organisation that is trusted by shareholders and customers, and everyone is working to the same end," he said.
“I would like to think that future generations will continue to receive high level water services that are delivered in full and on time and see Murray Irrigation making a positive contribution for farming business and the broader community.
“Having participated in this process 10 years ago, and through my knowledge of the plan, the region's rivers and tributaries, and the network of government and industry connections I’ve developed over the years, I’m hoping I can bring valuable insight to the Board to assist us achieve the best result for all water users within the Murray Irrigation footprint.”
Noel’s family has been farming at ‘Corunna’ in Caldwell for 115 years, and has been in the Bunnaloo-Echuca region since the 1860s.
"My wife Louise and I are pleased that Alex and Zara are following in the family footsteps and keeping the generational farm alive," Noel said.
"Alex will be the fourth generation to farm at ‘Corunna’ because they see a future here in the region.”
The Grahams’ 1200ha mixed irrigated farming enterprise consists of summer and winter cropping, and a livestock operation.
They also farm property at Coleambally and near Whitton.
“My great-grandfather purchased the family farm in 1909, the initial block of land was livestock and was from the first subdivision of Cobran Station,” Noel explained.
“My family has seen the implementation and evolution of the amazing irrigation infrastructure we now have the privilege of accessing.
“There is a bright future in the Murray Irrigation footprint. I feel proud that my family has been part of the history that has helped achieve that. And that we can continue to contribute to future generations so that they can experience the same prosperity that we have here today.”
Outside of his family partnership and time on the Murray Irrigation board, Noel has extensive director and chair experience locally and internationally - particularly within the rice industry, where he served as deputy chair of SunRice from 2013-2016, chair of the Rice Marketing Board from 2003-2009, chair of SolRice (Solomon Islands) from 2007-2016, and chair of SunFoods LLC (California) from 2014-2016.
Noel’s interest in the broader rice industry began at a young age, while tagging along to rice conferences and meetings with his father Greg Graham, who was president of Rice Growers Association (RGA) for many years.
“In 1984, at a meeting of the Deniliquin RGA branch, the current secretary was stepping down, so I put my hand up for the role. I was 25 years old, and that’s where it all began,” he said.
Noel has been involved in agriculture since the mid-1970s, starting out his career as a jackaroo at Old Cobran Merino Stud in Caldwell and contract harvesting in northern and central NSW, before working on the family farm and establishing a mixed irrigated farming partnership with Louise.
Up until his recent retirement, Noel has spent every year since first putting up his hand at that RGA branch meeting in 1984, either involved in a rice or irrigation committee role.
This unwavering commitment to agriculture, rice and irrigation is what earned Noel a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in June 2023.
“I was honoured and humbled to be nominated by a local irrigator who thought my contribution should be recognised at the highest level,” Noel said.
“In my time, I was driven to make a positive contribution into the community - I’d like to think I’ve done that; that has been my drive.”
Noel also currently serves on the Intereach board and is chair of the local non-profit organisation's Finance Audit and Risk Committee.
“Through my experience, I have developed the view that the whole should be greater than the sum of the individual parts.
“No individual board member has power, the board as a collective has the power.
“I also believe that, while a highly functioning board needs a wide variety of skills including finance, audit, human resources, safety, governance, the list goes on, ultimately, honesty and integrity are the greatest skills a director can possess.
"Having the ability to listen, the ability to learn, and a sound understanding of who you are representing is essential. The board is the shareholders' representative.”
Outside being a member of and chairing several organisations locally and around the world, Noel has participated in some of the biggest developments in the local irrigation industry.
This includes involvement in the Cadell Land and Water Management Plan (LWMP), a number of successful reviews into rice vesting during his time on the Rice Marketing Board, PIIOP and the Murray-Darling Basin Plan - the latter he cites as being one of the greatest challenges the region has had, and still has to overcome.
However, he also sees great opportunity for Murray Irrigation, shareholders and customers coming out of the plan, if we have the courage to embrace them.
Contributed content