Gippsland Farmer December 2020

Page 1

Phone: (03) 5135 4444

December, 2020

Season’s Greetings photograph hayley mills

Siblings Bonnie and Archie MacGregor take a ride on their family’s Yinnar South property.

Management and staff at Gippsland Farmer wish all our readers and valued clients a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Your Stock ...

EXPERT ARBOREAL SERVICE

...Your Way

3KLOO·V 7UHHV 7RZHU +LUH

Your livestock cut and packed to your requirements

Solar Pumping Grid Connect Battery Storage Stand Alone Systems

NATIONAL COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATION - FULLY INSURED

0407 526 304

64 Main Street, Yinnar CONTACT BRE RETT ETT T

5163 1262

EST. 1977

Shorthorn Bulls AVAIL ABLE

GP1618244

Phill’s Trees & Tower Hire

PhillsTreesT21

The tallest cherry picker this side of Melbourne is available for hire.

Doben Park SHORTHORNS 1387 OLD SALE RD. BULN BULN

DOUG 0407 343 966 SANDY 0409 074 291

GP1618365

P

RURAL NEWS

Absolute rubbish By MICHELLE SLATER

Christmas Thank you Message

2020 has been the year of continual disasters. We started the year in drought, faced horrendous firess, battled flash flooding and to top it all off Coronavirus sent the wholee world into a spin, nearly crippled our businesses and locked us awaay from each other. BUT‌‌ thank goodness for our farmers. These unwavering, persistent, determined to get the job donee, men and women of the land still carried on. They made sure that the crops were sown, the cows were milked and the nation was fed and we are forever grateful. Without them there wouldn’t be any cereal for breakfast, breaad for sandwiches, bacon and eggs for a Sunday morning treat, meeat or veggies for our meals, ingredients to bake scones and worse of all no miilk for our coffee! Christmas is a time to say thank you to those we care about for the difference they have made in our lives. Who are more deservving of this than our farmers? So from all of us at the Gippsland Farmer we want to offer ouur heartfelt thanks and let you know how much you are appreciated. Farmers of Victoria you are the best!

Merry Christmas

THE Conservation Regulator is investigating ongoing illegal dumping in bushland surrounding the Yinnar South Transfer Station between Colleys Road and Whitelaws Track. Latrobe City Council is also cracking down on dumping hotspots with officers monitoring the Colleys Road bush reserve, as well as HVP plantations in Morwell and Moe South. Neighbouring landholder Blair Taber said she was fed-up with “selfish pigs� continually leaving junk in the Colleys Road bush reserve which is popular with bush walkers, horse and trail bike riders. The local horsewoman regularly rides through the bushland reserve and said hard waste had been dumped and left in the bush for years from what she believes are people shirking tip fees. “I often see a heap of stuff around the boundaries of the transfer station, out the back of the tip there’s been stuff left there for years. Those people are selfish pigs who ruin it for everyone,� Ms Taber said. “It’s definitely ongoing because people keep getting away with it.� Ms Taber said she had found asbestos sheeting, gas bottles, cars, tyres, old motors and even a plastic bag full of dead birds chucked in the bushes. However, she was fuming after the latest trailer load dumped near Colleys Road containing clothes, furniture, women’s bras, kitchen utensils, kids’ toys and books and bags of cigarette butts. “A lot of this stuff could have been donated to the op shop, I don’t know how they could live with themselves doing this. It would take more effort dumping it here than taking it to the tip,� she said. A Latrobe City spokesman said council was starting a new campaign to tackle illegal dumping and was also calling on the community to report it.

Yinnar South resident Blair Taber is fuming after finding the latest load of illegally dumped rubbish in the Colleys Road bush reserve. photograph michelle slater

He said council spent nearly $200,000 a year cleaning up rubbish dumped on roadsides, reserves and bushland. “Almost anything that can be purchased can potentially end up dumped. Council staff have even come across a wedding dress that was dumped,� the spokesman said. “While everyone has old or unwanted belongings at some time or another, dumping them on the roadside or in bushland is not the proper way to dispose of them.� Latrobe City’s penalties for illegal dumping range from $330 to $4000 - far more than the cost of disposing rubbish legally. The Conservation Regulator also encouraged anyone with information about dumping on public land managed by DELWP to phone 136 186. Penalties for littering in a state forest can be up to $6600, or nearly $10,000 and/or one-month jail for aggravated dumping.

$6. 86 +2: *+ + "

"

) & +% & & , ( & + + #

"

) &

& +% &

* +

&

!

" ! '

) & +% & ) # $ +

! $

" +" 2

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

#

(

) & & & +% & & & + + #

GP1617305

#+ + ' $

" %

) & +% &

December, 2020

RURAL NEWS

Got news to share?

Do you have an agricultural story to share with the Gippsland Farmer? Send your news tip to farmer@gippsnews.com.au or share your story with journalist Michelle Slater by phoning 5135 4444.

THEN: A dam on Dargo farmer Michael Sweeney’s property only 12 months ago, dry and dusty. photograph supplied

NOW: The same dam is looking good this year, full of water and photograph supplied surrounded by waist-high grass.

Spring rains provide a lift By MICHELLE SLATER

Dargo farmer Michael Sweeney’s ute is almost hidden in long grass after years of drought. photograph supplied

Kat and Brenton Gration had been sending donated watermelons to Dargo.

but because we didn’t get that winter soaking rain it didn’t go into the sub soil,” he said. “We could quite easily go backwards, we are just having a good break at the moment. There are still some pockets in Gippsland in the same conditions from 12 months ago.” Mirboo hay transporters Kat and Brenton Gration had been sending the donated watermelons to Dargo to help out battling farmers. Ms Gration said they were sending 20 loads of hay a week into some of the most drought stricken areas in East Gippsland, the high country and New South Wales and Queensland.

Gippsland Farmers Helping Farmers coordinator Ray Akers said he has noticed a tone of optimism in farmers’ voices.

file photograph

However, she said the good season meant demand has dropped and they were “back to a normal schedule”. Ms Gration said hay prices were down to an average of $40 a round bale, but she cited it being sold to desperate farmers for as as high as $500 at the height of the drought. “Last year, we had 14 trucks full time, this was unheard of for us. Everyone was in the same boat with no feed, but now everyone has some normality with grass growing again,” Ms Gration said. “Last year, we were sending truckload after truckload in these areas that just could not cut any hay. But every year is touch and go, it’s so unpredictable.” Fodder charity Gippsland Farmers Helping Farmers coordinator Ray Akers said he has noticed a tone of optimism in farmers’ voices as conditions had improved. He said demand for fodder donations had diminished with an abundance of grass, even in the areas burnt out during last summer’s East Gippsland bushfires. “You can tell in these farmers’ voices that there is less stress and they are more positive. Things are good, especially in east Gippsland, recent rain has given them a boost,” Mr Akers said. “If they have to buy hay, they will find it at a decent price, but farmers are still picking up financially and are in heavy re-stocking programs, you can’t get over this in one season.”

Now Taking your Christmas 2020 Orders Your Stock

Your Way

GP1617270

GIPPSLAND’S grazing animals are in the pink with lush spring rains providing plenty of green feed to chow down on. Dargo beef producer Michael Sweeney is staring at fat cattle, full dams and threefoot-tall grass on his undulating paddocks, where only 12 months ago he was in the midst of drought. Mr Sweeney has cut and store 500 bales of hay and silage from his property this year, which he estimates is more than two years worth of feed. Two years ago, Mr Sweeney was feeding his animals on donated watermelons and seconds carrots and potatoes destined for food waste. “There was nothing here, nothing for the cows to eat so we were feeding them watermelons, they had to eat something and that pretty much got us through,” Mr Sweeney said. “It’s pretty good now, this gives us confidence, we have so much grass now the cows can’t keep up. We are on our second cut of lucerne and anything we’ve cut for silage has grown back.” The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a wetter than average summer across most parts of the continent, with La Nina underway in the Pacific bringing high rainfall with it. However, Mr Sweeney warned he was not out of the woods despite enjoying a good autumn and spring. “We dig down three or foot and it’s still very dry, we are getting good grass growing

Your livestock cut and packed to your requirements

64 Main St Yinnar CONTACT BRETT

5163 1262

Wellington Livestock

‘Where loyality counts’ LIVE WEIGHT BUYING

Monday – Denison, Tuesday – South Gippsland, Wednesday - Yarram Wellington Livestock offers the services of experienced stockmen who are able to: 3 Attend to your property for mustering of livestock (dairy or beef cattle) 3 Draft and drench your livestock 3 Mark k callves 3 Scan and weigh cattle www.wellingtonlivestock.com 3 Suggest future marketing options

GP1617380

Office: 0429 445 461

Steven Boulton: Clayton Kelly: Peter Rosenberg: Mathew Boulton:

December, 2020

0428 445 461 0421 166 704 0429 427 811 0409 926 296

Ben Boulton: 0488 445 467 Zac Gleeson: 0431 304 017 Travis Sutton: 0438 893 494 Gary Sisely: 0419 309 769

PRIME CATTLE, EXPORTS, CULL COWS & BULLS GOING WEEKLY WE CURRENTLY HAVE NUMEROUS ORDERS THAT NEED FILLING! THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

3

RURAL NEWS

Top gong for Greenham’s

MOE abattoir Greenham Gippsland has been named one of the region’s top producers by taking out the top gong at the Food and Fibre Gippsland Excellence in Agribusiness Awards. The family-owned business claimed the premier Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year award in an online presentation held late last month. Greenham has been a significant player the Australian domestic and export meat industry for six generations, with operations in northern Victoria and Tasmania. The company established itself in Gippsland in 2017 after purchasing the Moe abattoir, investing heavily in expanding the site, supporting local jobs and local beef producers. It has developed its Never Ever program, sourcing and certifying grass fed beef for its Bass Strait Gippsland brand. Other award major award winners included Blackwood Piggery’s Rob Bayley who was named Young Agribusiness Leader of the Year for representing the pork industry at national level. Sailors Grave Brewery co-founder Gabrielle Moore was named Female Agribusiness Leader of the Year for supporting and collaborating with and mentoring other businesses. Warragul Farmers Market was awarded Excellence in Service to the Food and Fibre Industry for building a thriving community event where people connect with food producers. Flavorite Tomatoes remained in the winner’s circle, taking the Excellence in Sustainability Award on the back of winning last year’s Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year award.

The global Rotary Club community has raised close to $500,000 in donations for the fire-ravaged communities of East Gippsland. supplied

photograph

Rotary’s sterling support By MICHELLE SLATER

THE global Rotary Club community has come together to raise nearly $500,000 in donations to help fire-ravaged farming communities in East Gippsland. The funding is being used to distribute fodder, high energy stock pellets and mineral licks to about 100 farmers from Bairnsdale and Mallacoota to the NSW border. A group of Gippsland district Rotary clubs banded together to raise the cash through a Rotary

International Global Grants fire and drought relief program. Traralgon Rotary Club member and district emergency management chair Janne Speirs helped build support networks from Rotary communities in Canada, New Zealand, Taiwan, India and Turkey. “The fires were front page news internationally, par ticularly those couple of days in Mallacoota. It really hit worldwide and within a week we had contacts wanting to do something,” Ms Speirs said.

“A lot of international Rotary districts offered support, people wanted to know how they could help and what they could do, even after COVID-19 hit, we still got that incredible support.” Ms Speirs said local clubs had formed an East Gippsland Rotary Fire Aid Committee to assess the needs of local farmers and recommend those needing support. She said the project’s impact had already been huge, delivering truckloads of hay and silage bales, ensuring hundreds of

hungry animals got a feed. Ms Speirs said help was still being rolled out, with a new focus on providing seeds and fertiliser to help pastures grow back in areas that had a decent winter’s rain. “I get excited when the world comes together for the Olympics, but Rotary does this day-in and day-out,” she said. “Our job isn’t done yet. Rotary sees a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change in our communities.”

Y Þ× æ ¬Þ ©ËËެĤ ÄËæ æË ½ ꤩ æ ·Ëº Þ æ© æ ×êæ öËÃ Ä ËöÄɌ Y Þ× æ öËà ÄɌ ½½ ¬æ ËêæɌ

4

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

RURAL NEWS

Resident: Bush block‘fire risk’ By LIZ BELL

A HEYFIELD resident who lives opposite a bushy 40 hectare allotment owned by Gippsland Water says concerns about the heavily vegetated land being a fire hazard are being ignored. John Spunner has lived opposite the Tinamba-Glenmaggie Rd allotment for 50 years, and says “nothing� has been done in that time to keep vegetation down and reduce the fire risk. The property is a permanently protected vegetation offset registered with the Department of Environment Land Water and Planning. “I’ve lived here for 50 years and it’s always been a fire risk and getting worse,� he said. “If that block goes up all the neighbouring houses will go up - it’s a major fire concern.� Mr Spunner has made Gippsland Water and the Wellington Shire Council aware of the issue, but says he is concerned authorities have still not acted. “I’ve been phoning Gippsland Water for more than 12 months, but still nothing has been done,� he said. “They said they’d been in touch with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, but apparently the block doesn’t meet the DELWP ‘criteria’ for a burn. “It’s covered in timber, dry logs and low vegetation - embers from a fire in there could mean total destruction.� Mr Spunner said he would like to see Gippsland Water do some clearing before the summer fire seasons begins, as well as improve access to the block.

John Spunner says 50 years of inaction on bushy Gippsland Water-owned land on the Tinamba-Glenmaggie Rd is putting nearby residents at risk.

“If a fire got in there, at the moment fire trucks couldn’t even get in, so that increases the risk to properties like mine across the road,� he said. A spokesperson for the council said a complaint had been received about the block, and had been referred back to Gippsland Water to action. The spokesperson said if council received a complaint concerning another authority, it was passed to it to rectify. “Council has done this,� he said, A Gippsland Water spokesman said the organisation would work with DELWP to determine what fuel management activities were viable for the site.

Merry Christistmas AND HAPPY NEW YEAR T O A L L G I P P S L A N D D A I RY FA R M I N G FA M I L I E S

Peter Fort 0417 332 141 Clint Newcombe 0429 626 330 Jamie Serong 0477 992 274 Email milksupply@burrafoods.com.au

Real Estate “May the Christmas season fill your home with joy, your heart with love, and your life with laughter� Elders Sale and Yarram

Elders Sale

Greg Tuckett

Tracey Wrigglesworth

0428 826 600 December, 2020

0427 444 044

GP1617091

From your team at Elders Elders Korumburra/Leongatha

Elders Yarram

Don Olden

Dean Foat

0417 805 312

Jean O’Loughlin

0428 571 083

0488 732 181 THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

5

RURAL NEWS

VFF: State budget a‘mixed bag’

THE Victorian Farmers Federation described last month’s State Budget as a “mixed bag” for Victorian agriculture, supporting a number of big-ticket items while leaving others in the lurch.

$5 million for roadside activities. Mr Jochinke said $300 million for regional telecommunication blackspots in populated areas was a step in the right direction for regional Victoria.

However, Mr Jochinke said it was “extremely disappointing” that major rail projects required to transport produce from paddock to port continued to be neglected.

VFF president David Jochinke said farmers and regional Victoria were big winners with substantial investment into regional connectivity, agriculture skills and agri-food research.

“The next step will be to expand this investment statewide to ensure universal access to critical telecommunication and infrastructure capable of delivering for regional Victorians,” Mr Jochinke said

“We’re still no clearer on whether the incredibly important Murray Basin Rail Project will be finished as originally planned back in 2016,” he said.

The VFF was delighted that a number of its priority projects were included in the budget such as a $30m Agriculture Energy Investment Fund. It also included funding to support Victoria’s agricultural exporters, regional telecommunication blackspots, assessing regional Victoria’s agriculture industry skill needs and increased funding for a fuel reduction program, including

A

“At a time when regional Victoria is crying out for investment to help lift us out of recession, the fact is billions are being spent on metropolitan rail projects, while the Murray Basin Rail Project enters its fifth year of uncertainty.”

He said the VFF was also pleased to see significant investment in research and skills through the $2 billion Breakthrough Victoria Fund and the Agricultural College Modernisation Program.

He said it was also disappointing the government failed to secure access for Victorian farmers to the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme by matching the federal funding.

“It’s vital we educate and equip the next generation of farmers with the skills and opportunities to support our growing agricultural industry,” he said.

