Tony Dodunski Wins Fonterra Responsible Dairying Award
Milking cows in the environmentally sensitive Lake Ellesemere/Te Waihora catchment in Canterbury has kept Tony Dodunski on his toes.
Earlier this month, he was crowned the 2023 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year, winning $9,047 in prizes and three merit awards.
Arifin works on the Wairarapa Moana Incorporation's Mangakino 295ha property, milking 1,055 cows.
He arrived in New Zealand 15 years ago having worked on an Indonesian dairy farm for about five years.
"In my faming background in Indonesia I only looked after small numbers of cows, between 10 and 20 cows," he told Dairy News.
"Things are done a bit differently over there: I milked the cows twice a day by hand.
"The cows stayed in the barn, grass/feed harvested from the field was brought to the barn."
Arifin credits Wairarapa Moana Incorporation for his success in NZ.
He started there in 2008 as assistant herd manager and worked his way up to become farm manager.
The new farming system was a challenge, he says.
"It has many more cows but is more efficient compared to farms back in Indonesia but that made me really interested in it."
He says Wairarapa Moana has provided support, training and opportunities over the years.
He is proud of his achievements in the Wairarapa Moana Awards over the past few years, including: Dairy Unit of the Year, Nga Tangata (Developing People), Financial, Values and Farm Pride and winner of Whakamaru School biggest bull calves competition for three consecutive years.
"I began at the bottom of my career in New Zealand and have had good support and progression opportunities from my employer," he says.
"I'm proud of where I am in my current role."
Arifin says he entered the awards for the first time this year as he wants to be more involved in the dairy industry and gain new experiences.
"Farming is my passion, and I love being on-farm and seeing my cows healthy and happy."
His goal is to own a dairy farm.
