Page 8 - Best Of Local Mag June24 Edition

Two Remarkable Locals Return

to their Longreach Roots

For the past 19 years, Anne and John Cooper have managed others, as I had started at home (on the farm) and had the
the operations of MMM (Mobile Mission Maintenance) on its encouragement of my dad & mum to keep going; although it
Lamington Road site at Mango Hill, overseeing and planning was intimidating at times”.
building projects (approved by the MMM Board) for sites
around the country as well as around the Pacific and even into On graduation from this course and with experience managing
China. a station of 20k to 30K of merino sheep, Anne gained her
professional licence as a “Wool Classer”. When asked “what advice
Now, after two decades of service to their church, Anne & John will you would give to your younger self”, Anne told a reporter:
return to their former roots in central Queensland (Longreach)
although, the “R” (retirement) word remains a distant goal given “Be the change you want to see in the world and surround
their current intentions to continue to serve others. yourself with like-minded people”! (Courtesy of “Grazier” – June
2024)
About the Coopers

John Cooper
Anne Cooper Like so many young people in the outback, young John Cooper
Young Anne Robinson grew up on a farming property around of Longreach went off to boarding school where he attended
Deepwater, south of Tenterfield in the northern tablelands of Marist College in Ashgrove from 8 years old, flying from
NSW, prior to the family moving to another property in central Longreach to Brisbane, then catching a taxi to school through
Qld near Longreach. After leaving high school, Anne was in the Brisbane.
first intake of female students at Longreach Pastoral College,
enrolling in “Wool Classing” as part of a broader course of He finished high school at Longreach State High and started a
studying sheep and wool. plumbing apprenticeship, following in his father’s footsteps.
However, away from work, like so many youngsters, John was a
Anne has featured in the current issue of the “Grazier” regular on the local rodeo circuit around Qld country, in riding,
team roping & steer wrestling events and competed in the
When asked “what it was like being the only woman in a male Australian championships in Victoria at the height of his career.
dominated industry”, Anne stated “it was easier for me than