Gippsland Jersey

Gippsland Jersey – A Purpose-Driven Dairy Brand Changing the Way Milk Is Made

Founded Through Challenge, Built with Purpose
Gippsland Jersey was founded by Steve Ronalds and Sallie Jones, born from deeply personal experiences during the 2016 dairy milk crisis. What began as uncertainty and heartbreak became the foundation for a bold new vision for the dairy industry. Steve, a dairy farmer, had lost faith in the sustainability of farming at the time, while Sallie was navigating profound personal loss following the passing of her father, just weeks before the crisis unfolded. Together, driven by resilience and a shared determination to create meaningful change, they chose to build something different — a milk brand grounded in fairness, heart, and long-term sustainability.

• Founded during the 2016 dairy milk crisis
• Built from personal experience, resilience, and shared purpose
• Created to support farmers and strengthen the future of dairy

Values That Shape Every Decision
At the heart of Gippsland Jersey is a strong alignment of values. The partnership thrives on trust, open communication, mutual respect, and the willingness to make sacrifices for the greater good. Every decision is guided by three core pillars that define the brand’s purpose and direction — ensuring farmers are paid fairly, supporting rural mental health and suicide prevention, and actively promoting kindness. These values are not just ideals, but principles lived out daily across the business and wider community.

• Fair pricing for dairy farmers
• Commitment to rural health, wellbeing, and suicide prevention
• A strong focus on kindness and community

Innovation Born from Adversity
Gippsland Jersey’s journey has not been without its challenges. Early setbacks, including the loss of a milk processing contract, became catalysts for innovation rather than roadblocks. Through community support and a bold crowdfunding effort, the team revived a long-unused factory in Lakes Entrance, bringing milk processing in-house and taking control of their future. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of Gippsland Jersey’s ability to operate on its own terms, with independence and integrity at the core.

• Community-supported innovation
• Independent processing for long-term sustainability
• Turning setbacks into growth opportunities

Growth, Expansion & A Bigger Vision
As the business continued to grow, Gippsland Jersey reached another major milestone in 2024, expanding operations to Pakenham and welcoming the historic Europa Cheese brand into the family. This move created new capacity, unlocked future opportunities, and set the foundation for expanded product development. With multiple local dairy farming families now supplying premium Jersey milk, Gippsland Jersey continues to grow while staying true to its original mission.

• Expansion to support future growth
• Collaboration with local dairy farming families
• Ongoing product innovation and development

More Than Milk – A Movement for Change
Gippsland Jersey is more than a dairy brand. It represents a modern approach to farming, production, and business — one that values people as much as product. From farmers and factory teams to stockists and customers, every link in the chain is respected. With a focus on premium Jersey milk, sustainability, mental health advocacy, and kindness, Gippsland Jersey continues to write the next chapters of a story rooted in courage, compassion, and community.

• Premium Jersey milk with natural benefits
• Respect for everyone across the supply chain
• A mission driven by fairness, wellbeing, and kindness