Heart-warming rural success story

George from Jindivick: From Small Town Farmer to Big Cheese, by Vickie Janson (Connor Court Publishing, 2019). Hardcover/paperback: 160 pages.

Few would have heard of Jindivick, a small town in Gippsland, eastern Victoria, until 1996 when Jindi Big Brie beat the French at their own game, winning the Soft Mould Cheese of the World championship in the American state of Wisconsin. Endeavour Forum supporters would be more familiar with the author of this fascinating little book, Vickie Janson, a Christian writer and political activist who has presented at many of Babette Francis's gatherings.

George Ronalds and his brother Dave grew up in the vicinity of Jindivick on the family dairy farm, with a prodigious work ethic and a notable entrepreneurial streak. Purchasing a bulldozer, they became contractors, clearing regrown timber country and building dams. Acquiring more machinery, they also took up contract harvesting.

By his mid-20s George had cleared a block for dairying, built a house and sheds, and courted and married a city girl who shared his faith. From childhood he had been a devout Christian, attending the Rokeby Union Church, and was then a Sunday School teacher.

As a "young fella of 48 years old", he adopted an elderly neighbour's dream to "milk cows and make cheese". With partner and best mate Wally, friend Laurie and others, they built their factory, believing that "you just go and get a recipe and follow it".

Disaster struck their early efforts, in the form of "Mr Whiskers", a black mould which grew on every cheese overnight. It took Laurie a visit to France to discover the need for an air filtration system, to exclude infection from the farm outside. The author describes the pragmatic DIY engineering work which proceeded to address every problem as it arose, as well as the cheese-making process itself.

Their work was rewarded in 1991 with the prestigious Champion Soft-Mould Cheese of the World award at the Melbourne Show, followed by similar successes around Australia.

Expansion of the property, dairy herd, plant and marketing activity was embarked upon; but the handmade product – sourced exclusively from George's 200 cows and cousin Lloyd's pure-bred Jerseys – was thought to be the secret of their superior result. Another brand called Wattle Valley was then added, and smaller wedges were wrapped for sale in supermarkets.

A lovely piece is included, describing how George learned the difference between brie and camembert – and solved the problem in the labelling department! The enterprise also moved into producing dips, before the business was sold, first to Menora Foods in 2005, then to the French dairy giant Lactalis in 2008. George then happily returned to earth-moving.

The author concludes her account with sections on George and Dave's miraculous survival, along with that of the house and factory, from the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, and on the family's involvement with their church throughout the whole saga.

We learn of their work in the Youth for Christ (YFC) movement, which took off after the Billy Graham visit in 1959. Along with Wally and flower-grower Peter Rowse, George conducted youth rallies and camps for the Warragul YFC, with outrageous fun activities, including an electric chair! George was even involved in missionary activity in the Philippines, and with his wife Bev became an avid 4WD adventurer in inland Australia.

Vickie Janson has compiled a delightful account of the very full life of a remarkable man, which I found inspiring. George Ronalds not only put Jindivick on the map, but provided employment for his community, while building the sort of social capital which Australia so desperately needs today.

John Morrissey is a retired secondary school teacher who has taught in government, independent and Catholic schools. He lives in the Melbourne suburb of Hawthorn.

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