A connection between the Goulburn Valley and overseas aid has been severed with the recent retirement of a former member of parliament.

Former deputy leader of the federal National Party, Bruce Lloyd, served on the Victorian committee of the Crawford Fund from 1996 until he stepped down this month.

The fund builds food security and enhances nutritional outcomes in crops through sharing agricultural knowledge and research in developing countries of the Asia Pacific.

The fund has been a favourite with Mr Lloyd, who has enjoyed working with grass roots organisations which have an impact in the lives of rural people.

Mr Lloyd played a key role in the development of Landcare and he was the first chair of the Australian Landcare Council.

The Crawford Fund has supported Landcare study tours, technical and specialist training, and five Landcare master class programs engaging trainees from many countries, including Fiji, Tonga, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Philippines, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Sri Lanka, the US and the UK.

Major crop programs have included cocoa in Vietnam and Papua New Guinea, potatoes in PNG, dairy hygiene in Malaysia and Indonesia, animal health in Nepal and an ongoing relationship with the Royal National University of Bhutan where Crawford helped to set up a bachelor of agriculture degree course and training in research techniques in agriculture.

Crawford Fund Victorian committee chair Tony Gregson said Mr Lloyd’s practical, down-to-earth approach, coupled with his vast political experience, were invaluable to the deliberations of the committee and he will be greatly missed.

Mr Lloyd, who is living in retirement with his wife, Heather, on the family farm at Bunbartha, told Country News the Crawford Fund had accomplished good work in improving agricultural outcomes in South-East Asia and the Pacific.

He said the work also helped build good will towards Australia in the region.

Mr Lloyd was deputy leader of the federal National Party from 1987 to 1993, and served in the House of Representatives from 1971 to 1996, representing the Victorian seat of Murray (now Nicholls).

In parliament he served as Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Industry (Agriculture), Shadow Minister (Opposition Spokesman) for a number of portfolios including Primary Industry for six years, and a member of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on the Environment.

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Thursday, 12th June 2025

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