Phone: (03) 5135 4444
October, 2021
INITIATIVE IS EGG-CELENT By MICHELLE SLA LATER A
VICTORI VI I RIA IA AN N egg far armers r arr doing their bit are to help people in need of emergency food relief by donating eggs to Foodban ank, n in a drive being coordinated by the Victorian Far armers r Federation. Drouin egg producer Michael Versteden started off by sending six ix x pallets for the cause last month and an n sai aid i he was plan anning n to donate more. Mr Versteden sai aid i he decided to jump on boar ard r the cal all l out after aff seeing a photo of people queuing up for food relief. “We support rtt FoodBan ank n from time-to-time. There are arr a lot of people in genuine need at the moment and an n I have surp rplus p eggs so I may as well donate them,” Mr Versteden sai aid. i The Mak ak k Eggs own wner n runs ru u layi ying i chooks in Drouin, Heal alesvi l ville i and an n Pear arcedal r ale l with wii a distri ribution i centre in Pak akenham. k He told Gippsland Farmer ongoing lockdown wns n and an n caf afé f closures had put the dent in about 30 per cent of his business. Mr Versteden said he had downsized production by more than an n 40 per cent at the end of last year arr due to the hit in hospital ality l ty. y Continued on page 3
Drouin egg producer Michael Versteden. photograph michelle slater
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RURAL NEWS
More help needed for first responders FLINDERS University-led research is warning more needs to be done to support the long-term mental health and wellbeing of first responders in the aftermath of the Black Summer bushfires. A new study After the Fires has revealed there needs to be targeted resources to prepare volunteer firefighters and community volunteers for bushfires and emergencies. There also needs to more help for responders manage the longer-term after-effects of a major bushfire. Lead researcher Flinders University mental health advocate Professor Sharon Lawn interviewed volunteer firefighters and community members in South Australia, Victoria, NSW and Queensland. She also interviewed some who took part in Answering the Call – a previous national study looking at emergency workers mental health and wellbeing. “The 2019-20 Black Summer was one of the most intense and sustained ever
Flinders University-led research is warning more needs to be done to support the long-term mental health and wellbeing of first responders in the aftermath of the Black Summer bushfires.
in Australia, and the impacts of major bushfires are substantial and ongoing,” Professor Lawn said. “The 18 months to two years after such a major event is an important time for mental health support, especially after the adrenaline-fuelled period following the fires subsides and their full mental health impacts set in.” The Black Summer bushfires claimed 33 lives and destroyed more than 3000 homes, taking out more than 20 million hectares of community and farming land and national parks. The study found the need to improve the strengths of existing support networks and fostering cohesive community environments. It also found a need to scale up training and supports to ensure the sustainability of volunteers and to improve coordination between different groups before, during and after the fire season.
“While preparing guidelines and tools for personal mental health and wellbeing selfcare, we want to acknowledge the wealth of informal mental health peer support that volunteer firefighters provide to each other,” Professor Lawn said. “We also want to acknowledge the importance of informal support and debrief from family members and other close supporters, much of which is invisible despite its importance, and how they therefore also bear some of this trauma and stress.” The new report made eight key recommendations to build on community resilience. The top recommendation was to improve existing informal mental health supports such as hot debriefs, formal and informal mentoring roles, and peer-to-peer and family support. Other recommendations included reducing workloads on volunteers, and improving financial compensation for the losses incurred from volunteering.
Willow Grove company fined by the EPA A WILLOW Grove chicken company has copped an $8000 EPA fine after complaints about smelly chook poo from two excessive manure stockpiles. EPA issued CD & AM Schmidt and Sons Pty Ltd - operating under the name South East Organic Fertiliser - with a Pollution Abatement Notice to bring the stockpiles within the allowed limits. EPA Gippsland regional manager Jessica Bandiera said officers began an investigating the Old Sale Road site after members of the public reported
an unpleasant odour to the EPA hotline. Ms Bandiera said officers found two large stockpiles of chicken manure mixed with feathers and wood chips. “One stockpile was more than 60 metres long, 20 metres wide and five metres high,” Ms Bandiera said. “Both stockpiles exceeded the size limits set out in EPA’s management and control of combustible waste guideline, designed to protect the environment and the community, and there was a strong, acrid odour.”
Ms Bandiera said the company was given two chances to comply after it was granted an extended deadline from the original compliance notice. “But when officers returned after the extended deadline, the stockpiles still did not comply,” she said. “The size limits and other rules for stockpiling combustible and recyclable waste materials are easily available on the EPA website, and they are there to protect the public and Victoria’s environment. “The message to all businesses in this
case is that any member of the public has the power to report pollution, and EPA will investigate and enforce the law.” Ms Bandiera said the site operator must still carry out the requirements of the Pollution Abatement Notice, on top of paying the hefty fine. The public can report pollution by calling 1300 EPA VIC (1300 372 842) or at epa.vic.gov.au/report-pollution/ reporting-pollution.
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
October, 2021
RURAL NEWS
Egg farmer helping people in need
Drouin egg producer Michael Versteden is helping people in need. photograph michelle slater
said Victorian egg farmers would donate at least two pallets of eggs per week in the 10-week campaign to help those struggling to put food on the table. Mr Ahmed said the first pallets of donated produce arrived at Foodbank Victoria distribution centres last month. “If you stacked them on top of each other, it’s roughly enough to scale the height of Melbourne’s Eureka Tower more than 30 times,” Mr Ahmed said. “As an industry we have an important role to play as a major provider of food and fibre to those struggling to put food on the table. The steady supply of eggs during this time will help ensure a guaranteed stream of produce to help meet the current demands and for the weeks and months ahead.”
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“Egg farmers are doing it tough at the moment, the more lockdowns we have, the worse it’s becoming,” he said. “There is no tourism in Australia and tourism means eggs and bacon brekkies, these eggs are not being consumed anymore.” He said eggs were still being sold on supermarket shelves as people were staying home and unable to go out for a poached egg on sourdough. “There is still a demand for eggs, but not in the same volumes as we had,” he said. “We need the food sector to open back up again so life can go back to normal, unfortunately there will be a percentage of cafes that won’t reopen.” VFF egg group president Brian Ahmed
New rebate scheme assisting local farmers FARMERS in East Gippsland and Wellington shires are being supported through an extension of the On-Farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme. Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester welcomed the announcement that the Federal and Victorian governments had signed an extension of the scheme. Mr Chester encouraged farmers in the East Gippsland and Wellington regions to check their eligibility for the rebate. Eligible farmers can claim up to 25 per cent of the eligible infrastructure costs, capped at $25,000 with both state and federal governments contributing half each under the extension. “It’s good to see this important program that helps farmers with future drought resilience, finally being made available in East Gippsland and Wellington,” Mr Chester said. “I’ve been fighting for further support for farmers, and the extension of the scheme is a big win. “The federal government’s ongoing funding will help farming businesses in our region prepare for the future” Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt said the scheme extension would help farmers in these regions to build long-term infrastructure and drought resilience. Mr Pitt said it was “disappointing” it took 11 months for the state government to sign up, but “the important thing is those farmers who need it will now have access to funding”. “This program has been a huge success in helping farmers modernise on-farm infrastructure, including tanks, troughs, pipes, pumps and new bores to allow movement of water to livestock and
This program has been a huge success in helping farmers modernise on-farm infrastructure, including tanks, troughs, pipes, pumps and new bores to allow movement of water to livestock and permanent plantings. KEITH PITT
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permanent plantings,” Mr Pitt explained. The scheme initially provided drought affected Victorian farmers with $3.56 million of federal funds, with more than an extra $860,000, matched by the state government, under the extension. The federal government is also reimbursing Victoria more than $776,000 for 74 rebates paid to drought affected farmers under the original scheme. For more information about the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme visit the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s website. For more information on how to access the On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate in Victoria, including guidelines and application forms, visit ruralfinance. com.au
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
October, 2021
RURAL NEWS
Chester takes break from partyroom FEDERAL Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has confirmed he will take a hiatus from The Nationals party and its meetings, over growing frustration with the party’s leadership. Taking to his Facebook page on September 26, Mr Chester said he would be taking “a break from organised meetings, events and activities in The Nationals Federal Parliamentary party room”, and would reassess his position when federal parliament resumed in October. “To be clear, I continue to support the Coalition government but want some time away from the The Nationals Federal Parliamentary party room to reflect on a number of significant issues,” he said. “My decision follows months of frustration with the repeated failure of the leadership to even attempt to moderate some of the more disrespectful and offensive views expressed by a minority of colleagues. “As I indicated at the time of the leadership spill, I remain committed to the Victorian National Party.” The former infrastructure and transport, then veterans’ affairs minister, was dumped from Cabinet in July, after backing former leader Michael McCormack during a leadership spill. After resigning from the party’s federal leadership in 2018 in the wake of his extramarital affair with a staffer was exposed and a sexual harassment complaint was filed, which he denies, controversial politician Barnaby Joyce was victorious in his bid for the top job, and was quick to replace Mr Chester with his own supporters for the second time in three years. Now a backbencher, Mr Chester is one of the more progressive Nationals MPs, becoming the party’s first to back same-sex marriage, and has recently publicly cautioned his party for climate change denial.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is taking a break from The Nationals partyroom.
In recent months, Mr Chester has made his disapproval of some of his colleagues’ questionable comments known. He urged Mr Joyce to apologise after he said regional residents “couldn’t really give a shit” about Melbourne’s pandemic challenges during an interview. Mr Chester also slammed his Queenslander colleague Matt Canavan for his tweet which asked if the Taliban would sign up for net zero targets, a comment which Mr Chester labelled as “offensive, disrespectful and totally lacking in any compassion for the 41 brave Australians who lost their lives, the families who grieve for them, the 39,000 Australians who served in this conflict, and the people of Afghanistan”.
More recently, Mr Chester has been critical of his colleague George Christensen, who has been condemned in federal parliament for spreading misinformation about COVID-19, speaking at anti-lockdown rally in his own electorate of Mackay, and arguing Victoria Police officers should be arrested for using “excessive force” against protesters in Melbourne. “He conveniently ignores the fact that police were punched, kicked and stomped on by protesters,” Mr Chester remarked. Mr Joyce said as leader of the party, he would not silence Mr Christensen, and that he was entitled to publicly express his views. Mr Chester said he would use his break to
photograph supplied
travel throughout Gippsland and focus on local and federal issues of concern, such as long delays in bushfire recovery and failure to deliver already-funded infrastructure projects. He has confirmed he will re-contest the seat of Gippsland in the next election. “I have been preselected as The Nationals candidate for the seat of Gippsland and intend to contest, and hopefully win the next election, which will be held at some point in the next 12 months,” he said. “I love Gippsland, and I’m not going anywhere.” Mr Chester holds the safe Nationals seat with a two-candidate preferred margin of 16.67 per cent.
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
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RURAL NEWS
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Warragul vet Terri Wilks said the veterinary industry is at crisis point due to a lack of available staff. photograph supplied
Vets impacted by staffing shortages By MICHELLE SLATER
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THE veterinary industry is imploring clients to be patient as professional morale is at rock bottom with high stress levels and degraded working conditions. Warragul vet Terri Wilks is battling staff shortages as she is watching professional retention rates fall by the wayside. “It’s stressful, it’s poorly paid and there are long hours. Full time vets last about five years now, we can’t replace what we are losing and they are leaving for valid reasons,” Dr Wilks said. “We work 80-hour weeks and then I have people abusing me as I’m not available 24 hours. In the long-term, this is not sustainable. “I’ve had a few vets work with me, but they don’t want to work long hours.” It comes as the Australian Veterinary Association has been running mental health programs, citing threats such as stress, addictions, grief and loss, depression, anxiety and suicide. Dr Wilks said many clinics were now closing their on-call services to new clients, fearing assault and abuse from emotional pet-owners at all hours. She said vets were paid about half the salary of a human general practitioner, despite the years of training required to qualify. “The industry will shoot itself in the
foot. The system is broken at the moment and clinics are not working at current capacities,” she said. AVA member Cathy Deague said suicide rates were high in the profession, and vets were suffering from burnout – particularly in regional areas. Dr Deague said many vets in the bush did not have the option to switch off after hours where there was no one else to pick up the slack. “The pressures after-hours are huge. This is stopping vets from going to the country. People assume vets are raking in the megabucks but they are not,” she said. “Internally, the AVA has been doing a lot of work to identify these problems so they can come up with strategies to solve it.” She said some clinics were putting up signs running a “respect your vet” campaign to try and let pet owners know that violence against vets was not okay. ‘But this won’t happen overnight, it will take time to educate people. There’s no easy fix. Educating the public about their responsibilities on how they should treat staff is important,” she said. “People don’t understand the pressures they are under. It’s an amazing profession with amazing positives, but over time, these pressures have built up and its not sustainable.”
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
October, 2021
RURAL NEWS
Focus on trainee vet nurses
“I’ve never said no to a student, but we haven’t taken on anyone new since COVID with increasing workloads. The vet industry is in crisis.
