THE HowittSociety has condemnedthe state government for not including bushfire expertise on the panel that is investigating the futureofGippsland’s native forest.
“The Howitt Society is astounded to note that apanel to make recommendations on thefuturemanagement ofthe state’s public landestate, includingthe 1.8 million hectares of forest previously available for timber harvesting, does not include any members with astrong practicalbackgroundinforest and firemanagement,” said the Howitt Society’s secretary, Garry Squires, in aletter to the Minister for the Environment, Steve Dimopoulos.
The Howitt Society is agroup of experienced land and firemanagersand bushmen concerned for the health and safety of the Australian bush and in particular fire
management. They areinspired by the work of 19th Century Gippsland scientist Alfred Howitt, who wrote extensively on eastern and north-easterngeology, ecology,forests, fireand Gippsland’s indigenous people.
Mr Squires said Howitt Society members recognise that the bush faced an immediate, intensifying and ultimately existential threat from large, high intensity wildfires.
“In addition, multiple pest plants and an explosion in feral animal numbersadds further pressuretonative flora andfauna, as do increasingand often conflicting demands for access and use,” he said.
“Fireisby far the biggest threat to the future of the forest areasofVictoria and if fuelsare not managed, all other managementactions willbeovertaken by the impactsoflarge intense wildfires such as those which Victoria experienced in 2019/20. In addition, the structure of
No bushfireexpertonpanel
forests and the flora and fauna, soils and water values will be permanently impacted by the effects of these regular intense fires.”
For this reason, Mr Squires said the HowittSociety urged Mr Dimopoulos toreconsider themembershipofthe taskforce and add aperson with a strong background in practical forest/ firemanagement. This way, the review by the taskforcecan contribute in apositive way to improved outcomes for the future of the forests of Victoria, he said.
Traralgon consultant,John Cameron has made similar criticisms of the lack of bushfireexpertise in the native forest investigation by the state government’s Victorian Environmental Assessment Council.
The Howitt Society’s bushfirefears come as across-sectionofbush users,miners and prospectors that arerebelling against the possibility that several hundred thousand
extra hectares of forest could be included in aGreat Forest National Park. Last December,the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council (VEAC) noted that anational park couldbecreated from three areas in the north and south of the Central Highlands that would link the Yarra Ranges, Kinglake, Lake Eildon and Baw Baw national parks and the Bunyip, Cathedral Range and Moondarra parks. Engage Victoria, is due to make recommendations to VEAC on the Great Forest National Park later thisyear.Arally of more than 1000 people in Drouin amonth ago, attended by Victorian Liberal leader,John Pesutto, voted overwhelmingly against closing the Central Highlands State Forest, by incorporating it into aGreat Forest National Park.
Continued -Page4
Gippy farms among most expensive
TomHAYES
GROWTH for dairy farmland has seen a risedue to the rapid interest from North Americancorporate dairy buyers, the Weekly Times has reported
Due tothisinterest, pricerises to land have ensued, as wellasahandfulof big purchases not only acrossAustralia, but also in Gippsland.
The value of dairy farmlandinboth Victoriaand Tasmania increased beyond $20,000 per hectare last year,while land inNew South Wales remained steady.
In Victoria, the value of dairy farmland increased by 16 per cent, rising to an average of $21,650 pr hectare. Tasmaniaonly increased by 13per cent,yet remained moreexpensive at $29,000 per hectare, the WeeklyTimes reported.
"Despitethe drop in purchase intentions,dairy and mixed irrigatoroperators remained confident, especially in the northof the state (Tasmania).Scalable and well-located properties continued to attract sound interest throughout2023," Rabobank's AustralianAgriculturalLand Price Outlook 2024 Report author and RaboResearch analyst, Vitor Pistoiatold the WeeklyTimes.
Dairy farmland hasseen arecent rise in value duetointerest from North American corporate dairy buyers. Photo:Contributed
"The dairy market(in Victoria) particularly saw demand for smallerfarms for expansion. Of all dairying ground sales,33per cent were dealsunder 100hectares.
"Previously we mighthavethree or four buyers competing for adairy property, but thisismoreliketwo or three at the moment."
Owners of dairy farmland have since agreed to multi-million dollardeals, which has seenanumberofnotable dairy farmlandsales
Listing some of the biggest recent sales, the WeeklyTimes noted that the biggest was awhopping $30 million for a784-hectare property in Cressy, Tasmania
Among those in the list also included a 310-hectareproperty in Poowong, bought by aprivate Gippslandbeefproducer, sold by the Chinese-owned DFP Australia Afamilysold their 207-hectare
Leongatha property forreportedly over $8 million.
Also in Gippsland,a private local buyer bought an 156-hectaredairy farmland property in Bundalaguah for $5.4 million. With interest in Australian dairy farmland increasing, price rises may be continual. But, it remains whether owners arewilling to sell,and if theright pricearises.
Nominations open for Footy’s FavouriteFarmer
WORKSAFE is inviting Victorians to shine aspotlight on the unsung heroes of their farming communities, by nominating them to be crowned Footy's Favourite Farmer
The competition,incollaborationwith AFL Victoriaand Netball Victoria,offers an opportunity for farmers and their local clubs to win morethan $20,000 worth of safety upgrades and other prizes.
Nominees stand achanceto secure $10,000 towards safety upgradesfor the winner's farm, and another $10,000 for safety improvements or repairs at their community football netball club.
Monthly winners drawninthe lead-up to themajor prizeinAugustwillreceive
MTD 14/38 RIDE ON MOWER 14HP,38”
Cut, runs and mows,neat condition.
JOHN DEERE 2653
Asurrounds reelmower, Diesel,runs andmows
asafetypackvaluedatalmost$2000, including aFooty's Favourite Farmer shirt, apersonal safety trackingdevice, and a quadbike operator protective device(OPD)
The farmer's club also receives amerchandise pack of footballs and netballs valued up to $1000, and the person who nominated them receives aprize pack worth morethan $500.
WorkSafe's executive director of external affairs, Sam Jenkin, said the competition launch coincided withthe startof WorkSafe's Country Club Weeks for 2024.
"Our role is to reduce workplaceharmand to improve outcomes for injuredworkers and in country areas we know alarge part
of staying safe at work means staying safe on farms," Mr Jenkin said.
"Sadly, too many workers arekilled or seriously injured on farms every year and we areworking to change that entrenched 'she'll be right' attitude passed down through generations.
"The initiative aims not only to honour the invaluable contribution of farmers to local communities but also to emphasise thecriticalimportance of workplace safety in theagriculturesector."
Four lives have already been lost in workplaceincidents on farms thisyear, while morethan 550 people working in agricultureand related support services wereinjuredseriouslyenough to receive
workers compensation last year
Rosedale's Luke Stuckey, the Footy's FavouriteFarmer winnerin2023, said therewas incredible value in WorkSafe's support of country football and netball.
"Every day is dangerous and you know, every day is different. So, the dangers change fromday to day (working on a farm)," Mr Stuckey said.
"The WorkSafe messageis massive... if you see aWorkSafe footy or you just see the banner somewhereitjust makes you stop and think about getting home at the end of the day to see your kids and family."
Nominations for Footy's Favourite Farmer areopen until Friday, August 2, 2024.
Sykesgivessuccessionadvice
MORE than three decades of counselling families gives Lynn Sykes the right to speak home truths when it comes to succession planning for farmers.
Now retired from the business, but still able to shareher experience,the registered midwife, nurseand family counsellor addressed asuccession planningseminar at Beef 2024.
She told the crowd of nearly 80 people: “I’ve built acareer asking two questions: Asking older people what’s in theirwill and asking young people what they would do in relation to the businessifthey got divorced.And really, Ibuilt 30 yearsof work on those two questions.”
The wifeofanagronomist, she said: “It’s really important to understand that when you cometothe pointofsuccession, everyone feels vulnerable."
“Often people who work in agriculture live in isolationand they areincredibly focussed on what they do for aliving.
“It’s an enormous part of their self-esteem. And if you takethat away from them or even if theygive it away, it leaves them very vulnerable.
"And the generationthat’s comingthrough feels incredibly vulnerable,especially if they can’t get anyonetotalk about succession, or they can’t get anything moving, or the processhas stopped.
“My experience of workinginthis part of the state and with beef producers generally is that they areoften very task-focussed. And Iparticularly want to say that if you areaperson whoistask-focussed, if you’re an ‘action person’, Ican tell you that succession willbeharder foryou because retirement is harder
“If you think your whole identity is tied up with what you do for aliving, it’s probably goodtolookatthatfor it will beone of
the huge barriers to succession planning. These people areunlikely to make agood transition to retirement and can make succession planning problematic.”
Multi-generational farming enterprises present unique challenges, she said.
“One of the enormous difficulties that these families face is their ability to communicate in an effective way about tricky subjects.It’svery limited, particularly in agriculture,” Ms Sykes said.
And it’s not just about running the farm.
“I was astounded how mothers-in-law criticised the way theirdaughters-in-law pegged their washing on the line. Itell you, alot of people careabout how peg the washing on the line,” she said.