D

V

E

R

T

I

S

I

N

G

F

E

A

T

U

VFF president David Jochinke

R

E

Old footy tyy foes now kicki kii king i goals for the th h same team n Lyn Back in the 80s, Way ayn yne ynch n and Steve Hodge found themselv lves v on opposing footy tyy teams in the form rmidable m La Latro a robe o Valley Football Fo o Le League. e

Way ayn yne n for Leongatha Le e and Steve for Warr rra ragul. a

Now 40 years rss on, they’ y’re ’re e on the same side kicki kii king i goals for Ray ayy White Wh h Yarr rra ram a and Ray ayy White Wh h Dro rouin. o

Today ayy it’ t’s ’ the entire re e region re e that’ t’s ’ the winner wii wii two with tw w very ryy determ rmined m and competitiv ive v fellas work rki king i ext xtre tremely e lyy hard rd d to deliv iver v outs tstanding s outcomes for their residential re e and farm rming m clients ts. s

In 1982, Way ayn yne n and Steve play ayed y against each other in the LVF VFL F gra rand a final.

S

W

teve lived in the Warragul district all his life until he sought a sea change with his wife Chris to Inverloch in 2012.

ayne is an integral part of Ray White Yarram’s sales team specialising in residential home and rural lifestyle property sales.

Steve worked in the building and construction industry before moving into real estate, which was something he had always wanted to do.

He is client focused and results driven. Born and raised in Yarram, Wayne’s passion for the local area is evident.

He has always been a big part of the community with years of coaching at local football and netball clubs.

As a trusted member of the local community, Wayne draws on his exceptional knowledge of the area and expertise on the local real estate market to drive results for his clients.

Travelling for away games and taking on building projects in different places has given him a wealth of knowledge of the Gippsland area.

This knowledge, combined with Wayne’s honest approach, has led to many repeat business customers and referrals.

Steve is a proud family man with three beautiful daughters and six grandchildren who keep him on his toes. This year Steve was recognised as Ray White’s Premier Performer, achieving significant results for the Ray White group across South West Gippsland.

Steve Hodge

To talk to Steve about your property needs contact him on his mobile 0403 538 482 and put on the kettle.

Ray White YARRAM & DROUIN

6

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

On that day ay, y much to Steve’s fru rustra u ration, a Le Leongatha e won the flag.

Wayne had his first taste of real estate in 1987, before he branched into the retail space, running his own Mensland store in Yarram for 10 years.

Wayne Lynch

Wayne’s interest in the property market saw him return to real estate, where he had already forged a successful career prior to joining Ray White in 2020.

This natural competitive spirit shines through in Wayne’s commitment to outperform his rivals and ensure his clients the best outcome for their homes.

Wayne is also well known in the area for his sporting achievements, having played in more than 400 football games (including nine premierships), as well as being involved in the local cricket, basketball and lawn bowls clubs. In 2018, he was awarded a life membership at the Yarram Country Club for his long service and outstanding work.

Throughout the years Wayne has received many accolades, including being named as the top exclusive lister for Victorian and Australia on two occasions. To meet this sporting legend and discuss the best way to sell your home call Wayne on his mobile 0400 446 795. December, 2020

)├К┬М┬М├║ "┬Б├Ш├В ├┤┬л├г┬и ├╣┬Ч┬Н├и├г┬л├│┬Ч V┬Ч├Ь┬л┬У┬Ч├Г┬Н┬Ч╩Г H├Х├г┬л├К├Г ├г├К ├и├║ ┬У┬╢├К┬л├Г┬л├Г┬в ;┬Б├Г┬У ├з-HHUDODQJ├и KD DFUHV -HHUDODQJ 5RDG +D]HOZRRG 1RUWK 9LFWRULD ├п ├п ├п ├п ├п ├п

3ULVWLQH EHGURRP H[HFXWLYH KRPH ZLWK ORYHO\ YLHZV DFURVV WKH YDOOH\ WRZDUGV WKH GLVWDQW <RX <DQJV 5HFHQWO\ UHQRYDWHG ZLWK TXDOLW\ NLWFKHQ KDUGZRRG ─ЗRDWLQJ ─ЗRRULQJ QHZ FDUSHWV VRIW IXUQLVKLQJV TXDOLW\ VOLJKWO\ XQGXODWLQJ DFUHV ZLWK H[FHOOHQW VRLOV JUDVV FDSDELOLW\ QHZ IHQFLQJ <HDU URXQG FUHHN GDPV ([SDQVLYH JDUGHQV DEXQGDQW VKHGGLQJ SOXV QHZ KRUVH ULQJ \DUGLQJ $GGLWLRQDO DGMRLQLQJ KD DFUHV LPPHGLDWHO\ WR WKH QRUWK DYDLODEOH IRU SXUFKDVH 7KLV SURSHUW\ KDV LW DOO LV FDSDEOH RI FDWHULQJ WR D YDULHW\ RI DJULFXOWXUDO SXUVXLWV ├ж DOO ZLWKLQ PLQ RI UXUDO FLWLHV

6DOH %\ 'HDGOLQH 0RQGD\ 'HFHPEHU SP ,DQ 6HHG 5D\ :KLWH <DUUDP

UD\ZKLWH\DUUDP FRP DX

DSSUR[

;├К├К┬╣┬л├Г┬в ┬б├К├Ш ┬Б "┬Б├Ш├В ├К├Ш ┬Н├Ш┬Ч┬Б┬в┬Ч╩К !-┬Л )_b|; uo┬Жbm 1┬Жuu;m|╤┤┬Л _-v - m┬Жl0;u o= ruor;uржЮ;v =ou v-╤┤; KD DFUHV ├ж (OOLQEDQN ├ж +RXVH ├ж 6KHGGLQJ ├ж 8QGHUFRYHU \DUGV KD DFUHV KD DFUHV /DQJ /DQJ 5LYHU /HDVH ├ж 3RRZRQJ (DVW ├ж EHGURRP KRPH ├ж 6KHGGLQJ ├ж &DWWOH \DUGV ├ж %HDXWLIXO SURSHUW\ KD DFUHV ├ж 6HDYLHZ ├ж KRXVHV ├ж 6KHGGLQJ ├ж +HDY\ FDUU\LQJ ├ж %OXH *XP FRXQWU\ KD DFUHV ├ж )HUQGDOH ├ж +RXVH ├ж *UD]LHUV ├ж 7XUQ RXW EORFN KD DFUHV ├ж 0RXQWDLQ 9LHZ ├ж 9DFDQW ODQG ├ж <DUGV ├ж 6KHG ├ж *UHDW KRXVH VLWH SRZHU FDUULHV FRZV FDOYHV DOO \HDU KD DFUHV ├ж /DEHUWRXFKH ├ж 0DJQL─ЖFHQW KRPH JUD]LQJ KRUWLFXOWXUH YLHZV KD DFUHV ├ж 7KRUSGDOH ├ж +RXVH VKHHS RU FDWWOH 0/ RI ZDWHU QHDW DV D SLQ KD DFUHV ├ж &DOGHUPHDGH ├ж +RXVH ├ж 6KHGGLQJ &DWWOH \DUGV ├ж 8QGHUJURXQG SRZHU IXOO OHQJWK RI WKH SURSHUW\ ├ж ([FHOOHQW EXIIHU ]RQHV IRU DOO LQGXVWULHV KD DFUHV ├ж 'URXLQ (DVW ├ж /DUGQHUV 7UDFN ├ж $GMDFHQW WR QHZ KRVSLWDO VLWH JUHDW ├зODQG EDQNHU├и KRXVH ├ж 6KHGGLQJ ├ж <DUGV ├ж QDWXUDO VSULQJV KD DFUHV ├ж 6KDG\ &UHHN ├ж KRXVHV ├ж +XJH VKHG ├ж &RROURRP KD DFUHV ├ж 5RNHE\ ├ж +RXVH ├ж 6KHG ├ж &RROURRP ├ж :RUNVKRS ├ж +HDY\ PDFKLQHU\ KD DFUHV ├ж ,F\ FUHHN ├ж +RXVH ├ж %HDXWLIXO YLHZV ├ж (VWDEOLVKHG WUHHV ├ж 6KHGGLQJ ├ж 2Q GRRUVWHS RI %DZ %DZ VQRZ─ЖHOGV

├Ь┬Н┬Б├Х┬Ч ┬б├Ш├К├В a┬и┬Ч ┬л├г├║ 3HWHUVRQ 5G KD DFUHV (OOLQEDQN 9LFWRULD ├п ([FHOOHQW EHGURRP KRPH WR VXLW DOO OLIHVW\OHV ├п KU (DVWOLQN PLQ :DUUDJXO +RVSLWDO 6HFRQGDU\ &ROOHJH PLQ SULPDU\ VFKRRO ├п +HDY\ FDUU\LQJ %OXH *XP FRXQWU\ ZLWK GDPV UXQQLQJ FUHHN VWHHS WR XQGXODWLQJ ODQG ZLWK JXOOLHV OLQHG ZLWK JXPWUHHV YHU\ ZHOO IHQFHG ├п 3HUIHFW OLIHVW\OH SURSHUW\ FXUUHQWO\ VHW XS IRU EHHI EXW FRXOG HDVLO\ OHQG LWVHOI WR KRUVHV

UD\ZKLWHGURXLQ FRP DX December, 2020

KD DFUHV ├ж :DUUDJXO :HVW ├ж 1HZO\ UHQRYDWHG KRXVH ├ж +HDY\ PDFKLQHU\ VKHG ├ж %LJ SDUNLQJ \DUG ├ж 6XLW FRQWUDFWRU WUDGHVPDQ WUXFNLH RU KRUWLFXOWXUH

&RQWDFW $JHQW

KD DFUHV ├ж /DUGQHUV 7UDFN ├ж 5HQRYDWHG +RPH ├ж WLWOHV ├ж ([FHOOHQW \DUGV

6WHYH +RGJH

KD DFUHV ├ж :RQWKDJJL ├ж 'DLU\ IDUP ├ж 5RWDU\ VKHG ├ж 'URXJKW SURRI

5D\ :KLWH 'URXLQ

)_-| -u; ┬Лo┬Ж ┬Й-bржЮm] =ou─╡ -╤┤╤┤ |o7-┬Л |o hmo┬Й ┬Й_-| ┬Лo┬Жu ruor;u|┬Л bv ┬Йou|_─┤

KD DFUHV ├ж /RFK .URZHUD ├ж %HHI IDUP ├ж 2OG KRPHVWHDG KRXVH

"|;┬И; o7]; VWHYH KRGJH#UD\ZKLWH FRP u-┬Л┬Й_b|;7uo┬Жbm─║1ol─║-┬Ж

DSSUR[

DSSUR[

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

7

RURAL NEWS

$200K grant aims to help trade access

By MICHELLE SLATER

A DROUIN school teacher is hoping to kick-start a program using working dogs to help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds find their feet and reconnect with the community. BACKinTRACKtion founder and facilitator Margie Matheson said it was her dream to start up her own school. Ms Matheson told Gippsland Farmer she was inspired to start the initiative in Gippsland after volunteering at a similar program at Bernie Shakeshaft’s BackTrack in New South Wales. She said her idea was to help young people aged between 10 to 25 who may have been involved in the justice system or have experienced family violence. “We want to hear what’s underneath behaviour, as a primary and secondary teacher I see behaviour is either punished or rewarded, but I see there is a language underneath the behaviour,” Ms Matheson said. “I see there is a need not being met, I’m super keen to tap into these people and see what’s behind them.” Ms Matheson said working dogs were a great way to teach young people about empathy and positive leadership. “Animals tend to break down any barriers we have, with animals, you don’t have to talk, you can just feel. It teaches kids they can drop the idea that they have to be violent or put up barriers of fear,” she said. “Everything in the outside world drops away when a dog looks up at you and asks what’s next? Dogs have different personalities and this enables young people to check in with themselves.” Ms Matheson said she also hoped to offer other programs such as welding, fencing,

Founder and Facilitator of BACKinTRACKtion Margie Matheson with Sally the Kelpie. photograph hayley mills

machinery and gardening, which in turn would foster employment skills and community connection. BACKinTRACKtion is in its infancy, and Ms Matheson was yet to find financial backing to run the program.

She was on the lookout for the community to offer the use of a farm in Gippsland, a nearby shed to run classes, a people mover or a ute. For more information, check out the BACKinTRACKtion Facebook page.

GP1616636

FOOD and Fibre Gippsland has been awarded a $200,000 federal government grant to assist farmers with trade market access into Asia, Middle East, United States, European Union and UK. The project is aimed at small to medium exporters, with a focus on providing and sharing market intelligence. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the Package Assisting Small Exporters program would assist producers overcome market access barriers. Mr Littleproud said the package was an important component in developing foundations to help industry move towards its target of $100 billon in farmgate value by 2030. “The project focuses on sharing export market information and experiences,” Mr Littleproud said. Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said agriculture, fisheries and forestry were the “driving forces” of Gippsland’s economy, supporting thousands of jobs and billions to local communities. “Food and Fibre Gippsland’s great program will target the region’s diverse range of smaller agricultural exporting businesses which are renowned for their world-class, clean, green produce,” Mr Chester said. “This support for our small to medium exporters to establish or expand their customer base overseas will help their businesses to grow, which supports local jobs and helps to strengthen our regional economy - and that’s good news for all Gippslanders.”

Ambition gains TRACKtion

32/,&( &$5((56 8

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

South Gippsland gem a farmers dream

Just minutes out of the delightful south Gippsland town of Yarram sits an unassuming rural homestead known as ‘Tanbark’, sheltered by towering eucalypts at the end of a winding gravel driveway. Although it may not be immediately apparent to the untrained eye, this property boasts 400 acres of some of the finest grazing land in the Gippsland region.

“The property is a wonderful flat piece of country with heavy fertile soils and a great fertiliser history,� real estate agent Simon Henderson of Phelan & Henderson tells us. “It is well set up, with large cattle yards and a central lane running through the property. It would suit a grazier looking to fatten cattle, or a dairy farmer looking for a large outpaddock to graze replacement cattle and cut significant amounts of hay and silage.� Tanbark is a farmer’s dream. It is flat and easy to manage, with ample access to water – a seasonal creek feeds the property’s large dam, and there is plenty of groundwater available, with 2 established bores to provide water for livestock.

relatives, or even a rental house for an additional income stream – you are limited only by your imagination.

“It has the benefit of a large solid brick house and adjoining granny flat,� says Henderson. “They do need a tidy-up, but both are still of sound physical structure.� The main house features a master bedroom with an ensuite, along with three other bedrooms, a study, a bathroom, and a recently

renovated kitchen and dining area. Outdoors, there is a double carport. The neighbouring granny flat offers two bedrooms and a bathroom, along with a large living area, small kitchen and single-car garage. It could be used as a guest house, a permanent residence for aging

This impressive farming property, located in a peaceful and attractive rural setting, would be ideal for a local farmer looking to expand an existing enterprise. However, as Henderson notes, “it could also suit someone that wanted to live in the main house to operate it as a B&B, as it is well-placed to cater for tourists, fishermen, and visitors that want to stay and explore that coastal area.� For further information about the property or to arrange an inspection, please contact Simon Henderson on 0428 740 750 or by email at simon@phelanandhenderson.com.

Ĺ€ Ć… Ĺ rÄľ Ĺ™ŧƙľ Ĺ€Ä?ĹśĹ&#x;ź˳ rņʼnčņ ʼnź ĆšĹ†Ć ĆšÄľ ņÄ?ƙľ čŜľÄ?Ć ÄľÄą Ä? ųřÄ?Ć Ĺ€ŧŜĹ&#x; ĆšĹ‰Ć Ĺ† ŧŠľ ųƅŜųŧźľ˭ Ć Ĺ§ źľĹ™Ĺ™ ŜƅŜÄ?Ĺ™ ĹłĹśĹ§ĹłÄľĹśĆ Ĺ‰ľź˳ #ŜŧĹ&#x; Ć™Ĺ‰Ĺ ÄľĆ Ä?ŜĹź Ć Ĺ§ ÄŤÄ?Ć Ć Ĺ™Äľ ĹşĆ Ä?Ć Ĺ‰ŧŠźˎ ŧŜčņÄ?ŜĹź Ć Ĺ§ čŜŧųźˎ #Ä?ĹśĹ&#x;ÄŞĆ…Ć Ĺ‰Ĺş ĹľĹʼnčÄ?Ć ÄľÄą Ć Ĺ§ ÄľĆ™ÄľĹśĆ Ć Ĺ†Ĺ‰Ĺ Ĺ ĹśĆ…ĹśÄ?ř˳ ,Ĺ€ Ć Ĺ§Ć… Ĺ™ŧƙľ Ĺ€Ä?ĹśĹ&#x;źˎ Ć Ĺ§Ć…ĚĽĹ™Ĺ™ Ĺ™ŧƙľ #Ä?ĹśĹ&#x;ÄŞĆ…Ć ËłÄŤĹ§Ĺ&#x;Ëł

+1*0.5 %"! .) 15Ĺ +)

December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

9

A

D

V F

E E

R A

T T

I

S

I

U

R

E

N

RURAL NEWS

G

Renewable Wood Pellets general manager Paul Griffin displays his products for Member for Gippsland Darren Chester. photographs michelle slater

Turning waste into wonderful

Versatile Merinos

ALTHOUGH mulesing of sheep has been the norm for generations, recent attitudes toward this practice are changing and the premiums for wool from sheep that have not undergone this make it obvious that the wool buying world wants this.

by good marking rates (95 per cent this year) showing a high foetus retention rate.