By MICHELLE SLATER
THE veterinary industry is facing a backlog of trainee vet nurses attempting to find work placements in vet clinics which are under the pump with increased demands, exacerbated by COVID. It comes as the state government has announced a Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing as part of its free TAFE program. According to the state government, the free course will give “jobseekers access to world-class training and boost the veterinary industry by alleviating workforce demands in metropolitan and regional Victoria”. But vets are “in crisis” mode, with many clinics unable to dedicate the time to take on a trainee nurse. Warragul vet nurse Tirra Warn struggled to get a placement to complete her cert IV at TAFE Gippsland before eventually finding a clinic willing to take her on. Ms Warn said she “applied for heaps” of placements but it “was hard to get anywhere” with COVID-19 adding pressures to vet clinics as more people adopted pets in lockdown. “It’s really hard to get experience if you don’t have experience, but you need the experience to get a placement to get qualified. It’s really hard,” Ms Warn told Gippsland Farmer. “In lockdown it’s been crazy busy, people are getting more animals. Clinics are busier and the nurses really have to step-up and be more hands-on. We play a big part in the organisation.” Ms Warn’s employer Terri Wilks employs eight nurses and was willing to take on the young trainee, but noted many vets
“We are struggling to keep operating with the staff we have without taking on a new trainee. “We will get more students who won’t have a job at the end as clinics can’t support placements.” Australian Veterinary Association member and Melbourne Polytechnic vet nurse lecturer Cathy Deague said the situation was “crazy”. “Our students are going into practices where the staff are overworked and emotionally exhausted because clients demands are challenging,” Dr Deague said. “Vet nurses are not well paid and they work incredible hours and they are under incredible pressure. They get emotionally abused by clients as they are on the front line and face the brunt.” Dr Deague said the AVA was looking at strategies to solve these issues. She said Melbourne Polytechnic was offering both a Certificate IV and a bachelor degree in vet nursing.
Warragul vet nurse Tirra Warn with one of her loveable patients.
could not dedicate the time or resources to a student. “When you take on a student, you take
photograph supplied
on someone with limited experience and it will take time to train them up, and time is a luxury clinics can’t afford,” Dr Wilks said.
“Vet nurses play an incredible role, and vets are so reliant on good nurses. They do a lot more than what they used to,” Dr Deague said. “They could not run without amazing nurses behind the scenes, they are more skilled than we give them credit for.”
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October, 2021
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
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A D V E R T I S I N G
F E A T U R E
Pugged pasture re-sowing options
DESPITE the best efforts of many farmers, with the high rainfall events in late autumn through to early spring, many soils have become saturated leading to severe pasture damage across southern Victorian farms. Recovery will depend on a number of factors when planning what strategies, you may wish to take or are best suited to your farm.
Spring re-sowing can be successful when action is taken quickly “We have observed a large amount of successful spring grass re-sowing over our 30 years in the field when there is good planning, timing, seed soil contact and fertility,” Sales Agronomist Peter Notman said. “The spring pasture re-sowing window is short so as soon as soils are dry enough to get machinery there - sowing should be implemented as fast as practical.” “All spring sown pasture or crop should be fertilised with a complete NPKS fertiliser to enhance germination and early growth.”
OPTIONS FOR PUGGED PASTURE Rolling This option is generally only available during a small window of time and on flatter land when soil conditions are dried sufficiently to get machinery on.
Re-sowing for silage bulk If wishing to boost spring silage and hay, an option is using a power harrow to level and topping pasture
up with a late maturing ryegrass such as Vibe Italian Ryegrass.
Complete grass renovation for severe damage For permanent grasses like Vatbuster perennial ryegrass blend (30kg/ha) or short term silage blends (40-50kg/ha) can be re-sown successfully.
Levelling in preparation for autumn If the area is too large to renovate to grass this spring these areas could be identified for spring forage crop or alternatively to be levelled in
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
preparation for autumn renovation.
Re-sowing to summer crop Forage crops in order of planting timing include chicory, plantain, all forage brassicas, Millet and Rape, Fodder Beet, Maize, Millets, Betta Graze Sorghum and SSS Sudan Sorghum. “You would expect not to plant any more than 10 per cent to 15 per cent of your farm into summer crops as it can become difficult to feed large amounts of summer crops to cows, the only exception we would consider is chicory as this can be a grazing crop for an 18-month period.” Peter said.
October, 2021
RURAL NEWS
The Buhler-Protix plant in the Netherlands using black soldier fly larvae to create high protein products.
photographs supplied
Innovative project is flying high By MICHELLE SLATER
GSSS food and fibre project manager Ben Gebert.
GIPPSLAND researchers are looking into using a much-maligned insect to help tackle organic waste, with the potential to produce high protein stockfeed or pet food. The Gippsland Smart Specialisation Strategy is working with a team of international experts to explore black soldier fly larvae to process food waste. Once to size, the larvae can themselves can be processed into stockfeed such as aquaculture meal or domestic pet food, with the possibilities for human grade consumption into the future. GSSS recently ran a presentation in Gippsland alongside Dutch tech company Buhler, spruiking the merits of building a plant in the region. A large scale project is underway in the Netherlands where black soldier fly larvae are converting 300,000 tonnes of organic waste a year.
GSSS food and fibre project manager Ben Gebert said this method can divert waste from landfill and reduce methane emissions, and larvae excrement can also be used for nitrogen-rich fertiliser. “The black soldier fly larvae will eat anything, they grow very quickly and are non-fussy with what they eat and can process thousands of tonnes of organic waste,” Mr Gebert said. “This is pretty phenomenal, this is a heck of a lot of waste. “Black soldier fly larvae are more profitable and are a more environmentally friendly way to process waste.” Mr Gebert said larvae products could also provide an eco-friendly solution to the aquaculture industry to replace fish meal which is made from wild-caught bait fish. He said there were handful of pet food companies manufacturing larvae internationally, as more owners were looking for pet food quality assurance.
“From a sustainability point of view, this concept provides a compelling argument for the consumer to consider insects,” he said. Mr Gebert said they were hoping to conduct a feasibility study into developing commercial production in Gippsland, looking into costs, waste streams and plant sitings. However, he acknowledged there needed to be change of attitude in Australia for insects to be integrated into the food chain, particularly for human consumption. He said supermarket giant Woolworths was already stocking a line of Australian cricket powder for humans to chow down on. “Most of the rest of the world has been eating insects but our adoption rates are low. It will take some time for it to be made for human consumption,” he said. “There needs to be a culture shift in regards to pet food, you wouldn’t even realise it’s in there.”
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October, 2021
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
9
RURAL NEWS
Cheltenham Park Angus
Koala population declining sharply
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WORST case estimates show up to 46 per cent of Gippsland’s koala population has been lost in the past three years, according to new data released by the Australia Koala Foundation. The Koala Habitat Atlas assesses koala populations in each federal electorate every three years, revealing a decline in every region across Australia. The species is now extinct in 47 electorates. Gippsland federal electorate population estimates show there were between 1000 and 1500 koalas in 2018, dropping down to betweeen 800 and 1200 koalas in 2021. It also reveals that 30 per cent of all Australia’s koalas have been lost since 2018. AKF chairperson Deborah Tabart said koala populations were small in Gippsland given the size of the region with most of the better low-land habitat cleared for agriculture. Ms Tabart also pointed to other threats from land clearing, native timber logging, coastal development, bushfires, droughts and heatwaves. “These are still low numbers in Gippsland and a fire could wipe all these out in a minute,” she said. “South Gippsland includes the Strzelecki Ranges Koalas, the only population in Victoria that wasn’t exterminated by the fur trade in the early 20th century.” Ms Tabart said an ecologist had been comparing population figures for the past 30 years through looking at scientific papers and data. “Urgent action to stop land clearing in prime koala habitat is required if we are to save our beloved national animal from peril,” she said. “We know that offsets don’t work and we also know that displaced koalas die.” The AKF is calling on the federal government to “take notice of these numbers” and come up with a national Koala Protection Act, which would include independent assessments. “Each and every federal politician in these electorates should now be on notice
Worst case estimates show up to 46 per cent of Gippsland’s koala population has been lost in the past three years, according to new data released by the Australia Koala Foundation. file photograph
to protect not only the koalas in their electorate but the habitat that remains,” Ms Tabart said. “The good news is that in many cases there is good habitat left. Now is the time to get into action and get them full again. That is what koala recovery looks like.” Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the federal government had provided $14 million in funding to wildlife agencies and local community groups for bushfire recovery in East Gippsland. Mr Chester said this included more than $4 million for Landcare and community groups and another $500,000 for the Koala Discovery and Rehabilitation in Paynesville and Raymond Island. “Koalas are a national symbol and we know that we need to take action to protect this iconic species,” Mr Chester said. “The 2019-20 bushfires had a devastating impact throughout East Gippsland with 1.1 million hectares burnt.”
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October, 2021
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11
Money Matters GP1632637
FINANCIAL CONNECTION TO PERSONAL WELLBEING
The true cost of financial distress GOING back generations, financial stress is an issue all farmers have had to deal with at some point in their lifecycle and is just another challenge farmers have to manage. Sometimes all the planning in the world can’t protect you from the uncontrollables… industry downturns, climatic changes, disasters, pests, disease, unproductive land, and just plain bad luck. Conversely, protecting yourself from these potential risks can also be a significant financial cost and sacrifice. Facing financial concerns early is imperative, or it will continue to erode you in more ways than just your farm and finances. Addressing financial issues could stop the adverse effects that distress can have on your health, wellbeing and relationships. If you are living in survival mode, in constant state of anxiety, not sleeping, arguing with family, not eating well, using unhealthy coping mechanisms, making risky decisions, withdrawing from what you enjoy, feeling depressed… now is the time to act! Overwhelm and mental turmoil often causes decision paralysis, and this is when it is essential to seek the help of professionals who can assess your situation objectively, understand and know the options you have available. Engaging a professional team who are experienced and qualified in agribusiness will take the burden off your shoulders. They know how to negotiate with lenders, apply for farm grants and financial support, identify inefficiencies and risks, as well as develop budgets and plans to achieve your goals.
When experiencing financial distress, it is highly recommended to not automatically increase your debt by extending a mortgage or use credit cards. Whilst some of these options may be easier or more suitable, potential outcomes must be assessed first to ensure it will not make the situation worse in the long-term. To start taking back control, here are some tips: Write it down: Create a clear picture of your current expenses (farm and household essentials) and highlight priorities (your non-negotiables), highlight the ones you can eliminate; put on hold and/or reduce, and highlight the items you can negotiate. Start the process of forwarding thinking by writing down your goals and planning how you will achieve them.
Contact providers: Lenders, utilities, schools, suppliers, councils, tax office… they all have hardship policies, especially in times of disaster, to free up or smooth out cash flow, and often can link you to other support you may not know about. Create a cash flow budget: Often needed to negotiate with lenders to prove what you are proposing can be met (and that you are not over-committing), with a forecast on when normal or full repayments can be made. On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to see if you can afford higher payments during interest free periods to pay down the principal borrowed. Start looking after yourself: Make an effort to eat well, exercise, spend time doing the things you enjoy, be social and/or spend quality time with
family or pets. You may have to force yourself initially, but making the time for yourself may reinvigorate and help you get back in control of business decisions. It may also be wise to visit your doctor for a check-up and make sure stress isn’t having an adverse effect on your physical health. Talk: Be open with your family and/ or business partners. Including your team will help you relieve anxiety and help them understand and accept the situation and allow them to become involved in developing ideas for financial efficiencies. If you need to chat about how you are feeling and find talking to family or friends difficult, there are many free options to connect with caring people who understand challenges of farming. RuralHealthConnect.com.au are a team of rural psychologists offering telehealth services, Farmers Friend Gippsland (llg.org.au) is a team of farmers willing to just have a chat over the phone or a coffee, and BlackDogInstitute.org.au offer strategies to deal with anxiety and stress. If it is all feeling too much, please contact Lifeline 13 11 14 immediately. Although you can manage through distress yourself, the key point is - you don’t need to do it alone. There are specialised financial and wellbeing professionals throughout Gippsland who can help you get back in control. A smart business decision is to engage with these professionals. A free wrap-around service dedicated to farmers is RFCSGippsland.org.au who look after both your financial as well as your personal wellbeing and put you back on a path to success.
12
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
GP1632082
October, 2021
A D V E R T I S I N G
F E A T U R E
Carpal tunnel and painful hands It is sometimes difficult to sort out the cause of hand pain as it can result from ‘wear and tear’ such as osteoarthritis in the small joints of the hand, the moving structures such as inflammation of the tendon sheaths or from compression of the median nerve at the wrist. To complicate things, problems with the neck and also the elbow can also refer pain to the hand. Pain in the hand especially at night which causes you to wake or prevents sleep along with characteristically pins and needles or numbness in the thumb index, middle and half of the ring ringer tends to be diagnostic of compression of the median nerve in the base of the palm or carpal tunnel syndrome.
Think of it as the nerve crying out for more space. Sometimes, if the clinical symptoms are not that clear nerve conduction studies or an MRI of the hand and wrist may have to be done but most of the time the clinical situation is convincing. The fix for this is relatively simple. Either rest the hand in a splint for months, sometimes a steroid injection which is a bit painful and not that successful or a simple operation under local anaesthetic. Carpal tunnel decompression can be done in a hospital under a general anaesthetic but with skill and expertise it can be easily done in a half an hour without discomfort and is equally successful and without all the fuss. In most situations relief from the nocturnal pain is immediate, or within a day or two, the pins and needles and altered sensation in the fingertips takes longer to resolve.