“One of the things Iwould encourage you to examine -ifyou’reyoung -isyour own family history.The first place youneed to look at is -whathappened with their parents?Ibelievethat is one of the biggest influencing factors.
“The next influencing factor is self-esteem because one of the things that deteriorates as you get older is your own self-esteem.
"The stakes arehigh. No one really wants to be marginalised from their family. No one -initially at least- sets outtohurt the family.But succession so often does exactly that. I’ve seen older people crushed by it and younger people crushed by it.
“Whenyou’redealingwitha groupof emotional people, it’s toughand there’s no one-size-fits-all. And it can’t happen quickly.The only way it can happen quickly is if someone’s dead or there’s some other tragedywhereaction needs to happen quickly."
One particulargroup thatLynn is encountering areangry widowsleft to organise farmsuccession issues.
She warned: “These women have been left
withsortingout something they’vebeen asking to be sorted out for 20 years. Even the most accommodating lady, compliant women, they’rean angry bunch. If there’s any connection to the Afterlife and you’re an older man who has backed away from doingthis, she’sgoing to be throwing pins in your picturewhen you’renot hereany more.
Morethan20years ago, Kacie and Ardie LordfromRichmond, Queensland undertookafive-day workshop with Ms Sykes. They returned to theseminar to sharewhat they had learned -and what was the outcome.
From Ms Sykes they learned to hold structured family meetings to discuss the goals of each family member andwhat was happening in the business.
“It actually set the agenda of this is how we communicate whenthereissomething that needs to be discussed in the family. We don’t do -ashappened in my family -when therewas adrama,Telstrawas the only one who benefitted," Ms Lordsaid.
"And by the time it had gone around the entirefamily, the story was completely different. So, that meeting was gold for us and we still have those meetings to this day. And another powerful thing is that all the conversations in the family stay with the personinvolved not at theperson involved and that’s also been gold.”
Mr Lordadded: “But we’restill evolving. Over the last five-10 years we’ve made morechanges to wherewewant to be. It’s ajourney of learning.”
The result? Their son is running Lord Pastoral, while their daughters arefollowing their separate careers, one running an eventsmanagement company, the other working on atech start-up.
-BeefCentral
GippslandJerseypulledfromColes
AFTER asocial media post went viral, Gippsland Jersey found themselves in the media spotlight after revealing that Coles will remove all their milk from nearly70stores, leavingthem available in just 16, by the end of this month.
"The brand is beingdelistedfrom the majority of Coles storesdue tothe retailer's margin requirements and sales expectations.”
“We are bitterly disappointed that Coles supermarket has asystemthat we believe doesn’t really work for little brands like us.
“We’ve tried hard but we just don’t have the big advertising budgets and profitability to ‘go on sale’ and drop our pants on giving them more margin and we certainly won't be going broke trying to appease them," Gippsland Jersey co-founders SallieJones and Steve Ronalds said on Facebook.
The company said they'renow on aquest to find new stores and milk lovers who will
embrace the treasured Gippsland brand. Coles told the ABC:"We remain committed to continuing to support independent and localproducers,and fromJuly,we
will focus on selling Gippsland Jersey in 16 stores in Victoriawhere we see most demandfor this localbrand from customers."
Gippsland Jerseyco-founders, Sallie Jones and Steve Ronalds
Photo: Contributed
No detailed analysis for mining potential
From Page 1
APARTfromBaw Baw Shire residents, people came from central Victoria, Omeo, Woods Point, Marysville, Alexandra and easternMelbourne to show their rejection of the proposal. The crowd consisted of business ownersfromforesttowns, unemployed timberworkersafter the closure of the native forest industry, hunters, fishermen, campers, trainbikeriders, 4WD owners, prospectors and fossickers. Minersand small prospectorsfear that the proposal, by locking up swathesofforest, could shackle mining as adriver of economic growth and jobs in west and central Gippsland.
The executivedirector of the Victoriandivision of the Minerals Council of Australia, James Sorahan, told the Gippsland Farmer earlierthis year that VEAC was considering extending areas of forest into protected conservation zones that aremineral rich.
"A proper analysis of impacts on economic opportunities for regional Victorians needs to takeplacetoensureabalanced analysis of theeconomic, social or environmental impacts of mining and minerals exploration in the study area," he told the Gippsland Farmer
"Therehas been no detailed analysis."
Mr Sorahan said active exploration and mining in the region showed the potential for minerals which can benefitthe local and broader state economy. Morethan 20 mining and exploration companies with 38 exploration licences (EL) and eight EL applications areinthe study area.
"Explorers arelookingfor not only gold exploration, but at least one other commodity including antimony, tungsten, tin, molybdenum, bismuth andbasemetals such as copper and zinc," he said.
Many critical mineralsneededfor renewables wereavailable.
Mr Sorahan said Geological Survey
Victoria(GSV) estimates thereis"significant potential"for gold and critical minerals worth at least $3.4 billion.
"MCA Victoria is not against extending protected areas, but they need to be areas that don't risksterilisingminerals rich regions because exploration has effectively no impact on the environment, and mining's is minimised and highly regulated," he said.
"Conservation and modernmineral resource development arenot mutually exclusive outcomes."
Mr Sorahan said minerals development hadnot been identified as amajor driver of biodiversity loss in Victorian state of environment reporting.
"The footprint is small, and most exploration is low impact," he said.
AProspectors and Miners Association of
Victoria (PMAV) Committee member,David Bentley, told the Gippsland Farmer that amajor mining area like Walhalla-Woods Point could be lost.
Mr Bentley said the process in Gippsland was akin to the Central West Investigation area, which resulted inthe loss of more than 70,000ha of goldfieldsinto national parks.
The interim VEAC report into the forests of the Central Highlands, based largely on desktop assessment of previous research and talkswith experts,emphasisedthat forest values wereparticularly threatened by climate change: heatwaves, floods, highertemperatures, declines in annual rainfall, and increased bushfirefrequency and severity. Other threats wereinvasive plants and animals,such as blackberry and deer,and loss and fragmentation of habitat.
Melbourne's growing population was also placing morepressureon the forests for recreation and other uses.
VEAC said it hadidentified large areas of high-quality natural values with relatively low conflicting uses that could be protected in anational park, and that link the existing parks in the region.
"TheupperThomsoncatchmentalso containsoutstanding natural values commensurate with anational park designation and would link to the Yarra Ranges National Park to the west. Moredetailed consideration is needed however as there arepotentially high value uses such as mineral extraction that would conflict with sucha designation," VEACsaid, noting therewas significant potential for gold in the state forests in the east of the Central Highlands RFAarea.
Active exploration and mining in the region discovered potential for minerals. However,there is no analysis.
Photo: iStock
The biggest and most special BBQ
Blake METCALF-HOLT
THE Latrobe Valley Big Blokes BBQ for 2024 was held last Friday in Morwell's revamped Kernot Hall.
The fundraiser attracted another bumper crowd, welcomingblokes from across the region for another festive day to raisemoney forThe Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).
Morethan $100,000 was raised. This year'sBBQ was especially poignant, held in tribute to the late Bruce Ellen.
Mr Ellen put in apower of work to previousBBQ's, serving as chair of the Latrobe Valley BigBlokesBBQ committee for many years.
Mr Ellen, who was also general manager of the Latrobe Valley Express, passed away in March following his own battle with Prostate Cancer His legacy was commemorated last Friday, with aphoto tribute featuring
prominently on stage, and the BBQ committee all wearing black armbands in ashow of respect.
Current committeechair,Ian Nethercote and committee member, Barry Whitehead led the tributes, while Bruce's brother,Tim and son, Nick werewelcomed on stageand presented with amemorial of the late committee spearhead.
The event welcomed former Collingwood players Dane Swan and Dale Thomas, along with NormSmith Medallist,DavidRhys-Jones as guest speakers, while comedian TomSiegert kept the laughs coming as MC.
Accompanying the indelible food, the entertainment of the special guest speakers separated auctions, raffles, and activitiesfor tables to win cash and prizes throughout the day.
The Churchill Lions Club was also on deck, offering additionalsupport and clean up across the day.
One in seven Australian men will develop Prostate Cancer in their life, while in the Gippsland and Latrobe region, thereisa30per cent higher mortality rate compared to other areas of Victoria.
Alongside the PCFA, asmall committee of volunteers, someofwhom personally areaffectedbythis disease, plan and run Big Blokes barbecues across the state.
The Latrobe Valley committee has funded anumber of services including researchprojects throughMonash University Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences,local awareness campaigns, research projects and financial assistance to aid the purchaseofspecialistequipment in local hospitals.
Since its inceptionin2013, the Latrobe Valley Big Bloke's BBQ has surpassed atotal of $1 million, that milestone reached at the weekend.
Latrobe Valley BigBlokes BBQ committee with aportrait of the late Bruce Ellen. MrEllen wasakey figureinorganising previous BBQ events, helping to raise moneyfor the ProstateCancer Foundation of Australia.
Bob Yeates,chairman of East Gippsland’s Biggest Ever Blokes Lunch with Gavan Budge, PeterCamera andAlfiPrestipino of Latrobe’s Biggest Ever Blokes BBQ committee.
