Show Stalwart And Driving Force Of Agricultural Training

Sydney Morning Herald

Wednesday March 2, 2005

David Pockley David Pockley is Len's son

Leonard Pockley

Stud breeder, veterinarian

1915-2004

Len Pockley, who has died at 89, was a leader in stud stock breeding and agricultural education. He was instrumental in the founding of Orange Agricultural College and, as a member of the council of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, was for almost 40 years one of the event organisers at the Royal Easter Show.

Len was born in Woollahra and educated at Shore. He went to the University of Sydney, where he was a resident at St Paul's College and continued his chosen sports of rowing and shooting. He passed veterinary science with honours and in later years was to become an examiner for the faculty.

After graduation he worked on Bundemar Station at Trangie, outside Dubbo, and carried out some private practice. It was then that he became aware of the need for affordable veterinary advice and also the great benefits to the industry of well-trained managers. "Mother nature is a great manager," he used to say, but that didn't mean human managers could afford to drag their heels.

In 1939 he enlisted for war service at Holsworthy in the remount unit, then formed and commanded the remount depot at Lochinvar in the Hunter Valley. He later served in the Pacific with 2/1 Armoured Brigade Company AASC, 7th Division, reaching the rank of major.

After the war he returned to Pylara, the family property south of Goulburn, and married Jane Kitchen. A year later their son David was born. Len ran the family merino (and later poll merino) studs, the poll hereford studs and commercial stock, introducing measurement into the selection process. He believed that "the next generation of rams or bulls to sell are only as good as the females you breed them from".

In 1946 he was elected to the NSW Stud Merino Breeders Council and served until 1987. He was twice vice-president and president and also served as president of the national association. In 1987 he was made a life governor.

Len was elected to the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW council in 1962, went on to serve as chairman of a number of committees and was elected a vice-president. He went to his first Easter Show in 1921, began entering cattle in 1937, and never missed a show.

He was very interested in the education of agricultural industry managers and his drive and initiative made a substantial contribution to the founding of the Orange Agricultural College. He was a member of the establishment committee and became chairman of the college council. He also published A handbook for Jackeroos and A Handbook for Farm Managers to help fill a need he saw for young people entering the industry.

Len judged sheep and cattle at many shows in Australia, Argentina, Kenya, New Zealand and at the Royal Highland Show in Britain.

About 20 years ago Len and Jane moved into Goulburn where, together with the local rose society, they were instrumental in making Goulburn "the city of roses".

In 1978, Len was awarded an OBE for services to agriculture and education. He will be remembered for his ethics and principles, his interest in younger people, particularly those keen on being part of agriculture, and his special sense of humour. Murphy's law and Pockley's law were much the same - whatever can go wrong will go wrong, unless you plan for it.

He is survived by his wife, Jane, son, David, and daughter-in-law, Jill, two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

© 2005 Sydney Morning Herald

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