The term carpal tunnel syndrome comes from the tight space between the small bones of the wrist and the sinew or ligament bridge crossing above the median nerve and tendons that control finger movement.
With long standing carpal tunnel syndrome it can take many months but if the symptom duration is short these tend to improve over a few weeks.
The nerve is quite large and thick, almost the thickness of a little finger and is prone to being compressed in this tight anatomical area causing the symptoms of pain and ‘pins and needles’.
Unfortunately the procedure is not a general practice procedure and a referral will be necessary for an opinion and discussion of individual circumstances and how to proceed.
Mrr Adrian Aitke ken e M.B.B.S., Ph.D., F.R.A.C.S.
‘TRUSTED EXPERTISE, PERSONAL CARE’
SPECIALIST GENERAL SURGEON PINS AND NEEDLES IN FINGERS?
CARPAL TUNNEL PAIN? 30 MINUTE PROCEDURE UNDER LOCAL
www.fitzpatrickhouse.com.au CONSULTING ACROSS GIPPSLAND ASK YOUR GP FOR A REFERRAL PHONE 51 444 555 FOR APPOINTMENTS
GP1632457
PAINFUL hands and carpal tunnel syndrome is very common especially in older people who have lead a generous and productive working life.
Next available bulls 40 Tops of their Drop from 1st March 2022
Innesdale Angus,
718 Rosedale Road, Heyfield 3858
Geoff 0412 958 168 AH 5148 6371 E geoff@innesdale.com October, 2021
Sire Innesdale Resource M37 THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
GP1631947
FOR DETAILS CONTACT
13
RURAL NEWS
Earthquake shakes region By ALYSSA FRITZLAFF and MICHELLE SLATER
The scene at Coles Traralgon following the earthquake on September 22. photograph supplied
THE earth moved under the feet of many in Gippsland as a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Victoria on September 22. The earthquake’s epicentre was located near Woods Point, approximately 120km north of the Latrobe Valley. Scientists reported the earthquake was ‘‘shallow’’, and reached a depth of 10km, with the effects experienced throughout the state. Dr Trevor Allen of Geoscience Australia, said the tremors were also felt in Canberra, Adelaide and as far as Tasmania. The National Earthquake Alerts Centre reported more than 40,000 ‘felt reports’
following the earthquake – including reports of personal alarm and building damage. Ten aftershocks, with magnitudes up to 4.1, were recorded in the days following the main earthquake. Geoscience Australia has warned Victoria it could be expecting aftershocks in coming weeks and months. Seismology Research Centre chief scientist Adam Pascale said that the quake was the largest Victoria had experienced in the past 30 years. According to Geoscience Australia, the earthquake was “the largest event to have occurred within South-East Australia in the modern instrumental era”. The last earthquake to reach such
a magnitude in Victoria was the 1966 earthquake near Mt Hotham – which had a magnitude of 5.5. Delays occurred for public transport across Victoria. Trains were halted on the Gippsland and Seymour Lines, allowing V/Line engineers to carry out inspections on tracks, bridges and stations. Damage to Melbourne’s tram control centre was reported, although delays to the service were minimal. Building damage was also experienced across Melbourne, including Chapel St eatery Betty’s Burgers. No significant damage was reported in the Gippsland region.
Expressions of interest in program for young farmers
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14
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
THE state government is seeking expressions of interest for the 2022 Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program. Eight positions are available in next year’s program which pairs young farmers with experienced farmers in a mentorship, overseen by a skilled farm business consultant. The program is open to farmers aged 18 to 35 to develop skills to better manage their farms, identify risks and develop strategies to build resilience and achieve their business goals. Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas the mentoring program was a great way for young farmers to meet and learn from “someone with a lifetime of experience and form valuable relationships in the industry”. “Our young farmers are the future of Victoria’s agriculture industry – this program is a chance for experienced producers to share their knowledge with the next generation and support the sector to continue to thrive.” The mentor and mentee will meet regularly to build professional networks, give advice and information, and set business goals throughout the 12-month program. Program participants are matched to the mentor’s experience with the mentee’s enterprise and personal development goals. Watchupga mixed grain and sheep farmer Samantha Mitchell is one of 12 mentees involved in the 2021 program, after she took over the family business from her father this year. She applied to the program to support the transition of her family business, build relationships in the industry and gain a better understanding of business operations, such as staff management. “My mentor was a fourth-generation mixed farmer and was able to give me so much knowledge about his personal experiences on farm,” Ms Mitchell said. “It was the best way to learn – from other people’s experiences, their mistakes and their successes.” The Young Farmer and New Entrant Mentoring Program is funded by the government’s $20 million Smarter, Safer Farms initiative. This includes targeted training support to build capability in financial literacy, risk management, farm planning and adaption to climate change. For more information and to apply visit vic.gov.au/youngfarmers.
October, 2021
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
15
RURAL NEWS
New scheme focusing on East Gippsland EAST Gippsland is the focus of two new important conservation programs aimed at building resilience and restoring native vegetation impacted by the Black Summer bushfires. Landcare has partnered with Bairnsdale based environmental not-for-profit Envite Environment to research and rejuvenate endemic species and increase food sources for local threatened fauna. These landmark projects will also engage the expertise and support of La Trobe University, Australian National University, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria and a number of local partners. Key local partners include the Friends of Mallacoota and Moogji Aboriginal Council. The projects will assess the status and recover populations of the region’s threatened flora, such as several species of local banksia and bottlebrush. Some species will be planted in the community to serve as seed sources and insurance populations in case of future environmental catastrophes. The two organisations will also embark on a large-scale project to increase local food trees for tree dwelling mammals that are threatened with extinction. This will involve a combination of planting food trees and thinning nutritionally low value species such as Silvertop Ash that have outcompeted other native eucalypts. It will create the right environmental conditions for animals such as greater gliders to return to. Envite state manager Abigail Wills applauded the backing given to these projects from both state and federal governments. “East Gippsland is an area of diverse ecosystems supporting critically important flora and fauna species,” Ms Wills said. “So it is vital that we work collectively to restore these systems and protect them for future generations.” Landcare Victoria chief executive officer Andrew Maclean said it was “exciting to see the efforts of the local community come together to recover biodiversity in the East Gippsland region”.
Program proves a big hit
NARRACAN Primary School said it was very fortunate to be involved in the Cows Create Careers program during Term 3 in 2021. Students learnt about dairy industry whilst caring for two three-week old calves. Deanne Kennedy and John Hutchison taught students how to care for the calves and demonstrated skills such as animal husbandry, feeding and weighing (using a weigh tape). Students were shown how to mix the calf milk replacement powder with warm water and then how to feed the calves with their feeding bottles. The school’s junior and senior classes voted and then named the calves Roxy and Poreo. Students followed rosters to feed the calves at the beginning and end of the day. Whilst feeding, the students used weigh tapes to check the calves were putting on a healthy amount of weight and also checked to see the calves looked healthy, the container was full of water and the pen was kept clean. Due to the COVID lockdown, the school had the calves for five days instead of three weeks but appreciated the time they got to spend with the calves. Narracan Primary School thanked Deanne Kennedy, John Hutchison, the Gardiner Foundation and GippsDairy for the opportunity to take care of the calves and learn about the dairy industry. “I thought it was good to feed Poreo and Roxy,” Prep student Evie said. “I liked feeding the calves because I hadn’t fed a calf before. I also liked learning about them. I thank Cows Create Careers for letting us feed and care for them,” Year 3 student Torri said. Upon completion of the project, students and teachers will be recognised at an interactive Presentation Day, where there will be industry-based games and prizes awarded to the winning teams and schools. Cows Create Careers was originally established in 2004 with dairy farmers in the Strzelecki Lions Club in Victoria and nine Gippsland schools. The project has since been supported by
Roxy being fed by Narracan Primary School students Alex and Xavier.
industry, regional development programs, dairy farmers and sponsors. It has now grown to more than 230 schools across Australia with 12,000 students completing the project in 2020. Jaydee Events director John Hutchison said the innovative project highlights the diversity of skills and professional careers within Australia’s vibrant dairy industry. “Cows Create Careers allows students to engage with the dairy industry in a fun and hands-on way- all while highlighting the range of university, vocational and professional pathways within the industry,” he said. Each school is provided with dairy industry curriculum, and activities for groups of students to complete at no cost,” he said. “While Cows Create Careers increases student awareness of the dairy industry, the benefits of the project extend well-beyond
the classroom. It opens opportunities for students to engage with the dairy industry, creates links to their local community, and allows them to learn new skills. “Since the project’s inception, we have been continually encouraged by the personal growth and opportunities that have evolved from the project, for both the students and project volunteers.” The project’s volunteers are vital to the ongoing success of Cows Create Careers. Coming from various professional dairy careers, volunteers speak to the students about their experiences in the industry, support students in career decision making, and have important links to education and employment sectors. Last year alone 362 passionate volunteers gave 1810 hours of their time across 23 Australian dairying regions.
Irrigation funding is now available CENTRAL Gippsland area farmers wanting to upgrade irrigation infrastructure can apply for funding under the Central Gippsland Irrigation Efficiency Incentives Program. West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority programs coordinator Anthony Goode said irrigation upgrades would improve productivity and reduce environmental impacts. Funding is available for developing new or updating farm plans, ground works such as installing reuse systems, converting
flood to spray or drip irrigation systems, or best practice surface irrigation. Mr Goode said farmers have made significant changes to their irrigation practices with upgrades and improvements, saving many thousands of megalitres of water and improving farm productivity. “Certainly, farm businesses that have developed farm plans and made improvements to systems as a result, see significant improvements in their operation, both in terms of time saved but also helping to make businesses more profitable,” he said.
Funding for the Central Gippsland Irrigation Efficiency Incentives Program is limited with new eligibility criteria in place. Eligible infrastructure projects that meet the program objectives will be allocated through a random ballot process after the application period has closed. The program will remain open until October 29. More information can be found wgcma. vic.gov.au/for-farmers/incentives21 or by calling 1300 094 262, or email alexis.c.killoran@agriculture.vic.gov.au.
u o y s e welcom
to their annual Wiltshire Horn Ram and Ewe Sale www.hallstonvalleyfarm.com
Ph: 0403 889 917 jill@hallstonvalleyfarm.com.au
16
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
STOCK PREVIEW FROM 11AM
Monday 1 November Helmsman Auction starting at 1pm Ewe lambs, maiden ewes and breeding ewes available
GP1632971
October, 2021
RURAL NEWS
The 2019-20 bushfires throughout Gippsland and Victoria’s north-east burnt 650,000 hectares of native forest set aside for the timber industry and released more than 50 million tonnes of forest carbon stocks into the atmosphere, according to a government report. file photograph
Impact of 2019-20 bushfires measured By PHILIP HOPKINS
THE 2019-20 bushfires throughout Gippsland and Victoria’s north-east burnt 650,000 hectares of native forest set aside for the timber industry and released more than 50 million tonnes of forest carbon stocks into the atmosphere, according to a government report. The fires affected nearly 760,000 ha of Victoria’s comprehensive, adequate and representative (CAR) reserve system, which totals 4.3 million ha. Of this, 2.9 million ha are in the RFAs. The recent 95,000 ha Immediate Protection Area for the Greater Glider and Leadbeater’s Possum was half burnt, with more than 31,000 ha burnt by high severity fire. The figures are contained in a Major Event Review conducted by the Victorian and Australian governments that aims to assess the impacts of the huge bushfires on the operation of Victoria’s five Regional Forest Agreements. The review, which does not open up the RFAs for renegotiation, is taking public comment. A final report is expected in November. The RFAs, originally signed between 1997 and 2000, aim at a sustainable economic, ecological, recreational and cultural use of native forests. They have been rolled over in a ‘modernisation’ process until 2030, when the Andrews Government will cease native forest harvesting.
The 2019-20 bushfires burnt 1.5 million ha of land within the RFA areas of East Gippsland, Gippsland and North East, of which 1.3 million ha was forested. Small fires also affected the West and Central Highlands. Within the RFA regions, the fires burnt 870,000ha of State forest and 67,000ha of forest on private land. Affected were 70 per cent of the forest in East Gippsland, where 47 per cent of forest was hit by high severity fire. High severity fire burnt 51 per cent of the forest in the North East and 50 per cent in Gippsland. Of the fire-hit 650,000 ha set aside for timber harvesting, about 40,000 ha was Ash forest, including 7800ha of immature Ash forest affected by high severity fire. Most of the area burnt (610,000 ha) was mixed-species eucalypt forest. “These species typically survive most fires and regenerate by resprouting after fire,” the report said, adding: “Ash species are typically killed by high severity fire and regenerate through seeds from the canopy. If killed before they reach seed-bearing age (about 20 years), Ash forests may not regenerate.” VicForests confirmed that 340,000 cubic metres of fire salvage harvesting was conducted after the fires. During the fires, “many forest industry businesses experienced a reduced capacity to operate because of power loss and road closures”, the review said. The report estimated a net decrease in
forest carbon stocks of 55 million tonnes in 2019-20, but “some carbon will be reabsorbed through regrowth of the forest over the coming years”. “This includes emission of 57 million tonnes due to fire and sequestration of two million tonnes due to post-fire regrowth in 2019-20,” the review said. These figures only related to carbon dioxide emissions, not methane emissions, with work under way to assess the total emissions of greenhouse gases from the fires. The review analysed the impact of the fires on Victoria’s biodiversity, including on species listed under the Environmental Protection Biodiversity and Conservation Act and Victoria’s Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act. “This process has highlighted species of immediate concern,” the review said. A total of 244 species with more than 50 per cent of their modelled habitat were identified in fire areas, including 215 rare or threatened species and four listed under the EPBC Act. “Species of most immediate concern include the Long-footed Potoroo, Ground Parrott, glossy Black-Cockatoo, Large Brown Tree Frog, Diamond Python and Freshwater Galaxiids species,” the report said. Other key aspects of the review report included: About 6400 ha of the total 416,000ha of plantations was affected.
