The Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria (MCAV) welcomed a new president recently, with Merrijig farmer, Bruce McCormack, stepping into the chair at the group’s annual general meeting.

Mr McCormack’s family has an association with the High Country that stretches back longer than the MCAV itself, with five generations of McCormacks before him having run cattle into the hills around Mansfield.

“I’m very proud, and very humbled, to be taking on the president’s position,” Mr McCormack said.

“This organisation means a lot to me, my family and my way of life.”

Mr McCormack runs a commercial Angus operation from the family property, Leonora, with his cattle grazing the country around Mountain Number Three and the King Valley every summer.

“We’ve been doing this for nearly 200 years – it’s a part of who we are, and it’s why we have such a strong connection and affinity with the bush around us.”

Mr McCormack takes over the reins as MCAV president from fellow Merrijig mountain cattleman, Graeme Stoney.

Mr Stoney has long been at the forefront of the MCAV’s fight. He was a key player in the successful petition to retain grazing when the Alpine National Park was formed in 1989 and has been part of the ongoing fight to return cattle to the park when the government removed them in 2005.

Mr Stoney is a firm believer fuel loads in the bush are at dangerous levels, and has called on the government multiple times to heed indigenous advice on traditional burning methods.

“I will, of course, continue to remain involved with the MCAV,” Mr Stoney said.

“Our work is far from finished – we want to see action on fuel loads, deer numbers, bush access, brumbies, parks promotion and so much more – the MCAV is about managing the state forest and national parks that both benefit the land and the people who visit.”