Up until this time, Steven and Michael spent much of every school holiday helping their Uncle, Jock Johnston (FS Johnston & Sons’ Jondene Stud), at his Obi Obi property and from those visits their interest in dairying and Illawarra cattle grew.
Both boys attended the University of Queensland's Gatton College at age 15. After completing a 2year Certificate course, Michael returned home to start work for Uncle Jock. Steven stayed on and completed a Diploma before the family purchased the Carters Ridge property in late 2001. The family started the long process of preparing the run down property for dairying and cane farming but with the demise of the Moreton Sugar Mill, Grant turned his hand to growing corn which was sold off farm for silage. This and the agistment of beef cattle was the only income from the property while the three men built the dairy and associated infrastructure from scratch. Milking started in the new dairy on the first Monday in November, 2002 with 50 head but by that time Michael was ill and was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma on the first Tuesday in November 2002, entering hospital the same day.
Development of the farm continued while Michael spend two years in and out of hospital receiving two stem cell transplants from Steven and younger brother Allen. Money was very short with Grant and Steven continuing to do the majority of the work themselves, with instruction from Michael. Michael lost his battle on October 16, 2004, 13 days after his 21st birthday.
Despite Michael’s devastating death, Steve has continued to build on their foundation Illawarra herd much of which was purchased from Uncle Jock. From the age of 10 the twins financed their purchases through their pocket money of $1 each per week. Paying $80 for a week old calf and $100 per year agistment, they initilly dipped into their savings to meet the expenses. They sold their early purchases at the Nanango sale as two year old springing heifers, reinvesting the profit in as many calves as Uncle Jock would allow them to buy. Of course Jock had first option to buy back any animal.
The foundation herd received a considerable boost through the addition of approximately thirty head when Jock purchased the complete Arley herd from Alan Lawley & family and distributed one-third to Steve and Mike.
The family currently milks an average of 200 head, calving all year round. Over the years Steve has purchased as many good Illawarra cow families as the family could afford. They raise the majority of their heifer calves and are slowly becoming a totally Illawarra herd with the bottom line that to stay in the herd the animal has to produce. The system is pasture based and with the high rainfall and irrigation, the only additional fodder is grain in the bails and home grown corn silage as a supplement at certain times of the year.
Riverwood Hall of Fame:
Riverwood Model 3 - 2011 Brisbane Royal - Reserve Champion Cow.
Riverwood Betsy 33 - 2011 Toowoomba Royal - Reserve Champion Junior Heifer
Riverwood Lyndal 3 - 2010 Brisbane Royal - Champion Junior Heifer
Riverwood Jewel - 2010 Brisbane Royal - Reserve Champion Junior Heifer
Riverwood Lucy 2 - 2011 Toowoomba Royal - Honourable Mention Champion Cow; 2010 Toowoomba Royal - Reserve Champion Cow.
Riverwood Model 4 - 2011 Brisbane Royal - Champion Juvenile Heifer, Toowomba Royal - Reserve Champion Juvenile Heifer; 2010 Toowoomba Royal - Champion Juvenile Heifer
Venvale Saphhire 18 - 2008 Brisbane Royal - Reserve Champion Cow, Champion Milk Producing Cow, Reserve Champion Fat Plus Protein.
Treeton Lady Jean 2379 - 2008 Brisbane Royal - Reserve Champion Junior Heifer
Riverwood Empress - 2008 Brisbane Royal - Reserve Champion Juvenile Heifer
Riverwood Kay 5 - 2008 Brisbane Royal - Honourable Mention Juvenile Heifer
Riverwood Model (Jondene Jester) - 2008 Toowoomba Royal - Junior Champion, Best Udder & Attachment U3 yrs & 1st 2yrs & U2 1/2 in milk
Riverwood Buttercup (Cherlyn Major) - 2005 Toowoomba Royal - Junior Champion, 2006 Brisbane Royal - Reserve Champion, 2007 Brisbane Royal 1st 3-4 yrs in milk.
Riverwood Lorna 8 (Jondene Auditor) - 2007 - Intermediate Champion - Marburg Feature Show, Gympie Show, Maleny Show.
Riverwood Virgin (Jondene Radar) - 2007 Brisbane Royal - Honourable Mention Champion Cow.
Riverwood Kay (Lemon Grove Buttler) - 2005 Brisbane Royal - 1st Under 15 months, 2006 Beaudesert Calf Day - Supreme Exhibit.
Jondene Doris 5 (Broughton Topper) - 2002 Gympie Feature Show - Reserve Champion Cow & 1st 3-4 yrs in milk, 2005 Gympie Show - Reserve Champion Cow, 2007 Brisbane Royal - All Breeds Champion On Ground Milking Competition, Fat Plus Protein, Milk Production, Toowoomba Royal - Reserve Champion Cow.
Jondene Sybil 16 (Jondene Truman) - 2005 Toowoomba Royal - 2nd Over 7 yrs in Milk, 2008 Toowoomba Royal - Grand Champion Illawarra Exhibit, Champion Cow & 1st 7 yrs & over in milk.
Park Lane Sovereign 88 (Kurraroo Violets Trenton) - 2007 Brisbane Royal - Intermediate Champion.
Panorama Honey 3 (Venvale Parkes) - 2003 Gympie Show - Champion Cow, 2004 Maleny Feature Show - Champion Cow.
Kangawarra Pet 2712 (Lynonga Red Roo) - 2008 Toowoomba Royal - Reserve Champion Juvenile.