Flocks like those bred at Gracemere are now being bred with the unique combination of good fat, muscle, wool quality and are totally mulesed free.

Another interesting program at Gracemere this year is to get as many of the ewe lambs pregnant at nine months of age.

With this in mind Gracemere merinos for several years has been developing a breed of dual purpose merinos that are plain bodied, fertile and best of all don’t need mulesing - taking into account the direction the industry is going. To achieve this an independent DNA genomic test was done to identify strengths and weaknesses for fleece weight, micron, weaning weight, growth rate and more. Several of these characteristics in the flock were shown to be in the top percentage rankings in the country. Muscle, fat and weaning weights are a strength of the modern merino bred at Gracemere. Good pregnancy scanning rates (2019 saw only 1.5 per cent empty in the one year olds and only 2.9 per cent empty in the mature ewes after the year from hell) were followed

By MICHELLE SLATER

A NEW Morwell manufacturer is taking the waste stream from plantation pine timber and turning it into a sustainable pelleted product that can be used for horse bedding, pet litter or heating. Renewable Wood Pellets began production in August, processing raw pine chips into about 100 tonnes of pellets a week. RWP general manager Paul Griffin said the factory was a “good news story” for Morwell, being able to open in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions. “We are reigniting the manufacturing industry, getting manufacturing up and going is a key driver for our economic stimulus,” Mr Griffin said. “It’s good for jobs and it’s also good for the environment, for me, it’s a wonderful story for Gippsland. It’s turning waste timber into another product.” The factory is providing eight full-time jobs and was able to get off the ground with the help of a federal Regional Jobs and Investment Packages grant. Mr Griffin said a lot of animal bedding was imported, but this was locally produced, and he hoped to employ more staff as the factory expanded. He said the “all natural” horse bedding and pet litter was heated up to 100 degrees to help eliminate any bacteria. “Key features of this product are its highly absorbent of moisture and low odour emitting, and is less labour-intensive than traditional stable flooring methods,” he said. “It is ideal for horses with allergies, sensitive skin or breathing issues. It is also

Making Gracemere merinos not only a very ethical flock but also with incredibly low foetus/lamb wastage.

This is quite a challenge in this district. The aim is simply to better utilise this age group who still cost plenty to run but only produce wool in that year. Their genetics of good muscle and growth rates will give them a good start, which will hopefully give them good weight and condition scores at the end of February when the rams are put with them. Over recent years rams have been sold to West Gippsland to be joined to XB and composite ewes with great success. The progeny have had only slightly lower weaning weights but significantly higher fleece values because of the reduced micron. The females are kept as breeders and the wethers sold. For more information call Rick on 0407 777 516

Renewable Wood Pellets general manager Paul Griffin shows off pet bedding and heat pellets created in his new Morwell factory.

compostable for easy disposal in paddocks and gardens.” Mr Griffin said the heat pellet created fewer emissions, as it burned hotter for longer with less than 8 per cent moisture content, producing minimal ash and smoke. “We are excited for this new venture to help stimulate the local economy, by employing locals to work local, making locally-resourced and manufactured eco-friendly products available to the community,” he said. “We are grateful to the federal government for providing the much-needed assistance to help us finish setting up our facility.”

RUSSELL NORTHE MLA

DUAL PURPOSE POLL MERINOS For Sale

Member for Morwell

Wishing everryone a happy, healthy and safe Christmas and New w Year period.

RUSSELL NORTHE LN ORTHE MLA Bred with composites produces •19 micron much improved fleece value & •Fertile Young ewes very similar weaning weights. •Plain Bodied Polls Good fat, muscle and wean wts - independent DNA genomic test shows

RICK ROBERTSON BENGWORDEN 0407 777516 10

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

GP1617321

Member for Morwell

12-14 George Street, Morwell VIC 3840 / PO Box 214, Morwell VIC 3840 p. 03 5133 9088 | f. 03 5133 9388 | e. russell.northe@parliament.vic.gov.au w. www.russellnorthe.com.au Authorised by Russell Northe, 12-14 George Street, Morwell VIC 3840. Funded from Parliamentary Budget.

GP1610431

December, 2020

RURAL NEWS

River water ownership for first time RIVER water ownership will be made available to Traditional Owners for the first time in Victoria. As part of the state government’s ‘Water for Victoria’, a long term strategy for managing water resources, the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation will receive two gigalitres of unallocated water in the Mitchell River. Water Minister Lisa Neville said Southern Rural Water would make an additional four gigalitres of unallocated water available on the open market - half in the coming months and the remainder next year. Ms Neville said Traditional Owners’ connection to water was a key part of Water for Victoria, and the water release built on the government’s Water and Catchment Legislation Amendment Bill 2019, which embedded recreational and Aboriginal cultural values into the planning and operations of water resource managers. The government has spent $5 million to develop a plan to support Aboriginal use and access to water and says it continues to work with Traditional Owners and Aboriginal Victorians to identify opportunities for Aboriginal enterprises to establish and develop water-related businesses. The announcement comes 10 years since the Gunaikurnai people gained native title over much of Gippsland, and entered into the first Traditional Owner Settlement Agreement issued by the government. The agreement led to the first joint management plan for parks between the Gunaikurnai and the state government, which is now being successfully implemented across 10 parks and reserves. The next water strategy will consider how water is shared and gives the opportunity for Traditional Owners to have a voice. Stakeholders, residents and businesses will have an opportunity to provide input into the strategy next year. The strategy will consider how water resources in the region are best shared to provide for agriculture, communities, the environment towns and business use. GLaWAC chief executive Roger Fenwick said it was a “momentous outcome for the Gunaikurnai that recognises the importance of gaining rights to water to restore customary practices, protect cultural values and uses, gain economic independence and heal country�.

River water ownership will be made available to Traditional Owners for the first time in Victoria.

The announcement also steps out the process for the remaining four gigalitres of winterfill water to be released in two tranches of two gigalitres each, the first of which will open soon for expressions of interest from those who are eligible to hold a licence on the Mitchell River. SRW managing director Cameron FitzGerald said the $150m horticulture sector in the Lindenow Valley and other existing Mitchell licence-holders would see the winterfill as an opportunity toimprove their year-round water security. “We are pleased to be able to make this winterfill water available to the market, supporting growth in the East Gippsland community,� he said. The final two gigalitres will be offered to

the market for eligible licence holders later next year. But Member for Gippsland East Tim Bull said the deal was not what irrigators were promised. “We have known for some time that there was six gigalitres of winter flow available to be allocated and the understanding has always been across previous governments that when this was released, the irrigators would have first opportunity to secure as much of this right as they sought,� he said. “I have no issue over Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation receiving an allocation - my concern sits with the irrigators only having first option on just two gigalitres, rather than the six they have been anticipating.� Mr Bull said what was not made clear by

photograph supplied

the minister, but was confirmed later on, was that the two gigalitres to be released to the market would be part of an auction process for irrigators only, however the remaining two gigalitres to be released next year would not be confined to irrigators only, but for the highest bidder in the wider marketplace. “The intention all along has been the irrigators would have first access, and then any surplus will go to the open market - this was a stance I supported - but the minister seems to have abandoned this,� he said. “What I would have liked to have seen was the full balance of the allocation outside what has been made available to GLaWAC to have been first offered to irrigators before any remaining allocation was to be offered to the open market.

" " !

" " ! !

=> F

" G % >>9 B

"- " % F-- %" G 1 "2

- - G -

- 8 "-

--" - - "

G G F > 3! 8 -

: E B G B G

6 + 7 =/;/>;>E .6 A$&) 7<. (7 ) 7<3 6 .+)D @ &) ) < 0 6<& &0 <&+# .) 6&7 " ) 673 .< @ )& A&<$ +D .<$ 6 . 63 -C )? 7 < )& +<73 . )&#& ) .6 <$ &<&.+ ) / EEE <6 %&+ .+?7 <$ ? &( <6 *?7< .*0) < + &+ 6?++&+# + 6& &+# .6 6 A&<$ +. 7&#+& +< * # 0 6< 6.* +.6* ) A 6 + < 63 &*&< .+ <6 %&+ 0 6 +# 6 EE 0?6 $ 7 .6 < ) 6 &7 6 <&.+3 .< )&#& ) A&<$ +D .<$ 6 *0 &#+7 .6 . 673 48&+ + . 6 &7 @ &) ) .+ $ << ) *.6<# # <. 006.@ $.) 67 1=4 D 67 #&7<6 <&.+ + <6 &+#2 .6 ?7&+ 77 0?60.7 7 + 7? ' < <. 6 &< 006.@ ) < " 57 &7 6 <&.+3 .+ %. 1 !!E3EE 7< )&7$* +< 2 < 6*7 + .+ &<&.+7 + C )?7&.+7 00)D3 .) 6&7 8&+ + &7 06.@& D " # + + <D &*&< >E /E/ :,> E!E3

December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

11

RURAL NEWS

Digital technology trial underway By MICHELLE SLATER

A WINNINDOO farmer is taking part in a new agriculture technology program being trialled by the state government that will help him ensure his dairy is ticking over smoothly. Rodney Warren has received a $30,000 state government grant to trial the Internet of Things dairy monitoring system on his farm. Mr Warren was one of 90 farmers in the first round of the trial that is focusing on dairy, horticulture, cropping and sheep, with other properties located in Tatura,

Birchip and Serpentine. He will be able to use his dairy monitoring system to keep a close eye on vat temperatures, silo levels and water tanks. “This is another tool in our arsenal to make sure we can monitor all the things that can slip through the cracks, things like vat temperatures if the milk isn’t cooled properly,” Mr Warren said. “These things can get really expensive, I could lose $10,000 worth of milk in a vat. This was a no-brainer. Now I can get alerts on my phone.” The state government has partnered with NNNCo to deliver a new long-range network

“The results are presented in a manner that makes it easy for farmers and nonexperts to consume,” he said. The articles identify key performance indicators and how the Australian dairy industry measures against these indicators. It also outlines a process for farmers to measure and understand their own performance, and take a step towards improved profitability, risk management, economic sustainability, and wealth. Dr Hauser said he was taking an altruistic view to helping dairy farmers. Mr Lane said dairy needed to focus on profitability and these reports could give direction to individual farmers while helping the broader industry. “Dairy farms are difficult businesses to analyse and this type of approach combining Jon’s analytical skills and my farming knowledge will help to really pull apart dairy businesses,” he said.

©Å±±1jj © ( 1v¾ t¦ GP1617745

H1(1© j t1t 1© H © t v ±P

¾ĚŰĕ ƗŃŸŠ čÒķĚĮƗ ÒĹô čŠĚúĹôŧ ŰĕĚŧ ĕŠĚŧŰķÒŧȢ úĹĨŃƗ ĮŃîÒĮȢ ŧŸŝŝŃŠŰ ĮŃîÒĮ ʒ ŧŰÒƗ ĮŃîÒĮȡ EúŠúɍŧ ŰŃ Ò íŠĚĎĕŰúŠ DZǯDZǰȦ ɢȌȏɣ ȑȒȎȏ ȎȌȒȐ

“Agriculture will definitely have to move into technology, and this will become bigger and bigger,” Mr Warren said. “It takes time to adapt to new technology and anything that injects money into agriculture is a good thing.” Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing said digital technology had a huge potential to make farming more productive and sustainable. “It’s great to see Gippsland farmers paving the way for others in their industry to learn what technology works and what doesn’t when it’s tested in the practical setting of a dairy,” Ms Shing said.

Locusts numbers are tipped to rise

Dairy economics in focus AUSTRALIAN dairy farmers will get a clearer picture of their industry’s economic performance and a pathway to improve profitability through a series of articles being released over coming weeks. The five articles are being compiled by Jon Hauser of Xcheque and farm business consultant Neil Lane on the Australian dairy industry’s economic performance. The first two articles cover the definition and measurement of farm business performance, with an analysis of industry data and the main factors that will drive profitability. Others will inspect more complex issues around farm performance, reviewing Australian dairy regions with a summary towards self-analysis and improvement. Dr Hauser described the articles as a technical analysis and comprehensive review of dairy industry economics, but said they weren’t academic papers.

in the four trial regions to ensure farmers have reliable network coverage. The Internet of Things program refers to physical devices with sensors to connect to each other and to the internet. The trial is designed to help farmers see what technology is available to make their businesses more efficient and productive. The state government also hopes the new technology will attract and retain young people to live and work in rural and regional areas. Mr Warren said other farmers taking part in the trial have opted for soil monitoring, irrigation or cow identification systems.

ȐȒ! śďĞƙƭ ±ƭƙĞĞƭɋ ÞóƙƙóķƵś ȏȔȎȌ

ƙƵơơĞśśɐďƙŲóėďĞŦƭɐŤƖʻóƖľɐķŲǍɐóƵ ƵƭľŲƙŃơĞė ďǔ ©ƵơơĞśś ƙŲóėďĞŦƭ t¦ɋ jŃďĞƙóś ¦óƙƭǔ ŲĶ ƵơƭƙóśŃóɋ ȐȒ! śďĞƙƭ ±ƭƙĞĞƭɋ ÞóƙƙóķƵś ÝU! ȏȔȎȌ

GIPPSLAND farmers are being encouraged to be on the look out for any locusts in the region, amid higher than average number of sightings in western and north-western Victoria Victorian plague locust commissioner Kyla Finlay said heavy rainfall had provided green feed and ideal conditions for the locusts to breed, leading to higher than average sightings. However, Dr Finlay stressed there was no locust plague or any predicted plague in Victoria, and there had been very little locust activity reported in East Gippsland. “It’s important to understand where the populations are and what stage of development they are at so government, industry and community can work together to effectively treat and curtail the populations,” Dr Finlay said. “Locusts can feed on fresh, green plants and, when present in large numbers, causing damage to pastures, horticultural crops, gardens, parks and sporting grounds.” Dr Finlay said it was possible to see hatchlings in summer and a build-up of numbers under the right conditions. Australian plague locusts are a native insect but can reach high population levels under ideal conditions and pose a serious threat to pastures, crops and horticulture. They can be identified by the large dark spot on the tip of the hindwing and the distinctive red shanks on the hind legs. Their body colour varies and can be grey, brown or green. Adult males are 25 to 30mm long while females are 30 to 45mm long. Dr Finlay said now was a good time to spray young hoppers at about eight to 12 millimetres long, to limit the population from growing further.

Gippsland farmers are being encouraged to be on the look out for any locusts in the region, amid higher than average number of sightings in western and north-western Victoria. photograph supplied

“If you’ve got locusts on your property, be proactive in carrying out control as that will help reduce the populations for next year,” Dr Finlay said. “It becomes more difficult to manage populations as they become adults.” Various insecticides are registered to control locusts, but landholders should seek expert advice from a chemical reseller or agronomist as to which insecticide best suits their situation. “Safe and responsible use of chemicals is crucial - identify the most appropriate chemical for your situation, read the label on the product you are going to use and comply with the directions on the label,” Dr Finlay said. To report sightings of Australian plague locusts, call Agriculture Victoria on 136 186, or visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/locusts.

Next crop of bulls available from MONDAY 1ST MARCH, 2021 Sires include: NAMPARA LIBERTY and first progeny of RESOURCE M37

718 Rosedale Road, Heyfield 3858 Geoff 0412 958 168 AH 5148 6371 E geoff@innesdale.com 12

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

[

Innesdale Angus,

Sire Innesdale Resource M37

GP1617791

FOR DETAILS CONTACT

December, 2020

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Merry Christ mas

Gallstones,the green meanies

To all our valued clients we would like to thank you for your support in 2020 and look forward to serving you and your furry family in 2021.