There will be likely long-term impacts on timber supply as plantations need to be replanted and grown. Floral resources for honey and pollination from forests will decrease in the short-to-medium term, reducing honey volumes, but capacity is expected to recover as forests regenerate. Tourism revenue from forests and summer beach holidays fell by $330-350 million in bushfire-affected regions. There are no Ramsar sites in the fire extent, but indirect impacts on the Gippsland Lakes Ramsar site resulting from soot, ash, sediment and black water may become evident over time. The bushfires affected signs, picnic and camping facilities, walking tracks and mountain bike trails, resulting in $30 million damage to buildings and infrastructure. No on-ground assessments have yet been taken on the more than 1000 known registered Aboriginal heritage places. Of the more than 130 known non-Aboriginal heritage sites, 21 sites on the Victorian Heritage Register were directly affected. For more information, copy the following link: https://engage.vic.gov.au/ major-event-review-victorias-regionalforest-agreements
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October, 2021
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
17
RURAL NEWS
Tasty results in Vanilla slice competition By TOM GANNON
We’ve got you covered
Maffra Vet 03 5147 1177
GP1632069
Farm visits and medication pickups still available Call us or visit the website www.maffravet.com.au for more details
THE inaugural Great Gippsland Vanilla Slice Bake Off ended last month with Effloresce Metung taking out top spot and securing bragging rights as the best vanilla slice in Gippsland. Chef Lilli McCamley, 24, was the driving force behind Effloresce’s success, earning a massive 299 votes. In second place was the Old Rosedale Bakery, finishing on 222 votes and third was Thorpdale Bakery with 198 votes. Vanilla slice sales skyrocketed across Gippsland in response to the sweet competition with many bakeries having to make multiple batches a day. Store Sixty One Café sold five slabs in one day after entering the competition, setting a new store record. Gippsland Jersey co-owner and event organiser Sallie Jones said the competition had certainly given a boost to the region. “I think the effects of it are still continuing,” she said. “Not just for the participating bakeries, it’s also been a good boost in general and it’s definitely made vanilla slices trend in Gippsland.” With voting only open for three days, Ms Jones said she was blown away by the 2120 total votes. “I thought if we could get 500 people voting that would have been great because we only had about three days of the voting lines being open,” she said. Ms Jones believes the response displayed a sense of enthusiasm from Gippsland residents about getting out and supporting struggling industries in the region. “I think there’s a real appetite for people to go around and visit different places in Gippsland, especially with the lockdown we want to be inspired to go and visit little
ABOVE: Effloresce chef Lilli McCamley (above) took out top spot in the Great Gippsland Vanilla Slice Bake Off. TOP LEFT: Vanilla slices have been flying off shelves at Gippsland bakeries, including Effloresce with their winning passion fruit vanilla slice. photographs supplied
towns and places we haven’t visited in a long time,” she said. Although this year’s competition was decided by public vote due to COVID-19 restrictions, Ms Jones said she hopes 2022 will have in-person judging at each of the bakeries and ultimately become an annual competition.
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
October, 2021
RURAL NEWS
Project to secure water supply GIPPSLAND Water has announced a $6 million project to secure the water supply to the towns of Coongulla and Glenmaggie. The project will involve construction of a distribution water main to connect the two towns to Heyfield’s water system, with the pipeline to be in use by late 2022. Gippsland Water managing director Sarah Cumming said water for Coongulla and Glenmaggie residents was currently sourced from Lake Glenmaggie and treated at the Coongulla water treatment plant. “While it’s almost full at the moment, Lake Glenmaggie has reached such low levels that we’ve needed to truck water into Coongulla from Heyfield on five occasions in the past 15 years,” she said. This most recently happened in 2019, when Gippsland Water trucked water in for four months, with up to 18 deliveries made a day at a cost of up to $8000 per day. “There are other issues we’ve had to consider, like the risk of blue-green algae outbreaks at the lake, and the fire risk posed by the Coongulla water treatment plant’s location, which backs onto bushland,” Ms Cumming continued. “That’s why as the Coongulla plant aged, we undertook an extensive review to decide whether to upgrade the plant or invest in other options for supplying the towns, such as permanently trucking water in from Heyfield.” The Heyfield community’s water is treated at the Heyfield water treatment plant and sourced from the Thomson River, which Ms Cumming said had proven to be a more reliable water supply. “This solution is the most cost-effective
Gippsland Water managing director Sarah Cumming said water for Coongulla and Glenmaggie residents was currently sourced from Lake Glenmaggie and treated at the Coongulla water treatment plant. photograph supplied
and most environmentally-friendly way to deliver a reliable supply of high quality water to our Coongulla and Glenmaggie customers,” she said. The pipeline will be built within road reserves and easements from the Heyfield water treatment plant on Angle Channel Rd, along Weir Rd and Ryans Rd, connecting to the Coongulla treated water basin. “We’ve chosen this route because it will have the smallest possible impact on the environment,” Ms Cumming said.
Ms Cumming said traffic management would be in place during construction from now until late 2022. Traffic will be restricted to one lane at times, which may cause delays. “We’re asking drivers to please respect the traffic controls for everyone’s safety and allow extra travel time,” Ms Cumming said. This project is one of Gippsland Water’s top 10 projects from its 2018 price submission to the Essential Services Commission.
A D V E R T I S I N G
Farmers invited to take part GIPPSLAND Lakes and Bass Coast farmers are being invited to take part in mental health resilience projects being rolled out by the state government. The Resilient Farming Communities Project is a two-year joint Agriculture Victoria and Department of Health initiative to support farmers and communities to better manage stress and improve health. The $2.9 million projects will be delivered by councils, primary care partnerships in more than 25 local government areas across the state. Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said this project would ensure farmers and their communities would be supported to focus on their mental health. “Our farmers have faced many challenges over the years, including drought, bushfires and now the pandemic, which all take their toll on resilience,” Ms Thomas said. The programs that will increase awareness of mental health treatment options, care and support services, and enhance social connectedness through community events and training. Initiatives include outreach services, on-farm health workshops, wellbeing plans for rural communities, secondary school resilience programs, and mental health first aid training. Grant recipients are working closely with their communities to co-develop programs that will cater to the needs of farmers.
F E A T U R E
New OHS infringements now in force FARMERS need to be aware of new OHS Infringement Notices that are now in place as of July 31, 2021. The infringement notices scheme expands the suite of compliance and enforcement tools that are available to WorkSafe, including the capacity to issue improvement notices, prohibition notices and directions to remedy contraventions and risks to health and safety. There are 54 infringement offences detailed within the regulations. The most notable infringement
October, 2021
offence applicable to the agriculture industry will likely be the failure to ensure that operators of forklifts and telehandlers hold WorkSafe issued High Risk Work Licenses. The penalty that will be applicable for this offence is substantial at $1090.44. It is critical that farmers are aware that High Risk Work Licenses are valid for five years and after this time they need to be reviewed. A nominal period is allowed for licenses to be renewed, however if
a license has expired beyond the nominal renewal period then a worker will need to be retrained and reassessed before being eligible to obtain a new license. It is important therefore that employers check employees High Risk Work Licenses from time to time to ensure that licenses are current. It’s also worth noting that larger employers with Health and Safety Representatives (HSR’s) will also need to be aware that infringement notices will also be applicable in
circumstances where employers do not meet their obligations to HSR’s. I would encourage farmers needing assistance with these WorkSafe Improvement Notices, Prohibition Notices or Infringement Notices to contact the VFF’s Farm Safety Team for free, practical advice best suited to your circumstances. Feel free to give us a call on 1300 882 833 or learn more online at vff.org.au John Darcy, VFF Senior Farm Safety Advisor.
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
19
RURAL NEWS
Woman, 30 charged POLICE have charged a Traralgon woman following an extensive investigation into multiple payments allegedly received from the Bushfire Relief Fund and the Gippsland Flood Relief Payment Scheme. A 30-year-old woman allegedly made fraudulent applications using a variety of names and addresses in January, June and July, receiving a total amount of $14,700. The woman has been charged with nine counts of obtaining property by deception, and three counts of attempting to obtain property by deception. She has been bailed to appear at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court on March 9, 2022. Victoria Police worked in collaboration with the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing as part of the investigation. People with information are being urged to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report at www. crimestoppervic.com.au
Got news to share?
Do you have an agricultural story to share with Gippsland Farmer? Send your news tip to farmer@gippsnews.com.au or share your story with journalist Michelle Slater by phoning 5135 4444.
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
Process sss now streamlined Victorian farmers can now build worker accommodation on their farms without the need for a planning permit, under a new streamlined planning approvals process. file photograph
VICTORIAN farmers can now build worker accommodation on their farms without the need for a planning permit, under a new streamlined planning approvals process. Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas announced an amendment to the state’s planning provisions that exempts farmers from requiring a planning permit for accommodation for up to 10 people. “On-farm accommodation will provide more options for farm workers and make it easier for growers to recruit the workers they need for the upcoming harvest,” Ms Thomas said. “These planning changes are about supporting our agriculture sector to thrive.” The changes were designed to help farmers provide suitable accommodation for seasonal workforces, removing one of the
barriers to attracting and retaining workers for the sector. It will eliminate the need for seasonal workers to find a place to stay in nearby towns, removing long distance travel to work. The planning permit exemption is exclusively for accommodation for agriculture workers and must be on at least 40 hectares of land on a property within a Farming Zone. The accommodation must be connected to electricity, water and wastewater treatment. Increased farm accommodation may also alleviate broader housing supply in regional areas by reducing seasonal demand on accommodation in rural towns. This complements the state government’s
commitment to tackle housing shortages and other barriers to regional workforce attraction through the $5 million Regional Workforce Pilots. A pilot will be run in Robinvale in partnership with a Seasonal Workforce Accommodation Action Team led by the Swan Hill Rural City Council. It was established to encourage investments for seasonal workforce accommodation and ensure greater COVID safety compliance. The new planning process is part of an $84 million state government package to support the Victorian agriculture industry as it continues to meet seasonal workforce challenges.
October, 2021
Be Fire Ready
Incre reasedri e riskof i grass ssfire s res esinVict s ctori t ria i
THE latest weather data shows parts of Victoria are forecast to have a wet spring. This is predicted to lead to continued strong grass growt wth t and the potential of increased grassfire conditions once the vegetation dries out. The quarterly national Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for September to November, was developed by the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC), the Bureau of Meteorology and state fire services agencies. AFAC is the national council for fire and emergency services. The Outlook shows this year s average to above average rainfall across much of Victoria is likely to result in continuous grass and crop fuels growt wth t through most areas west and north of the Great Dividing Range. Across pastures in the southwest fire district, upper and lower soil layers are already saturated meaning the average to above average rainfall forecast for spring will likely lead to normal to above normal pasture growt wth t conditions. As a result, the northwest and west of the state (Wimmera and the Mallee fire districts) may see an increase in fire potential in late spring, prior to harvest. For many forest areas, conditions are currently normal or wetter than normal. The forecast indicates above-average rainfall during spring, leading to a below average fire risk for summer across the eastern, north-east, central ranges and Otway ranges. Along the coastal and foothill forests of Gippsland, the monthly rainfall in July was below average. Given spring s outlook of higher-than-average temperatures and average rainfall along the coast of eastern Victoria, the Gippsland fire season is likely to start in early summer. However, the bushfire risk will remain lower across fire impacted areas of East Gippsland and north east Victoria as forests recover from the recent fire seasons. Spring is historically a more challenging time of year for large scale planned burning due to less predictable weather conditions, such as wind. However, the higher moisture levels in forest areas may
provide opportunities to carry out planned burning this year. Planned burning works are supported with an increase in mechanical fuel management including slashing and mulching, as well as creating and maintaining fuel breaks to reduce the bushfire risk for communities and the environment. Preparations by the emergency management sector for the 2021-2022 spring and summer season will incorporate planning for the risk of fire and extreme weather, with the added complexity of the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Emergency Management Victoria will continue to work closely with the emergency services sector to ensure the safety of Victorian communities. To read the full Seasonal Bushfire Outlook visit www.afac.com.au
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October, 2021
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
21
RUSSELL NORTHE MLA
Member for Morwell
B E F I R E R E A DY - A D V E R T I S I N G F E AT U R E
Preparing your property for the upco oming fire season is critical in helping in the protection off our homes, assets, neighbou urs and loved ones. It also helps our amazing first responders and emergency service workers in n the event of a fire. So please make sure your property is we ell prepared for this summer and minimise the risk of fire in yo our neighbourhood.