Bruce Ellen’s brother Tim, flanked by Bruce’s son, Nick and Latrobe Valley BigBlokes BBQ Committee Chair,Ian Nethercote.
Former Collingwoodand Carltonplayer,DaleThomaswas one of three guest speakers. Photos: Blake Metcalf-Holt
Palletmilltocloseduetotimbershortage
PENTARCHForestry’spalletmill in Dandenong will cease operating next month due to ashortage of hardwood timber, but the company mill in Swifts Creek will remain open.
The Dandenong mill,which had been operatingsince 1989 and was acquired by Pentarch in 2021, produced 700,000 hardwood pallets each year and employed 49 staffatits peak output.
However,alack of supplyofhardwood caused by the closureofthe native timber sector in Victoria means operations at the Dandenong South site will end.
“This outcome is the result of the Victorian Government decisiontoend timber harvesting,” Pentarch Forestry Chief Executive, Paul Heubner said.
“When the mill was acquired, we were confident that the Victorian Government had aworkable plan for timbersupply until 2030 followed by atransition into plantation, but they have failed to deliver on either promise.
“The suddendecision to shut down the native timber sector has resulted in significant job losses for Pentarch and other
hardwoodsuppliers,and now 700,000 pallets out of the supply chain each year
“Itisanother blow to our sovereign capability to supply domestic wood products andreduce our dependence onimports, which impacts theglobaltimber economy.”
The Dandenong palletmill is one of several Pentarch Forestry operations that supply much needed and renewable hardwood timber products to the Australian and global markets.
Mr Heubnertold the Gippsland Farmer that, whilethe company had closed
Dandenong, therewas no firmdecision to shut the Swifts Creek operation.
“Weare able to sell the product from this mill to industry either for pallet construction or pallet repair timber.Weare trying to keep Swifts Creek operating from NSW timberand from thirdparty supply,”he said.
Hardwood pallets areanimportant part in the retail supply chain with their ability to safely handle heavy loads.
The shortfallfromthe Dandenong Mill will now be replaced with palletsmade with imported timber from jurisdictions that areunlikely to have the same sort of control and forest managementpractice as Australia. Mr Heubner said:
The Australian native timber sector harvests and regrows by law six trees in 10,000;
In Victoria, beforethe closureof the sector,the figurewas four trees in 10,000, and;
The sector supported and estimated direct 5760 jobs in regional Victoria and contributed $1.6 billion in sales and $582m in added value.
Revegetation boosts Strzelecki Gums population
GIPPSLAND Water has helped boost the local population of endangeredStrzelecki Gums (Eucalyptusstrzeleckii) with asuccessfulrevegetationprograminNeerim South.
Thesmall populationisfound in a conservation site Gippsland Water managesnear the NeerimSouth wastewater treatment plant and Red Hill Creek.
Revegetation has several benefits, includingthe reduction of soil erosion,
increased soil fertility and improved plant and animal biodiversity.
Nearly 2000 locally indigenous plants wereplanted at the four-hectaresite in 2018 and 2019 and have since flourished.
Recent site inspections revealed the programhad enhancedoverall habitat quality and resilience for the gums.
Gippsland Water Managing Director, Sarah Cumming said the organisation highlighted the project in the lead-up to
World Environment Day on June 5.
The theme of this year’s World Environment Day was land restoration, desertification and drought resilience.
“For us it was an opportunity to reflect on the workwe’ve done to restore vegetation and increasebiodiversity,and consider how we apply our learnings in the future," Ms Cumming said.
“Wewillcontinue to protect natural assets like the endangered Strzelecki Gum
against pest species andother threats so they can remain part of the natural environment for futuregenerations.”
Strzelecki Gums arealso found at conservation sites at the Drouin and Warragul wastewater treatment plants.
Gippsland Water manages several biodiversity sites in locations like Sunny Creek, Rawson and Mirboo North.
To find out moreabout Gippsland Water’s role in biodiversity, visit: gippswater.com.au/biodiversity
Pentarch Forestry mill is set to close up shop next month.
Photo: iStock
Federal govermentscraps ‘water rule’
Philip HOPKINS
THE way has been paved for the establishment of moretreeplantations in Gippsland after the federal government removed the ‘water rule’ that for years has deterred new timber plantings participating in the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF).
As of June 1, 2024, the water rule that had added conditions that plantation forestry needed to meettoparticipatein the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme has been removed.
The water rule prevented forestry plantations that receive morethan 600mmof annualrainfall from accessing carbon markets under the ERF
The Australian Forest Products Association (AFPA)has longcampaigned to getrid of the water rule. The AFPAChief Executive Officer,Diana Hallam, said theend of the water rulewas great for Australia’s forestry industry.
"The removal of the water rule means plantation and farmforestry projects will now be treated the same as other carbon methods and not excluded from many areas that aresuitablefor tree planting," she said.
"The removal of the water rule will now enable farmers in many areas to invest in trees, diversify their income and create market optionstohelp them achieve net zero.”
The federalgovernment has removed the ‘water rule’ from the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative) Rule 2015 (CFI Rule) under the Australian Carbon Credit Unit (ACCU) Scheme from June 1, 2024.
The amendment supports carbon farming opportunitiesfor plantation growers and farmforesters.
in any of the 11 specified regions, which includes Gippsland.
Ms Hallam said it was a'Berlin Wall-sized barrier'comingdownthat for yearshad hindered new investment in much needed timber trees.
“The removal of these restrictions nationally is greatnewsbecause Australia desperatelyneedsnew productiontree plantings to grow futuretimber and wood fibresupplyand decarbonise the economy," she said.
In the periodbefore June 1, 2024, new plantation and other tree planting ACCU projects can meet the water rule by being
During thistransition, applicationsto register new plantation and tree planting ACCU projects in high rainfall areas can now be made to theClean EnergyRegulator and will not be subject to the ‘water rule’, if they do not start beforeJune 1, 2024.
The removal of the 'water rule' follows publicconsultation and consultations with state and territory governments.
All ACCU projectsmuststill followrelevant state or territory government rules andregulations.
Ms Hallam said just last month, AFPA released 'How TimberCan HelpSolve Australia’s Housing Crisis', aplan for how forestry canhelp supply the timber to build 50,000 much needed new homes, to help solve Australia’s housing crisis.
"The removal of the water rule is one very important cog in the wheel of success
towards thisgoal," she said.“Wethank the Albanese Government,inparticular Ministers Murray Watt, Chris Bowen and Tanya Plibersek,for honoringits 2022 election commitmenttoremovethe water rule, as well as the Coalition for taking the same policytothe election. This recognitionand bipartisan support for industry investment is very important for our sector."
Ms Hallam said AFPAwould continue to work with Minister Watt and the rest of the government on how to leverage the removal of the water rule, includingthrough the plantation establishment grants and other policies relevant the boosting the forestry sector
Plantations will nowbetreated thesameascarbon methods due to the removal of the‘water rule’.
Photo: File
Chocodenceclosesits doors
Philip HOPKINS
ONE Metung wag once said Jill Cross should not be allowed to go on holidays -locals couldn't bear the thought of her beautiful chocolatesnot beingavailable for aweek or so.
Alas, the occasional break has now become permanent; as of July 1, Jill has closed her popular business, Chocodence, after 25 years.
Humblebeginnings sellingtoa local cafe in Metung led to supplying her handmade truffles to cafes and restaurants in Melbourne, all aroundGippslandand Victoria, across to Tasmania, and with mail orders all over Australia.
Her products werea kaleidoscope of delight. The traditional hand-made truffles all consistedofpremium quality Swiss Couverturechocolate and pure"FRESH" cream, she emphasised.
From there, depending on the flavour being created,all natural or pure flavours wereused, along with actual liqueurs.
As Jill puts it, therewill be now no more "hand weighing, stirring, folding, mixing, thenindividually scooping, weighing and hand-rolling into little rounds, ready to be individually hand-dipped into bowls of divine premium quality Swiss Couverture, hand-decoratedand packaged(chocolates) ready to be consumed".
Retirement has not been an easy decision; she would love to go on abit longer Having to travel to South Australia to visit an ailing mother hasn't helped, but Jill
blamesanother factor: the risingcostof "everything".
"The main one is the rising cost of chocolate -the high end of chocolate has been going up in the past six and 12 months a lot. That'sthe biggest crunch," shetold the Gippsland Farmer
Nuts and fruits areinthe same basket. Jill sources alot of these from Gippsland and Victorian farmers.
"They aregetting moreexpensive. On top of that, freightcosts arealsorising,"she said.
The cost of transport from East Gippsland, with Jill regularly deliveringproductherself, required work days sometimes of 14 to 15 hours.
"Another factor is insurance -bothpublic and product liability. These have doubled. I can raise prices, but I'm only doing wholesale now. If prices go up, and product gets expensive, sales will slow down," she said.
"I'm embarrassed how long product must remain on the shelf as Iwant to maintain the levelofquality. Iworryabout chocolates going out of date."
It's the purecream she mixes with the chocolate that is aproblem.
