This week the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) mourns the passing and remembers the efforts of former board member John Bishop – a man who cut a towering figure across Queensland’s horticulture landscape and the agricultural sector in general.
John first began his horticultural career as a vegetable grower in the Lockyer Valley and in later years moved into orchard crops such as mangoes and figs. After becoming actively involved in industry activities in 1973, John served on almost every possible horticulture committee, culminating in their chairmanship for many years when he led Growcom from 2007 to 2013. John was presented with a Lifetime Membership of the organisation in August 2018 to recognise his years of service to Queensland horticulture. Throughout his career John served on numerous additional agricultural boards and committees including Austsafe Super, Brisbane River Management Group, and ChemCert Training Queensland.
He has been consistently involved in biosecurity and environmental initiatives as a member of Landcare Queensland from 1997 to 2005 and the Queensland Ministerial Advisory Committee on Biosecurity from 2002 to 2012. And in recent years, he found a home on the committee for drumMuster, a national environmental program for the collection and recycling of empty, clean, non-returnable crop production and on-farm animal health chemical containers.
John was equally at home in the paddock or working with parliamentarians. He championed the causes he believed in and while his contribution to the horticulture industry and agricultural sector as a whole cannot be quantified, it is evident in the sheer number of organisations that can credit their success to his involvement and the number of people who can call him their friend and mentor. Queensland agriculture has lost a passionate and dedicated advocate. On behalf of QFF, our industry member Growcom and the broader Queensland agricultural sector, a very sincere thank you JB.