The Macedon Ranges welcomed a special visitor this past week.
Governor of Victoria Professor Margaret Gardner visited the Macedon Ranges during a regional tour, to engage with the community and local businesses.
On Thursday July 17 and Friday July 18, Prof Gardner visited locations across the Ranges, meeting with Macedon Ranges council and drought affected farmers as well as staff at businesses Rationale and Josh’s Rainbow Eggs. She also visited Hanging Rock.
“It’s been so wonderful to meet so many people who are so passionate about the farms, the businesses and the organisations they’re a part of,” she said.
Josh’s Rainbow Eggs, a business homegrown in the Macedon Ranges, was founded by Josh Murray when he was only nine years old. The grassroots company started with Josh selling eggs at local farmers markets, with the business now the highest selling brand in Woolworths.
While Josh and his mother Tamsyn were unable to be there for Prof Gardner’s visit due to overseas commitments, they were both thrilled to have her to their farm.
“I think that it’s a testament to the work we’ve done in the community and I’m really proud,” Josh said.
Tamsyn added that they talked after the visit about a quote from the governor when she said “you are what you do”.
“I think that’s something we really take to heart every day in our business.”
During the visit, Prof Gardner toured shed nine and the grading shed, and said she loved gaining an insight to the business.
“What was interesting about the tour was you could see it as an end-to-end process. You could see basically where the hens are laying the eggs and that process … and then all the way up to the grading which is highly automated and really underpinned by quite substantial technology in order to produce that sort of quality of product,” Prof Gardner said.
Council mayor Dom Bonanno said it was a pleasure to welcome the governor to the Ranges.
“We are a very passionate group here in the Macedon Ranges, and the community, the businesses and the people have shown that today,” he said.