"Thecream in the chocolate doesnot have along shelf life. Most chocolates in shops use powdered milk and sugar to create longevity.The cream in the chocolate only has ashelf life of six-to-eight weeks, dependingonatmospheric conditions," she said.
"It makes it hardifsales slow down and prices go up. It's harder to move stock.I don't want to lower the quality of the stock."
The trips back and forth from South Australia meant Jill hadtogive up attending farmers' markets, but now the wholesale markets have also gone.
Her 'factory' has been her house in Metung. Production was upstairs, packaging wasdownstairs. She andher husband Geoff, asign writer,have long worked from home, making them 'pioneers' in the postCOVID 'work-from-home' world. For this reason, the COVID lockdowns did not affect their work patterns.
As Chocodence went further afield, so did Jill's search and discovery of morepremium quality ingredients.
"Our beautiful Gippsland hazelnuts" were an early discovery, which was followed by almonds,sundried muscatels, figs and apricots from Gippsland,Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia. This resulted in her gourmet Rocky Road and fruit and nut range.
It all began when she attended aseminar on farmers markets; Jill fell in love with the ability of the producer to deal directly with the customer.The state's first farmers market at Koonwarra in South Gippsland in the early 2000s won her over.Jill loved chatting with the customers all about her products, doing samples and meeting other producers and growers.
The concept extended to Bairnsdale, the Latrobe Valley and other Gippsland towns, including Metung.
Ahighlight of her career came in 2010 when she and Geoffhad an invitationbyher Swiss chocolate manufacturer to attend an all-expenses paid visit to a'condirama' -a
confectionarytraining and development centre-inSwitzerland.
"It was wonderful -agreat opportunity to pick up different ideas and techniques," she said.
Ahighlight was atour of the company's manufacturing process and factory. Now it's come to an end. "It's been wonderful -afantastic ride," Jill said.
"I would like to thank all my wonderful customers, alot of whom have become friends, for all their support and loyalty. I will really miss that."
Jill Cross, owner of Metung’s Chocodence, with her homemade chocolates.
Photos: Philip Hopkins
Chocodence’s products always came wellpackaged for the buyer
RURAL NEWS
Duck season under heavy regulation
DURING the 2024 duck season, the Game Management Authority (GMA) conducted 511 waterway and wetland patrols on private and public land across Victoria.
The GMA worked in partnership with VictoriaPolice,DEECA, Safe Transport Victoria, New South Wales Department of Primary Industriesand Parks Victoria to regulate the 2024 duck season.
Authorised Officers checked morethan 1550 Game Licences and inspected more than 1200 hunter bags.
Atotalof56breachesweredetected throughout the 2024 duck season. GMA willissue22infringement notices and is conducting 32 investigations related to these matters.
Telstratoensure everyoneremains connected
TELSTRAhas announced it will be providing around 12,000 of its most disadvantaged, elderly or remote customers across the country with anew handset, to ensurethey’reable to stay connected after the 3G closure. The initiative has been rolled out ahead of the 3G network closure on August 31 2024 and is aimed to support those who need it most.
Many of these customers areover 80-years-oldand in difficult situations such as dealingwith financial hardship or recovering from anaturaldisaster Some of these customers also depend on aworking phone because they areliving with alife-threateningmedical condition (Telstra’s ‘Priority Assistance’ customers).
Major Brendan Nottle from The Salvation Army welcomed the news.
"Thisinitiative will benefit the most vulnerable members of our community," he said.
"Connection is one of the most important things to maintain in our society, whether it is with friends and family or with housing and support services.
“Ensuring that every Australian,fromany background or level of income, can take part in our moderndigital society is crucial.
"A phonecan be agateway to social inclusion,community connectionand support, and with the upcoming closure of 3G networks in Australia it is important for us to reach out and ensurethat this can continue for everyone.”
BackinApril, Telstra launchedan SMS tool to check if your phone needs an upgrade ahead of the switch -SMS ‘3’ to 3498 to check if your phone needs an upgrade ahead of the 3G shutdown.
Optus will be shutting downits 3G network onSeptember1,and Vodafone has already turned offtheir 3G coverage.
Twenty-six hunting-related offences were detected, with the main offence themes being an invalidgame licence,beingin possession of toxic shot and failing to leave awing attached.
Twenty-three persons weresuspected of breachingpublicsafety laws by entering or remaining in aspecified hunting area or hindering or harassing hunters.As a result,the GMA issued 22 Banning Notices.
The GMA chief executive, Graeme Ford, said most people involved in the 2024 duck season acted safely and responsibly.
“While some people breached game huntingand public safetylaws, most of the people our Authorised Officers spoke with werecomplying with the law,” he said.
However,therewas an increase in the numberofsuspected breaches to public safety laws detected over the 2024 Season
“Publicsafety laws areinplace to provide asafe environment forall land users. While those who oppose duck hunting have a right to protest,theymust do so safely and legally,” Mr Fordsaid.
Seven non-hunters arealso being investigatedfor hinderingor obstructing an Authorised Officer
The 2024 duck huntingseason began on April 10 and closed on June 5.
Telstra is offering complimentary handsets to customers still using 3G phones. Photo: Contributed
Atotal of 56 breaches werefound throughout the 2024 duck season. Photo: File
Affordable and reliable energyamust
THE National Farmers Federation (NFF) has warned that Australian farmers and regional communities arewarningpolicymakers that the debate aroundAustralia’s energy mix mustcomeback to thepeople and land impacts.
The Acting Chief Executive, Charlie Thomas, said the NFF’s position remained that Australia’s national energy policies must deliveraffordable, reliable and increasingly lower emissions energy for all Australians.
“These policiesshould be technologyneutral and driven by markets. This isn’t aboutcherry-pickingsolar or windenergyornuclear, butabout having all options on the table,”he said.
“The NFF supports the economy-wide targetofnet zero by 2050,and we understand akey part of achieving this goal is low emissions energy.
“In no way can agriculturebe the sacrificial lamb in the pathway to net zeroand we will hold the government -and any futuregovernment -toits commitment not to impose targets on farmers directly.”
Mr Thomassaid that anycredible climate plan needs to partner closely with farmers.
“At the coreoffutureenergy plans must be early and meaningful engagement with the impacted communities,” he said.
“As renewable energy projects have been rolled out across rural landscapes, landholders and regional communities have been treated with contempt, and their concerns and contributions have been ignored.
“Engagementonany future energy proposals must do better Communities must have the right to say no, farmland must be protected, and landholders must be properly consulted.”
Mr Thomas said the announcement by the Coalition on nuclearenergy should sharpen the current government’sfocus on deliveringmeaningful protections for farmland and affected communities.
“Therealso needs to be aclearer focus on local communities being able to benefit from energy investment,” he said.
“National energy policyand emissions reduction must be ashared responsibility and agriculturewill play its part, but that part has to be fair and not comprise productivity, profitability or food security.”
Loy Yang’s potential new future
Philip HOPKINS
ANUCLEARpower station at Loy Yang wouldcreate cheaper zeroemissions electricity and generate regional economic development, according to the federal Opposition's nuclear energy policy.
“Nuclear energyfor Australia isan idea whose time has come,” said the Coalition in astatementreleased by theLeaderof the Opposition, Peter Dutton,the Leader of The Nationals, David Littleproud; and the Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy, TedO’Brien.
The Coalition said afuturefederal Coalition government would introduce zero-emissions nuclear energy in Australia.
Loy Yang is one of seven identifiedlocations at apower station thathas closedoris scheduled to close, around Australia. The others areLiddell Power Station in New South Wales, Mount Piper (NSW), Tarong in Queensland, Callide (QLD),Northern Power Station in South Australia (SMR only) and Muja in WesternAustralia (SMR only).
“Each of these locations offer important technical attributes needed for azero-emissions nuclear plant, including coolingwater capacity and transmission infrastructure; that is, we can use the existing poles and wires, along with alocal community which has askilled workforce,” the Coalition said.
“A key advantage of modernzeroemissionsnuclearplants is theycan be plugged into existing grids.This means they can effectively replace retired or retiring coal plants andavoid much of the new spending needed for Labor’s ‘renewablesonly’ system, including new transmission poles and wires.
“Labor’s approach requires imposing 58 million solar panels, 3500 new industrial wind turbines, and up to 28,000 kilometres of new transmission lines across the country. Energy experts have warned the cost of Labor’s rollout will be between $1.2 trillion and $1.5 trillion.
“No country in the world relies solely on solar and wind as Labor is proposing. By contrast, thereare 32 countries operating zero-emissions nuclear plants. Another 50 countriesare looking to do so. Of the world’s 20 largest economies, Australia is the only one not using nuclear energy, or moving towards using it.”
The Coalition said its plan would deliver anet-zeroelectricity grid by 2050 and a strong and resilient economy.
“It will set our country up for decades to come every Australian deservesand should expect access to cheaper,cleaner and consistent electricity.
“Not only will local communities benefit from high paying, multi-generational jobs but communities will be empoweredto maximisethe benefits fromhosting an asset of national importance.”