GP1617375

WeÂ’ve got you covered

Maffra Vet 03 5147 1177 Equine Hospital 03 5147 1008

It is important to be fully evaluated by a specialist surgeon if gallstones are discovered.

surgeons and is a common operation. In skilled hands it is straightforward with less risk than living with gallstones. In the very elderly gallbladder cancer can sometimes be found along with the gallstones. It is still unclear whether gallstones contribute to the cancer or are just found as an incidental finding. It is important to be fully evaluated by a specialist surgeon if gallstones are discovered and to have a discussion about whether a cholecystectomy should be offered in individual circumstances. This information is provided by Mr Adrian Aitken MBBS, FRACS, PhD who is a local specialist surgeon in Gippsland who has run a skin cancer service ‘Gippsland Melanoma and Skin Cancer Clinic’ for over a decade and provides complete care from diagnosis to definitive treatment. Just ask your GP for a referral.

Got news to share?

Do you have an agricultural story to share with the Gippsland Farmer? Send your news tip to farmer@gippsnews.com.au or share your story with journalist Michelle Slater by phoning 5135 4444.

Mrr Adrian Aitke ken e

M.B.B.S., Ph.D., F.R.A.C.S. ‘TRUSTED EXPERTISE, PERSONAL CARE’ SPECIALIST GENERAL SURGEON

CONSULTING ACROSS GIPPSLAND

KEY HOLE GALL STONE SURGERY www.fitzpatrickhouse.com.au

ASK YOUR GP FOR A REFERRAL PHONE 51 444 555 FOR APPOINTMENTS

GP1617384

GALLSTONES can be green, white or even black depending on the nature of the disease within the gallbladder that causes them. They can be small and many like a handful of white rice or solitary and large like the size of a hen’s egg. It is sometimes the smaller ones that can cause the most problems by moving out of the gallbladder and blocking the ducts that convey bile to the duodenum for digestion. The liver produces green bile, about a litre and a half a day that is stored and concentrated in the gallbladder and is necessary for the digestion of fat. It is conveyed to the duodenum by biliary ducts and it is the small gallstones that can block the ducts and cause obstructive jaundice where the white part of the eye turns yellow. Gallstones form because the gallbladder itself is diseased and like a crystal garden the salts and cholesterol within bile can come out of the solution and grow over many years to form gallstones. Some form sludge or gravel and others can be as hard as that on a gravel road. Gallstones are found in about 4% of the population and only about 4% of those people who have them develop symptoms of abdominal pain after meals, nausea or intermittent fevers and general unwellness. The pain is typically located under the right side of the ribcage, sometimes in the middle and also can go through to the back. In older people and diabetics it can be entirely silent until the gallbladder becomes infected which is known as cholecystitis. Gallstones are removed along with the gallbladder because if the gallstones only are removed they reform very quickly because it is the gallbladder itself that is abnormal. You can live without a gallbladder much the same as after an appendix operation. Most gallbladder operations or cholecystectomy are done via a keyhole method under a general anaesthetic and require only a single night stay in hospital. The operation is a procedure done by specialist general surgeons or hepatobilary

7PKSWG OQFWNCT DCTPU CPF DCTP UV[NG JQOGU

$YDLODEOH DV NLWV SODQV EXLOW WR ORFN XS RU IXOO\ ͤWWHG RXW

DOWHUQDWHGZHOOLQJV FRP DX December, 2020

%#..

WLQ\EDUQV FRP DX THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

13

RURAL NEWS

Royal Commission report‘inconclusive’ MOUNTAIN Cattlemens Association of Victoria is warning the Victorian government to take swift action ahead of upcoming bushfire season following the outcomes of Bushfire Royal Commission. MCAV president Bruce McCormack described the near 600-page document as a “waste of money” and “inconclusive”. Recommendations into the federal government’s Royal Commission into the National Natural Disaster Arrangements were handed down in October. The Inquiry received evidence from more than 270 witnesses, almost 80,000 pages of information and more than 1750 public submissions.

The report’s 80 recommendations included a nationally consistent disaster warning system, air quality forecasting, and to share data and technology more effectively between governments. It also included calling the federal government to be able to declare a national state of emergency. But Mr McCormack said the report paid very little attention to how fires started and what made them burn, and instead offered information on identifying problems. He said the recommendations dealt with what needed to be done, rather than how to go about it. “Blind Freddy knows what the problems

are, there is too much fuel on the ground and not enough being done about it,” Mr McCormack said. “We didn’t need the Royal Commission to identify this. “We needed them to provide practical, on-the-ground solutions that will help tackle the problem.” Mr McCormack said the inquiry was one of 240 similar investigations the government had undertook with very little improvement. “It is just the same old problem being repeated, time and time again,” he said. The MCAV made detailed submissions to the Inquiry, calling for increased fuel

reduction burns, and a return of High Country grazing. It also called for decision-making on tackling fuel problems to come from those “who live and work in the bush, not those who sit behind a desk”. “From those who live and work in the bush to those that visit it for recreation, we deserve better than this,” Mr McCormack said. “The flora and fauna, the weekend visitor, the logger, the cattlemen, the backpacker - they all want to see our magnificent Australian bush. The question becomes, how much longer will it be there for us to enjoy if we continue to do nothing?”

Be ready for fire season livestock farmers urged

Victorian farmers are being urged to plan for their livestock ahead of the upcoming fire season.

VICTORIAN farmers are being urged to plan for their livestock ahead of the upcoming fire season. Agriculture Victoria is advising livestock owners to prepare a clear strategy in a fire emergency, identifying safer areas where livestock can be moved to. The area will depend on the type of livestock and their expected behaviour during a bushfire. Stock could be relocated to low risk areas such as ploughed paddocks, areas cultivated and kept free of combustible vegetation, or bared-out paddocks provided they are well defended by fire breaks. It could also include irrigated paddocks or paddocks containing green summer crops which do not burn easily, or stockyards

Price Rise On New Export Orders • Holsstein Heifers170kg kg g - $2420inc

Colleen Bye 0467 533 003 Katrina Einsidel 0428 120 686 Phillip Fleming 0498 242 421

• Ang gus and Hereford Heifers POA Mid Janu uary ryy Delivery ryy

GP1617381

C ntac U

• Wan nted weaned Holstein and beef x bullls/steers 120kg kg g to 550kg kg g POA

Now buying Beef, Dairy Cows and Bulls and Manufacturing Steers on Farm

Contact us for a competative hook price Colleen, Phil and Katrina

CONTACT US FOR THE BEST PRICE AND HONEST ADVICE!

that can be well defended as the fire front passes. All low risk areas should have sufficient drinking water, be protected by firebreaks and be free of leaf, twigs and bark build-up. Areas where there are dams and swamps are another possible option. Stockyards can successfully hold livestock during a bushfire, if protected by a firebreak, and farmers could consider using a sprinkler system to reduce heat stress. Horses should not be locked up in small areas or stables, but moved to an open paddock with minimal vegetation, so they can move freely. Horses are good at moving themselves to safe open areas and usually suffer minimal burns if left to do so. Rugs, halters and flyveils should be removed from horses as the plastic may melt, and metal buckles can burn the animal. Owners could consider using rope halters for easier handling and management. Do not open gates to let stock access public roadways, as any animals will be a hazard to traffic in smoky conditions. On days of extreme fire danger or on the day before, stock should be moved into lower risk areas on-farm, or to a safer property. Agriculture Victoria advises livestock owners to act early and not get caught trying to move stock as a bushfire approaches. Farmers should listen to weather forecasts and observe their own environment to help decide when to put these plans into action. For further assistance, visit agriculture. vic.gov.au/farm-management/emergencymanagement or contact the Agriculture Victoria Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

(5+ /(77@ 5,> @,(9

14

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

RURAL NEWS

Irrigators‘blindsided’by call LOCAL MPs say the state government has blindsided Macalister Irrigation District irrigators with its unexpected decision to deliver some savings from irrigation upgrades to the environment rather than local farmers. The MID 2030 phase two project will be funded jointly between the federal and state governments and local irrigators, and will deliver about 10,000 megalitres of water savings. However, irrigators were startled to discover the state government wants to send its share of those savings to environmental flows rather than returning it to the productive pool, where they say it will create more production and local jobs. Gippsland Nationals MPs are calling on the government to explain and justify its decision. Gippsland East MLA Tim Bull said the project had always been funded on a three-way basis between both levels of government and irrigators and the savings returned for irrigators to buy to expand their operations or for new entrants to come into the market. “At no stage through previous rounds or in announcing its $10 million contribution back in May, did the government ever suggest that it wanted its share of savings to go to the environment,” he said. Gippsland South MLA Danny O’Brien said the state government needed to explain the need for more environmental water. “It’s our understanding that current environmental flows in the region have been deemed adequate,” he said. “If this is not the case, then the Andrews Labor government needs to publicly explain to irrigators who are helping to fund this project why more water is needed for the environment.

Gippsland-based MPs Tim Bull and Danny O’Brien (pictured with Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath) say the state government has blindsided Macalister Irrigation District irrigators with its unexpected decision to deliver some savings from irrigation upgrades to the environment rather than local farmers.

“We’ve already seen this government short change irrigators by contributing only 16 per cent of the costs, leaving the bulk of the capital spending to the federal government and irrigators themselves, despite the MID being a state government-owned asset. “All previous phases of this significant water saving project have been funded equally between the three parties, but for

phase two the Andrews Labor government is putting in only half its usual share - and now wants to keep the water savings for itself as well. “This isn’t fair on irrigators or for the local economy, and the government needs to justify its decision and why it wasn’t up front with the community before announcing it.”

Commitment to Gippsland is welcomed THE Regional Development Australia (RDA) Gippsland committee welcomes the federal government’s renewed commitment to the RDA Network and regional economic recovery. The federal government has announced a new 41⁄2 year funding agreement for the RDA Network, including RDA Gippsland, and a refreshed Charter that will emphasise greater alignment across all levels of government, supporting regional planning that identifies and advocates for strategic long-term investment priorities. Gippsland was selected as one of the 10 Regional Recovery Partnerships across Australia to share in $100 million over two years to support recovery and growth. The initiative targets economic recovery and diversification for regions that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Through a $50 million Recovery for Regional Tourism Fund, the Phillip Island tourism industry is eligible for up to $3.5 million financial support. Gippsland Lakes will receive a $1.8 million investment to restore natural shellfish reefs between Metung and Lakes Entrance to support the ecosystem, support local jobs and boost visitor numbers. Gippsland is one of 25 regions selected for the Local Jobs Program, a $62.8 million initiative to upskill, reskill and establish new employment pathways for those looking to return to work following the coronavirus pandemic.

“From our family business to yours” Browns Stockfeed has been supplying Gippsland Farmers for over 30 years

Bro Browns ns Sto ockfeed is your “one sttop op shop” for all your stockfeed supplies, general hardware and rural merchandise. On Farm:

• • • • • • •

Whole and Rolled Grain Custom Dairy Mix Dairy Pellets Varieties of Hay in Bulk High Energy and Protein Mixes Calf and Heifer Grain Mixes and Pellets Grain Free Pellets

In Store: •

• • • • •

R WE OFFE

Contact one of our nutritional team members or office to discuss more!

Silage, Hay Wraps FREE Y and Twine DELIVER IN Drenches and Vaccines ND. Animal Health GIPPSLA Fencing Materials South & West Gippsland Fodder Crop and Pasture Seeds Lindsay Davies All your Farming Requirements 0428 361 231

Gippsland Chris Lawton

0439 959 899

Gippsland Matt James

0488 623 159

86 Yarragon Road, Leongatha, 5662 3199 620 Heyfield/Upper Maffra Road, Tinamba West 5145 1345 December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

15

A

D

V

E

R

T

I

S

I

N

G

F

E

A

T

U

R

E

Six steps to canola success

–

–

–

–

–

–

Pioneer’s National Sales and Marketing Manager Craig Choice, Canola Lead Clint Rogers, and Farm Services Consultant Dave Hogan from Central Victoria.

–

–

–

WITH seasonal blackleg pressures affecting many canola crops this season, Pioneer Brand Products is urging farmers considering including canola in their crop rotations in 2021, to start planning early to give next year’s crop the best possible chance of success.

–

Clint Rogers, Canola Lead for Pioneer, said that an integrated strategy planned over a number of years of canola rotations is the best way to assure higher yielding canola for the longer term.

–

“Managing Blackleg is a really complex matter, and is subject to so many controllable and uncontrollable variables, but Pioneer has consulted with a wide network of research and extension experts to develop a set of six key principles to help growers and advisors understand the status, risk and management of Blackleg in canola,� he said.

–

–

–

“Firstly, be proactive and develop an integrated multi-year rotation strategy. “Monitor disease in your current crop, now at windrowing, to make decisions regarding future crops.

–

“Plan to be diverse in your management practices by not relying on just genetic resistance or fungicide use.

–

“Consider reducing disease pressure through crop rotation, distancing from previous crops, sowing earlier for example.�

–

–

–

–

–

Secondly, Clint urged growers and advisors to understand that intensive canola cropping cycles will erode genetic Blackleg resistance at a faster rate even when best management practices are implemented. “Simply, do not sow canola into last year’s canola stubble,� he said.

“Try also to achieve a physical separation of 500 metres to the nearest canola stubble. “We know that stubble older than two years produces significantly fewer spores and has a substantially reduced risk of Blackleg infection.� The third factor Clint encourages growers and advisors is to ensure that risk gets measured paddock by paddock and to avoid blanket recommendations. “Local Blackleg pathogen populations and cultivar resistance rating may vary between regions and through cropping cycles,� he said. Also he urges growers and advisors to consult regional information on the NVT Online website www.nvtonline.com.au. Fourthly, Clint advises a ‘combine and rotate’ approach to using plant genetic results.

“Infections in both canola seedling and the upper canopy can reduce yield, but preventatively spraying or otherwise applying fungicide only when the risk or presence of disease warrants will reduce long term compromised resistance status of active ingredients,� he said. “Fungicide management is really important. Rotate and mix modes of action, including those available in new fungicide technologies, and follow professional guidelines for their use each time applied as well as over a number of years.� The final and most important recommendation is to select proven high yielding hybrids that are regionally adapted and trialled in your local area.

“There are three things you can consider regarding genetic resistance to develop a cropping program that reduces resistance risk,� he said.

“The profitability of canola is mostly determined by the yield potential of the cultivar grown, and the agronomic management practices to achieve that potential on your farm,� Clint said.

“Rotate different canola cultivars every two to three years, avoid sowing cultivars from the same blackleg resistance group in close proximity for three years or more, and identify cultivars from different combinations of plant resistance genes, including novel genetic combinations that seed companies bring to the market.

“We know that hybrid canola has that yield potential, and Pioneer’s industry leading breeding and trialling program selects for yield, as we know it’s what farmers are chasing first and foremost.�

“Decision making regarding sowing cultivars with MR rating or above, and varied GRDC Blackleg Groupings coupled with sound agronomic decisions, will help to preserve the effective resistance in canola cultivars.�

MARSHALL MULTISPREAD

Eastern States Distributors:

Pioneer has published a new technote regarding Blackleg management, which is available by contacting your local Pioneer representative, or downloading it at the Pioneer website www.pioneerseeds.com.au

EASTERN SPREADERS PTY LTD

9508 Murray Valley Highway, Kerang, Vic. 3579

3K

VDOHV#HDVWHUQVSUHDGHUV FRP DX

Australian Distributor for

–

RENN ROLLER MILLS

WR 7RQQH 0RGHOV

–

–

:HLJKLQJ 6\VWHPV 957 0HWUH 7UDFN DYDLODEOH

´ ´ ´ ´ 0RGHOV

Australian Distributor for

–

N.D.E. VERTICAL

–

FEEDMIXERS

4XLFN HIIHFWLYH PL[LQJ &RPSOHWH DQG UDSLG HPSW\LQJ :KDW \RX SXW LQ \RXU PL[ JHWV WR \RXU KHUG FRQVLVWHQWO\ 6LQJOH RU 'XDO $XJHUV WR FXELF PHWUH PRGHOV DYDLODEOH

–

–

–

Clint’s fifth recommendation relates to fungicide use.