RUSSELL NORTHE MLA
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.
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Spriringrainfore i reca ecast a toincre reasefire e reri e risk i WHAT ARE THE EXPERTS PREDICTING?
Emergency Management Commissioner, Andrew Crisp: The spring outlook gives us an early indication of what Victoria could expect over the summer season and will be updated in November as predictions firm up. New growt wth t resulting from high rainfall raises the potential for grassfires which can move quickly and threaten properties and life. We re never complacent about the risk of fire and severe weather throughout the year. We treat each season with the same high level of preparation to ensure community safety. CFA Chief Officer, Jason Heffernan: Like last year, we can expect a grassfire-dominated start to the fire season, particularly in the west and north west, while the risk of campaign bushfires in forested areas is substantially reduced. Victoria is one of the most bushfire-prone areas in the world, and even a normal fire season can present a high risk to communities. I encourage all Victorians to plan and prepare for their safety and ensure that everyone in their household knows what to do on hot, dry, windy days when fires can start and spread quickly.
Acting Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) V)) Commissioner, Ken Brown: No matter where you live, you must be aware of the risk of fire, especially if you live on the urban fringe. If you live near grasslands, you need to understand the risks with fast moving grassfires. If a fire starts in grasslands near your home, walk two streets back and keep clear of responding trucks. Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) Chief Fire Officer, Chris Hardman: Despite a wetter than average winter in some parts of the state, it only takes a few days of extreme weather conditions for the fire risk to rapidly rise. Thanks to our year-round approach to bushfire risk management, we re well prepared for bushfire season, but all visitors to our parks and forests have a role to play to reduce the risk. With a greater number of visitors to our parks and forests, it s crucial the community work with us to prevent bushfires from starting and pay attention to campfire safety. Unattended campfires can spread quickly and have devastating impacts on communities and the environment.
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
23
A D V E R T I S I N G
F E A T U R E
Blue sky future .... But! This story is contributed by Australian Pump Industries’ Chief Engineer, John Hales, with the support of a range of very competent pump distributors spread throughout Gippsland and greater Victoria. WE know that we have seen record agricultural production, spread right across Australia from sugar cane in Queensland to the fabulous looking crops in the Southern Riverina of New South Wales all the way through to our beautiful Gippsland. We have had lots of rain over winter, spring is here, cattle are fat, milk prices are up and we’re heading for $73 billion in agricultural production. We look like coming out of lockdown in most parts of Australia by the end of October/November! All this and an Australian summer as well! But there may be serious fire danger ahead. FIRE PUMPS … WHAT WORKS AND WHAT DOESN’T Aussie Pumps developed the Aussie Fire Chief around 25 years ago. It was driven by a good quality Japanese engine from Honda, but the secret of the pump’s performance was in its components and absolute fanatical approach to quality. Our original designs had in mind the user, not dividends for shareholders! We set out to bring a product that delivered more water at pressure in those critical points of the curve where firefighting is done. What makes the Fire Chief so good is its capacity and perfectly matched components. Here are a few pointers. 1. The pump is based on a 3” transfer pump design with a big belly body that simply lets more water through the pump, even at high pressure. 2. The pump’s impeller, a beautifully crafted diecast aluminium closed design, is 7 ½” diameter, providing real velocity for the pump. It has substantially more material than competitors. In fact, it weighs three times more than some other impellers (which costs Aussie more but, this pump is designed to work, not to cut costs). 3. The volute that the impeller runs in is also perfectly designed to produce the absolute maximum performance without overloading the Honda engine. It’s designed to get the best out of the product and provide real longevity. 4. The Fire Chief pump has a 2” suction port. That is 25% bigger than most of its competitors. It seems obvious that having more water getting into the pump, means more water getting out of it as well! 5. The suction port is flange mounted to the front of the bowl. It’s another cost but, it gives the user easy access to the pump bowl and, enables the check valve, the ability to be serviced where required. You don’t have to pull the pump apart! 6. A three-way head, 2 x 1” and 1 x 1 ½” outlets are flange mounted to the top of the pump body. Those ports are capped with metal caps and chains, like a professional firefighter would use, and not plastic caps. 7. All Aussie Fire Chief Pumps, both single and big twin impeller versions are supplied either on steel skids with anti-vibration mount or, in the Red Brigade Series, supplied in heavy duty welded steel frames with separate bases and anti-vibration mounts. 8. The Aussie Fire Chief can draught water through a vertical lift of 7.6 metres, based on the inherent design of the pump and its impeller and volute combination. Dealers report replacing other famous brand pumps that can only suck from 6 metres vertical lift with the
24
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
The Aussie Fire Chief is in demand for its top quality and value.
Aussie Pumps Chief Engineer John Hales compares competitor nylon impeller with Aussie’s impeller, made from marine grade aluminium.
Aussie Fire Chief or, its big brother the Mr. T twin impeller. IT’S NOT MAGIC, BUT QUALITY HAS A COST So you see the performance of the pump, its longevity (yes they last decades) is not magic. We see competitor products with two piece or even plastic nylon impellers that are, in our opinion, a flawed logic to start with. We would never put a plastic impeller in a pump. We know it would be shredded in no time if the pump has to pump any sandy water. We would never use a two part impeller held together by a bolt or Tek screw. We know what can happen inside a pump in its life and we understand people depend on products like fire pumps, in what can be truly dreadful emergencies. FIVE YEAR WARRANTY …ONLY AUSSIE PUMPS One of the things Aussie Pumps Gippsland Dealers and Gold Distributors love about the pump is its five year warranty. None of our competitors have dared to offer an equivalent. The extended warranty is also offered on all other Aussie Quik Prime wet ends. The engines last longer too because of the perfect
balance of performance to horsepower and torque availability. AUSSIE DEALERS GET IT … NO FAKE PRICES The Aussie Gold Distributors are geared to provide consumers not with just good top quality Aussie product but also advice on pump selection. Whether it’s protecting farm buildings from fire, establishing a safe area for livestock or, just for flushing out dairy yards. They help make the right selection, give the right advice and are happy to provide technical information on the product. We don’t inflate list prices to gauge customers or give dealers a fake discount. CLIMATE CRISIS – FLOOD OR FIRE Fire Authorities around Australia are all conscious of the fuel build-up over the winter months. The rain we have had has been great for the crops but also has produced potential for massive bushfires this season. Being prepared means not only buying a pump, tank and hose kit but also being trained in its efficient use. Here’s five handy hints: 1. Train the family or neighbours on how to use the equipment. 2. Make sure the pump is primed, that is the bowl filled with water and the pump and engine oiled. 3. Carry out drills on a regular basis. 4. Plan ahead of your routes in and out, including an escape route if it becomes necessary. 5. Secure your livestock in a safe area, where possible, and give them an escape if things get desperate. Animals may run, through or in front of a fire. Open the gates, let them free, marking big animals, cows and horses with your phone number with livestock crayons on the rear haunches Training and preparation is everything! We tell people “Hope for The Best but Prepare for the Worst”. Further information on dealer locations is readily available from Aussie Pumps. Don’t compromise on gear, buy the best, buy products that are designed to work, not merely to be sold. www.aussiepumps.com.au
October, 2021
Be Fire Ready
Befire rere e ready e necessary fire preparedness activities, Ms Bath said. CFA booklets such as the Fire Ready Kit and Your Guide to Survival are wonderful resources and I encourage every householder to take a moment to read, prepare or refresh their fire plan. The resources cover important topics including how to design a bushfire plan through to caring for your pets during an emergency. It is critical every family member understands their role if their household fire plan is activated in the event of emergency. Families wanting a printed copy of the CFA s Bushfire Preparedness Resources can contact my electoral of fice on 5174 7066 or drop into my office at 181 Franklin Street, Traralgon. Now is the time for Gippslanders to plan ahead, prepare or revise their property fire strategy and contact their local CFA brigade for additional information and follow the advice of our hardworking emergency service personnel.
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A B U S H F I R E c a n s t r i ke w i t h l i t t l e warning, but will move quickly leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. The Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Region, Melina Bath (pictured) said Gippslanders understand as the temperature begins to rise, so does the threat of bushfire to our community. Gippsland has experienced good rainfalls throughout winter and spring leading to considerable fuel load build up including an abundance of grass, all of which can become a substantial fire hazard during the summer, Ms Bath said. Our CFA volunteer fire fighters do an incredible job protecting people and property when responding to bushfire emergencies, however it is vital we all do our bit to prepare for the fire danger period ahead. Ms Bath said the CFA produces a number of resources to assist residents prepare their properties and protect their loved ones during bushfire season. It is imperative we access and heed the advice of authorities and undertake
October, 2021
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
25
RURAL NEWS
Researchers investigate last month’s earthquake By JOSH FARRELL
MELBOURNE University has sent a group of researchers to the area around Licola and Woods Point to investigate last month’s earthquake. Earthquake science associate professor Mark Quigley and his team have been working to better understand how the magnitude 5.9 earthquake travelled throughout Victoria after it hit on September 22. They are examining how the earthquake acted as energy dispersed from the epicentre, as they did not have
seismometers within 50 kilometres of the epicentre. Professor Quigley said the patterns of damage they observed quite asymmetric and variable. “There are quadrants and areas where there was quite a lot of shaking, and then some areas where there seems to be hardly any strong shaking at all,” he said. Residents experienced minimal to no structural damage to buildings and infrastructure, and the region directly surrounding the epicentre was not as damaged as many experts predicted.
“Immediately on top of the fault and close to the fault, the shaking was not as strong as we would anticipate — in fact in some places it doesn’t seem there was very strong shaking at all,” Professor Quigley said. Aftershock rates have declined steadily since the initial earthquake, with the last magnitude aftershock greater than three occurring on September 23. Professor Quigley said the damage seen in Melbourne showed some buildings were not prepared for an event like this, even with the minimal shaking that occurred. “That highlights the vulnerability of
Melbourne to very low intensities of shaking,” he said. “… if you look at the distribution of vulnerable structures, the odds are the more structures you have the more chance you are of having very vulnerable ones,” Professor Quigley said. He said it was too soon to understand whether the region was likely to experience more earthquakes of the magnitude seen on September 22. “We are working with the community, so we are asking them to help us out in locating damage,” he said.
Farmers urged to check dam integrity SOUTHERN Rural Water (SRW) says recent rainfall and last month’s earthquake may have tested the integrity of some farm dams, serving as a timely reminder for landowners to check the safety of their farm dams. Groundwater and Rivers manager Bryce Morden said that heavy rain over winter and spring periods means that that some dams could fail if they have not been properly maintained. Adding to the risk was the recent earthquake that occurred which may have damaged dam banks. He said some landowners in the region have found out the hard way in recent years that a failed dam is expensive to repair and can deny them a vital source of water when you need it most. “Collapsed dams can also cause significant damage to the environment and to neighbouring downstream properties,” he said. “If your dam collapses and causes damage to someone else’s property, you may be liable for the costs,” Mr Morden said. Southern Rural Water recommends that landowners check their dams regularly as part of their weekly routine. Amongst other things, landowners should ensure their spillway is designed to take a once-in-100 year flood and is free of obstructions. They should also ensur e any compensation pipes are working effectively. On the dam itself, check the dam wall for any signs of leaking, cracks, slippage or erosion and ensure your dam wall is kept clear of trees, shrubs and weeds. You should not allow stock any access to the dam wall, as they can cause damaging erosion. “If anyone notices an issue with a private dam, we advise them to immediately phone either Southern Rural Water or a qualified engineer with experience in farm dams,” Mr Morden said. “Our Field Officers also do routine checks on the condition of dams and will ask property owners to make improvements where necessary.”
Southern Rural Water says recent rainfall and last month’s earthquake may have tested the integrity of some farm dams.
For more information about farm dams, phone Southern Rural Water on 1300 139 510 or visit www.srw.com.au. GENERAL DAM MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES Southern Rural Water (SRW) encourages all dam owners to follow good practice guidelines to help achieve a long operating life from your dam: · Spillway - the spillway must be designed to cope with large storms and rainfall runoff. The spillway must never be reduced in size without the approval of your rural water authority. · Compensation pipe and valve - the valve must be operated regularly to
avoid seizure due to rust and other build up. Operating regularly will also reduce the amount of silt and other debris that can build up in the compensation pipe. Safe and simple access to the valve must be maintained at all times. · Dam wall - the downstream wall should be kept clear of trees, shrubs and weeds. The slope should have an even cover of deep-rooted grass, regularly maintained to allow visual assessment of the wall. · Dam crest - the crest may be used to allow stock or vehicles to cross the dam wall. However, it should be kept level to avoid potholes and uneven areas
forming. The crest should also be fenced to exclude stock from both the upstream and downstream walls. Allowing stock access to the walls will cause damaging erosion. · General surveillance - You should regularly check for leaks, wet spots, slumping or any signs that the dam may be at risk. Regular inspections and prompt maintenance should ensure you get the maximum life span from your dam. Any movement should immediately be reported to your local rural water authority (eg: Southern Rural Water) and your farm dam engineer.