This would be through:
Amulti-billion-dollar facility guaranteeing high-paying jobs for generations to come;
An integrated economic development zone to attract manufacturing, valueadd and high-tech industry, and; Aregional deal unlocking investment in moderninfrastructure, services and community priorities.
ACommunity Partnershipwill be formed in each host community, consisting of experiencedlocal representatives,as the focal point for community engagementand to play an important role in planning the futureofthe region.
Under the policy, afederal Coalition governmentwill initially developtwo establishment projects using either small modular reactors or modern larger plants such as the AP1000 or APR1400.
“They will start producing electricity by 2035 (with small modular reactors) or 2037 (if modernlarger plants arefound to be the best option)... the Australian Government will own these assets, but formpartnerships with experienced nuclear companies to build and operatethem,” the policy says.
“Zero-emission nuclear power plants produce no air pollutionorcarbon emissions.
For example, a1.1 GW AP-1000 reactor cutsapproximatelyseven million metric tonnes of CO2 emissions, equivalent to removing 1.5 million cars from the road,” the Coalition said.
“A zero-emissions nuclearpower plant will be anational asset delivering cheaper, cleanerand consistent energy for 80 years.”
The federal Member for Gippsland, DarrenChester, welcomedwhathesaid was adetailednational plan for energy security.“It’s aplan that respects regional communities and ensures any safety concerns can be overcome, and if we hosted a nuclear power stationinthe Latrobe Valley in the future, therewould be enduring social and economic benefits to our community,” he said.
“TheLatrobe Valley has some strategic advantages due to the existingtransmission infrastructureand askilled local workforce, but moredetailed investigationswillbe required in the years ahead. “I will be listening to locals, consulting the experts, and putting the needs of Gippsland and Latrobe Valleyfirst, and endeavouring to actinthe national interest at all times.”
The federalLiberalcandidate for Monash, Mary Aldred, welcomed the Coalition's comprehensive plan tosecure access to cheaper,cleaner and consistent electricity for all Australians.
"Labor has put all its eggs in one basket with an expensive renewables-only approach to our electricitysystem, leaving Australians paying among the highest power bills in theworld and risking the lights going out as we run out of energy. That is selling our nation short, and forcing people in our region to shoulder the heaviestpart of that load," she said.
"As aregion and anation we need to front up to ourenergychallengeswith a serious, detailed and rational discussion.
•The
Australians deservebetterthan slogans and scarecampaigns."
Ms Aldred said the federal Labor government had set atarget of having morethan 80 per cent renewablesinthe grid by 2030, yet Australia was not even halfway there.
"I'm proudto come from aregion that grows, makes and manufactures products the rest of Australia relies on. But the ability of those businesses to keep pace with rising energy costs means they will be priced out of existence if we continueon as we areand our region will lose jobs it needs," she said.
"I have spent over 20 years of my life working on behalf of people in the Monash electorate, and Iwill always put their interests first. Iwant to see us continue as anational energy and manufacturing hub that can retain highly skilled, highly paid jobs. That means avarietyoffuels and technologies as part of an energy mix that is driven by what is in the national interest.
"Two-and-a-half years means we have the opportunity to engage ameaningful discussionabout where we arenow and wherewewant to be on atopic that will directly determine standardofliving all Australians should be able to afford."
The Leader of the Liberal Party in Victoria, John Pesutto, saidhis priority was for addressing energy shortages in the short term. "We have no plans for it (nuclear) - I can't be any clearer than that, we have no plans for it," he said.
"But we acknowledge that afuturefederal government may initiate that discussion."It is takesplace,let it progress and involve all Australians aspart of that discussion."
The Coalition policy says Labor’s expensive renewables-only approach is failing.
“The government is now talking about a 65 to 75 per cent emissions reduction target by 2035 but won’t release modelling and won’t tell us how muchhigherpower prices will go up,” the Coalition said.
“Power bills have already increased by up to $1000 for many Australians, when theywerepromiseda$275 cut. And Labor’s climate target of 43 per cent emissions reduction by 2030 has become unachievable.”
The Coalition said Australia musthave abalanced energy mix to deliver cheaper, cleaner and consistent 24/7 electricity.
“Ninety per cent of baseload electricity, predominantlycoal fired power stations, is coming to the end of life over the next decade. Australia isfast running out of energy,” the Coalition said.
“Weknowthe Prime Minister and his government will mount the mother-of-all scarecampaigns on zero-emissions nuclear energy. But we believe Australians areup for this discussionand are open-minded about including zero-emissionsnuclear technology as part of abalanced energy mix.”
Efforts combined against nuclear
Katrina BRANDON
NO sooner had the Opposition Leader,Peter Dutton, announced the nuclear policy, than about15peopleprotested against the policy in front of Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester's Traralgon office.
Discouraging the use of nuclear, the crowd stood in front of the empty office, sharing signs saying, "No nuclear in the Valley Gippsland says no".
Wendy Farmer,the protest organiser and amember of Friends of the Earth and Voice of the Valley, voiced her concerns.
She said the renewable changes, which werealready in progress and had been presented to the publicwithpromisesof job creationand regional development, were nowovershadowedbythe nuclear proposal.
"Darren Chester was all for offshorewind. He helped push his party for legislation for the wind industry. They said it was good for opportunities, they said that it wasgoodfor jobs, they said that it was good for regional communities All of a sudden, nuclear has come into the mix, and the Coalition has said that nuclearwas the way to go. We call it anuclear fantasy," she said.
"Wewerenever consulted, and wesay 'No to nuclear'. Darren Chester claims to be herefor the community, but today, he is nowheretobeseen."
Ms Farmer said the Latrobe Valley sits on afault line and was already unstable in areas due to mining, and that $50 billion had already beencommitted to renewable projects in this region. Adding that if aradiation accident was to happen, no one could do anything in time to stop the everlasting damages that come from the exposure.
MsFarmer also said the LatrobeValley was already cleaning up the "mess" of rehabilitating mines andthatfuture generations would be left to clean up any
nuclear disasters, sufferingworse effects than causedbythe Hazelwood mine fire that lasted 45 days.
"Thereisalways achance of an accident.
Imagine if an accident happens. Our kids areatschool when the accident happens. By the time that you have collected your kids, it is too late. They arealready impacted, they arealready suffering, and they will eventually die from radiation and nuclear," Ms Farmer said.
"If awind turbinefails, it might catch fire, but if anuclear farmfails, the whole area becomes uninhabitable forever.It's time to stop that, keep our kids at home, andhave the next generations fill the communities
in Latrobe Valley. We cannot leave amess andthe possibility that our kids and the futuregenerations have to stand hereand actually be doing the same thing that we aredoing here."
Margie Barrett, avolunteer from Environment Victoria, saidthatMrDutton's decision wasmoreofadistractionfrom "real" discussions around climate change and how to realistically face the challenges to bring about abetter outcome for everybody.
"Therehas not been enough consultations with the community. Imean, who has been down heretalking to the community wanting nuclear? Who has been doing that? Nobody," she said.
"Weare forgotten. Yes, we will take your coal, and now we will leave you with arehabilitation problem. Now, we will leave you with nuclear here, leaving you with more health problems and morepoor outcomes for the environment and our population.
"I don't think people really listen. Ithink they need to come down and listen to people and both sides of the story because Idon't think we have been getting both sides of the story."
During the protest, abig factor for most of the group was the relationship between sustainabilityand climatechangeand whether therewould be everlasting effects, such as affecting local farms.
Some Facebook comments have shown fears of the Chernobyland Fukushima incidents, and others state that enough has been learned to prevent similar occurrences since then.
Alocal Morwell member of the Latrobe Valley Sustainability Group, Lorraine Bull, saidthatina recent radio nuclear conversation, she heardthat farmers living near nuclearplants in the United Kingdom had to constantly check their products for radiation.
She then voiced her concerns about how Latrobe Valley and surrounding areas are heavily involved in the Victorian agricultural industry.
Ms Bull also said: "In 15 years, awild bushfire season overthe summer may becomenormal if we don'tdo anything about reducing emissions."
"They arenot thegovernment;ifthat is their policy, Inever want to see them. This is acritical decade now, and we need to reduce emissions so that we don't get the worst impacts of climate change. Who is going to investinthem? Who is going to want to pay double the price for their electricity because some 'nutter' can get a few votes out of it," she said.
On June 19,OppositionLeader,Peter Dutton announced thatLoy Yang wasone of the seven proposed locations for anuclear reactoraroundAustralia Photos: Katrina Brandon
Locals combined their efforts on Wednesdayagainst the use of nuclear in the hopes of keeping further issues out of their childrens’ lives.
Friends of the Earth, Voice of the Valley andcommunity event organiser,Wendy Farmer voicing her concerns on nuclear in front of the Federal Member for Gippsland, Darren Chester’s office in Traralgon.
Allan opposes Dutton’s nuclearplan
THE stategovernmenthas strongly attacked the Coalition's plan to build a nuclear power station in the Latrobe Valley and has vowed to stop it.
Victoria's Premier, Jacinta Allan,inaletter to the Opposition Leader,Peter Dutton, said the Coalition was choosing nuclear over wind and solar
"I opposeanuclearplantinVictoria
Shouldthe Coalitionwin the next election, I'll be doing everything in my power to stop it. Yousay you will negotiate with the states. Iwon't be negotiating," she said.