16

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

16” Roller Diameter December, 2020

GP1617654

% '# &# ' % & % " " ' & % ! $ ' & % !

December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

17

RURAL NEWS

Calculator can offer assistance

FARMERS can now use their mobile phone to prepare for dry seasonal conditions before critical decisions need to be made. The Summer Water Calculator is a simple and user-friendly web-based tool developed by Agriculture Victoria to help farmers estimate their livestock water requirements. Land management extension officer Martin Hamilton said it would take a lot of the guesswork out of farm dam water calculations. “As a mobile-friendly web-based calculator, farmers can drive into their paddock, measure the water currently in their dam and enter the data along with their livestock numbers into the Summer Water Calculator,� Mr Hamilton said. “They’ll then know how long their farm dam water will last using this tool. It’s that easy.� Mr Hamilton said the Summer Water Calculator enabled farmers to make shortterm calculations of current water storages. He said a dam will lose up to 40 per cent of its volume over summer through evaporation alone. While assuming no rainfall or runoff, the tool will accurately calculate summer evaporation, livestock drinking requirements, dam volumes to determine how long the water will be available over summer. Mr Hamilton said the calculator can be used for multiple mobs and multiple water sources. “I know many farmers who have failed to factor in losses due to evaporation in their water estimations. They have then fallen short on their water supply and been caught out in the peak of summer,� he said. “The tool will assist farmers in making important decisions about water allocations to avoid shortfalls in their water supply.� The new calculator complements the existing Farm Water Calculator tool which helps farmers calculate their total annual water usage, supply or deficit. The Summer Water Calculator is available at go.vic.gov.au/US2OcV.

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

GP1616086

–

–

–

Got news to share?

Do you have an agricultural story to share with the Gippsland Farmer? Send your news tip to farmer@gippsnews.com.au or share your story with journalist Michelle Slater by phoning 5135 4444.

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

GP1617978

18

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

19

3$571(5 :,7+ 7+( '$,5< &203$1< #/--)44%$ 72 *,336/$1' Peter Fort 0417 332 141 Clint Newcombe 0429 626 330 Jamie Serong 0477 992 274 Email milksupply@burrafoods.com.au

alternatedwellings.com.au

ALTERNATE DWELLINGS

Tinybarns. tinybarns.com.au

CALL 03 5133 0799 Unique modular barns and barn style homes. Available as kits, plans, built to

+EV]

&0%'/;33( 14

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

HAY

Delivery

Grown on Ballarat Spud Farm

No rain..

Top Quality & Shedded

FOR SALE

Oaten Lucerne Rye Clover 8x4x3 Bales

–

December, 2020

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Tot Rain Tot Day YTD Tot

–

7LPH WR UHQHZ \RXU &KHP&(57 &DUG"

–

2QOLQH RU DW RYHU ORFDWLRQV DURXQG $XVWUDOLD

–

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

20

–

–

PLQ

–

$4) &KHPLFDO $FFUHGLWDWLRQ &RXUVH

–

$+&&+0 5SBOTQPSU BOE 4UPSF $IFNJDBMT $+&&+0 1SFQBSF BOE "QQMZ $IFNJDBMT UP $POUSPM 1FTU 8FFET BOE %JTFBTFT

–

9,& &RXUVH LQ 0LQLPLVLQJ 5LVNV LQ WKH 8VH RI 3$33 %DLW 3URGXFWV IRU 9HUWHEUDWH 3HVW &RQWURO

–

–

GP1618201

–

76 *NQMFNFOU UIF MFHJTMBUJWF SFRVJSFNFOUT GPS UIF VTF PG BOE 1"11 QFTU BOJNBM CBJU QSPEVDUT

–

1EWSR 7X ;EVVEKYP

–

–

available CALL 0419 334 34 208

–

–

&OSPM OPX )UHHFDOO _ ZZZ FKHPFHUW FRP DX

–

GP1618028

–

*YRHIH JVSQ 4EVPMEQIRXEV] &YHKIX

–

©Å±±1jj © ( 1v¾ t¦ ¦

H1(1© j t1t 1© H © t v ±P

¾P vh ä Å ¾Ų ŲƵƙ IŃƖƖơśóŦė ĶóƙŤĞƙơ ĶŲƙ ƖƙŲėƵĐŃŦķ ǎŲƙśė śĞóėŃŦķ ŤĞóƭɋ ėóŃƙǔɋ ĶƙƵŃƭ ʼ ǍĞķĞƭóďśĞơɐ

ɢȌȏɣ ȑȒȎȏ ȎȌȒȐ ȐȒ! śďĞƙƭ ±ƭƙĞĞƭɋ ÞóƙƙóķƵś ȏȔȎȌ

ƙƵơơĞśśɐďƙŲóėďĞŦƭɐŤƖʻóƖľɐķŲǍɐóƵ

ƵƭľŲƙŃơĞė ďǔ ©ƵơơĞśś ƙŲóėďĞŦƭ t¦ɋ jŃďĞƙóś ¦óƙƭǔ ŲĶ ƵơƭƙóśŃóɋ ȐȒ! śďĞƙƭ ±ƭƙĞĞƭɋ ÞóƙƙóķƵś

ŀ ƅ Ł rĵ řŧƙĵ ŀĝŶşź˳ rņʼnīņ ʼnź ƚņƠ ƚĵ ņĝƙĵ īŶĵĝƁĵı ĝ ųřĝƁŀŧŶş ƚʼnƁņ ŧŠĵ ųƅŶųŧźĵ˭ Ɓŧ źĵřř ŶƅŶĝř ųŶŧųĵŶƁʼnĵź˳ #Ŷŧş ƙʼnŠĵƠĝŶıź Ɓŧ īĝƁƁřĵ źƁĝƁʼnŧŠźˮ ŧŶīņĝŶıź Ɓŧ īŶŧųźˮ #ĝŶşĪƅƠ ʼnź ıĵıʼnīĝƁĵı Ɓŧ ĵƙĵŶƠƁņʼnŠŁ ŶƅŶĝř˳ ,ŀ Ơŧƅ řŧƙĵ ŀĝŶşźˮ Ơŧƅ̥řř řŧƙĵ #ĝŶşĪƅƠ˳īŧş˳

+1*0.5 %"! .) 15Ł +)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

RAINFALL 2021 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

# "

" # "

" " !

21

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

GP1617869

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

22

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

Act, Plan, Survive

Remembering 2019/20 bushfires a year on NOVEMBER 21 marked the one-year anniversary of the start of the devastating bushfires which deeply affected Victorian communities across the state. On November 21, 2019 the first ‘code red’ fire danger rating in almost a decade was declared in the Mallee and Northern Country, and dry lightning strikes in East Gippsland started three fires which grew to a widespread bushfire disaster that burned for months on end. CFA and Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) remember and honour everyone impacted by the 2019/20 fires which destroyed hundreds of homes, burnt more than 1.5 million hectares of land and tragically claimed the lives of

five people - including three FFMVic firefighters.

communities have banded together to make it through.

CFA Acting Chief Officer Garry Cook said the one-year anniversary had been a very difficult time for many Victorians and emergency responders.

“We have taken many lessons from the fires of 2019/20 as we prepare for this year’s season. The community should take comfort in the fact Victoria has some of the best firefighters in the world, ready to protect lives and property.�

“As we head into another fire season, the next couple of months will no doubt bring back some painful memories for many Victorians,� CO Cook said. “I hope this can be a time for solace and reflection for anyone who worked on or was impacted by the fires. The Victorian community has been through so much in the past year and I will always be proud of the way our CFA members and their

Local MP is urging you to be fire ready

LOCAL MP Darren Chester is urging Gippslanders to remain vigilant this summer. Mr Chester said those living in bushfire prone areas and travelling throughout the region should monitor weather and any warnings relating to bushfires. “Last summer we saw truly devastating scenes of bushfire in Gippsland and while we can’t predict what this summer may bring, it is important we all remain vigilant,� Mr Chester said. “On days of high fire danger remember to monitor the weather and emergency warnings in case of bushfire and if possible do not travel to those areas at risk. “We can all do our bit to prepare but it is also important that we stay away from dangerous areas during fire events, we do not want to see more lives lost this summer to bushfire.� Mr Chester again called for better management of public land to reduce the

FFMVic Chief Fire Officer Chris Hardman said the events one year ago led to a long, difficult and challenging summer which impacted so many Victorians. “This is a time to reflect on the tragic loss of life, the five Victorians lost and the three FFMVic firefighters who sacrificed everything for their community.

“As this summer draws near we need to take care of our physical and mental wellbeing, if the approach of a new fireseason is causing considerable distress it is important to reach out for professional help.� This fire season, we remain committed as a sector to continue to ensure the best emergency preparedness and response as once again we strive to keep the Victorian community safe.�

Darren Chester Federal Member For Gippsland

risk of fires occurring and their intensity. “While we have experienced a much wetter spring, hazard reduction and controlled burning is an important component of managing the risk and still needs to take place,� Mr Chester said.

Be prepared for this fire season

“Gippslanders still remember the devastation of last summer and want more happening at a government level to prevent this. We need more boots and less suits to drive bushfire prevention, infrastructure upgrades and better management of our natural assets to keep our communities safe. “Throughout Gippsland there are many people with extensive knowledge and experience of the land and how best to manage it, it is important we listen and ensure those local experienced voices are heard.�

#lovegippsland #myvalley 1300 131 785

www.darrenchester.com.au

Authorised by Darren Chester MP, National Party of Australia, 126 Franklin Street, Traralgon VIC 3844

December, 2020

“We acknowledge the incredible courage and resilience of our fire and emergency workers and our communities who live and work across one of the most fire prone regions of the world.

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

23

BE FIRE READY ACT, PLAN, SURVIVE

Wildfire Fully Accredited Bushfire Bunkers WHEN situations change and the time to execute your evacuation plan has been cut short, a wildfire safety bunker could be a resident’s last option.

24

Wildfire Safety Bunkers Pty Ltd is committed to supplying and installing superior quality, fully engineered, government accredited,

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

purpose-built bushfire bunkers. Wildfire bunkers are rated to the highest current Australian Standard (BAL-FZ), Bushfire Attack Level - Flame Zone.

With the fire season of 2019 causing untold devastation across Victoria and a new challenge just around the corner residents who live in isolated areas with surrounding bushland are at high risk and may wish to consider the installation of a bushfire shelter. Anthony Tratt, owner and managing director of Wildfire Safety Bunkers, said they had to pass rigorous testing and scrutiny by The Victorian Building Authority before product accreditation was granted. The bunkers are constructed from a custom made concrete blend which is 100mm / 4” thick. This solidly reinforced concrete structure is not only incredibly strong at 65 mPa concrete strength - it is water and impact resistant. All components used on the door and its surrounds are made from high grade stainless steel. Every bunker door is fitted with an outside temperature gauge and the handle mechanism is designed in such a way that occupants inside the bunker can always release the door even if it has been padlocked from the outside. All bunkers are fitted with a high temperature viewing port for outside observations. “Our bunkers are fitted with

ventilation shafts that have shut off doors fitted inside the bunker,” Anthony said. These doors are left open when not in use to stop the build-up of condensation and to allow fresh air in should someone find themselves unable to exit the bunker.” All bunker locations and maintenance will be logged on Wildfires data base. The bunkers are easily installed (four hours in clean soil) and can be removed and relocated elsewhere at a later date if required. All bunkers installed come with a comprehensive operations manual and the owners can be trained on the correct use of the bunker on site after installation is completed. All products are now bitumen coated for added water resistance. Wildfire installs units all over Australia. So, for a no-obligation free quote, call Wildfire Safety Bunkers today on 1800 559 859 December, 2020

GP1618211

December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

25

BE FIRE READY ACT, PLAN, SURVIVE

Plan, act, survive during this fire season Do you know how far an ember can travel before starting a new fire?

You may forget important things or waste valuable time deciding where to go.

Or that the heat and ferocity of a bushfire could melt the trailer off a ute?

There are some simple steps you can take to get ready now:

VICTORIA is one of the most fire prone areas in the world and bushfires and grassfires are a part of life. The fire season is starting earlier and running later.

as a bushfire, it is hard to think clearly.

LEARN about what Fire Danger Ratings mean and check them every day during the fire season Make your fire plan and talk with your family about what you will do.

All Victorians need to know how to plan for and respond to fire. If you see behaviour that could lead to a bushfire, it’s up to you to report it and keep your community safe. Call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or go to crimestoppersvic.com.au In an emergency, or if you see smoke or flames, call 000 immediately. During an emergency such

26

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

Just as every family or household is unique, every plan will be different

If you live in a regional area at risk of bushfires or grassfires, be prepared to leave early on very high-risk days or if a fire starts. It is the safest option.

 Relative’s house?

 Hotel?  Shopping centre far away from fire prone areas? Decide on some options and make sure you let everyone in your family or fire plan know what they are.

Where will you go? What route will you take and how will IT is best to have a couple of you get there? places to go. The person you planned to visit may not be home, or the route you planned to take may be closed. Will you go to a:

WHEN you are making your fire plan, think about the unexpected. What if:  A tree has fallen on the main road out of town?  The kids are at a sleepover?  Your partner is out of town? Think about how you will put your plan into action and what you might need to change at short notice. It is particularly important to know what you will do if you are not able to drive for any reason. How will you get away from fire prone areas? It is always safer to leave early.

What do you need to organise for pets or livestock FIRES are also a very stressful time for your pets and livestock.

Having a plan for them means they will be happier and safer when an emergency hits:  Visit the Country Fire Authority website for tips on caring for your pets during and after a fire  Don’t forget to pack items for your animals in your Emergency Kit

Who do you need to keep informed of your movements? IT is important to let your family and friends know you’re safe and what your movements are. It can reduce everyone’s stress and concern.  Make a list of people you will inform.  Make sure to note down their contact details, just in case you lose your phone or it runs out of battery. December, 2020

BE FIRE READY ACT, PLAN, SURVIVE

Is it a Code Red day? Here’s a checklist Code Red

Severe

THESE are the worst conditions for a bush or grass fire.

EXPECT hot, dry and possibly windy conditions.

Homes are not designed or constructed to withstand fires in these conditions.

If a fire starts and takes hold, it may be uncontrollable. Well prepared homes that are actively defended can provide safety. If you choose to stay, you must be physically and mentally prepared to defend in these conditions.

The safest place to be is away from high risk fire areas. Schools, parks/forests and some businesses will close when a Code Red day is declared.

Very high and low to moderate

What should I do? LEAVING high risk fire areas the night before or early in the day is your safest option - do not wait and see. Avoid forested areas, thick bush or long, dry grass. Know your trigger to leave. Make a decision about: ď Ž When you will leave ď Ž Where you will go ď Ž How you will get there ď Ž When you will return ď Ž What will you do if you cannot leave

Extreme EXPECT extremely hot, dry and windy conditions. If a fire starts and takes hold, it will be uncontrollable, unpredictable and fast moving. Spot fires will start, move quickly and come from many directions. Some well-prepared homes may provide safety, but you need to be aware of the high risk. If you choose to stay, you

must be physically and mentally prepared to defend against fire in these conditions.

What should I do? CONSIDER staying with your property only if you are prepared to the highest level. A well-prepared home means: ď Ž Your home is located and constructed (or modified) to withstand a bushfire ď Ž You have prepared for a fire ď Ž You can actively defend your

IF a fire starts, it can most likely be controlled in these conditions and homes can provide safety.

home if a fire starts If you are not prepared, leaving fire prone areas early in the day is your safest option.

Be aware of how fires can start and minimise the risk Controlled burning off may occur in these conditions if it is safe.

ď Ž Be aware of local conditions and seek information.

Check to see if permits apply

You can:

What should I do?

