About Us

John

John has a strong farming background. He was born in England where his family were tenant farmers on the then Prime Minister Harold MacMillan’s estate in Sussex. The family moved to Western Australia in 1968.

The main family farm ‘Kanangra’ was purchased in 1969 and the property now known as Halcyon Park was purchased in 1975 as an 'add-on' to the original farm and cleared by John and his father.

John completed an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery and then worked away from the farm for several years. In 1984 he returned home and began a cabinet-making business, based at Halcyon Park. He initially ran sheep on the property and later leased it for cattle agistment. When the lease expired he decided to run cattle for himself.

Kathryn

I am a city girl, growing up in Perth. My only farm contacts were regular visits to a cousin’s property in York, north-east of Perth. It was a real farm – chickens, turkeys, sheep, cows, horses and pigs along with countless cats and working dogs.

I completed a Science degree at the University of WA, majoring in Botany and Soil Science. If only I had known what the future held, I would have done more Agriculture units or become a vet!

Moving to the Albany area in 1990, I worked for the Department of Agriculture, rehabilitating salt-affected land. I met John in 1991 and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Our first daughter Alyssa was born in 1994, followed by second daughter Karina in 1998.

Stud History

The choice of the Limousin breed of cattle was a happy accident. Some friends had purchased a property which was also a Limousin stud – the cattle came with the deal. Our first cows were sourced from this herd (Settlers).

After having the cows on the farm, we were taken by their looks and personalities. We felt that the breed had much to offer, so decided to become fully-fledged Limousin breeders.

At this stage, the farm had no name. As the stud required a name, we decided on ‘Halcyon Park’. Halcyon is a Latin word meaning peaceful and serene, rich and affluent – all of the things we aspired to! It is also the scientific name for kingfishers – birds which are abundant here.

We were fortunate to live in close proximity to an experienced Limousin breeder, Mrs Ruth Faed (RIF Stud). She proved to be a very enthusiastic mentor and we purchased our first bull and several females from her.

We also sourced cattle from the Kelterco Stud of Peter and Judy Jolliffe of Wagga Wagga, NSW. We brought 13 cows with calves at foot across the country in 1997. Along with a few purchases at the Western Highlight Limousin female sales, these cows formed the basis of our current herd.

Due to my scientific background, the genetics of breeding really interests me. We have used AI extensively and I spend many hours deciding which sire will complement each female in the herd. It is not unusual for us to have almost as many different sires as cows!

The herd now comprises around 25 breeders – French Pure and Pure, Horned and Polled, Apricot, Red and Black – we love them all!

Kathryn Shapland