HIGH profile Queensland onion grower Andrew Moon has received the prestigious Reg Miller Award at the Onions Australia conference at Brisbane last night.
Mr Moon, from St George, awarded the honour at the 2016 Bejo Reg Miller Awards Dinner, held at the Diana Plaza Hotel.
The Reg Miller Award is the Australian onion industry’s highest honour.
Mr Moon has been in the onion game for just 10 years but has made a lifetime of difference to the industry in that short period of time.
A fifth generation farmer, Mr Moon is a familiar face to many in the industry having served three years in the role as Onions Australia chairman and as a member of the former industry committee before that.
During his time in the top job, he led the battle to get the onion industry levy finalised after a drawn-out five-year process, as well as playing a significant role throughout the Horticulture Australia Limited review.
Mr Moon said to get recognised in such a way was something special.
"You don't go into these organisations for this sort of thing so it was unexpected," he said.
"It's a generational thing I suppose. Dad was always involved with agripolitics in certain ways.
"I think it's important to understand every aspect of the industry you're involved with.
With a current supply shortage and some of the best prices in six years, Mr Moon said there was a positive mood among growers at this year's conference.
"It's good to be an onion grower at the moment," he said.
Onions Australia chair Kees Versteeg said Mr Moon was an exceptionally worthy recipient of the award.
“Andrew led Onions Australia through changing times, his steady hand and guidance was imperative to the success of the organisation and his unshakeable belief in the Australian onion industry is second to none,” he said.
“Those who know Andrew best say he’s a genuine bloke, personally and professionally, who is well-known to ‘call a spade a spade’ and never leave anyone guessing what he’s saying.
“Overall he is regarded as a well-respected farmer and leader in the onions industry who will be remembered for tackling some of the sectors greatest challenges with professionalism and skill.
“So it was only fitting that his commitment to the Australian onion industry is proudly recognised.”
It's good to be an onion grower at the moment.
- Andrew Moon
It’s more than Mr Moon's English ancestors who first selected country near Brisbane in the early 1900s could have envisaged for their future family members.
His parents moved to St George in 1979 to grow cotton but water shortages throughout the drought years of the late 1990s and 2000s forced Mr Moon and his business partner and brother David, to diversify.
In 2004 they started growing melons, and from there have further successfully expanded in to broccoli, pumpkins, and of course, garlic and onions.
Today onions are their biggest crop and have a major supermarket giant as their biggest customer.
As well as day to day operations, Mr Moon is responsible for all marketing of produce under the Moon Rocks brand, where the focus on quality, sustainable, environmentally friendly produced onions is key.
Despite stepping down as Onions Australia chair two years ago, Mr Moon remains a loyal supporter of the industry body and is a vocal encourager of getting involved in networking opportunities as a member of the Executive Committee.
He and his wife Kerry have two teenage children, a son and a daughter, both of whom are yet to commit to the family business but those close to them suspect it’s only a matter of "when, not if".
The award recognises those who have made outstanding contributions to the industry and is named after South Australian Reg Miller, who helped found Onions Australia.