ď Ž Listen to your emergency broadcasters

ď Ž Check your fire plan

ď Ž Visit the CFA website

ď Ž Monitor conditions

ď Ž Call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226

ď Ž Action may be needed ď Ž Leave if necessary

$UH \RX UHDG\ WKLV EXVKࢉUH VHDVRQ"

1R LQ $XVWUDOLD 6ROG DOO RYHU WKH ZRUOG $ JUHDW UDQJH RI 'DYH\ SURGXFWV $9$,/$%/( $7 (/(&7(/

(OHFWHO $UJ\OH 6WUHHW 7UDUDOJRQ 9LFWRULD HOHFWHO QHW DX

December, 2020

&ORFNZLVH IURP WRS OHIW 7ZLQ 6WDJH )LUHࢉJKWHU 5HPRWH 6WDUW 7ZLQ 6WDJH )LUHࢉJKWHU 6LQJOH 6WDJH )LUHࢉJKWHU

GDYH\ZDWHU FRP

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

27

ª0à ª( æ Ǫ²0mI àXÀR y

ِ J0À

%(67 ),5( 38036 %(67 35,&(6 $866,( ),5(0$1 +RQGD +3 *3 +HDGV WR P űRZV WR OSP 43 6 *3 12:

5HDVRQV WR FKRRVH DQ $XVVLH

$866,( ),5( &+,() +RQGD +3 *; 43 6( *; 12: *5($7 9$/8( )XOO IUDPH RSWLRQ Ř

– )520

–

–

–

ń +RQGD *XVKHU +RQGD (0 &LOWS TO LPM 10 '8

–

ń +RQGD *XVKHU +RQGD (0 &LOWS TO LPM 10 '8

-867

–

–

43 *;

43 6; *;+

6DIHU WR UHIXHO LQ D EXVKğUH HPHUJHQF\

0$66,9( LPM AT M HEAD +RQGD '8 ELECTRIC START X v X v OUTLETS ,ONG RANGE FUEL TANK OPTION )DEAL FOR IRRIGATION lRE PROTECTION )URP

<$10$5 +3 RECOIL START (EADS TO M mOWS TO LPM 10 3% , 6$9( 12: 6$9( .8%27$ +3 ELECTRIC START (EADS TO M mOWS TO LPM 10 3, /# % 12: 6$9( &2%% '%, "!44%29 VALUED AT

437 6/7 *; (

1(: ń 05 7 7:,1

$866,( ',(6(/ ),5( &+,()6

)520

43 6/ 2& (

437 6/7 *; (

1(: ń '528*+7 %867(5 6$9( 7,0( 6$9( )8(/

0RYH PRUH ZDWHU IDVWHU

,/.' 2!.'% &5%, 4!.+ RUNS FOR UP TO HRS -ASSIVE LPM mOW (ONDA HP ELECTRIC START 12: 6$9( 9ANMAR DIESEL OPTION AVAILABLE

ń <DQPDU +3 RECOIL START &LOWS TO LPM HEADS TO M 10 , 12: 6$9( 12:

10 /# %

ń ń 60$57 38036 ,EAK FREE CHEMICAL TRANSFER 'ENUINE +RQGD *; (0 ENGINES

ń 9,721 VHDOV Ľ IRU PRVW FKHPV &LOWS TO LPM M HEAD 23% "26 '8 )520 12: 6$9(

ń (3'0 VHDOVĽ IRU DJ FKHPV &LOWS TO LPM M HEAD 23% "2, '8 12: 6$9(

ń 9,721 VHDOV Ľ )$67 ),// -ASSIVE mOWS TO LPM

SUIT MOST AG CHEMS 23% "36 '8 12: 6$9(

12:

6$9( 43 *; (/5*

43 *;

$866,( +<'5$8/,& '5,9( 60$57 38036

6HH WKH 6PDUW )DUPHUV JXLGH WR $XVVLH 6PDUW 3XPSV

v vPOLY PUMPS FOR FAST SPRAYER RElLLS 6ITON SEALS

IURP 6$9(

0'9 #755+' 56# #+0.'5 56''. 5/#46 5'4+'55 56( %69 *;

1(:

&HUWLŵHG IRU SRWDEOH ZDWHU &RUURVLRQ UHVLVWDQW FDVLQJ 3RO\ LQWHUQDOV Ŕ Ŕ SRUWV +RQGD +3 HQJLQH UHFRLO RU HOHFWULF VWDUW

9LWRQ HODVWRPHUV )ORZV WR OSP KHDGV WR P P 6HOI SULPLQJ 'LHVHO RU HOHFWULF GULYH RSWLRQV

6$9(

12:

)520

6$9(

5,63 9 *;

ِ !m0 y ǧ àXÀR Dz²X0 ‫ ت‬I ²À‫ ة‬RæJX0yX!‫! ة‬R0wX! m Iª00 ِ $866,( 67($0 &/($1(56 Ľ )$67(5 60$57(5

$866,( +27 :$7(5 %/$67(56 Ľ .,//6 &2521$9,586

–

SVL $XVVLH +HDWZDYH +RQGD (0 ELECTRIC START

MOBILE STEAM CLEANER 3TEAM TO ¨#

1(: $XVVLH 6L]]OHU EXGJHW KRW ZDWHU EODVWHU V STAINLESS STEEL COVER

FULL PROTECTION KIT PSI

DIESEL BURNER

–

–

)6 ' 3 0

PSI %HUWROLQL PUMP WITH PSI TURBO PRESSURE +RQGD (0 WITH YR WARRANTY 1UALITY ACCESSORIES "LASTER ONLY !"33 '8

"LASTER WITH M HOSE REEL !"33 '8 (2 )5(( 785%2 YDOXHG DW $%66 *;

BAIRNSDALE LATROBE VALLEY MAFFRA MEENIYAN SALE SALE STRATFORD TRARALGON TRARALGON YARRAM

–

–

–

–

28

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

Ź&

(EAVY DUTY SLOW SPEED TRIPLEX PUMP POLE )0 MOTOR RPM -ILD STEEL HEAVY DUTY COIL WITH YEAR WARRANTY WITH OPTIONAL STAINLESS STEEL COIL YEAR WARRANTY LTR DIESEL FUEL TANK HIGH PRESSURE DETERGENT INJECTION PLUS LOADS OF SAFETY FEATURES *5($7 9$/8(

SVL VLQJOH SKDVH N: -867 SVL WKUHH SKDVH N: -867

+60 ++

SVL $866,( 352 %/$67(56 Ľ )5(( 785%2 Ľ %22676 (:3 72 36, YDOXHG DW

)6 ,1''6 79

$% *7 +RQGD '8 6FXG +RQGD '8

)520 GEARBOX DRIVE FOR EXTRA LONGEVITY

)+' $'0,5$/

ÇXmÀ I ª Dz²X0 I ªw0ª² ‫ ۋ‬Àª (X0² (X0 ِ

@"IG "ERTY "ERTOLINI TRIPLEX PUMP 3TAINLESS STEEL FRAMES

LJJ@<)LDGJ

36, 67($0 &/($1(5 Ľ$866,(ł6 $'0,5$/ Ľ:2: ş 67($0

6WHDP WR

!USSIE 3UPER )NDY HEAVY DUTY STEAM CLEANERS 3INGLE THREE PHASE WITH POLE MOTOR

ِ Dz²X0 0! ّ!m0 y ‫ ت‬Dz²X0

36, $866,( 32&.(7 52&.(7 1(: 67$,1/(66 67((/ )5$0(

67($0 32:(5 Ľ 6/$6+ &/($1,1* 7,0(66

0(/7 $:$< *5($6( *5,0(

-867

-867

–

–

ń +RQGD +3 RECOIL START &LOWS TO LPM HEADS TO M 10 '8 21/<

56( %69 *;

–

–

+21'$ +3 HOHFWULF VWDUW +HDGV WR P űRZV WR OSP 437 6/7 *; ( -867 *(/ %$77(5< H[WUD )520 .8%27$ +3 ',(6(/ HOHFWULF VWDUW +HDGV WR P űRZV WR OSP 437 6/7 2& ( -867 )5(( *(/ %$77(5< YDOXHG DW

ِ Dz²X0 ²w ªÀ §Çw§² ‫ ت‬² I0 I0ªÀ Àª y²I0ª ِ

–

–

6XLWV KLJK SUHVVXUH ZDWHU WUDQVIHU LUULJDWLRQ ŰUH SURWHFWLRQ

\HDU +RQGD *; )520 HQJLQH ZDUUDQW\ &LOWS TO LPM (EADS TO M 3UITS lRE PROTECTION AND DIESEL FUEL TRANSFER ńYHUVLRQ 10 '8 Ŧń YHUVLRQ 10 38 '8(

%,* ń 38036 0$.( 6(16(

)520

(OHFWULF VWDUW RSWLRQV DYDLODEOH

–

–

ń ń 'LHVHO *XVKKH

<DQPDU (0 .XERWD (0 (0 2ECOIL ELECTRIC START &LOWS TO LPM &AST SELF PRIMING &REE FULL FRAME COUPLING STRAINER KIT

–

–

$866,( 05 7 7:,16 5($/ 3(5)250$1&(

$866,( 8/75$/,7(6 ń Ŧń

ِ Dz²X0 JDzR0ª² ‫ ت‬m0Àٚ² J0À DzÀª mX §Çw§0( I ª Jª àÀR ِ

ń ń +21'$ *86+(56 :,7+ 5($/ 32:(5

–

–

$866,( ),5( &$37$,1 3/86 +RQGD +3 *; HOHFWULF VWDUW +HDGV WR P űRZV WR OSP ,QFOXGHV IXOO IUDPH 43 6/ *; ( 12: *HO EDWWHU\ H[WUD

$XVVLH )LUH &KLHI 43 6( *;

–

Dz²X0‫ث‬

DzRIXª0 ª0 (æ ‫§ ت‬m y R0 (‫§ ة‬ª0§ 0 ªmæ‫ِ ث‬

–

–

(0!0w 0ª ׂ‫׀ׂ׀‬

$$866,( &/$66 $ -(77(56 ((1' 2) 7+( ((/ Ľ $*( 2) 7+( -(77(5 ))DVWHU VPDUWHU GUDLQ FOHDQLQJ

$866,( &/$66 $ %/$67(56 67(56

&ODVV $ QR RSHUDWRU FHUWLğFDDWLRQ UHTXLUHG FDOO IRU IXOO GHWDLOV SVL $XVVLH 8OWUD $ (ONDA '8 ELECTRIC START )5(( 785%2 VALUED AT '2%!4 6!,5%

PSI LPM +RQGD JETTER #LASS ! x NO OPERATOR CCERTIlCATION REQUIRE 21/<

))5(( QR]]OH NLW P VHZHU KRVH CCUBE OR TROLLEY MOUNT 2 21/< 6$9(

SVL $XVVLH 3UHGDWRU $ LPM (ONDA HP 12: ELECTRIC START 6FXG $%%66 *;

$%%668/7$$ *;

(

)5(( )5(,*+7 $8675$/,$ :,'

$9$,/$%/( 21/< )520 7+( )2//2:,1* $866,( 38036 *2/' ',675,%87256

$L@HK HMEN @TRRHDOTLOR BNL @T %TKK OQNCTBS RODBHjB@SHNMR @U@HK@AKD NM VDARHSD VVV @TRRHDOTLOR BNL @T 1 % \HDU ZDUUDQW\ FRYHUV IDXOW\ PDQXIDFWXULQJ RU ZRUNPDQVKLS RQ 43 6PDUW 3XPS FRPSRQHQWV RQO\ 35,&(6 (; 6<'1(< :$5(+286( *67 ,1&/8'(' 68%-(&7 72 35,25 6$/(

BrownWigg Valley Pumps & Irrigation BrownWigg BrownWigg BrownWigg (Pumps only) PK Equipment (Pressure cleaners only) BrownWigg Electel RODWELLS BrownWigg

03 5152 1313 1800 060 965 03 5141 1544 03 5664 0265 03 5144 4441 03 5144 2200 03 5145 6844 03 5174 5909 03 5174 2944 03 5182 5148

Dealer enquiries welcome December, 2020

BE FIRE READY ACT, PLAN, SURVIVE

drumMUSTER continues to keep farms safe FOR years, farmers and other AgVet chemical users had few options for disposing of used containers or unused or obsolete agvet chemicals. This became a perilous hazard, especially during fire season, with chemical containers putting fire fighters trying to save properties lives in greater danger. Enter Product Stewardship. A whole-of-life-cycle approach to ethical management of products, from the original manufacture though to their use and end-of-life disposal. Agsafe’s AgVet chemical product stewardship programs, drumMUSTER and ChemClear, divert used, empty containers as well as obsolete chemicals from landfill, re-routing them into recycling and responsible disposal pathways that assist

in keeping land and waterways safe. Since operations began in 1998, more than 40,000 tonnes of unwanted plastics have been diverted from landfill sites into recycling programs, this equates to 36 million agvet containers.

There are over 800 collection sites throughout Australia including over 350 local council sites. Once the containers are collected, they are shredded and granulated, processed into pellets, then re-used to make

products such as wheelie bins, fencing, pipes, bollards, road markers and public furniture.

how the simple act of recycling can keep land and waterways cleaner and litter-free, and communities safer.� To find the nearest Victorian collection point to you, visit www.drummuster.org.au or call 1800 008 707.

Dominique Doyle, Agsafe General Manager, said of the program, “Farm businesses who frequent drumMUSTER sites are setting a good example of

Fire Danger Rating is a scale to live by THE Fire Danger Rating is a scale that tells you how dangerous and unpredictable a fire will be if one starts. It is determined by: ď Ž Weather data from the Bureau of Meteorology ď Ž Other environmental conditions such as fuel load Fires can start on any day with any rating. On high danger-rated days, fire is more likely to be unpredictable and difficult for emergency services to control.

You need to know the rating in your area EACH district is given its own

rating for each day over the Fire Danger Period (during the warmer months).

Ratings are forecast up to four days in advance and updated daily. Find your fire district on the CFA’s website. You can also find important information about plans for dealing with bushfire in your community in the CFA’s Community Information Guides.

What does Leave Early mean? IF you live in a regional area at risk of bushfire and grass fires, it is recommended to always leave the night before or morning of

GUXP0867(5 SURYLGHV $XVWUDOLDQ DJULFXOWXUDO DQG YHWHULQDU\ FKHPLFDO XVHUV ZLWK D UHF\FOLQJ SDWKZD\ IRU HOLJLEOH HPSW\ DJYHW FKHPLFDO FRQWDLQHUV Š

an Extreme or Code Red (Fire Danger Rating) day. They are rated high risk because of: ď Ž The heat ď Ž How dry the area is ď Ž How much dry vegetation there is (for example if there is dry forest, long grass, thick bush) ď Ž The wind

The worse these conditions are, the more difficult it is for emergency services to control fire. If the fire is unpredictable and uncontrollable, you do not want to be anywhere near it. Leave early. Fires can start at any rating.

Watch the conditions and check warnings so you know what to do if a fire starts.

It gives you information to help you decide how you should put your fire plan into action. A Total Fire Ban tells you if it is legal to do certain activities that may start fires.

You can: ď Ž Download the VicEmergency App from the App Store or Google Play ď Ž Add your location preferences (for example your home or other family member’s homes) ď Ž Set up notifications to be alerted of Fire Danger Ratings and emergency warnings

Total Fire Ban Days TOTAL Fire Ban Days are different to Fire Danger Ratings: A Fire Danger Rating tells you how a fire is likely to behave if it starts.

Total Fire Bans are declared by CFA on days when fires are likely to spread rapidly and be difficult to control. This sets legal restrictions on what activities can or cannot occur in a district for that day. The purpose of a Total Fire Ban is to reduce the activities that may start a fire such as outdoor barbecues and campfires. You can find out more about what you can and cannot do on Total Fire Ban days on the CFA website.

December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

29

BE FIRE READY ACT, PLAN, SURVIVE

Bumper harvest leads to increased fire danger THE recent rains have led to excellent farming conditions, but also increased the risk of fastmoving grass fires this summer. Fire Authorities have had limited capacity for back burning this winter, and conditions are now heating up leaving many rural areas vulnerable again this year. After living through last year’s black summer, Aussie Pumps is gearing up for what looks like a repeat of the same potential catastrophic fires. “Who can forget properties lost in Victoria, the thousands of people huddled on the beach at Mallacoota or the 27 million acres of burnt forest?,” Aussie Pumps spokeperson Sami said. “Everyone at Aussie Pumps salutes and applauds not only the work done by the CFA volunteers, and professionals, police and ambulance officers, but also the public who got involved to support the firies during the season.”

WHAT CAUSES A BUSHFIRE “WHILE we all read reports from the Bureau of Meteorology, and bushfire warnings, we must come to terms with the fact that the summers are getting hotter, fire seasons are lasting longer and bushfires more frequent, we only have to look at California’s situation, where their fire season has lasted as long as ours,” Sami said. The ingredients of a bad bushfire season are;  Low humidity  High gusty winds  High levels of undergrowth  A succession of high temperature days

REGROWTH UNDERWAY “WINTER rains generated regrowth in much of the burnt areas. In many places, firefighting authorities haven’t had the capacity to carry out hazard reduction burns during winter. We now have to face the gruesome reality that we may be about to see a late fire season through the same areas, once high temperatures and low humidity combination kick in,” Sami said.

