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15/10/2024
Henry and wife Elly on “Wadnaminga Station” Broken Hill
When you grow up in Broken Hill’s vast pastoral district, neighbours quickly become family – and for the Treloar and Morgan families, strong intergenerational friendship runs deep.
Both 34-year-old Henry Treloar and 31-year-old Lily Morgan have fond childhood memories of family barbeques together, eating lamb chops in sandy creek beds – the 50-kilometre distance between their properties a relative stone’s throw.
And today, their close connection continues thanks to their careers with Rabobank with Henry a rural manager based out of the Adelaide branch, while Lily is a senior rural manager in the Kadina branch.
Lily at home on “Outalpa Station”, Broken Hill.
Joining Rabobank last year, Henry admits it was Lily’s passion for her role, coupled with the bank’s community values and dedicated ag focus that piqued his interest.
Having built his previous career in ag consultancy across Australia and the UK, it was a move that aligned perfectly with his skills and expertise.
During his consultancy career Henry sat on advisory boards, specialising in succession planning, benchmarking, and strategic planning, and his Rabobank role now affords him the same conversations and business insights, whilst enabling him to actively help clients achieve their goals.
“My family’s experience, and that of many farmers I know, is they’re good at farming and exceptionally resilient – yet the ability to keep farming through multiple generations often requires an external set of eyes and some insight,” Henry said.
“From agronomists to livestock agents, there is so much knowledge contributing to farming, and I see myself as another resource helping good family farms become good family businesses.”
Lily is equally proud to be helping clients navigate their business and believes drawing on her lived experience is valuable.
“Coming from Broken Hill, drought has been a familiar cycle across my lifetime, and fortunately, or unfortunately, I can deeply relate to our clients during dry times – I get it, I know the financial and mental burden of it all and can genuinely empathise,” Lily reflected.
Bush learnings for life
Henry grew up on “Wadnaminga Station”, 130km South West of Broken Hill where his parents Jim and Jenny run 8,000 Merinos, and his earliest childhood memories are of working sheep.
“From a young age I was given a small taste of responsibility, and I loved being part of a team and working with my family,” he smiled.
“Most kids don’t know what their parents do for work, they leave the house in the morning and come home at night, yet my childcare was opening and shutting gates, and I’m very grateful for it!”
Both Henry and Lily completed School of the Air, and Lily, who grew up on her parents, James and Alex Morgan’s “Outalpa Station”, also reflects on her childhood fondly.
“I loved all the major stock movements, we’d get terribly excited come shearing time or at lamb marking, and to this day I still take annual leave to return home and be a part of it all, it’s such a buzz,” Lily beamed.
Henry and Lily have shared a close bond since childhood
“Many farmers still live on the property upon which they grew up, yet in these pastoral districts there’s a uniquely deep connection – it’s where we were schooled, socialised, lived, and worked – and these properties certainly pull on the heartstrings, even during the most challenging seasons,” Henry said.
On the Rabobank path together
Both Lily and Henry agree that working together, albeit in different branches, is personally, and professionally, a wonderful continuation of their unique connection.
“My wife Elly and I live in Adelaide, and while we try to get back to the farm regularly, it’s always nice to talk to Lily about home and our shared experiences,” Henry said.
“Professionally, we both have a deep understanding of the pastoral region – which does require a special level of insight and a long-term view.”
Henry believes Rabobank’s sole focus on agriculture is a strong selling point for both staff, and clients, and with most of his colleagues from the land, it’s expertise that can’t be replicated.
“There’s a great, like-minded culture in Rabobank, and I’ve learnt so much from my colleagues which all helps me be a better manager.”
Likewise, he said Rabobank’s focus on upskilling farmers through Rabo Client Council initiatives such as Financial Skills Workshops, succession planning information events, business management programs, and emission calculator workshops is to be applauded.
“I value upskilling, and it’s refreshing to see Rabobank contributing to strong farm businesses in and out of the paddock.”
With the Adelaide branch on the ground at Broken Hill’s Agfair, Henry also welcomed the opportunity to support the community and local industry.
“I loved coming home for Agfair and reconnecting, it also reminded me why I love the region, and its people – particularly in the face of seasonal challenges and isolation, they’re always tremendously upbeat.”
Kristina, Sophie, Ella, Hannah and Byron Crawford, Weekeroo Station, Broken Hill, with Rabobank Rural Manager Henry Treloar at Agfair