Dale Manson
Masters Degree Applied Science (Agriculture), Diploma of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Class of 1973–76
Dale's experience at Roseworthy College proved to him that it was possible to make a genuine long-term difference to the community and the State's rural industries. Dale has served 34 years with the SA Government's Agriculture Department in various roles and has lead the popular rural radio program, Agrow on 5MU! Among other achievements, his career is a proud one, full of opportunity and value to rural communities.
When he ceased producing "Agrow" in 2011, it had become renowned as being the longest running daily rural program on commercial radio in Australia. Whilst working in radio, Dale led the development of strategic business initiatives, including scoping whole-of-business proposals for Customer Relationship Management. He developed an increasing awareness of the extremely valuable role the media played in communicating with regional, rural and remote communities.
Dale joined the committee of Rural Media South Australia 25 years ago and served as its Vice President. He has been Chairman of the Rural Journalist of the Year Judging Panel for the past 12 years and in recognition of his contribution to the State's rural media sector, was inducted as an Honorary Life Member of Rural Media SA in 2011.
Dale strongly believes that Roseworthy opened up opportunities and equipped him with a wide breadth of technical skills as well as providing general credibility amongst the rural community.
An appreciation of the enormous contribution that Roseworthy had made to his life and career prompted Dale to join the Roseworthy Old Collegians Association committee. He was still active on the ROCA committee 39 years later. After the amalgamation of Roseworthy and the ³ÉÈË´óƬ, he also took roles on the ³ÉÈË´óƬ Alumni Council.
ROCA inducted him as one of its few Honorary Life Members in 2001. In 2013 the ³ÉÈË´óƬ honoured him through induction as an Alumni Fellow.
The one big lesson Dale's Roseworthy experience passed on to him was to always take the time to assess the best way to communicate with the people he was entrusted to work with. In many respects, his abilities and preferences led to widespread use of the media, particularly radio. However on other occasions, he found it far better to personally take a back seat and instead put forward successful peers of his audience as prime examples of the change management processes he was undertaking. "Sometimes, the best form of rural communication is simply to shut up. Listen to the people who have been farming for generations and use your Roseworthy skills to facilitate their future successes."
What is Dale's fondest memory while he was studying at Roseworthy?
"My favourite Roseworthy memory was a prank to promote the annual Roseworthy Agricultural College Open Day in 1974. We took a College Jersey dairy cow down to Adelaide in my horse float and a few of our fellows "abducted" the Minister of Agriculture, Hon Brian Chatterton MLC, from his office in Parliament House.
Minister Chatterton was bustled to the intersection of King William Street and North Terrace in front of the Government House gates and actively encouraged to milk the Jersey under the gaze of an increasingly curious crowd and numerous media outlets. The story and photo featured in the next day's Advertiser newspaper.
This memory highlighted to me the utmost trust placed in the Roseworthy student body by the College administrators and state politicians to conduct a major College-focused Open Day event, in addition to the students showing considered responsibility when undertaking an 'out of the square' promotional event in the centre of Adelaide."