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
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It’s OKAY to NOT BE OKAY FARMING stressors and isolation, along with financial concerns particularly during times of disaster, can often result in farmers and their families living in a constant state of anxiety or depression. Feeling out of control and overwhelmed is a very normal feeling, but seeking help is the key to feeling free again. RFCS Gippsland are a local wrap-around service with a specialised team dedicated to the financial and personal wellbeing of Gippsland farmers. They also campaign for ‘Detect & Protect’: engaging farm service providers and communities on how to identify rural mental health concerns and what to do to help improve their situation. RFCS Gippsland recently investigated the correlation between personal health and wellbeing and the ability to manage finances during challenging circumstances, as often financial wellbeing affected all other aspects of health – and vice versa. The graph (right) is an example of outcomes for one client after engaging with their Wellness Support Program, which was consistent with the outcomes of all clients engaged in the program over six sessions. Results proved that focusing on improving all aspects of your life enables you to also improve your financial health. During each session, clients were asked to rate how they feel out of 10 for each of their wellness pillars being Mental; Physical; Emotional; Social and Financial.
By the sixth session, all areas improved along with financial and emotional wellbeing: Wellbeing encompasses more than one aspect of life, and is difficult to achieve long-term if other important areas are being neglected. If you are struggling emotionally and financially (or know someone who is), protect them and yourself by
referring to the free services of RFCS Gippsland. Their specialised rural financial support team will work on improving your finances whilst a dedicated wellness support officer will focus on you. Call 1300 045 747 or visit rfcsgippsland.org.au/ wellbeing to find out more.
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October, 2021
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
27
RURAL NEWS
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There was a massive slump in deer hunting in Victoria in 2020, according to a harvest report released by the Game Management Authority.
Figures dropped
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THERE was a massive slump in deer hunting in Victoria in 2020, according to a harvest report released by the Game Management Authority (GMA). The report found a 60 per cent decrease in deer hunting last year, with nearly 70,000 deer harvested in Victoria – far less than the 174,000 head of deer taken in 2019. Sambar Deer was the most harvested species of which 56 per cent were female, followed by Fallow Deer of which 73 per cent were female. The report found that only 35 per cent of Victoria’s 41,000 licensed recreational deer hunters actively hunted in 2020. The most popular hunting areas were around Mansfield, Bright, Jamieson, Omeo and Bairnsdale. The highest number of deer were taken out of Mansfield, Kinglake Central, Omeo, Myrtleford and Warragul. GMA chief executive Graeme Ford said
the decrease in deer harvest numbers were due to fewer active hunters in the field. “Restrictions on recreational activity throughout the year has likely led to the significant reduction in hunter activity and the estimated number of deer harvested,” Mr Ford said. “The report shows that while the number of deer harvested and days spent hunting in the field had reduced substantially, hunter efficiency remained consistent with previous years. “Information about the number of deer harvested by recreational hunters helps to inform decisions about deer management and the management of hunting on public and private land in Victoria.” About 2400 licensed deer hunters were surveyed about their hunting activity, how many deer they harvested, where they hunted, their methods and the species of deer they harvested.
“From our family business to o yours” Browns Stockfeed has been supplying Gippsland Farmers for over 30 years
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0428 361 231
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0439 959 899
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0488 623 159
Gippsland Matt Hall
0459 234 720
86 Yarragon Road, Leongatha, 5662 3199 620 Heyfield/Upper Maffra Road, Tinamba West 5145 1345 28
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
October, 2021
+
STOP LOOK UP LIVE NO GO ZONE for power poles
3m
NO GO ZONE FOR POWER POLES
Anywhere above power line and within 3m each side or below. See special provisions.
3m 3m
Spotter required between 3 - 6.4m of power lines. Open area outside 6.4m of power lines.
DON T RISK IT BE SAFE, NOT SORRY!
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ACE Earthmoving Pty Ltd has placed this advertisement fo ollowing a near miss incident. Thankfully no-one was injured. October, 2021
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
29
RURAL NEWS VFF president Emma Germano says there needs to be support rtt given for agricultural freight workers to comply with COVID-19 interstate border crossing requirements ts s in the lead up to harv rvest. v
VFF requests urgent support for agricultural freight workers
THE Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) is requesting urgent support for agricultural freight workers to comply with COVID-19 interstate border crossing requirements in the lead up to harvest. With limited access to freight-friendly testing and vaccination sites in regional Victoria, the VFF are deeply concerned by the impact the current cross border requirements will have on the significant additional movements of freight workers required to cross state borders. This includes impacts on contract harvesters, farmers delivering grain and machinery across borders and heavy vehicle operators transporting grain to stockfeed mills, bulk handlers or port for export. The VFF has called for increased opening times for existing freight-friendly testing sites, additional freight-friendly testing sites in regional Victoria, targeted vaccination for agricultural freight workers in regional areas, including the provision of Pfizer vaccines for freight workers under 60 and extend the frequency of testing for freight operators who have visited red zones from every three days to every seven days in line with the National Freight Code
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if freight operators have been vaccinated. VFF president Emma Germano says there are a number of concerns that need addressing. “Currently, the majority of freightfriendly testing and vaccination sites are concentrated in metropolitan Melbourne which isn’t feasible for agricultural freight operators to access during harvest time,” she said. “There’s only five freight-specific testing sites within Victoria, none of which are in Northern Victoria, and these are only open during limited times of the day. Our industry doesn’t just operate from 9am to 5pm and it should be a no-brainer to expand the number of sites and make them open 24 hours a day. “We need freight-friendly vaccination centres in regional Victoria near key agricultural freight routes, instead of mostly within metropolitan Melbourne.” “Every day we wait to implement these changes, the harder we make it for people to follow the rules.” “These workers have helped keep our country moving and fed throughout the pandemic and it’s time they are looked after.”
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
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October, 2021
WEATHER OUTLOOK September’s Rainfall Observations for Eastern Victoria (source BOM)
The national rainfall outlook for October to December. bureau of meteorology
image
Victoria’s rainfall chart for the month of September. of meteorology
image bureau
East Sale Airport.........73.4mm Hogan Island...............55.8mm Latrobe Valley...........122.0mm Mount Baw Baw.......268.6mm Mount Moornapa.....152.8mm Wilsons Promontory .134.4mm Yanakie ......................112.8mm Yarram Airport............68.0mm Bairnsdale....................89.2mm Combienbar..............136.6mm
Gabo Island.................77.8mm Gelantipy ...................101.6mm Lakes Entrance.........102.3mm Mallacoota...................88.8mm Mount Nowa Nowa..142.0mm Omeo.........................134.6mm Orbost........................131.0mm Point Hicks...........................N/A Pound Creek.............113.4mm Wonthaggi...................91.2mm
GIPPSLAND’S
Cattle Market REPORT PAKENHAM LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE
Monday, October 4
There were approximately 575 export and 130 young cattle penned representing an increase of 150 head week-on-week. Most of the usual buying group was present and operating in a mixed market. Quality was limited with secondary lots throughout and cows representing half of the sale. A limited selection of trade cattle sold to firm demand. Grown steers gained a few cents while bullocks held firm. Competition throughout the cow sale fluctuated although averages remained firm while heavy bulls sold a few cents dearer. Vealers sold from 450c to 594c/kg. Yearling trade steers made between 502c and 578c/kg. Yearling heifers to the trade sold between 480c and 550c/kg. Grown steers made from 484c to 514c after a couple of Euro steers reached 550c/kg. Bullocks sold from 460c to 500c/ kg. Heavy grown heifers made between 410c and 450c/kg. Heavy manufacturing steers sold between 420c and 467c/kg. Most light and medium weight cows made from 265c to 382c/kg. Heavy weight cows sold mostly from 319c to 434c/kg. Better shaped heavy bulls made between 357c and 410c with the dairy lots between 322c and 354c/kg. Yarding 706 Weight
Grade Score
Live Weight c/kg
Carcass
Weight
Low
High
Avg
Change
Avg
Low
High
Avg
Yearling Steer 280-330
B
540.0
540.0
540.0
N/Q
0
1782
1782
1782
330+
C,B
450.0
594.0
N/A
N/Q
1024
1575
2079
N/A
Vealer Heifer 200-330+
C,B,D
490.0
570.0
N/A
N/Q
926-1018
1250
2543
N/A
Yearling Steer 330-400+
C,B,D
472.0
578.0
N/A
N/Q
874-1009
1824
2740
N/A
Yearling Heifer 200-400+
A,D,C
400.0
550.0
N/A
N/Q
769-982
1200
2565
N/A
C,B,D,E
325.0
480.0
N/A
N/Q
759-960
990
3263
N/A
Grown Steer 400-750+ Cows 0-400
DA,RS
240.0
376.0
N/A
N/Q
685-750
864
1376
N/A
400-520
D,E
265.0
400.0
N/A
N/Q
716-813
1190
1980
N/A
520+
D,E,C
298.0
435.0
N/A
N/Q
714-867
1639
3477
N/A
GIPPSLAND REGIONAL LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE SALE Tuesday, September 28 Livestock
Steers
Heifers
Vealer
Beef Cows
Dairy Cows
Bulls
October, 2021
Change 170 Comparison date 16/09/2021
Category
Estimated Estimated Carcass c/kg $/Head
Avg $ / Head
Thursday, October ??
There were approximately 350 export and 35 young cattle penned representing an increase of 170 head from the sale of a fortnight ago. The usual buying group was present and operating in a cheaper market in places. Quality was limited in the grown cattle while cows represented over half of the sale. The handful of trade cattle were mostly yearling heifers and improved slightly. Grown steers and bullocks eased 4c to 8c/kg. Cows sold mostly 10c to 15c/kg cheaper. Heavy bulls sold firm. A handful of vealers lacking finish sold from 490c to 520c/kg. Yearling heifers to the trade made between 420c and 520c/kg. Grown steers and bullocks sold between 440c and 467c/kg. Most light and medium weight cows made from 292c to 384c/kg. Heavy weight cows sold mostly from 304c to 422c/kg. Heavy bulls made between 272c and 353c/kg. Yarding 385
Change 153 Comparison date 27/09/2021
Category
BAIRNSDALE LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE
Grade Score
Carcass
Live Weight c/kg
Estimated Estimated Carcass c/kg $/Head
Low
High
Avg
Change
Avg
Low
High
Avg
456.0
456.0
456.0
N/Q
829
2202
2202
2203
B,C,D,2,3
402.0
520.0
451.5
1
842
2018
2288
2095
B,C,D,2,3
520.0
520.0
520.0
N/Q
946
1560
1560
1560
500-600
B,C,D,2,3
462.0
467.0
464.3
-2
851
2620
2699
2656
600-750
B,C,D,2,3
455.0
460.0
458.6
-7
825
2806
3071
2926
B,C,D,2,3
366.0
430.0
392.8
-10
800
1950
2924
2350
Yearling Steer 400+
B,C,D,2,3
Yearling Heifer 400+ Vealer Heifer 280-330 Grown Steer
Cows 520+
LEONGATHA LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE
Wednesday, October ??
There were approximately 1,080 export and 100 young cattle penned representing an increase of 140 head week-on-week. The usual buying group was present but not all operating fully in a mixed market. Quality was limited with cows representing more than half of the sale. A handful of trade steers gained 25c with the heifer portion lifting 4c/kg. Grown steers and bullocks sold firm. Friesian manufacturing steers sold firm while the crossbred portion eased 25c/kg. Heavy beef cows sold firm while dairy lots eased 5c to 20c/kg for all except the lightest lots. Heavy bulls eased slightly. A handful of vealers sold from 536c to 601c/kg. Yearling trade steers made between 550c to 582c and the heifer portion to the trade sold between 452c and 578c/kg. Grown steers made from 480c to 526c and bullocks sold from 465c to 495c/kg. Heavy grown heifers showing good finish made between 432c and 490c/kg. Heavy Friesian manufacturing steers sold between 372c and 414c with the crossbred portion ranging from 416c to 493c/kg. Most light and medium weight cows made from 260c to 380c with heavy weight cows selling mostly from 322c to 414c/kg. Heavy bulls made between 320c and 392c/kg.
