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There aren’t many Aussies who can say they’ve spent four decades doing the job they love, on the same patch of dirt, and never missed a day of work that mattered. Greg Taylor can. This year, the Teys Jindalee feedlot at Springdale, NSW, is celebrating a milestone that may well make Greg the longest-serving feed truck drivers in the country — 40 years, one job, one very lucky team.
Greg’s story started the way a lot of great country careers do — with a bit of nous and a bit of nerve. Fresh out of school, and already handy behind the wheel of a tractor, he rolled up to Springdale and asked if they needed a driver to help feed the cattle. The manager took one look, liked the initiative, and told him he could start the next day. He did. And he’s been in the driver’s seat ever since.
In that time, Jindalee has evolved through multiple ownerships. Greg worked at the feedlot during the Metro Meats era, through the Cargill ownership period and remained a constant presence when Teys acquired Jindalee in the joint venture in 2011. Through every change in management, infrastructure and technology, Greg’s commitment to the cattle has never wavered.
Numbers to stop you in your tracks
Over 40 years, the team have calculated that Greg has fed an extraordinary 1.76 million head of cattle. To put that into perspective, that is enough cattle to fill every feedlot in Australia today. Along the way he has delivered more than one billion kilograms of feed, helping produce over 274 million kilograms of cattle weight gain and ultimately contributing to billions of beef meals enjoyed by people around the world. Greg’s efforts have likely fed around 30% of the world’s population! These are staggering numbers, but for Greg, it has never been about the statistics.
“The best part of the job is that no two days are the same,” Greg said. “The weather changes, the equipment keeps you on your toes, and there’s always a challenge to solve. At the end of the day, though, it comes back to making sure the cattle are cared for and fed properly. That’s what really matters.”
Four decades. Not a day missed.
Perhaps the most remarkable part of Greg’s career is that in 40 years, the cattle have never gone unfed on his watch. Christmas mornings have started in the feed truck, and only twice in forty years has a long day stretched late into the night to ensure every ration was delivered, and every mouth was fed. It is a level of commitment that speaks volumes about the pride Greg takes in his work – and is a quiet, unshakable commitment that defines our best people.
Behind the wheel, Greg has driven 2 Rotomix delivery trucks, 5 Rotomix mixers, 2 Morlang mixers, 2 Oswalt mixers and more tractor wagons than he can count. His favourite? A Freightliner FL800 — “smoothest drive, good turning circle and quiet to run.” When an expert with that many kilometres under their belt tells you which truck is best, you listen.
While the equipment has changed significantly over the years, Greg has adapted with it, embracing new machinery and technology while never losing sight of the job at hand – ensuring cattle are fed safely, efficiently, and on time.
A sentimental streak
For all the passion for cattle care, teamwork and getting the job done, there’s a soft side to Greg too — he’s kept one of every Jindalee uniform shirt he’s ever been issued. A quiet, nostalgic nod to the changing times, and to a place that’s been part of his life longer than most.
When asked about his favourite time of year, Greg doesn’t hesitate.
“Summer. The days are longer and you can take your time getting around the cattle. It gives you a chance to appreciate the animals, the country, and the people you work with every day.”
In his team’s words
Teys Jindalee Feedlot General Manager Operations, Shane Bullock, said Greg’s contribution extends well beyond driving a truck.
“Greg is part of the fabric of Jindalee. Forty years of turning up every day, looking after the cattle and supporting his teammates is an incredible achievement. His work ethic, humility and commitment set the standard for everyone around him. We’re incredibly fortunate to have people like Greg in our business.”
General Manager Teys Feedlots, Grant Garey believes Greg’s achievement is one that deserves recognition well beyond the gates of Jindalee.
“There wouldn’t be many people in Australia who have spent 40 years feeding cattle from the driver’s seat of a feed truck. Greg’s dedication is exceptional and reflects everything that is great about our feedlot teams – commitment, care, reliability and pride in the job. His contribution to Teys and the wider industry has been immense.”
From Springdale to the world
Jindalee itself has changed a lot over Greg’s 40 years — now a 30,000-head, 720-hectare operation, a two-time Australian Feedlot of the Year (2014 and 2021) and, after a recent major site upgrade, home to eight new ridgeback sheds and a state-of-the-art feed mill. Teys Jindalee Feedlot is a key part of Teys’ 14 site integrated beef production operations across the Eastern seaboard of Australia. Through every change, one thing has stayed the same: Greg, at the wheel, feeding the cattle.
Forty years on, his story is a reminder that great businesses are built by great people – and few have demonstrated that commitment more consistently than Greg, a pillar in our Teys supply chain, helping to fulfill our vision of feeding people around the world.
