Name: Stephen Tamplin
Age: 72
Location: Canowindra, NSW
Course(s) Studied: Diploma of Agribusiness Management
I’m Stephen Tamplin. Now 72 years of age, I live with my wife on my property near Canowindra. I have been involved with agriculture all my life, securing my first property leasehold when only 18, in Tasmania. Since then I have had a varied career, including a stint in outback NSW, while always maintaining active farming interests.
As well as running a sheep and cattle operation I have also built and operated a micro-abattoir on my farm fully licenced for all species by NSW DPI since 2013, being a qualified and accredited Meat Inspector.
I have always enjoyed learning and embarked on the Diploma of Agribusiness Management in 2023, as it seemed to fit well with my overall activities. Due to a missed prostate cancer diagnosis I was eventually unable to continue my work and studies until eventually correctly diagnosed (too late for surgery) and placed on supportive treatment, but due to my health issues I have had to close the abattoir, and now just focus on the farm, but also completing my studies in June 2025. The challenge of study, and there were some difficult units in the course, were a welcome distraction to the other issues of my life.
My advice to everyone is to maintain metal health by study whether career related or just for fun – it takes your mind off yourself and gives a disciplined focus point to life. Secondly - MEN – get your PSA done and don’t take a GPs no for an answer. Early detection is critical to healthy survival.
The benefit I gained from this well-structured course include properly developing methodical financial and enterprise budgeting, as well as business and succession planning and having the AgForum chats monthly was an eye-opener to what other farmers are doing. A course to be recommended!