Vendor
District
Avg Kg
C / Kg
Leathorn Dairies
Foster
680
410
2,788.00
Berns Nigel
Newry
635
428.6
2,721.61
Van Ruiswyk WC & MJ
Stratford
535
452.6
2,421.41
Yarding 1179
Russel Peter
Stratford
565
410.6
2,319.89
Category
Smith Gl & Mh
Maffra
785
424.6
3,333.11
Weight
Change 140 Comparison date 22/09/2021 Grade Score
Blake Do & Mt
Perry Bridge
625
420.6
2,628.75
Blake DO & MT
Perry Bridge
600
418.6
2,511.60
Blake DO & MT
Perry Bridge
590
420.6
2,481.54
Connor Alice
Sale
505
476.6
2,406.83
Dalrose Farm
Maffra
425
556.6
2,365.55
Coulthard Timothy
Woodside North
405
560.6
2,270.43
Coulthard Timothy
Woodside North
330
590.6
1,948.98
400+
Blake DO & MT
Perry Bridge
795
402.6
3,200.67
Vealer Steer
Gannon PV & MJ
Tinamba
Blake DO & MT
Perry Bridge
Carcass
Live Weight c/kg
Estimated Estimated Carcass c/kg $/Head
Low
High
Avg
Change
Avg
Low
High
Avg
Yearling Steer 330-400
B,C,D,2,3
460.0
568.0
514.0
N/Q
952
1656
1988
1822
400+
B,C,D,2,3
465.0
582.0
546.5
-6
966
2125
2750
2472
B,C,D,2,3
440.0
578.0
508.8
11
940
1980
2746
2521
B,C,D,2,3
601.0
601.0
601.0
N/Q
1,073
1953
1953
1953
Yearling Heifer
750
422.6
3,169.50
280-330
722.5
416.6
3,009.94
Grown Steer
Rose WG & MV
Valencia Creek
695
412.6
2,867.57
500-600
B,C,D,2,3
475.0
526.0
-9
916
2660
3060
2966
Shears Brett
Sale
720
378.6
2,725.92
600-750
B,C,D,2,3
476.0
497.0
N/Q
878
3355
3570
3484
B,C,D,2,3
365.0
422.0
394.2
17
802
2008
2800
Van Den Broek LW & PJ
Boisdale
685
378.6
2,593.41
Cows
McKay Barry
Nambrok
652.5
374.6
2,444.27
520+
Gallatly Kim
Airly.
630
384.6
2,422.98
Van Den Broek LW & PJ
Boisdale
620
378.6
2,347.32
Mckay Barry
Nambrok
627.5
364.6
2,287.87
Hiscock M & V
Maffra
935
384.6
3,596.01
Tablelands Past. Co.
Maffra
850
374.6
3,184.10
JB Lamb & Sons
Denison
810
384.6
3,115.26
Mowat Enterprises
Stratford
685
359.6
2,463.26
2297
Market figures supplied by Meat and Livvestock Australia’s National Livestock Reporting Service and Gippsland Re egional Livestock Exchange - Sale
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
31
FERTILISING SERVICES
CHICKEN
The NATURAL Fertiliser
To add vital nutrients why not try one of our chicken manure products?
MANURE
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BULK QUANTITIES AVAILABLE For a free quote call Justin 0477 360 249 or Cam 0487 001 738
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AGRICULTURAL MACHINERY
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FENCING
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CYPRESS LOGS
Good prices for quality tyy logs. Harv rvesting v and clean up arranged.
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RURAL ADVISORY
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(THE WATER DOCTOR)
Ph: 0428 594 565 www.watertankcleaning.com.au
Cleaning & Repairing Since 1996
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
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To promote your Trade, S Service or Business here,
October, 2021
AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTOR
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RURAL DIRECTORY AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTING
Round bale hay and silage, small square hay
Round Hay Baling Small Square Baling
For all your contacting needs:
Round Silage Baling
Call Neil Barnes (Boolarra)
0474 946 634
GP1632549
Lucerne Sales
0430 210 214
SILAGE CONTRACTORS
HAY COVERS
HAY COVERS?
IN STOCK WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED NOW
Mektrac Pty Ltd PRECISION CHOP SILAGE CONTRACTORS
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AGRICULTURAL CONTRACTING
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ad, Cowwarr 3857 2827 Traralgon - Maffra Ro
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Portable Weather Stations
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$ $ $
SEED SUPPLIES
% & ) # ' )
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$
ALPACA STUD
Sowing seed this Spring?
MERUNGLE ALPACA STUD
• Pasture seed • Turf and amenity seed • Cropping seed The cost effec ve way to buy your seed is through Bass Coast Seed Supplies
GIPPSLAND BREEDER SERVICING AUSTRALIA
Stud and Commercial Alpacas always available Alpaca Products and Fleeces for times to visit please call
GP1633113
8-14 Hade Avenue, BASS, 3991 basscoastseedssuppliers@gmail.com
0418 359 517
Jen & Peter 5147 2444 or 0412 383 655
email: mcdavitt@merungle.com.au
Contact us for available export orders CONTACT US FOR THE BEST PRICE AND HONEST ADVICE!
GP1624183
Contact Us Colleen Bye 0467 533 003 Katrina Einsidel 0428 120 686 Phillip Fleming 0498 242 421 Steve Fallon 0427 352 231
38 Sellings Lane, Maffra
www.merungle.com.au
WANTED TO BUY
LIVESTOCK BUYING
October, 2021
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
33
A D V E R T I S I N G
F E A T U R E
Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 tractors
AT the heart of the new Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 tractors is the powerful S8000 engine, standard in all models, making easy work of even the heaviest load.
With Tier 3 emission level, 4 cylinders, 3908 cm3 cylinder volume, Turbo-Intercooler and high torque values, the Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 is designed to combine power with efficiency.
ActiveDrive 4 transmission Case IH Farmall M tractors come with the ActiveDrive 4 transmission designed to deliver high levels of power and torque from the engine most efficiently. ActiveDrive 4 is a smooth-shifting semi-automatic transmission, increasing the productivity of all your endeavours. It dispenses with a clutch between in-range speeds, opting instead for easy, button-operated seamless shifting, thus maximising comfort as a result of its smooth gear shifts. With a total of 32 forward and 32 reverse gear options, the ActiveDrive 4 transmission covers a wide range of speeds, from 0.28 km/h to 40 km/h. Auxiliary equipment such as the electro-hydraulic power shuttle, power shuttle sensitivity settings, automatic 4WD, automatic differential lock, and buttons for easy gear shifting, ensures that maintaining high levels of operating efficiency is never at the expense of comfort, which remains paramount in the equipment design.
Electro-Hydraulic power shuttle and sensitivity setting The system allows forward and backward movements without pressing the clutch pedal in row-end turns or where manoeuvring is limited. The hydraulic power shuttle system is located ergonomically under the steering wheel and enhances comfort while at the same time generating time and fuel savings. Power shuttle sensitivity setting is an additional feature allowing the operator to adjust the forwardbackward movement speed (slow or fast) as controlled by an electro-hydraulic power shuttle, depending on working conditions and the type of attachment used.
34
electro-hydraulic components to ensure utmost efficiency when working with a variety of agricultural attachments. Electronic draft control system, hydraulic lift capacity of 5400 kg, six hydraulic power outlets, fender mounted hydraulic controls, and a hydraulic top link are just a few of the superior Farmall M features. The standard electronic hitch control system ensures high precision especially during subsoil work by making it easy to control heavy agricultural attachments. Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 lets you adjust the settings in the electro-hydraulic system to meet all your needs, offering superior performance under any condition.
Power take-off makes light of heavy-duty work
Powerful hydraulic equipment
The Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 comes with a wide-range of superior equipment, such as an electro-hydraulic power take-off (PTO) clutch, three different PTO speeds (540, 540E and 1000 rpm), and automatic PTO function.
Case IH Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 tractors use
It is also possible to monitor the PTO speed on the
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
digital indicator in real time during operation. Automatic PTO (Auto PTO) makes it possible to engage or disengage the PTO at a predetermined hydraulic arm/lever height. This system is combined with automatic 4WD and differential lock ensuring easy row-end manoeuvres.
Enjoy the privilege of comfort Every single detail of the Case IH Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 has been precisely designed to meet your needs. It turns heads thanks to its unique body design, in addition to its superior performance and power, making it the professionals’ choice. Comfort takes centre stage in the cab design as well, even in the toughest conditions. The Farmall M ActiveDrive 4 stands out with its unique features, such as its spacious cab with air conditioning, ergonomic control levers, airsuspension seat and sunroof. With the air-suspension seat, jolting during heavy working conditions is minimised by adjusting the suspension to suit your personal preference.
October, 2021
GP1632360
October, 2021
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
35
RURAL NEWS
Million-dollar support for solar farm
VICTORIA’S first solar farm wholly-owned and operated by an Aboriginal corporation has received $1 million in state funding. Sale’s Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation was allocated $1 million for construction of a 4.9 megawatt solar farm on 16 hectares the organisation already owns in Longford. Construction is on track to begin mid-next year. Electricity sales from the solar farm will ensure a sustainable income stream for the corporation for 20 or more years, which will fund secondary school and tertiary scholarships, the corporation’s Aboriginal employee training requirements, and the employment of Aboriginal health practitioners, such as mental health workers and dentists. The farm will also benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and training opportunities in the renewable energy sector, and increase Aboriginal selfdetermination through control over income stream from investment in Aboriginalowned land. It is expected to create at least 40 jobs during construction and 14 ongoing roles, and reduce grid electricity greenhouse gas emissions by about 12,000 tonnes per
Sale’s Ramahyuck District Aboriginal Corporation was allocated $1 million for construction of a 4.9 megawatt solar farm on 16 hectares at Longford. file photograph
annum. Ramahyuck’s general manager of economic development, Andrew Dimarco, said the organisation was thrilled to receive the state government’s funding support, which would allow it to undertake some key project stages sooner. “Ramahyuck will have access to untied funds to enhance its current service
provision, and provide further employment and training opportunities to local Aboriginal people,” he said. “Excitedly, the project has the potential to be a template for other Aboriginal organisations around the country. “The project has generated a lot of interest from around the country, and we
are currently speaking with a number of large organisations, who are very interested in purchasing the power once it’s operational. “Many of whom have social responsibility and Indigenous procurement targets they are keen to meet.” Labor Member for Eastern Victoria Jane Garrett said she was delighted to see the corporation receive support for the first solar farm on Aboriginal-owned land in Victoria – “a project that means selfdetermination on renewable energy and jobs for the community”. Ramahyuck was one of five local community groups to share in more than $1 million in grants through the Latrobe Valley Energy and Growth Program, which funds communities to take control of energy costs, support local jobs and reduce emissions. Another $26,000 in state government funding has been allocated to install solar panels on the Heyfield and District Museum, Coongulla Community Hall, Heyfield Golf Club and Heyfield Tennis Club. Stage two of the program has now been launched for new renewable energy projects in the Latrobe City, and Baw Baw and Wellington shires, with round two applications closing November 30.