"I won'tallow alurch backwards to nuclear power that sends bills skyrocketing, nor will Iallow the Latrobe Valley to become your dumping ground."
Ms Allan said the Latrobe Valley was reinventing itself as arenewables superpower and tourism destination.
"The last thing it needs is anuclear power plant, andlocals shouldn't have to live alongside it just becauseyou can't bear to invest in wind and solar.Nuclear power is the wrong direction for the Valley -and the wrong vision for Victoria," she said.
Ms Allan saidinthe 349 days since Mr Dutton unveiled his nuclear agenda, Victoria had provided 63,292 solar and heat pump rebates to Victorians.
"We'reopening large solar farms, funding big batteries, and fast-tracking wind farm approvals. Wind and solar is currently generatingalmost 40 per cent of our state's electricity," she said.
The Coalition was attempting to revive the nuclear dreamsofthe 1970s. "We'll just get onwithrevivingthe State Electricity Commission and delivering stronger, cleaner,cheaper power," she said.
Earlier,Ms Allan told stateparliament
that the nuclear policywould destroy Gippsland, "one of themostbeautiful regions across our state".
"Notonlythat,it alsoproducessome of the finestproducethatyou’ll find anywherearound the world -good milk, cheese, award-winning wine, some of the best beef and lamb you will find. But this morning, Speaker,we’ve heard that there’s something elsethat ispotentiallygoing to be added to the list of things that are produced in Gippsland, and that is nuclear waste," she told parliament.
"Thereare some that want to dump not only toxic and risky nuclear sites into Gippsland, Speaker,they also want to see the results that will affect householdsand businesses across the state, withprices skyrocketing.
"Wewill stand up for the Gippsland community and say 'No' to the federal Liberal National party’s plan to bring toxic, risky expensive nuclear power to Gippsland.
"But thereare some who arerefusing to rule out building anuclear plant in our state. Thereare some who we know have asecret plan to join armand armwith their federal Liberal Nationalcolleagues to supportthisnuclearplan but we will stand with Gippsland."
Photo: Jacinta Allan/X
Victorian Premier,JacintaAllan publicly sent this letter to the Leader of the Opposition, PeterDutton, last month.
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Ken Lascelles celebrates 50 years of dedication
MONDAY, May20, 2024 marked 50 years of service for Ken Lascelles, atruly amazing achievement.
Ken’s first role was in May 1974 at the Maffra store as abowserboy,whena meat pie cost 20 cents and the average house price in Melbourne was $19,800!
Alot has obviously changed since then, but one thing did not and that is Ken Lascellesrepresentingthe MG/AGW uniform.
Ken’s work ethic, knowledge and dedication to the companyallowed him to work his way up the through thebusiness to become atrue leader
KenLascelles will nowtake awell-earned break after 50 years of commitment
of our business andthe Agricultural industry.
During his 50-year career he managed numerous stores with time at Yarram, Finley&Cobram, but his love for Gippsland led him back to Maffra in 1985 wherehestill is today.
Businessesare built on their people, and in our case it definitely rings true when you look at the impactKen has had on our business and the community he serves and lives in.
Ken is apassionate man who has always wanted to do the bestfor histeam and his customers, he has treated the Maffra business as his own.
To the wider team we will miss Ken at meetings where he was always proactive in discussion and of course part of the banter amongst the team.
As will head office miss Ken, those daily calls or sometimes numerous, but it was all about making us abetter business, and we will dearly miss this.
To celebrate this momentous occasion, asurprise celebration was recently held for Ken at the Farmers Arms in Newry, Ken’s local.
Over 70 people attended with current AGW staff, SDA staff, Kensfamily,
Formorethan 40 years Gippsland Farmer has reported on arange of Agricultural industryissues includingDairy, Beef,Horticulture, Sheep, Goats, Poultry, Organic farming and Viticulture.
Gippsland Farmer also features Gippsland sport,latest machinery updates, alivestock market report and major Rural events including Farm World and East Gippsland Field days
current AGW suppliers and manyexstaffand suppliers.
Well done to the Maffra team for keeping it asecret for the last few months as Ken was totally shocked when he walked in and was overcome with emotion upon realising what was going on.
Tony Gomersall, John Blennerhassett and Jason Hobson shared stories and events which depicted the fun loving and team oriented person Ken is.
To theorganisers,Nikki and the Maffra Team, Sue Lascelles and Narelle Taylor,well done on making it such aspecial occasion.
Ken officially finishesat the end of June wherehe willtakea well-deserved break and plans to do some travelling around Australia with his wife Sue.
The business hopes that Ken will stay on in the business in acasual capacity on his returnfromhis travels, which would be terrific.
On behalf of the entireAG Warehouse team, we wish you all the bestKen, you arealegend!
We encourage those who know Ken to wish him well before he leaves on his travels, so give him acall.
Dairy communities to receive aboost
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ABOUT $50,000 has been awarded to local not-for-profit groups that will support and strengthen Gippsland dairy regions.
FRRR (Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal) and Gardiner Foundation have awarded $49,545 to 11 community groups across Gippsland for local initiatives. In total, 27 groups across Gippsland, SouthWest andNorthern Victoriaare sharing $124,478 in grants.
For22years, the Gardiner Foundation Community Grants program has empowered not-for-profit organisations(NFPs) in Victoria’s dairy communities to create and lead projects thathelplocals to connect andsupporttheir farming regions to be sustainable and vibrant places to live and work.
This year,Victoria’s dairying regions will be boosted by awide range of communityled projectsincluding the ‘Recipes for Recovery’ project to helpheal the Fish Creek community.
In the wake of adevastatingarson attack that destroyed its beloved clubrooms, the Fish Creek Football-Netball Club is turning to the power of community stories and cherished recipes to rebuild.
The club has received a$5000 grant to create arecipe book with content sourced from locals.
The club co-president, Ray Stefani, said
the project aims to build community resilience by acknowledging the contributions of generations of member families.
“Through the ‘Recipes for Recovery’ project,we aim to capturethe rich culinary traditions and personal histories of local families, creating atreasured recipe book that will not only preservethese memories for generations but also support fundraising efforts for the Club's restoration,” Mr Stefani said.
Allan Cameron,the Gardiner Foundation Chief Executive, said that the organisation’s longstanding partnership with FRRR had enabled it to investmorethan$2.4 million in Victoria’s dairying regions.
"Since the program began in 2003, we have supported over 600 projects across the state," he said.
JillKarena, FRRR PlacePortfolio Lead, said the impact that the Gardiner Foundation Community Grants program has had over the past 22 years was a testamentto what is possible through collaboration with partners like Gardiner Foundation.
“Not-for-profitsworktirelessly to strengthen and grow the social and cultural fabric of their communities," she said.
Afull list of grant recipients and funded projects can be found on FRRR’s website.
Preparing for predicted changes
GIPPSLANDWater will safeguard water security for the Latrobe Valley over the next four years to bolster the region’s network resilience and efficiency.
The organisation is investing $86 million in an ambitious program of capital works to cater for predicted changes in climate, weather,and population growth.
The acting managingdirector,Simon Aquilina, saidstrengtheningthe region’s water networksfor current and future generationswas adriving force behind the investment.
50-megalitrestorage basin at ClarkesRoad, Traralgon, a4.3km pipeline to connect the Traralgon and Tyers water networks and asecondary pipeline on the westernside of Traralgon.
“Connecting the Tyersand Traralgon water supplies will improve network efficiency and put downwardpressureon customer bills by increasing connections to Traralgon water treatment plant, which is more costeffective to operatethan Tyers,” Mr Aquilina said.
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“Weare fortunate that the Latrobe Valley has aworld-class water supply in Moondarra Reservoir,but we need to ensureour infrastructureisresilient to climate change, extreme weather and population growth,” Mr Aquilina said.
“Building infrastructurethat can cater to our customers’ needs by providing secure and reliable servicesboth now andinto the futureisatop priority.
“Three major projects and several smaller onesare plannedfor the Latrobe Valley over the next four years and span across major towns like Traralgon and Morwell, as well as smaller communities like Tyers."
Projects in the organisation’s 202328 Price Submission include anew
“Townslike Glengarry, Toongabbie, Cowwarr and Rosedale arealso connected to the Tyers system and will benefit from the new connection.
"A secondary pipelinebetween the Traralgon watertreatment plant and Clarkes Road StorageBasin will also be established, kicking offthe initial stage of the Traralgon-Morwell masterplan.
"Thenew pipeline willprovidesystem resilience forthe Traralgonnetwork and also reduce the likelihood of changes in water pressureoroutages duringpeak demand periods and will help us manage forecast growth."
To learnmoreabout Gippsland Water’s 2023-2028 PriceSubmission visit:gippswater.com.au/price-submission
Grant recipient,FishCreek Football-Netball Club Inc.