DEFENDING THE URBAN INTERFACE STATISTICS indicate that there

30

are hundreds of thousands of homes living in what professional firefighters call the “Urban Interface”.

prices to give artificial discounts, they believe the user should get a great pump at a fair price.

WHY BUY AN AUSSIE? ASK FARM DEPOT

Many of these homeowners are unaware of the danger and are simply unprepared. Depending on National Parks or local brigades in potentially a vain hope as seen last year.

BROOKLYN-BASED West Spray Airless stock the Aussie Fire Chief it is simply better than any other fire pump of its class.

With the fires raging through the state, there simply wasn’t enough capacity in the brigades to fight what was an “apocalyptic” fire.

WHAT’S THE AUSSIE ADVANTAGE?

That puts the onus on homeowners to prepare their properties. “Fire authorities urge homeowners living in the Urban Interface to be prepared to either fight fire or protect their property or be prepared to leave early,” Sami said. “Getting out, if left too late can be lethal. If the choice is made to stay and defend the property, it’s not just a matter of filling the gutters with water, moving debris from around the house and hoping to survive.” The Aussie Pumps team and their dealers promote proper safety including setting up houses, sheds and other important buildings with quality high pressure water pumps and water tanks with sufficient capacity to support them. “There’s no point having a high pressure fire pump like the Aussie Fire Pump (the best pump of its kind in the world) without the water to support it,” Sami said. “That pump, with a 75 metre maximum head, can throw water at a fire at a rate of up to 150 lpm at approximately 90 psi. That’s a lot of capability for one small pump.You can also run sprinklers on a house or building.”

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

For more capacity, the company has developed a 3” twin impeller fire pump that will produce 200 lpm at 80 metres head, 120 psi!

HOW TO CHOOSE A PUMP AUSSIE Pumps’ dealers know the danger of a bad choice of equipment. “Getting a third world pump, made by people who don’t even understand what a fire pump is supposed to do, is hazardous,” Sami said. His advice is to follow the “five principles” as detailed below. 1. Pump Performance Check out the actual pump performance curve before you buy. The performance is everything and determines how much water you can throw at a fire in the quickest possible time. 2. Quality of components Comparing Aussie Pumps with competitors is chalk and cheese. Aussie’s impeller weighs significantly more (up to

2½ times) of competitors, providing longer life and better performance. The huge 7 ½” diameter gives more pressure and more flow at pressure.

AUSSIE’S design team testing criteria is matched by the company’s ISO 9001 quality standards. “We adopted a policy that we only develop products that we would want to use ourselves,” Sami said.

The average fire pump will prime through a vertical lift of 6m.

“The components used in our fire pumps are the highest quality and the engines selected, Honda petrol and Yanmar diesel, are world leaders. We take no chances and know that people’s lives are at stake.”

The Aussie Fire Chief will prime through a vertical lift of 7.6m depths!

FREE AUSSIE FIRE SURVIVAL GUIDES

That’s critical as the water level drops.

THE team at West Spray Airless have free bushfire survival guides to handout.

3. Fast priming is essential Some third world pumps will only prime from 3 metres.

4. Warranty Most fire pumps come with a one year pump end warranty. Aussie gives an exclusive and unique five year warranty with all of its Aussie QP pumps, including the Aussie Fire Chief. Why? Because the pump is simply built better. 5. Price Getting a top quality fire pump like the Aussie Fire Chief means paying a fair price. The company doesn’t inflate its

The guide can make all the difference between saving your property, maybe your livestock and maybe even your life. West Spray are fully equipped with Aussie product and free survival guides and can provide you with the best advice. Buy the right product at the right price, support your local bloke, best of all ... BE PREPARED! “We can’t forget the properties lost in Gippsland!” December, 2020

Cheltenham Park Angus Spring Bull Sale !

Gippsland Bred - 2 Year Old Stud Angus Bull’s. By Breedplan and A.I.Sires. All Bulls are Very Quiet and Structurally Sound, High growth and Calving Ease Bull’s available

18TH ANNUAL ON PROPERTY SALE Bet-On-Black

Enquiries Please Call Andrew Haw: 0487 858 544 457 Old Carrajung Road, Carrajung cheltenhamparkangus@gmail.com Dane Perczyk c/o Alex Scott - 0408 176 063 Details & E.B.V.’s on Angus Aust.Website

Challambi Charolais

MARCH 17 55 HEREFORD BULLS DEHORNED POLLED

TH

nd see u

Come a

s

eek Beef Wy 6, on Da 1st y Monda ary Febru

Breeding Profitable and Affordable Charolais

GP1618204

Beef week open day 03/02/2021

Fully performance recorded bulls and females available for private sale. Enquires always welcome Facebook@challambicharolais Web: www.challambicharolais.com.au Contact: Nigel Spink on 0427 828 804

GP1618045

Annual Bull Sale GP1617497

On-Property - Opposite Ensay Saleyards Wednesday 17 March 2021 - 1.30pm

Open Beef Week Day... Day 6 Monday 1 February 2021 40 HEREFORD & POLL HEREFORD BULLS FOR SALE

G P 1617497

Nunniong Hereford Stud Phillip (Bluey) Commins Commins. Ensay - Victoria - 3895 Ph: (03) 5157 3331 Mob: 0427 573 331 December, 2020

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

31

Pinora Angus g L A U N N A D N 52

TAMBO SALE ANGUS Ardrossan Angus Bloodlines

Selling S elling 5 50 0 B Bulls ulls

OFFERING

–

20 2 0M MONTHS ONTH HS OLD

12 ANGUS BULLS

–

–

–

FEATURING Millah Murrah Looch Up SONS OF: Milwillah Fevola M16 DSK Man Made M12 Milwillah Elevatoor H76

–

Wednesday 17 March 2021

–

Contact: Kevin Dean at Tambo Crossing

Phone 5157 0217

–

GP1618223

(in conjunction with and following Nunniong Herefords Sale)

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

GP1617420

–

–

On propert rty ty Wednesday 24 March 2021 at 1pm

John Sunderman 0427 482 607 email pinora@wideband.net.au

453 Dawson Road Heyf yfield f

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

32

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

GP1615219

#

% $

& , % ! &

-

+ ,

( $ # ( #

! "

! " December, 2020

(# $ $$ ( (

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

33

–

–

GP1617076

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

34

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

+6%77 ,%6:)78-2+

)%60= 36()6

# "

#

& % $ %( (% %( (

f f f f f

, % $ ( ( # ! / 0 " ( 0 ' # + # # ! $ # # !

( %(% ! '%

f f f f f

#( & # # ! . # ) ! ( #

/ # ,& ) # # - !! # $ ! # # '

# # ( ! !

$ ''

f f

GP1617052

f f f

! * ( # !# # & # ! !)!# ( # # ' ! #) # . ') &#) # # #

# & &! & # , !# ( &

!

December, 2020

! " ! THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

35

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

WEATHER OUTLOOK November’s Rainfall Observations for Eastern Victoria (source: BOM)

The national rainfall outlook for December 2020 to February 2021.

Victoria’s rainfall chart for the month of November 2020. photographs supplied

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Gabo Island.................31.2mm Gelantipy .....................64.4mm Lakes Entrance...........35.4mm Mallacoota...................57.8mm Mount Nowa Nowa....57.2mm Omeo...........................28.8mm Orbost..........................35.8mm Point Hicks...........................N/A Pound Creek...............36.2mm Wonthaggi ..................41.6mm

GIPPSLAND’S

Cattle Market REPORT PAKENHAM LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Monday, November 30

There were 1,420 cattle penned representing a decrease of 170 head week on week. There was a full field of buyers present but not all operating fully in a cheaper market in places. Quality was good with prime heavy weights well supplied and fewer trade cattle. Trade cattle sold firm on most sales. Grown steers and bullocks held firm except for the heavy weights which lost 10c/kg. Friesian manufacturing steers eased 13c while the crossbred portion was back 2c/kg. Cows sold 10c to 20c/kg cheaper as heavy bulls saw price reductions in the same order. Vealers sold from 385c to 465c/kg. Yearling trade steers made from 390c to 439c/kg. Yearling heifers to the trade sold from 362c to 400c/kg. Grown steers made from 372c to 391c with feeder lots reaching 405c/kg. Bullocks sold from 346c to 376c/kg. Heavy Friesian manufacturing steers made from 302c to 328c with the crossbred portion selling from 312c to 383c/kg. Most light and medium weight cows sold from 215c to 288c/kg. Heavy weight cows made mostly from 242c to 329c/kg. Heavy bulls sold from 265c to 329c/kg. Yarding 1420 Weight

Grade Score

Carcass

Live Weight c/kg Low

Avg

Change

Avg

Low

Change 59 Comparison date 19/11/2020

Weight High

Avg

Thursday, November 26

There were 334 cattle penned representing an increase of 60 head week on week. The usual buying group was present but not all operating fully in a cheaper market. Quality was good with a few more prime cattle on offer. The trade lots were mostly heifers and sold 12c/kg cheaper. Grown steers and bullocks eased from 6c to 14c/kg. Heavy grown heifers eased 13c/kg. Cows sold from 25c to 30c/kg cheaper while heavy bulls held firm. A handful of vealers sold from 362c to 445c/kg. Yearling trade steers made from 385c to 410c/kg. Yearling heifers suited to the trade made from 347c to 410c/kg. Grown steers and bullocks made from 350c to 366c/kg. Heavy grown heifers sold from 313c to 348c/kg. Most light and medium weight were making from 188c and 274c/kg. Heavy weight cows were selling from 238c to 296c/kg. Heavy bulls made from 250c to 296c/kg.

Category

Estimated Estimated Carcass c/kg $/Head High

BAIRNSDALE LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Yarding 334

Change -166 Comparison date 23/10/2020

Category

Grade Score

Carcass

Live Weight c/kg

Estimated Estimated Carcass c/kg $/Head

Low

High

Avg

Change

Avg

Low

High

Avg

385

410

404.1

28

706

1686

1904

1836

Yearling Steer

Yearling Steer 330-400

B,C,D,2,3

361

416

406.4

-6

739

1300

1640

1486

400+

400+

B,C,D,2,3

375

439

401.2

-12

725

1688

2195

1873

Yearling Heifer

B,C,D,2,3

330-400

B,C,D,2,3

392

392

392

N/Q

713

1352

1352

1352

330-400

B,C,D,2,3

350

399

380.3

3

713

1190

1544

1416

400+

B,C,D,2,3

347

410

369.7

2

676

1554

1866

1762

400+

B,C,D,2,3

362

392

379.1

-2

703

1643

1890

1793

Grown Steer 500-600

B,C,D,2,3

354

366

360.5

-9

653

1894

2075

2027

B,C,D,2,3

422

439

426.0

10

772

1266

1381

1299

600-750

B,C,D,2,3

350

360

356.8

-4

643

2118

2295

2252

B,C,D,2,3

272

290

283.4

-25

569

1557

2114

1898

Yearling Heifer

Vealer Steer 280-330

Cows

Vealer Heifer 280-330

B,C,D,2,3

355

444

404.9

-6

732

1125

1443

1299

500-600

B,C,D,2,3

372

410

600-750

B,C,D,2,3

345

365

387.4

3

700

2046

2334

2255

359.6

-12

654

2415

2555

2517

B,C,D,2,3

275

326

293.5

-4

601

1513

2445

1756

520+

Grown steer

Cows 520+

–

–

East Sale Airport.........33.4mm Hogan Island...............20.8mm Latrobe Valley.............40.2mm Mount Baw Baw.......102.4mm Mount Moornapa.......58.2mm Wilsons Promontory.23.6mm Yanakie ........................32.6mm Yarram Airport............28.2mm Bairnsdale....................43.0mm Combienbar................61.4mm

GIPPSLAND REGIONAL LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

Tuesday, November 24

There were 100 export and 32 young cattle penned representing an increase of 40 head week on week. A local butcher rejoined the regular buyers in a cheaper market in places. Quality improved on last sale however remained limited with a few more young cattle suited to the trade and a small proportion of cows. Young cattle sold to stronger demand. Grown steers and heifers improved in quality and price. Manufacturing steers eased 20c/kg with quality an issue. Cows eased by 4c to 6c/kg. The handful of vealers sold from 388c to 424c/kg. A couple of yearling trade steers made 410c with the heifer portion selling from 348c to 410c/kg. Grown steers sold from 368c to a top of 380c/kg. Heavy grown heifers made from 355c to 365c/kg. Manufacturing steers sold from 300c to 355c/kg. Light and medium weight cows sold mostly to restockers were making from 240c to 294c/kg. Heavy weight cows sold from 258c to 318c/ kg. A couple of heavy Friesian bulls made to a top of 265c/kg. Yarding 132

Grade Score

Weight Carcass

Live Weight c/kg Low

B,C,D,2,3

Avg

Change

Avg

Low

High

Avg

410

410

410

N/Q

732

1804

1804

1804

Yearling Heifer 330-400

B,C,D,2,3

348

348

348

N/Q

645

1322

1322

1322

400+

B,C,D,2,3

348

410

372.7

N/Q

691

1566

1804

1712

B,C,D,2,3

378

380

379

N/Q

683

2174

2185

2179

Grown Steer 500-600

Weight

400+

Yearling Steer 400+

Yarding 1664

Change -196 Comparison date 18/11/2020

Category Grade Score

Live Weight c/kg

Estimated Estimated Carcass c/kg $/Head

Low

High

Avg

Change

Avg

Low

High

Avg

391

420

414.2

-9

729

2053

2100

2091

Yearling Steer

Estimated Estimated Carcass c/kg $/Head High

Wednesday, November 25

There were 1,400 export and 264 young cattle penned representing a decrease of 200 head week on week. There was a full field of buyers present but not all operating fully in a cheaper market. Quality was good with prime cattle well supplied. Young cattle suited to the trade eased 10c/kg on most sales. Grown steers and bullocks eased 10c to 15c/kg and sold mostly to feeder orders including several pens of prime bullocks. Heavy weight grown heifers were back 18c/kg. Friesian manufacturing steers eased 15c with the crossbred portion back 5c/ kg. Cows sold 20c/kg cheaper while better shaped heavy bulls eased slightly. Vealers sold from 380c to 451c/kg. Yearling heifers to the trade made from 345c to 400c after a top of 419c/kg. Grown steers and bullocks to processors sold from 355c to 372c with the feeder lots selling from 361c and 398c/kg. Heavy grown heifers showing good finish made from 332c to 360c/kg. Heavy Friesian manufacturing steers sold from 302c to 328c with the crossbred portion selling from 322c to 370c/ kg. Most light and medium weight cows made from 215c to 282c/kg. Heavy weight cows sold mostly from 242c to 312c/kg. Better shaped heavy bulls made from 300c to 337c with dairy lots from 265c to 290c/kg.

Carcass

Change 41 Comparison date 17/11/2020

Category

LEONGATHA LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE

B,C,D,2,3

Yearling Heifer 330-400

B,C,D,2,3

319

399

354.6

-27

668

1276

1564

1400

400+

B,C,D,2,3

344

419

374.7

-6

697

1634

2000

1778

Grown Steer 500-600

B,C,D,2,3

360

410

369.4

-12

673

2008

2460

2161

600-750

B,C,D,2,3

355

372

362.6

0

670

2308

2745

2584

B,C,D,2,3

276

324

296.4

-14

595

1512

2268

1821

Cows 520+

Market figures supplied by Meat and Livestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

36

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

GP1610141

RURAL DIRECTORY FENCING CYPRESS LOGS.

Good prices for quality logs. Harvesting and clean up arranged. 50 trees or more.

