Celebrating the life and legacy of JS Davies

On Thursday 17 August, the Davies Livestock Research Centre, in conjunction with the Spalding History Group, hosted an event at Spalding to honour the life and legacy of John Stanley Davies.

Davies spent his working life improving strains of beef cattle and, after his death in 1968, bequeathed the University of Adelaide $2 million in property. The University of Adelaide’s Davies Livestock Research Centre, which was launched in 2016, carries on the spirit of his work. Through its research, the Centre aims to optimise animal productivity, product quality and wellbeing by bringing together experts in animal breeding, genetics, physiology, reproduction, genomics, bioinformatics, biochemistry, physics and engineering. 

The event was a huge success, with the local community delighted that the University made such an effort to honour one of their own. It is nearing 55 years since he passed, yet there were 100 people present. It was an absolutely wonderful way of honouring his legacy over time.

The input from past Davies Fellows (Phil Hynd, Michael D’Occhio, Scott Newman, Cindy Bottema, Stefan Hiendleder and John Williams) painted the picture of both deep and wide impact. Unanimously the community said they had no idea of the past impact on research and people, nor of the research the Centre is currently working on and were very supportive of the Centre.

The event received considerable press through various channels, featuring on Facebook, Twitter, Stock Journal, Beef Central, Country Hour and also significant word of mouth in the heartland. Every time people drive past the sign to “Munduney,” the Davies property at Spalding, they will be thinking of University of Adelaide and the Davies Livestock Research Centre.

A podcast has been produced and was launched at the event, which explores his legacy, including voices from people who knew him. The podcast recording can be found here.