Photo: Contributed
Photo: Contributed
•Nestled in the foothills of the southern alps this Central Gippsland grazing property commands majestic views across the mighty Macalister river valley
•With black soil, aspring fed dam plenty of sheltered areas for the cattle to graze. With apower line running through the property,itmakes finding asite to build ahome to take advantage of the scenery easy
•Land area is 64 hectares, 158 acres approx. in 4titles
•Onlya10minute drive to Glenmaggie Weir with the high country on your doorstep
Farming For the Future
Farminginvolves bigmoneyand thereforebig costssavingpotential, making allthe difference in survivingthe off-season,a crisis, or enhancingyour financial future
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Saving $500 peryearequatestonearly $6,000 over 10 years at a3percent average interest.
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•Negotiate with current lenders to reduceinterestrates and consolidate debts
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Gives youthe additional benefit of enabling supplier representativesto regularly engage with the group forbest prices and products– lotsofsuppliers willbevying to getyour business!
•Research other processors /contract and marketopportunities
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Make money between stock sales
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•Arrange a‘strict’ asset maintenance schedule to increase lifespan andresell value
•Make informedpurchases by developinga plan each season forwhat youactuallyneed
•Powerand water generation –are thereopportunities to produce your own utilities? Government programs can help with cost of analysing options or purchasing/installing equipment. Review consumption of everything (home and farm). If you can’treduce price, reduce use andtherefore annual cost(s)
•Negotiate or reconsider farm lease rates
Review if theyare worth thecostorcan youget morevalue formoney elsewhere
Negotiateflexiblerentstructure based on seasonal income,orconsiderbartering opportunities
•Work out your hourlyrate(worth)and ensure youspend valuable timefocusing yourspecialistskills on farm productivity improvements andoutsource[if youcan] othertasks at cheaper rates
Remember alittle sayingRFCS Gippsland useis: Do your best and outsourcing the rest
If youoryourteamjust don’thave the time– outsource -engageprofessionals.
RFCSGippslandhave aspecialistteam experiencedatanalysing farm financial and finding efficiencies.
RFCSGippslandare afreeservice dedicated to supporting farmers improve their financial viability
Make the calland start makingmore moneytoday
AD VER T ISING F EA T URE
Bio-Boost is agame changer
It haslong been recognisedthat plants and soilneed morethanNPK to produce.
Sustainable Agricultural Solutions saw a need to come up with products that were not only beneficialtoplans and soils but wereverycost effective
The Bio-Boost range of fertiliserssupply everyelementthat agrowing crop needs while also building up soilreservesfor future crop requirements.
Bio-Boostyour waytothe bank
Bio-Boost Cal/Mag5:1 is amulti-purpose supplement specially formulated for low calcium/Magnesium soils.
It is aunique blend of Ca/Mg, Nand trace elementsthat provides unique benefitsthat manyother fertilizerscannotoffer
Calcium/Mg forstableNCropNutrition
Due to thepresence of calcium in the Cal/ Mag 5:1composition, the usual loss of nitrogen that takesplace due to ammonia volatilisation when urea is applied is minimised
This is important in sandy soil because Nitrate nitrogen leaches from thesoil veryquickly whereas theammonia form of nitrogen in thisproduct is much more stable.
Calcium/Mgfor amending sodium affected soils
Calcium has long been recognisedasan important soilamendment
By using ahighly soluble source of calciumlikeCal/Mag 5:1liquidcalcium, the grower is able to quickly remove harmful sodium salts from the root zone,leaving behind valuable calcium,magnesium and nitrogen nutrients to provideproper nutritionfor rapid recovery andvegetative regrowth.
Magnesium theessentialCatalyst
Magnesium is the elementthat is absolutely essentialfor theformationof chlorophylland allchemicalprocesses in leaves. Without chlorophyll, plants areunableto
convert sunlightand carbon dioxide. Thereis no life without magnesium. Low magnesium soilsproduce weak plants with small leaves, oftenthe leaf margin is withered or burnttoconcentrate the magnesiumintothe centreofthe leaf so it can photosynthesise moreefficiently By applyingCal/Mag 5:1 into soil andalso foliar spraying the leafsize will increase Thiswill increase productivity.
Forinstance doubling the width of pasture leaves willdouble thevolume without increasing height
Dual purpose
Suitable forsoiland foliage application.
Features
•Ratio 5:1 is the efficient ratio forcalcium and magnesium wherebothofthesevitally essential elements workinharmony.
Cal/Mag 5:1+ NLiquidAdvantages:
•Easy to freight, storeand apply with indefinite shelflife
•Highly Concentrated apply from only5 litresper Ha
Bio-Boost NPK FoliarSpray
Bio-Boost NPKFoliageSpray is high energy for crops/pasturewithpremium levelsofPhosphorous, Nitrogen, Potassium and trace elements thatare essential for good pasture/crop energy andnutrition. Withinseconds of application Bio-Boost NPK FoliageSpray starts to worksystemically helping to correctdeficienciesand improving pasture health.
It reduces the need for supplements and helpswithweight gain andproductivity
Because it travels systemicallydown into theroots itcompensates soil‘lockup’and deficiencies in cropsand also helps with faster pasturerecovery
Application: apply anytime to agrowing plant5ltrs of fertiliser to 100ltrs of water
Spray for maximum foliage surface coverage.
Works best in conjunctionwithBio-Boost Cal/Mag
For moreinformation visit www.sustainableagriculturalsolutions.com.au
GEA FarmTechnologies proudly unveils its latest innovation: theDairyRobot R9600 forBatch MilkingAutomated Milking System (AMS)
This cutting-edge technology,designed to streamline operations and enhance efficiency,marks asignificantmilestone for the Australian DairyIndustryand dairyfarms worldwide.
While the uptake has primarilybeen in family-ownedand operated dairyfarms using VoluntaryCow Flow Automated Milking Systems(AMS),necessary changestofeeding managementand daily routines havechallenged wider adoption of AMS. However,the GEA DairyRobot R9600 nowofferssolutions for dairyfarms whereBatchMilking AMS is abetter fit.
Key Benefits:
•Nochangestofeedingprograms needed.
BothTotal Mixed Ration (TMR) feeding and conventionalgrazingare possible.
•Easyretrofit to existing dairies dueto thecompact footprint.
•Built on theprovenDR9500 platform
•Suitablefor awide range of animal sizes.
•In-LinerEverything milkinghygiene
•Advanced mastitisdetection.
•Quarterindividual milk separation.
“Weare thrilled to introduce the DairyRobotR9600 to our dairyfarming community,” said Jurgen Steen GEA
AMS Sales Manager forAustralia
"Our mission has always beentodrive innovation that benefitsfarms of allsizes, and with the DairyRobotR9600,weare
delivering on that promise
By making AMS accessibleto larger farms, we areenablingfarmers to streamline their operations, increase labour efficiency,and ultimately achieve sustainablegrowth."
The compactdesignand small footprint reduce buildingcosts and simplifies installation,byallowingmorerobotsin theavailablearea.
TheDairyRobotR9600 buildsonthe efficiency of theDairyRobotR9500, consuming minimal water and energy
The system supports cowwelfare by allowingautomatic milking andeasy accessfor herd management, ensuring comfortand health forthe herd
All these platforms sharethe samecore: theGEA robot moduleand the In-Liner Everythingmilkingprinciple
NOW thereisanAMS solution forEVERY farm
Formoreinformation, pleasevisit: GEA's automatic BatchMilking Solutionsfor everysetting-Celebrating 10 Years of Innovation and Efficiency
Farming technology is changing the way we farm
CaseIHwas apioneer in developing advancedfarming technologyand continuestobe amarket-leader for ease of use and productivity benefits.
Toolsincludeautomated hands-free steeringand guidancecapabilitiesontractors, prescriptionplanting,mapping and variablerate technology capabilities on planters,sprayers and seeders; andisconstantly evolving to meet theneeds of today’sfarmers.
TTMI haveembraced these needsoftoday’sfarmer with continued training of service technicians and theappointment of their dedicatedAFS Consultant NathanHibbins for its seven branchesacross Victoria and Tasmania
An exciting additionfor TTMI this year was the installation of twoAFS Connectarmrest simulators, allowing them to demonstratedisplayand armrest operation outside the tractor,a hugebenefitfor group demonstration andcustomer training
Feedback on theuse of the simulatorsinrecent Gippsland field days hasbeenverypositive,with asimulator currently demonstrating in their Trafalgar branch.
They have also introducedthe newCase IH AFSConnect Puma 260 witha numberof designupgradesand performance updates.
But themost exciting upgrade is thePuma’s technology capabilities, with theCase IH AFS Connect telematics
packageallowing forinstant two-way data transfer between the tractor and the AFSConnect onlinemanagement portal,giving owners and farmmanagers completecontrol over farm, fleet
anddatamanagement.
Tractor performance and implement operating data are immediately,securely and continuously sent to theonline
portal formonitoring by the ownerand/oroperator.
Owners can also choose to allow their Case IH dealer to remotely monitor their tractor’s
AFSPro 1200terminal screen via AFS Connect,providing the opportunity for dealer notificationofearly warning signsof atractorissue,remoteservice access, and operatingadvice based on machinedata.
