30 STOCK & LAND, June 26, 2014

Irish butcher sets The faces withinThe faces within

By LAURA GRIFFIN

WHEN Daniel Mehegan came out from Ireland in the 1860s and opened a butcher shop

at Melbourne’s Queen Victorian Markets, he started a tradition of involvement in Australia’s red meat industry that his son, grandson and great-grandson have continued.

His descendants – three more gen-erations sharing the name Daniel Mehegan – have graced the pages of Stock & Land as meat workers, agents and auctioneers.

His great-grandson Daniel Scot Mehegan, , has retained clippings and photographs from the newspaper.

The first Daniel Mehegan in Australia is mentioned in a book published by Stock & Land called Memoirs of a Stockman by Harry H. Peck, circa 1942.

“Mehegan and Goldson formed a well-knit partnership as wholesal-ers. They did most of their own work but, I believe, sold largely on commission. Dan Mehegan was short and squat, but Bill Goldston was on the tall side. Both were quiet likeable men. Dan’s son still carries on at the Coburg abattoirs, but practically restricts his business to a mutton turnover; while Bill’s son has long been one of the heads of the staff of Dalgety & Co at Wagga Wagga, NSW.”

William Goldson is featured on information boards at Wagga Wagga Saleyards adjacent to the Cafe. Few would know that he had quite an interesting War Record including having participated in the famous light horse charge at Beersheba and being recommended for the Military Medal.

One wonders if his nephew Daniel Alexander was inspired by his uncle in becoming an Auctioneer and employed by Dalgety for some 30 years.

Dan's son Daniel George Mehegan was, as mentioned, a butcher and then became a lamb buyer for Sir William Charles Angliss, who was also a butcher, as well as a pastoralist, pioneer meat exporter, businessman, politician and philanthropist.

Daniel Scot cherishes a newspaper clip-ping with a photo of his grandfather Daniel George Mehegan with two other Angliss and Co team members at Newmarket saleyards (even if Mehegan is misspelled).

Among his trove is a photo by Frank Johnson in Stock & Land that shows Daniel George Mehegan in a group of five other men at a saleyard.

“Back then, the agents, auction-eers, clerks and buyers and most involved wore ties and hats. These were consummate professionals and people proudly representing reputable Agencies and stalwarts of the red meat industry. Sales were huge with staff starting work in the early hours and finishing late,” Daniel Scot said. "There was a sense of mateship and mutual respect".

Such presentation continued dur-ing his father Daniel Alexander Mehegan’s time at the saleyard.

Daniel Alexander Mehegan was “renowned as one of the best auc-tioneers at Newmarket (saleyards)”, his proud son said. Daniel Alexander Mehegan went on to be a livestock manager and stayed in the industry his whole working life.

Daniel Scot had no hesitation following in the steps of his forefathers, saying growing up on a 404 hectare (1000 acre) sheep and cattle farm in Flowerdale nurtured his passion for agriculture.

During most of his school holidays, he helped shift stock at saleyards.He did a farming apprentice-

ship and joined Dennys Strachan Mercantile stock and station agents and later studied Ag Services at Melbourne University. He "cut his auctioneer teeth" in the bull pens of Dandenong Saleyards in the '80's alongside his father selling an old jersey bull to well known Agent Mr Ron Girling. "I was booking the sale at the time", he recalls."Dad asked to look at the Sales Register and put me on the spot, 'Away you go', he said, 'Come on,into it'. Well no time to be nervous a little prompting from Dad and the buyer gallery and a good result was achieved and I like to think there have been many good results since!!".

Mid '80's saw another career highlight when Daniel Scot conducted his first Real Estate Auction selling a residence on the corner of Wattletree and Nash Roads Bunyip, Victoria. His fathers business partner Ted Cooper (who penned the poem Memories of Newmarket attached to this article) mentored Daniel Scot in Real Estate and assisted him from start to finish with the Sale. First of many positive professional experiences.

The family’s connection to Stock & Land extended to a friendship with one of its reporters Adrian Kennedy.

“He took this picture of me at Yarrawonga saleyards in the early 1980s and he was just the sort of bloke who would snap the picture because he was pleased to see another Mehegan in the industry,” Daniel Scot said.

Daniel Scot is a Stock and Station Agent, and freelance accredited auctioneer servicing Regional Victoria and Riverina region of New South Wales. He is a strong advocate for

the red meat industry (paddock to Plate), efficient beef production (better beef, lesser inputs,greater profit), and Small Business. During his family’s involvement with the Australian livestock indus-try, much has changed that many young people do not understand, Daniel Scot said.

“When Newmarket (saleyards) closed, it was the end of an era,” he said.

“The place carried so much his-tory and people fail to remember for a time, Newmarket was the biggest livestock market in the world next to Chicago.”

■ (ABOVE)Daniel GeorgeMeheganpictured centre at Newmarket.Photo: FRANK JOHNSON

■ (ABOVE)

■ The sellingteam of Dalgety& Co on a fatcow day atNewmarket onJune 11, 1952– auctioneerGordon Bruce, Daniel Alexander Mehegan and Brian Jouning.

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■ Looking over a sheep bought at the Yarrawonga sale on April 9, 1981 were Daniel Scot Mehegan(DSM Yarrawonga), Kevin Murray (Robson, Donald & Co Shepparton) and buyer Ray Quirk, Arcadia. Photo: ADRIAN KENNEDY

■ The “original” Daniel Mehegan in Australia. Daniel ‘Scot’ Mehegan’s great-grandfather emigrated from Ireland to Australia and started his family’s tradition of working in the red meat industry.

■ November 6, 1969.