AFTER decades of competing in the Melbourne Royal Beef Cattle Competition, the Brook family has been inducted into the Beef Cattle Hall of Fame.

With family at the root of their well-known Cavendish Shorthorn stud – Eloora - and a passion for cattle that continues to grow with each generation, the Brook family was awarded the honour for their sustained service to the Melbourne Royal Show Beef Cattle community.

A spokesperson for the Melbourne Royal Show said individuals or families who have significantly contributed to the show are nominated by a member of the Beef Cattle/Carcase Committee who then decide on a winner through unanimous vote.

The spokesperson said the Brook family were an obvious choice to be inducted into the Beef Cattle Hall of Fame due to their longstanding support of the show and involvement in its competitions.

“The Brook Family have been exhibiting with Melbourne Royal for a number of years, both at the Melbourne Royal Show and in the Heifer Challenge,” they said.

“Elora Shorthorns have won the Heifer Challenge as well as taken out the Reserve Champion title.

“Ray and Dion - who operate Eloora - are major contributors to the Melbourne Royal Show, with Dion previously winning the Youth Scholarship and attending a conference alongside RASV staff.

“Dion's brother, Alistair has been MCing the Melbourne Royal Show Beef Cattle Interbreed for many years and is highly regarded in the role.”

The successful shorthorn stud, Eloora was founded in 1959 by Stan and Clovelly Brook, with their son, Ray, and his wife, Jill taking over the stud in 1977 after Stan passed away.

Since then, the stud has continued to be a family affair, with Ray and Jill’s three children, Kristi, Alistair, and Dion all being heavily involved since the early 1990s, with their children now following in their footsteps and exhibiting.

Dion Brook said knowing the stud was built on a foundation of family made the induction into the Beef Cattle Hall of Fame even more special, with Alistair accepting the plaque on behalf of the whole family as he was at the show MCing, which is a role he has done for the past 17 years.

“We weren’t exhibiting this year as I broke my leg in July and wasn’t able to prepare any cattle for the show,” he said.

“Alistair was in attendance for the presentation as he was MCing the interbreed judging.

“He slunk off out the back while they were doing the Hall of Fame presentations, but someone kept pushing him towards the stage saying ‘you should hang around for this’.

“He was certainly completely unaware.”

Mr Brook said the family was delighted by the recognition as the Melbourne Royal Show has been an important part of Eloora since the very beginning.

“Eloora first exhibited in 1974 and we won the grand champion shorthorn bull in that year at our first show,” he said.

“That was my grandfather, Stan Brook, he was the manager of the property at the time but was unable to head down to Melbourne as he was sick, so it was my father, Ray, who went to the show.

“Pretty much since the early 90s we have been there every year and that was also when my brother and I became very keen on doing the showing.

“As teenagers, my mother, Jill, and father, Ray, were keen to support us to do that.”

Now with kids of their own, Mr Brook said he and his siblings are ecstatic that the next generation also has a passion for cattle.

“The next generation are also involved and have been a key component in the stud,” he said.

“James and Dillion - Kristi’s children - are extremely passionate about the stud (and have been) heavily involved in exhibiting the last 10 years.

“Chloe and Matilda - my children - have helped exhibiting at Melbourne as well. 

“There are another four children in that generation but they are a bit young at the moment … we would certainly like to involve them in the future.”

Labelling the Melbourne Royal Show as a special time for the family, Mr Brook said Eloora had been lucky enough to receive many awards throughout the years including multiple grand champions, several reserve interbreed wins, and the supreme junior interbreed female award in 2010, which he said was the highlight of it all.

Despite the success of Eloora throughout the years, Mr Brook said the family did not expect the honour of being inducted into the Hall of Fame, with each show brining uncertainty regardless of any previous achievements.  

“You certainly don’t go down there with super high expectations … it’s very hard to win those awards,” he said.

“You know when you’ve got a good animal, but it is just one judge’s opinion on that one day.

“So sometimes you win and sometimes you’re a bit disappointed.

“There’s a lot of months that go into it beforehand, you certainly don’t just get to show up the week of and have everything ready.

“We are certainly very humbled and grateful.”