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“All you need is a good idea, followed by action and an ongoing commitment to hard work, and much can be achieved!”

These are the words of George Ronalds, a man who practised what he preached. Though his life was filled with faith, hard work, achievement and international success, he saw everything he experienced as an invitation from God to do the best he could with the talents he was given.

GEORGE FROM JINDIVICK: From Small Town Farmer to Big Cheese relates the journey of an ordinary Aussie who had the courage to act on his faith in God in many practical ways.

The story of his long, successful life spans eight decades and captures the essence of the way Australia used to be, in the days when people were allowed to ‘have a go’.

Written by Vickie Janson, George from Jindivick is the story of a man who never lived more than 5 kilometres from where he was born, honoured his parents, surrounded himself with family and friends and worked hard every day of his life, but was nevertheless able to influence the world stage.

George was the founder of Jindi Cheese, which gained world recognition in 1996 when he became Soft Mould Cheese Champion of the World, before taking the title of ‘best cheese in the world’ at the World Cheese Championships in Wisconsin, USA in 2002.

Though a high-achiever and regarded as an International Celebrity, he remained humble and never viewed his success as his own.

“I think we are just ordinary people struggling to work out who we are and where we belong in this world and I firmly believe, regardless of who you are, we are all equal in God’s eyes.”

What struck me the most, when I began to read this inspiring story, was George’s work ethic. Even as a young man of fifteen, he was a hard worker prepared to take on man-sized responsibilities. He worked so hard that by the age of eighteen, he was able to partner with his brother to buy 500 acres of bushland.

That piece of land would become the backbone of his success.

Vickie Janson has written a warm, insightful, sometimes suspenseful, sometimes humorous, honest glimpse into the life of a genuine man of faith.

His own words tell more about him than anyone else can:

As I look over my life’s journey, the greatest privilege my wife and I had, from a worldly point of view, was to walk up onto the podium in 2002, to a standing ovation at Madison in Wisconsin in front of 600 cheesemakers and politicians (to receive the trophy for World Champion Cheese) and be able to respond and thank those responsible and to quote a verse from the Bible which hangs on my office wall:

Call to Me, and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvellous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own. (Jeremiah 33:3 – The Message Bible)

I want to tell you, the accolades of this world will count for nothing when I finish my life’s journey and see my Saviour’s face: the One who died for me back in old Jerusalem 2000 years ago.

A perfect gift!

If you have a father or grandfather who would like to recapture the ‘feel’ of the Australia they grew up in, this book will make a wonderful gift.

If you have sons, nephews or know of any young men trying to figure out how to move forward in life, this book will inspire them.

As George says:

“All they need is a good idea, followed by action and an ongoing commitment to hard work, and much can be achieved!”

You can purchase GEORGE FROM JINDIVICK: From Small Town Farmer to Big Cheese here.

As for me, I’m glad I took the time to read this wonderful Australian story. It left a warm and satisfying impression of a life well-lived. I happily recommend it.