The longest job Mark Smith has ever held is the one he is about to leave.
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In 2002 Mark Smith helped Dairy Australia review the DairyTas executive officer role and rewrote the job description.
When the role was advertised he applied.
That was 15 years ago, and this week Mr Smith is handing over the role to his successor Jonathan Price.
In the past 15 years Mr Smith has taken DairyTas from an organisation with a budget of $150,000 to last year’s figure approaching $2 million.
He started when the role was just him, working two days a week, and now there are two full-time and two part-time employees and three contractors servicing the state’s dairy industry.
Reflecting on his time in the role, Mr Smith said the expansion of the organisation has been important for its ability to service Tasmania’s 430 dairy farms.
“It’s not just me doing it, so that has evolved. I’m not the doer of everything, but now coordinating. That was a big change for me personally,” Mr Smith said.
“I like to think we’re flexible and nimble. If there’s a need, we’ll get out there and do it,” he said.
One of the key industry changes has been the impact of technology on dairy farming, but Mr Smith warns it cannot do everything.
“I don’t see technology as the only way of the future,” Mr Smith said.
“Cows are like people in that they have to be looked after. There will always be a role for labour [on dairy farms], but we need good people,” he said.
However, he does point out that Tasmanian farmers are at the forefront of the industry.
“Tasmanian farmers are at the leading edge of new things and are quick to adopt, which helped set our industry up with a positive future,” Mr Smith said.
Mr Smith will not be disappearing from Burnie’s attention, taking up the chairmanship of BIG group, which combines education and industry.
He also involved with South Burnie Lawn Bowls club, Burnie Surf Club and Hellyer Association.