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Absentee farmer fined $25,000 AN ABSENTEE farmer who lived in suburban Melbourne and operated three cattle properties was fined $25,000 in the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court for animal cruelty. Pierre Roland De Bondy pleaded guilty to seven charges, including two for cruelty and three aggravated cruelty offences and has been banned from owning livestock for five years. Mr De Bondy lives in Vermont South and is sole director of Geralem Services, which owns properties at Mirboo, Flowerdale and Woodside running about
150 head of mainly Angus on the three farms. Agriculture Victoria officers responded to reports of sick and dying cattle on the Mirboo property, finding animals in poor condition. Several young cattle had to be euthanised to prevent further suffering as they were found too weak to rise or lift their heads. Officers found Mr De Bondy failed to monitor the conditions of his stock, in breach of the code of practice for cattle welfare, which outlines minimum standards of cattle inspection.
The Magistrate considered a number of previous cases in reaching his decision but balanced them against the seriousness of the offending and the suffering. Agriculture Victoria animal health and welfare compliance manager Daniel Bode said animal owners has a “serious responsibility” to look after them and minimise their suffering. This included absentee farmers where adequate supervision was essential. Mr Bode said animal welfare breaches could also jeopardise Victoria’s reputation as a humane and
responsible producer of food, which would affect all producers. “This is a reminder to all livestock producers that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by the Victorian government or the community,” Mr Bode said. “Also, those farmers who work as absentee owners are reminded that adequate supervision is a requirement. “Particularly during risk times such as summer, to ensure animals have proper and sufficient feed, water and shelter.”
Agriculture Victoria offering Farm Finance - Getting Prepared workshop
YOUNG farmers across Gippsland are invited to come together for farm finance workshops in Bairnsdale, as well as to network and ask questions. Agriculture Victoria is offering the Farm Finance – Getting Prepared sessions as in-person events after having to shift to an online format for the past two years. The Bairnsdale session will be held on Wednesday, June 8 between 6pm and 8.30pm.
The workshops will be an opportunity to have open and transparent conversations about farm finance and get some tips on how to communicate in ‘bank speak’. By the end of the session participants will have a new clarity on finance and how the whole system works. To register or find out more, visit www.eventbrite. com.au/e/farm-finance-getting-prepared-workshopstickets-318530271617
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Young farmers across Gippsland are invited to a farm finance workshop in Bairnsdale next month. Photo: File
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