Business program offers a fine opportunity for farmers
AGRICULTURE Victoria is offering an exciting new online program for Victorian livestock, grain and mixed farmers. The Farm Business Resilience Program, which is part of the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund, will provide farmers with the opportunity to develop or refresh their Farm Business Plan. Project leader Kit Duncan-Jones said participants will be supported by Agriculture Victoria staff and a professional Farm Management Consultant to develop a strategic plan for their farm business. “Agriculture Victoria is providing the opportunity for farmers to participate in the program online in coming months,” Mr Duncan-Jones said. “Farmers from around Victoria will be able to participate in a series of interactive online workshops, using practical information and tools to better manage risk and make informed decisions for their farm business.” Topics covered in the program include: Identifying and managing emerging risks Business planning and financial management Succession planning and people management AgTech and Internet of Things (IoT)
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GP1633020
36
THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
Seasonal outlooks, managing soils and farm water for the future. Mr Duncan-Jones said the successful online Whole Farm Planning courses run by Agriculture Victoria over the past 12 months has demonstrated that online workshop delivery suits many farmers. “Farmers can participate from the comfort of their own home and there is no time commitment associated with travelling to workshop venues,” he said. Participants will also be able to access a Farm Business Resilience Resource Library during and after the program, including program worksheets, presentation materials, videos, podcasts, eLearns and useful websites. Mr Duncan-Jones said if you’re a farmer who wants to better manage your business, strengthen your farm resilience to withstand future shocks and set up your farm for success now and into the future – this is the program for you. To register your interest in participating in the online program, please complete this short survey: https://forms.office.com/r/ y6UpFAe9r9 For more information, contact Kit Duncan-Jones on 0427 749 466 or kit. duncan-jones@agriculture.vic.gov.au
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October, 2021
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October, 2021
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
37
GIPPSLAND SPORT
Wildcats reflect on season
Marcus Fraser will headline the field at the Gippsland Super 6 tournament to be held at Warragul Country Club in December. photograph professional golfers association of australia
Fresh date for Super 6 THE Gippsland Super 6 has been rescheduled to December 16-19 this year to ensure the event can go ahead with the highest-quality field possible. The PGA Tour of Australasia has reshuffled the entire 2021-22 summer golf schedule, as border closures necessitate the shift of tournaments originally slated for October and November. PGA of Australia Tournaments Director of Australasia Nick Dastey said the decision was made to ensure the best players would be available. “It is important we give the event the best chance to proceed with our full membership able to compete, and with the best possible field,” he said. “This magnificent tournament format has proven immensely popular, and we want to showcase it with the country’s best players at our new home at Warragul Country Club. “It has become increasingly obvious in recent weeks, with the current lockdowns and restrictions across the country, that we need some extra time to achieve this outcome.” The new date means the Gippsland Super 6 remains a full Order of Merit Tournament, with its own place on a crowded and condensed Australian golf calendar. Hosting the Gippsland Super 6 for the first time in 2021, the Warragul Country Club is pleased the tournament can go ahead in its full capacity. Club chairperson Kaye Rollinson said it was an exciting time. “The club is proud to be host venue for the Super 6 and we look forward to partnering with the PGA to deliver this showcase event for our members and our local community,” Rollinson said. Moving the event further into the summer holiday period also gives the event an opportunity to host activities that will attract and engage holidaying visitors and locals alike. “Being so close to Christmas gives us the chance to incorporate Christmas themed activities around tournament week, especially on the Family Day on Sunday, December 19,” Dastey said. The Gippsland Super 6 is a golf tournament comprising three rounds of ordinary stroke play, before a day three cut reduces the field of 126 competitors to a top 24. The top 24 then competes in a finalday six-hole matchplay format to determine a champion. Headlining the field will be defending champion Marcus Fraser, who has multiple wins on the European and Asian Tours along with representing Australia at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
OF all the ‘what ifs’ to come out of the cancelled football and netball season across Gippsland, the greatest one might well be Woodside. After finishing the North Gippsland Football-Netball League season on top of the ladder in senior football and A Grade netball, those involved at the Wildcats could be forgiven for thinking this may well have been ‘the year’. While it might be easy for other clubs to look to the immediate future or bask in previous glories, Woodside hasn’t exactly been a place brimming with silverware since it came into the NGFNL 13 years ago. There has been four finals appearances and just as many bottom-two finishes in that time, yet even the finals appearances gloss over a sobering fact - the Wildcats are yet to win a final in their history as a NGFNL club. To those unaware, the current Woodside is actually Woodside and District, which broke away from Devon-Welshpool-Won Wron-Woodside in 2008. That is certainly a story for another day. Reflecting on the season, Wildcats senior football coach Michael Duncan can’t help but think what might have been. “It was one of those years where a lot of things went right but ultimately it all went wrong in the end,” he said. “If I had to say where I sit with it and how I feel … on a personal level I’ve been really privileged of finishing finals with the siren going in a grand final (Duncan won back-to-back premierships in 2013-14 with Morwell in the Gippsland League). “So many people at Woodside are just incredible people who have poured everything into that club for a long time and haven’t won a final in 13 years since being in North Gippy, just thinking of that opportunity to see and dare to dream. “I look at guys like Daniel Missen, Ryan Foat and their families have such world legacies at Woodside, I just feel for those guys so much. “There is no guarantee that we would have made it past the second week of the finals, we could’ve been knocked out in straight sets, that’s a possibility, that’s the reality of finals, but I really feel for those people, we gave them something this year, we gave them some great moments and probably teased them a little bit with what we’re capable of but we didn’t get the chance to finish that. “You would like to think it was something that we can continue next year, but we all know how footy works. “In 2008 at Morwell we made a grand final as a really young side, lost to Sale by 17 points and thought ‘this is us next year’ and then didn’t make finals.” The coach said he was fine with the fact no premiership flag or medals were to be handed out, but hoped the somewhat
Woodside had its best chance to win a maiden North Gippsland premiership denied this season. photograph liam durkin
unheralded significance of winning a minor premiership was not lost either. “To win a grand final you need to make it to the finals but then it’s really up to your 22 versus their 22 on game day,” he said. “But to win a minor premiership I think that just to be on top at the end of the season requires so many people at the club to play their part, to do the right thing, to support you and help you. “I see a minor premiership as a really great achievement for our club, especially having A Grade and Seniors on top of the ladder, that shows to me that it is not just the players, it is the committee, sponsors, supporters that’s made that possible. “I’ll always look at it as ‘our club did a great job’, from recruitment to retention, sponsorship, governance, everything.” Having carried the sentimental favourites tag for a while, the Wildcats won no shortage of admirers for the way in which they played their football this season. “When I took the job (for season 2020) so many people told me Woodside’s their second club, and it is easy to see why,” Duncan said. “I think we’ve earned the respect of a lot of clubs football wise, some of the support we had from other clubs in preparation for the finals wishing us luck has been pretty special.” Duncan paid tribute to his players for the way in which they had continued to front up under so much duress. “What our players have done has blown my mind, they didn’t see lockdowns as an opportunity to do nothing,” he said. “It’s been really interesting for all of us to see the growth. “As a playing group we spoke about we
started this year as a side that had won five games and hadn’t had a lot of success in a decade. “Some of the teams we were picking and the way we had to win games early in the year - we beat everyone at their own game early in the year because we were still trying to develop our own style, so it was just going out and playing footy and finding a way to win, whereas the last couple (of games) when we were up against really good sides we were playing our style of football at that point. “Next year we start the year with belief, belief in what we’re trying to achieve, belief in how I’m trying to coach, belief in what we’re capable of - that is a great spot to start regardless of talent.” Despite all the setbacks and negative connotations to come out of another COVID season, the Wildcats were able to prove the true meaning of community sport late in the season. On a day that should have seen Woodside begin its finals campaign, restrictions meant they were unable to get on the park. Not to be defeated, Woodside players decided to go on a run, and pledged a certain amount of dollars per kilometre raised. In the end, the Wildcats ran 530 kilometres and raised $13,231 for Lifeline Gippsland For a village like Woodside, that genuine sense of community and knowing how much difference they made to people’s lives could be even more rewarding than any premiership.
New board of management GIPPSLAND League member clubs have voted in their board of management for 2022. The member clubs met with the governance committee early last week to elect a subcommittee that will begin the transition to self governance and administration. This subcommittee will formally take on the role of the board of management for the Gippsland League from November 1, 2021. The member clubs nominated and elected eight candidates creating a full ticket for the 2022 board of management. Some familiar names in local football and netball are on the board, including former Traralgon FootballNetball Club president Andrew Livingstone and Sale Football-Netball Club legend Dean Benson.
The board comprises of: Livingstone, Benson, Brett Tessari, Duane Rek, Jodi Galea, Shane Paynter, Ian Dougherty and Stuart Dalton. The board of management subcommittee will be meeting with AFL Gippsland this week to begin the transition process for the Gippsland League’s self-governance and administration. The Gippsland League announced in July it would be moving to self governance. The current service agreement between AFL Gippsland and the Gippsland League ceases on October 31. Gippsland League has been administered by the AFL Gippsland Regional Administration Centre since 2015. In 2017, the Gippsland League member clubs voted unanimously to
move away from an independent board to a governance and administration model under AFL Gippsland and the AFL Gippsland Commission. This model saw AFL Gippsland take on full responsibility for the leagues operations, financial decision making and governance. The league’s current strong off field position was seen as a key factor in the decision to reimplement an independent board of management. Member clubs have indicated they would like to explore AFL Gippsland continuing the operational management of the league through the RAC, however, it was encouraged by AFL Gippsland that it was in the best interest of a self governing Gippsland League to also setup the business operations model for the league in 2022 and beyond.
October, 2021
GIPPSLAND SPORT
TWO players shared Gippsland League netball’s most prestigious individual honour following a thrilling Hutchison Medal vote count on September 28. Leongatha centre Nicola Marriott and Warragul defender Christie Hillberg could not be split after polling 15 votes. Just two votes separated the top six placegetters at the end of the count, broadcast online due to COVID-19 restrictions. Traralgon’s Amy Harrison and Hannah Flanders finished tied for third on 14 votes, with Wonthaggi Power’s Jessica McRae and Morwell ace Tanya Budge tied for fifth on 13 votes. Marriott becomes the first Parrots player since Andrea Pearce in 2001 to win the award, while Hillberg, who was runner-up to Montana Holmes in 2019, joins Renee Cook as the only Gulls to secure the Hutchison Medal. Marriott got off to a flyer, polling eight votes in the first three rounds, including best-on-court displays against Wonthaggi Power and Drouin. Moe defender Ramayer Gourley and Budge were near the top of the leaderboard during the initial stages of the vote count. At points it looked as it would be a Parrots quinella with Marriott’s teammate Flanders drawing level in Round 6 and then taking the front on the back of a two-vote haul in Leongatha’s Round 7 win against Moe. Maroons star Harrison then made her move, with consecutive best-on-court displays in wins against Wonthaggi Power and Morwell lifting her to 14 votes with two rounds remaining. Hillberg finished the season in strong fashion, polling seven votes in her final three matches, including a best-oncourt effort against Sale in Round 9. Six players were in the hunt to win the gong going into the final round, but it would ultimately prove the Marriott and Hillberg show. Marriott polled the three votes and Flanders the two in Leongatha’s win against Sale, with Hillberg then drawing level after gaining two votes in Warragul’s loss to Morwell. Morwell’s Milly Murphy won the Dawn Pearce Medal as the B Grade league best and fairest with 17 votes, one clear of Traralgon’s Kasey Guttridge. Maffra’s Brooke Anderson polled 20 votes to win the Karen Proctor Medal (C Grade), finishing one vote clear of Jessica Murray (Leongatha). Maffra rising star Chelsea Allman was a clear winner of the 17 years and under best and fairest, polling 21 votes to finish four clear of Sale’s Charlotte Ronchi. Maffra’s Matilda Pendergast won the 15 years and under best and fairest, polling 18 votes to beat Bairnsdale’s Jordan O’Connor by one. Leongatha’s Lara Cocksedge and Sale’s Mia Ballinger tied on 18 votes to win the 13 years and under best and fairest award.
October, 2021
Tim powers to series victory By DEAN THOMPSON
IN his first season with his current Limited Sportsman race car purchased last June, Bairnsdale’s Tim McKenzie secured a win in the Bairnsdale Speedway point score for his division, surpassing his preseason goal of a top three result along the way. During the year McKenzie finished sixth at the state title, fourth at the King of the Rock feature event and third in the Bairnsdale 500 feature at the East Gippsland venue. Consistency in finishing races and finishing third to fifth on a regular basis helped contribute to his points tally securing him the seasons club championship. McKenzie shared his feelings on learning of his club championship result. “After a solid and consistent season, being crowned the club champion for Limited Sportsman is a huge honour and a surprise with how well I actually did,” he said. “This club has many Limited Sportsman legends and to join the club championship winning list with them is amazing.” “In the new season I aim to achieve this result again however it won’t be easy. We have tough local competition though and we are a tight-knit group willing to help each other as we grow the class again on our side of the West Gate Bridge, it will be
Tim McKenzie has put together a strong racing season.
a challenge to try and win again, however I cannot wait to test myself again.” McKenzie is supported by fiancée Jodie and his family and wished to thank Trent Wilson and Mark Noonan, two local Bairnsdale racers and who have also contributed to his success and fast tracking his knowledge of the race car he has and providing support regarding preparation and maintenance of the car. At the start of the season after I purchased the car from some circles there were some
photograph napier photography
questions as to how I might go given the difference between my last car and the results in that car,” McKenzie explained. “Support locally from people like Trent and Mark was confidence building and each meeting I improved and have achieved a result even I didn’t think I was going to achieve. Thanks goes to those and others who encouraged me along the way.” COVID-pending, McKenzie should be racing again at Bairnsdale Speedway before the new year.
Magpie ace’s medal win By LIAM DURKIN
SALE midfielder Shannen Lange claimed the Trood Award and Rodda Medal for the Gippsland League best and fairest on September 28. Lange went into the count as one of the favourites, and ended up polling 14 votes from his 10 games this season. The 27-year-old attracted the umpires attention on five occasions, getting three votes four times. Lange enjoyed playing against Bairnsdale particularly, and was judged best on ground in both matches. He also polled three votes against Maffra in Round 1 and Warragul in Round 9. A two-vote game against Morwell in Round 7 ended up being the difference, as Lange ended the count two votes clear of surprise runner-up Sam Whibley from Warragul and previous Trood Award and Rodda Medallist Tom Marriott from Leongatha. Lange formerly played at VFL club Port Melbourne and returned home to the Magpies this season. Sale has now produced three of the previous four Gippsland League senior best and fairests. Jack Lipman won the award in 2019 and Kane Martin in 2017. As well as Lipman and Martin, Lange now joins Bob Mason (1954, 1955), John Nix (1957), Adrian Cox (2008) and Luke Collins (2012) as Magpie players to win the Trood Award and Rodda Medal. Lange also won the Gippsland League Most Valuable Player award earlier in the season, and was named captain of the Team of the Year, with Wonthaggi’s Jarryd Blair named coach. The Rex Hartley Medal for the Reserves best and fairest proved that age is just a number. Ve t e r a n M a f f r a d e f e n d e r a n d former senior captain Ben Batalha took out the award, polling 11 votes, two clear from Moe 200 gamer Clinton Taylor. Morwell’s Will Kennedy also finished equal second, along with Bairnsdale’s Tyan Rees. The long sleeve wearing Batalha provided the Eagles with many rebound 50s this season as he continually picked balls off sitting across the half back line. In junior grades, the Wilkinson Medal for thirds best and fairest was won by Morwell’s Zac Carlson, while the Shaw Carter Medal for fourths best and fairest was won by Wonthaggi’s James Lewis on
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Sale midfielder Shannen Lange won this year’s Trood Award and Rodda Medal.
TROOD AWARD AND RODDA MEDAL 2021 LEADERBOARD Shannen Lange Sam Whibley Tom Marriott Aaron Heppell Alex Carr Jack Blair Jarryd Blair Kristian Jaksch Matt Northe Ben Willis
Sale Warragu Leongatha Leongatha Maffra Wonthaggi Wonthaggi Moe Traralgon Leongatha
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Gippsland netball’s top honour is shared
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THE GIPPSLAND FARMER
October, 2021