Elizabeth & Annette Thomson - Breed Society President

In 2001 the RAS introduced the Show Legend award to recognise outstanding commitment to Easter Show competitions and events, demonstrated by individuals. From exhibitors to competitors, from carnival operators to green coats – anyone with the passion and dedication to contribute to the Show year after year, could be nominated. In the inaugural year of the Show Legend award, two women who’d devoted their lives to the dairy industry were outstanding recipients. Dynamic duo, sisters Elizabeth and Annette Thomson started exhibiting Holstein dairy cattle at the Royal Easter Show in 1964. A decade later they began their famous Milky Way milking demonstrations which became a Show hit with city youngsters for 30 years. Women ahead of their time, the trouser wearing pair started leading their own cattle at the Sydney Royal in the 1960s and Elizabeth became the first female President of a Breed Society. As the newly appointed President of the Holstein-Friesian Society she recalls causing quite a stir attending her first Breed Presidents meeting at the RAS (edited extract from an interview with Richard Raxworthy in 1996).