NZ Dairy Winter 2021

| 53 nz dairy DAIRY AWARDS » Ravindra Maddage Don Clothing business aids farm aspirations Karen Phelps W inner of the 2021 Northland Dairy Manager of the Year Ravindra Maddage Don’s next goal is a sharemilking posi- tion. Realising this would be difficult to achieve saving from his salary he has come up with an innovative pathway. Ravindra has started his own successful clothing business in his homeland of Sri Lanka. Jerze (an innovative take on ‘jersey’ inspired by dairy cows) was just about to be launched when Covid-19 hit so Ravindra pivoted his business and started it online. Brother Tharaka runs the business on a day-to-day basis and sister Pamudi does the company accounts. Jerze.co sells unique men’s clothing and the family has also just launched a female line. “Our designer styles are curated with contem- porary men’s, and now women’s, lives in mind, from business to street style,” explains Ravindra. Jerze is not only selling in Sri Lanka but glob- ally. Ravindra and his family has plans to open two physical stores in Sri Lanka as the next step.It’s no surprise that Ravindra also took out the Westpac Personal Planning and Financial Management Award at the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards. Ravindra came to New Zealand in 2011 to fur- ther his dairy career after working on farms in the Middle East. He worked his way up the system in New Zealand, starting as a farm assistant on a 1300 cow farm in Dargaville, working on a 550 cow farm in Whangarei, then moving to his pre- sent manager position on the property of Charlie and Emma Adair, who were the 2020 Northland Sharemilkers of the Year. Ravindra, who also won the DeLaval Livestock Management Award, says he treats his cows like “friends”. As he worked in the animal health department during his career in the Middle East this experience means he knows how to keep an eagle eye on the herd, quickly identifying and treating any health issues. “We have no dogs on the farm so the cows are not nervous. Cow flow is good as they are so friendly with me,” he says. The farm is in the process of growth and Ravindra is helping to manage this as it shifts to split calving, increasing the platform from 130ha to 160ha and increasing the herd from 440 to 550 cows. Production should increase from 110,000kgMS to 180,000kgMS. The farm is in the process of renewing pastures aiming to replace 70% in three years. Ravindra acknowledges the assistance of all those who have given him a helping hand to get to where he is today, particularly the farm owners he has been fortunate enough to work for. He says he has gained valuable and knowledge from them all and that the New Zealand dairy industry is one where people in general generously share information so everyone can get ahead. Ravindra is renown for his enthusiastic attitude and the fact he never gives up. His ultimate goal is farm ownership and, if his recent success if anything to go by, there is no doubt that one day he will achieve his dream. “Our designer styles are curated with contemporary men’s, and now women’s, lives in mind, from business to street style.” Northland Dairy Manager of the Year Ravindra Maddage Don has launched his own clothing business in Sri Lanka to help him achieve his next farming goal – a sharemilking position. Supporting dairy farmers and migrants to createbetter lives inNewZealand. www.theregions.co.nz 0800 100 274 We could not run our industry without people like Ravindra having joined us. We recognise immigration policy in the last 20 years has not allowed our rural communities to attract and retain the people they need. The Regions Immigration Law remains dedicated to advocacy and policy submission highlighting the need for positive net migration to the Northland Region. Office 09 433 1733 Eden 021 0842 6587 Warren 027 391 4777 vcon.office@gmail.com HAY · SIL AGE • SP RAYING CULTIVATION • SEEDING PROUD TO SUPPORT RAVINDRA MADDAGE DON POST PEELINGS | WOODCHIP | SAW DUST PALM KERNEL | FERTILISER DELIVERIES | SILO DELIVERIES Dargaville 09 439 8415 Wellsford 09 423 8674 Whangarei 09 438 7038 Water Enabling the ow Dairy Feeding the world E uent Spreading the good • Sales • Service • Installation • Design