Life Membership: Brian and Yvonne Heck

3 Apr 2025

A 1998 advertisement in the local newspaper for the Gympie Handling School caught Brian Heck’s eye, sparking 27 years of Heck family service to the breed society, members and the Droughtmaster breed. 

With their three young children in tow, Brian and Yvonne first attended the Gympie Handling School to ‘see what it was all about.’ The young family was looking to establish a Droughtmaster breeding program and immersed themselves in the knowledge shared by Droughtmaster Australia members. 

Brian and Yvonne joined Droughtmaster Australia in 1998, purchased two females at the Droughtmaster National Female Sale, and established their hugely successful enterprise at Glastonbury Creek, Bryvonlea Droughtmaster Stud. 

They were, and continue to be, passionate advocates for the Droughtmaster breed, seizing every opportunity to promote it. Brian and Yvonne and their children Leanne, Tennielle and Joshua, went on to run the Gympie Handling School from 2017-2020, providing invaluable learnings for up to 140 attendees. 

Brian recalls the Gympie Handling School with fondness, noting the many friendships established with fellow breeders and the opportunities to learn from those well-respected in the industry. In particular, the revered late Noel Perry, who shared his knowledge on Female Selection. 

The Heck family has enjoyed much success with the Droughtmaster breed over the years. Among some of their most exciting milestones was the sale of Bryvonlea Elisha to Mungalla Droughtmasters for $55,000, the second highest sale price at the 2005 Rockhampton National Bull Sale. The family enjoyed another second highest sale price in 2018 with Bryvonlea Rolleston selling to Huntly Droughtmaster Stud for $52,500; and have topped the FAB Bull Sale at Gracemere a few times over the years with a record for Bryvonlea Wallace in 2022. Brian, Yvonne and their children were very familiar faces in the show ring, competing in various judging and show events since 1999 – taking home the royal blue more than a few times. 

Brian attributes much of the family’s accomplishments over the years with the support he’s received from Droughtmaster Australia, members and fellow breeders, including Doug Haigh from Haigslea Droughtmaster Stud, Colin Blankensie from Pine Valley Droughtmasters, the Hicks Family from Billabong Droughtmasters, and the late Droughtmaster Australia chief executive officer Neil Donaldson who passed away in 2022. 

“Neil was a great man who really helped us, especially in the early days when we were starting out with the breed,” Brian said.

“It has been a pleasure to serve the society in many roles over the years as the society has helped us a lot through our time.”

For nearly three decades, Brian and Yvonne have served Droughtmaster Australia and its members with exceptional dedication and distinction. Brian has held many roles with Droughtmaster Australia including South-East Zone Director and organiser of the Gympie Droughtmaster Feature Show. The couple’s unwavering commitment to the breed and its members has been acknowledged with the prestigious honour of Life Membership at Droughtmaster Australia.