Banarra Brahmans Heads to Grafton on the 15th of Aug

Ash Gardiner of Banarra Brahmans from the lower Macleay of Kempsey will be making the trek up the Highway to Grafton on Thursday 15 August with a team of 10 Stud Brahman cattle to be offered and sold to the Clarance Valley cattle producers at the Farrell McCrohon monthly store market.

The team to be offered will consist of:

3 working age Bulls - two Grey and one Red ( two poled). All are vet inspected, semen tested and ready to go out with cows.

3 stud registered Grey females PTIC to leading Brahman stud sires closely with Minister Collins to ensure we put in place all the things our industry needs to remain proftable and sustainable well into the future.”

4 stud yearling heifers ready to join to the bulls of your choice in spring.

The Council also recognized the signifcance of Minister Murray Watt transitioning from agriculture to the employment and workplace relations portfolio. Mr. Burnett highlighted the impact of labor costs in horticulture, which can range from 30 to 60 percent of production costs depending on the crop. “We know over the past couple of years Minister Watt has developed a considered appreciation for the labor and workforce settings horticulture needs to not just maintain our national food security but to expand our export markets. We congratulate Minister Watt on his appointment to this weighty portfolio and look forward to continuing a dialogue in his new capacity.”

In summary, the NFF Horticulture Council is optimistic about the future under Minister Collins’ leadership and looks forward to productive collaborations to address the challenges and opportunities facing the horticulture sector.

Banarra Brahmans have been producing quality Brahman Cattle as a registered stud for the last 30 years, joining the breed society back in 1994. Their direction and focus has been on functional cattle with temperament and carcass quality. You would have to say they are a more earlier maturing thicker type Brahman that thrive in coastal conditions.

Grafton is a renowned area for the Brahman Breed and Ash is keen to capture a small part of that market. They are aware of some top quality

Brahman cattle in the area and are looking to complement them with the view to offering commercial cattle producers some alternatives. Banarra Brahmans are bringing these cattle to the sale to sell them. There will be no reserves set; if you bid you will buy.

The Bulls are full of the latest genetics and will be well suited to go over British and European cows capturing hybrid vigour and good growth rate with the view of producing the ideal F1 female or that beef bred weaner for all market categories.

The cows are PTIC to leading stud sires including Warraka Bryne (Three D platinum) and Warraka Reece who is a full brother to Brahrock Apollo (JDH Mr Boswick Manso)

The four Hfrs will be suited to those that just want to try the Brahman breed and or would like to step into the show ring for some fun. Banarra Brahmans are excited to be introducing their cattle to the Grafton cattle producers.

For further information , photos and videos visit the Banarra Brahmans Facebook page and Farrell McCrohon Stock & Station Agents Pty Ltd.

Clarance Valley Sale

3 working age Bulls

Two Grey & one Red ( two poled). All are vet inspected, semen tested and ready to go out with cows.

3 stud registered Grey females PTIC to leading Brahman stud sires

4 Stud Yearling Heifers

Ready to join to the bulls of your choice in spring

By Helen Trustum

The Burns Point Ferry crosses the Richmond River between South Ballina and Ballina. The ferry started operating at the crossing in December 1891. The frst ferry was a small hand winched timber ferry.

The Burns Point Ferry was owned by the

Department of Main Roads right up until the Wardell Bridge was built in 1964, then the Ballina Shire Council took over responsibility for the ferry and the crossing. The ferry is still owned by the Ballina Shire Council.

Current toll charges for crossing in 2024: Motorcycle - $3,

Car - $7, Box Trailer - $7, Caravan - $9. A concession applies to local residents.

The ferry is a steel hull ffteen car ferry, ftted with a Perkins diesel engine. It has automatic gates and is ftted with hydraulic faps.

From 1964 – 1991 the crossing was serviced by a six car, timber ferry, which had been transferred from the Wardell Crossing in 1964. In 1991 the timber ferry was replaced by a ferry brought from the Daintree in Northern Queensland.

The Burns Point Ferry carries approximately 1,000 cars per day across the river.

It is the responsibility of the Council to repair and overhaul the ferries at the crossing, however the contractor attends to minor mechanical problems, cables and pully’s as well as daily maintenance. For major work, the ferry is either shipped up to York’s Boat Building at Swan Bay or to Barrows Engines Works in

Extracts from an article in the Byron

– 17th January 2023: One man that has been involved with the fshing industry on the Richmond River all his life, has just retired from being ferry master at Burns Point for two decades. He is John Gallagher. Born and

By Helen Trustum

raised in Coraki and from a fshing family of Gallaghers, they are well known on the river.

John lived close to the Burns Point Ferry so never had far to go to work. The big food of 2022 took it’s toll with John losing a lot of his photographs when water entered the house. Over the years he has seen dolphins and turtles and one special day, he saw a seal and a whale with a young one close by. John does not think a bridge will ever be built at Burns Point as there is 19 metres depth of water.

“You’re the master of the vessel, your own boss, there in the elements. Working 4 days on, had a day’s break, then 4 days on and seven days off”. That’s what he was told when he started work on the ferry. John has seen enormous changes in and around Ballina in his time, from cane felds and scrub to the modern, growing township.

Burns Point Ferry is the only ferry operating on the Richmond River in 2024. This is the last story on the ferries, I hope you have enjoyed reading them. I have yet to source a complete list of ferrymen.

Ferry Drivers at Burns Point: Laurie Clifford, Jack Thompson, Jack Arthurson, Toby Watkins, John Gallagher, Sam Puglese, Joe Puglese, Mario Puglese, Daryl Holmes, Peter Duke, Bill Foster, Jack Smith, Max Saxton, Fred Webber, Hilary O’Mara, Kevin Carney, Barry Clifford, Pat Martin.

Ref: RTA report on NSW Vehicular Ferries – Oct 1981, Byron Shire Echo 17/1/2023. Athol Sneesby, Empire Vale, Peter Duke.