Rathjens Road, Flynn, Gippsland For more details call Jeff fff Rathjen 0412 044 967 012

Pine ne Tim mber Lone P Timber

) # ) ) ) ) " )

%) ! ) ) # ' ( )

$ $$

CONNOR SHEA SEEDERS AND MACHINERY

WANTED We Buy For Wrecking or Renovation Prompt Payme entt and d Colle ectio on witth our own H I A B Trucks

Phone

% & ) # ' )

$

02 62277227 0427 105 180

GP1614069

FARM & GARDEN

AUTO / TRUCK TOOLS

CALL

DELIVERED

0417 304 711 ABN 28 137 784 163

GP1615935

P/L

CARAVANS

WANTED

(_š ÂŤ_š²ĹŽÂŹ _ÂŤ_Âź_š

ALPACA STUD

FARM MACHINERY

Tim Ferguson 0400 744 185 GP1611058

bøſ Č˜ Â…Ĺ—øÇžĊĺŞøù ÂŻĂ‘ÄąĹœ Â?ŔÑŗø Â…Ă‘Ĺ—ĹĽĹœ Č˜ ÍÍøĹœĹœÄşĹ—Ä•øĹœ ÑŗÑŞÑĹ Â?øŗŞĕÍø øſŗø Â?Ä°Ă‘ĹœÄ‘ ˆøĹ”Ă‘Ä•Ĺ—Ĺœ

EARTH MOVING

MERUNGLE ALPACA STUD

GIPPSLAND BREEDER SERVICING AUSTRALIA

Stud and Commercial Alpacas always available Alpaca Products and Fleeces GP1618528

GP1613759

Sawdust Wood Shavings Wood Chips Bush Mulch Pine Peelings

W.W.R.

for times to visit please call

Jen & Peter 5147 2444 or 0412 383 655

email: mcdavitt@merungle.com.au

38 Sellings Lane, Maffra

www.merungle.com.au

BOLTS

FREE QUOTES

Brendan renndann 04 0423 423 565 5 622 2

-G General eneral E Earthmoving arthmoving and a nd E Excavations xcavations -H House ouse a and nd S Shed hed S Sites ites -D Dams ams a and nd D Dam am Cleaning Cleaning -T Tree ree R Removal emoval -L Land and C Clearing learing

-H Hole ole B Boring oring -R Rock ock a and nd C Concrete oncrete Demolition Demolition -R Rock, ock, S Sand and a and nd S Soil oil cartage cartage -H Horse orse a arenas renas

bmacgregor@aussieb.com.au

HAY COVERS

We supply all types ty y of: • • • • •

Screws and rivets Masonry anchors Engineering supplies Building hardware Staples, nails and tools

Call 0424 623 121 December, 2020

www.lonepinefencing.com

HAY COVERS?

IN STOCK WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED NOW

Heavy Duty, Waterproof, UV Stable, Economical..

1300 656 211 abctarps.com.au THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

GP1618253

$ $ $

MOBILE: 0432 529 356

WANTED TO BUY

GP1615180

MILKING MACHINE REPAIRS

' ( )

GP1611442

Quality Post & Rail fencing that you can afford

WANTED

37

GIPPSLAND SPORT

Farewell to a great all-rounder OBITUARY BLAIR CAMPBELL By DAVID ANDERSON

AS a former Gippsland Times sports reporter, Blair Campbell’s (pictured) claim to fame was not from reporting what happened on the sports field, but what he did on it. Blair played VFL football for Richmond and Melbourne and first class cricket for Victoria and Tasmania. His VFL career was relatively short 20 games spread over three seasons. Many players who have played significantly more games have long been forgotten, but Campbell’s legend lived on because he was credited with having invented one of the most spectacular types of kicks in the game - the boomerang or banana kick. In terms of skill and excitement, a well-executed banana kick through the goals from an impossible angle is hard to beat. Blair himself never claimed to have invented the kick. Instead he freely admitted, as an adolescent while attending the football with his father, having observed the late Bill Young, incidentally from Stratford, who was playing for St Kilda at full forward, use it to great effect. Intrigued by the way the ball could be turned around corners while in flight, he practiced it sufficiently in his youth so that he had more or less perfected it when he came to VFL football as a teenager in the mid-1960s. Blair made his debut for Richmond on his 20th birthday in 1966 and amazingly, kicked a goal after the siren to win the match. His time at Tigerland coincided with the start of the ‘Hafey era’, but missed the 1967 triumph because of injury, and when Richmond won another premiership in 1969 - Campbell had been cleared to Melbourne. He did however play in Richmond’s 1966 reserves premiership, and was named best-on-ground in a game best remembered for the great Royce Hart kicking the sealer. Blair played 12 matches with Melbourne in 1968, but further knee problems ended what was a promising but ultimately unfulfilled football career.

The following year he debuted for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield. Blair played for Prahran in district cricket, the same club as Sam Loxton, one of ‘Bradman’s Invincibles’ and a man, like Young, he admired greatly. He played seven of the eight games for Victoria in the 1969-70 season, where Victoria topped the table and were crowned champions in a time before a final was played. With opportunities seeming to have dried up by the mid-1970s, he moved to Tasmania to revive his first class career. Although team success eluded him in Tasmania, it did give him the opportunity to test his skills against international opposition when the island state played India, England and the West Indies. As a consequence he can lay claim to having dismissed the likes of Vivian Richards, Alvin Kallicharran, Clive Lloyd, Collis King, Derek Randall, David Gower and Graham Gooch. At the end of his career with Tasmania he returned to Victoria and recommenced playing with the Prahran Cricket Club. In the mid-1980s he moved to Sale for employment and commuted back to Melbourne for cricket for several more seasons. Eventually, he retired from district cricket and commenced with Sale Cricket Club. After a grand final loss in 1986-87,

he captained Sale to four consecutive A grade premierships from 1987-88 to 1990-91. At the Swans, he also captained them to three wins in the Fischer Cup. Then, in the early 1990s, somewhat unexpectedly, Blair moved to Collegians where he spent the next nine seasons. At Collegians he won a further two A grade premierships, two Gippsland premier cups and three Fischer Cups. His Sale-Maffra career ended with two seasons at Maffra where he managed to top the bowling in 2000-01 with 25 wickets, before retiring through the seconds at age 56. Amazingly, despite starting his SMCA career at age 40, he finished with more than 600 first grade wickets at a touch over 11 runs per wicket. Blair also played SMCA representative level for several years. He played 40 games for the Sharks as well as a three-match cameo for Caledonia. For Sale-Maffra, he took 90 wickets at 15.37 and for Caledonia 14 at 9.36. Blair won many individual awards over his career, and his status as a local cricket legend was ensured when he was named as the front line spin bowler in the SMCA Team of the Century. Bowling left arm wrist-spin, Blair bamboozled countless batsman over many years and is regarded as one of, if not the best, bowler the SMCA has ever seen. He was also well known for his charisma, flair, and various eccentricities, often driving opponents, umpires and even teammates mad with his wit and exuberance. Off the field, Blair had trained as a journalist and he wrote for the Gippsland Times for nearly 20 years under columns such as ‘Be There With Blair’ or ‘Through the Covers’, which were half news-half opinion pieces. The opinion pieces often garnered controversy when Blair decided an issue needed to be aired. He also wrote often of Bill Young, who having retired to Stratford decades before, was still a favoured hero and close friend. Ironic that they should both pass in the same year. During his 20-plus years in the

district, Blair was an enthusiastic champion of junior football and visited many local schools to pass on the skills of the game and the mysteries of the banana kick. A few personal remembrances were the night he challenged me to a 100 metre sprint at the College Oval. Although 14 years my senior, he obviously thought he had my mark as he was prepared to put a can of coke on the line as a wager. Thankfully, I drank the spoils that evening by a narrow margin. For years, I had and continue to be known in cricket circles as ‘Angry Anderson’, a nickname that afflicts many Andersons due to a certain singer, but Blair always referred to me simply by my initials, DA - a welcome change. I also remember the humorous poems written on a whim following a good win or outstanding performance of a teammate with the occasional mention of an opposition player who had not fared so well. At one point he convinced me to help him create an online blog of cricket stories. He had the most atrocious hand writing that had to be deciphered but his stories were interesting and varied from local cricket to West Indies spinners of the 1950s - alas it is all gone now. He also generously put me in touch with the former great Australian all-rounder Keith Miller, which led to several prized signed photographs that adorn my wall. I remember visiting his home and seeing his hat-trick trophy without the ball. He explained the ball had still been in pretty good condition and the boys needed one for practice. I was also heartened to read the many tributes to Blair left on social media by both teammates and opposition players. Blair played by a pretty hard set of rules, no quarter given, a bowler who sledged the batsman, and a competitor like no other. He was a good friend to have.

. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. . . . . .. . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. . . . . . .. . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . . . . .. . .. . .. . . . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

LIMITED STOCK AVAILABLE

RIDE AWAY

$7098 INC. GST

KVF300 ATV

38

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

48-52 INVERLOCH RD WONTHAGGI. PHONE 5672 3500

GP1618408

Kawasaki

December, 2020

GIPPSLAND SPORT

Supreme Effort in Cup By GREGOR MACTAGGART

No Effort, ridden by Daniel Moor, wins the bet365 Traralgon Cup, beating Nudge Bar and Lord Bouzeron in a driving finish. photographs scott barbour/racing photos

Trainer Gavin Bedggood (above) and jockey Daniel Moor (left) were all smiles after teaming up to win the bet365 Traralgon Cup.

“Allan’s been quite unwell, but he’s on the mend and he’ll be rapt with the win,” he said. “We’ll try and give her one more run this preparation in town, when you get mares in form, you usually like to keep them going. “She’s been a terrific horse, we’d love to get a bit of black type with her.” No Effort banked her connections a firstprize cheque of $38,500, which lifted her career earnings to more than $380,000. Of the beaten brigade, both Nudge Bar (Craig Newitt) and Lord Bouzeron (Will Price) ran tremendous races. The pair matched motors from a longway out and even at the top of the straight looked like they would fight out the finish. Savaheat rounded out the first four. Last year’s winner Prince Ziggy was scratched on race morning and unable to defend his crown from 12 months earlier.

Preston t Rd, Ri Rd Ripplebrook l b Phone (03) 5627 6317 Fax (03) 5627 6385 www.stlegermachinery.com C.L, A.H., & A.E. FORREST

Specialists in Second Hand Farm Machinery.

WORKSHOP OPEN - Workshop available to repair your tractors and implements..... DAIRY

Frigrite Auto Wash vat, 3000 ltrs, excellent condition.

HAY EQUIPMENT

Beasley seals Traralgon Marathon win By GREGOR MACTAGGART

Zack Beasley stops his watch as he crosses the finish line to win his first Traralgon Marathon. photograph gregor mactaggart

December, 2020

ZACK Beasley only took up running two years ago. Late last month, he won his first Traralgon Marathon in magnificent style. Beasley, 28, produced a scintillating performance in wet, blustery conditions to win the prized event in an excellent time of 2:40.28. He finished 14 minutes clear of nearest rival Peter Cutler, with Mark Andrew rounding out the top three. The triumph caps a remarkable ascent for the Churchill resident, who shared his remarkable story post-race. “I quit smoking a couple of years ago and started out with parkrun first, then joined the Harriers,” Beasley said. “I’d done a bit of cross country at school, but I finished second in the Community Fun Run and I won a free membership with the Harriers, so that sucked me in.” Beasley sported the scars of tackling the 42.195km assignment, which took in the surrounds of the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail before finishing with an uphill climb at Traralgon Vineyard. Blood was dripping from cuts on the backs of his ankles and a new pair of shoes might also be on the cards. “It was pretty windy out there, I went into the race aiming for a 2:45, so to run 2:40 was great,” he said. “I’m really happy to win ... but I’d like to win one in a full year. “This is only my third marathon, I ran

2:56 to win my first one at Lilydale and 2:52 last year (in Traralgon). “I’d like to thank my partner Jodi, Harriers president Phill (Mayer) and all the athletes who ran out there, making the event what it was, and give my mates at the Athletes Foot a shout out.” Beasley, will again test his limits this month when he lines-up in a 100km race at Wilsons Promontory. Narelle Crozier was as dominant as Beasley on her way to taking out the women’s event. Crozier produced a slashing performance to win in a time of 3:14.17, nearly 53 minutes clear of her nearest rival. Liz Kenney finished runner-up, with Christine Hill rounding out the top three. Traralgon Harriers president Phill Mayer said due to COVID-19 restrictions, the event, which is the oldest continuously run marathon in Australia, was restricted to club members only. “We had 80 runners across the three events (marathon, half-marathon and 10km), and considering we’ve got 120 members, that is two-thirds of our members running,” Mayer said. “At times the winds were gale force out there, so credit to everyone who got out there and took part, as well as the volunteers who ensured the event, now in its 53rd year, ran smoothly. “Also thanks to the Gippsland Plains Rail Trail committee and the team from Traralgon Vineyard, who allowed us to use their facilities as our finish point.”

Assorted bale spikes, grabs, and feeders. Dalmore forklift with hyd bale grab. Kuhn tedder. New Holland 69 baler, hyd tensioner, excellent condition. New Holland Super 56 Rolabar rake. Niemeyr RO187K mower. PZ DS 5000 tedder.

TILLAGE;

Chisel plough, Jarrett 3 tyne. Discs, Connor Shea 16 pl trailing Discs, Connor Shea 24 pl trailing. Discs, Connor Shea Giant, 24 pl, trailing, reconditioned. Discs, Grizzly, 24 pl, wheeled offset. Power Harrows, TerraNova, 5ft, with crumble roller. Power Harrows, Lely 3 mtr with crumble roller. Choice of 2. Scarifier, 17 tyne. Seeder, Connor Shea 14 row , tyne, 3pl. Seeder, Connor Shea 18 row, disc, trailing.

FARM IMPLEMENTS

Boom spray. Channel cleaner, Drain diggers, Grader blades 5-6ft, Harrows 6-20ft, Mulcher, 8ft Sylvan with hyd sideshift. Post hole diggers 6” to 18”, Post rammers ....Lyco with auger, Massey, Aussie Driver with hyd side shift. Rippers 1tyne pipe layer, 1 ,2 & 3 tyne. Slashers 4-8ft.

TRACTORS

Deutz 3006, 2wd, rops, 3pl. Deutz 5206, 2wd, rops, 1800 gen hrs, one owner. Deutz 140 hp, 2wd, a/c cab, 3pl, rem. Tidy unit Fiat 115-90, fwa, a/c cab, as traded. Ford 2600, 2wd, rops, low hours, like new. Ford TW15, fwa, a/c cab, 3pl, rem, new clutch, 143hp. Iseki 5000, 2wd, cab. John Deere 1120, rops, 2wd. Leyland 253, rops, pwr steer, 55hp. Massey Ferguson 35x, rops, tidy, registered..... as traded Massey Ferguson 165, pwr steer, MP, 3pl. Massey Ferguson 240, rops, pwr steer, tidy. Massey Ferguson 355 turbo, a/c cab, p/steer, d/bar, remotes.. . .

TYRES

Assorted new and second hand from 16” to 46”.

Delivery and finance easily arranged. Trade-ins accepted.

WANTED

Good quality late model tractors. THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

GP1618152

CRANBOURNE trainer Gavin Bedggood secured the biggest victory of his racing career when No Effort won the $70,000 bet365 Traralgon Cup (1900m). The six-year-old mare capitalised on a peach of a ride from jockey Daniel Moor to take out one of Gippsland’s biggest races in a time of 2:00.27. Passing the post, No Effort ($6) beat off favourite Lord Bouzeron ($3.80) by a long-neck with Nudge Bar ($11) a further half-head away in third. But a post-race third versus second protest lodged by the connections of Nudge Bar for interference during the concluding stages was upheld, promoting the Moe galloper to second and relegating Lord Bouzeron to third. Not that it mattered to Bedggood, the 34-year-old former jumps jockey turned trainer, who prepares a boutique team of nine horses at his Cranbourne base. “I rode a few picnic cup winners during my career as a jockey, but this is my professional Cup winner, it’s a big buzz,” Bedggood said. “I’ve had a bit of history with Traralgon, it was the first place I strapped a horse when I was 13 or 14, so to win the Cup 20 years later is fantastic. “I love Gippsland racing and coming to tracks like Moe, Bairnsdale and Traralgon, it’s always great racing.” Bedggood said the Traralgon Cup had been on his radar for the past six weeks and praised the ride of Moor. “She goes really well on tight circuits such as Caulfield, Cranbourne, Moe and Traralgon,” he said. “Dan gave her a great ride. There looked good speed on paper and a couple rolled forward. From barrier one, he was able to utilise that early and get her in a good position. (Barrier one) probably made the difference between winning and running a nice third or fourth.” Bedggood has had No Effort for eight of her 35 career runs, having taken over from Allan Cooper, who remains a part-owner of the mare.

39

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

40

THE GIPPSLAND FARMER

December, 2020

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.