Connecting your machinery withprecisionfarming technologyreducesyouroutputsand increases yourproductivityand efficiency year-round.
For alimitedtimewhen you invest$10,000incl. gstor moreonAFS technology,TTMI andCaseIHwilloffer you an unbeatable 0% interest loan on yourrepayment.*
Thisoffer is available on the fullrangeofAFS products and servicesincluding displays, guidance and steering systems, variable-ratesectioncontrollers, harvesttools, software and more
ContactyournearestTTMI branch if you would like to know moreabout thenew AFS Connect Puma 260 andask how they cantransformyour productivity withAFS technology
The Case IH AFS ConnectPuma260, offersanew level of Owner/Dealerconnectivity for remote serviceaccess,notification of earlywarnings, and operatingadvice
The AFSconnectarmrest simulators allow demonstration of guidance capabilities to customer groups and staff training.
Shaping futureagricultural leaders at Melbourne
Ourglobalpopulation is expected to reach10billion peopleby2050, requiring food productiontoincrease by 70 percent.
Expertsatthe University of Melbourne areconstantly looking at solutionsto meetthis demand, while addressing issuessuch as climate changeand ecosystemdegradation.
From developing smartfertilisers to genetically modifying crops,agricultural researchers at Melbourne aretrailblazers developing the frameworksand tools to support futurefarmers.
Inspiring thenextgeneration of agricultural experts is vital
The Bachelor of AgricultureatMelbourne is an excellent firststep –designed in consultationwith industryand employers, withteachingand learningacross science, technology and business.
Students aretaught by experts making real-worldcontributions, building connectionstoprepare them for the workforce.
With meaningful industryexposure throughout the degree, Melbourne agriculturegraduates emerge readyto jump straightinto their dream career
Danielle YidanTang is oneofthose students
Danielle firstenrolled in the Bachelor of Agriculturedue to theUniversityof Melbourne’sprestigiousstanding.
“WhatI didn’texpectwhen Ientered this degree wasthe diverse range of subjectswith a multidisciplinary approach,delivered by high-achieving scholars andindustryprofessionals,” she says.
“In particular, my mindwas blown by howagricultureistransforming into amoresustainableindustrywith an increasing use of advanced technology Andnow Iamdeeplyintriguedbytopics like sustainable production andprecision agriculture.”
Danielle chose to deepen herinterest throughanHonoursyearafter the Bachelor of Agriculture
She exploredmachinelearning and
its relevance to viticultureunderthe supervision of Associate Professor Sigfredo Fuentes, from theUniversity’s Digital Agriculture,Food andWine research group.
Her topic:Modelling sensorydescriptors of Chardonnay and Shiraz wines based on berry cell death using near-infrared spectroscopy and machine learning algorithms.
“I came to realise the things Ilearned duringmyfour years as an agriculture student were notjust theknowledge and theoriesfromtextbooks, butthe skills, waysofthinking,and courage to deal with problems.
This allhelped to shape me into a
more confident andpreparedperson, equipped witha practical skillset in my field”,saysDanielle.
Machine-learningmodels were developed to accurately predict sensory descriptorsofChardonnay and Shiraz wines from various inputs.
“With theinvolvementofadvanced technology,this could help vineyard managers and grape growers adapt to the hotter anddryer environmentbrought about by climate change.”
During her degree, Daniellecompleted an exchange program in wine studies in New Zealand, and volunteered forthe Royal AgriculturalSociety of Victoria and Food andWineVictoria
Sheisnow aPhD candidate working with GrainsResearch and Development Corporation (GRDC), AgricultureVictoria and the University of Melbourne.
Danielle willbeusingsensorytechnologies suchassensors andsatellite imagestocreate in-season qualitytraits maps forgrowers to maximise their profits.
“Ithas been ararebut precious opportunityfor me to connect with the growers in theWimmeraregion, and the internationalexperts andconnect directly with theindustry.”
Morcom House is nestled in the heartofCaulfield Campus
Robotics areinthe dairy
Robotic dairies arenothing new but the Robotic Teat Spray System designed and developed in Australia by Automation Solutions is at the cutting edge of technology
About five years ago, Peter Mulcahy, Inionba Pastoral, Kyabram, Victoria, approached Brett about developing a robot to suit his dairy.
Mr Mulcahy,with the supportofhis five daughters, runs about 1200 Holstein Friesian milkers.
The herdis100 per cent A2 genetics and supplies the Mulcahy family-owned and operated Kyvalley DairyGroup.
“We’ve been veryhappy with our teat spray robot,” Mr Mulcahy said.
Mr Inman said: “In that time, it has applied morethan one million teat sprays, without any down time attributed to the robot, surpassing expectations on the system’s reliability within its environment.
“It’sabout utilisation of labour and improving dairyefficiency
Implementing the robot into this process frees up available labour to complete other varying day to day tasks and also eliminates the numerous OHS risks associated with the task.
“The robot has been integrated with the existing equipment to deliver accurate and effective spray treatment, and took just afew days to install and set up.
“Weput cup removers in and with the Automation Solutions robot we wereable to run the dairywithout aperson on the cups-offside of the dairy.
This freed that person up to do other things.”
“Above all, it is morecost effective to purchase and own than alternative robotic sprayers, and thereare no ongoing corporate agreements.”
The robotic system was installed 12 months ago on a100-stall rotaryplatform.
If you arelooking to improve your rotaryparlour operations, contact Brett at Automation Solutions for more information on 0402 498 454 or visit automationsolutions.com.au
At FarmForest Drones your satisfaction is their main priority
Since the business started quality has been the focus.
By working with the best materials in the industrythey believe great results at an affordable price is the key to building a long lasting client base.
Having an interest with drones and DJI products they ventured out and purchased the latest products and introduced their implementation on the family farminJanuary2022.
Since then they have utilised these products on steep contours of the farmland in East Gippsland.
Utilising the equipment in all aspects from weed targeting/ Spot Spraying Broad acrespraying and Broadcasting seed and fertilizers on waterlogged and or steep terrain.
Now FarmForest Drones areoffering their services to other customers in the Gippsland region.
Agricultural spray drones bringing newlevels of efficiencyand control
The drones areused to spray diseases, manage weeds and as aformof pest control while providing precision application and reduced chemical usage.
This equipment provides awide array of capabilities including treatment of
FarmForest Drones
both broad acrespraying and weed targeting/ spot spraying.
They have proven great results with accessing difficult terrain and delicate or waterlogged crops having zerocrop losses due to ground compaction.
Due to the flexibility of drones they have the ability to tailor spraying solutions to your specific application ensuring you receive aquality outcome everytime.
Drone treatments include:
•Spot spraying
•Broad acrespraying
•Spraying on waterways/ irrigation channel and lagoons
•Steep terrain that tractors or vehicles cant access
•Orchardorplantation spraying
•Herbicides, pesticides, fungicides
•Mouse, Slug/snail baits
The combination of speed and power means that areas areable to be treated up to 40 times faster than manual spraying operations.
FarmForest Drone’sexperience has proven great results and efficiency
Previously they have only relied on word of mouth for business and have had steady growth and returncustomers.
They arenow looking forwardtomeeting new potential clients and to find out how they can supportyour business.
So far they have managed to complete large areas for example 60ha of maize with one drone in asingle day with ease.
They have now added asecond spray drone so arelooking forwardto obtaining larger scale tasks to really work out the efficiency with multiple units running
Aerial broadcasting
FarmForest Drones AGRAS T40 has the ability to accurately broadcast products such as seed, granular fertilizers and slug snail bait in any desired rate per ha.
The AGRAS T40 is equipped with active weighing sensors that monitor the spread quantity and remaining payload ensuring correct dispersion of product. It has amaximum spreading payload of 50KG and provides efficiency to cover broad acreorlarge hectares regularly and consistently
DJI AG Drone and equipment sales
Farm Forest Drones arepartnered with aleading electronics importer with premises in everymajor city to be able to offer sales, service/repair and equipment setup on your farmor business.
They provide the flexibility to offer setup days and assistance through your journey with DJI Spray drones.
They can also offer mapping of your farmpaddocks and help with loading your paddocks into your controller ready for ease of selection and implementation.
For moreinformation visit www.farmforestdrones.com
FARM FOREST DRONES
Drone treatments include:
- Spot spraying
- Broad acre spraying
- Spraying on waterways, irrigation channels and effluent dams
- Orchard and plantation spraying
- Herbicides, pesticides, fungicides
- Broadcasting granular fertiliser, seeds and baits
DJI Spray drone sales and setup
The combination of speed and power means that areas are able to be treated p times faster than manual spraying operations. d up to 40
FIRST TO OPEN, LAST TO CLOSE
The ONESTOP SHOP f for all your on farm needs
• Fertilisers
• Seed
• Agricultural Chemicals
• General Merchandise
• Power Equipment
• Lubricants
OPEN 7DAYS AWEEK
• Fencing
• Animal Health
• Stock feed and pet feed
Drop in and speak to one of our friendly Team Members at the following locations:
BAIRNSDALE 5152 1313
MAFFRA 5141 1544
MEENIYAN 5664 0265
OFFICER 5942 1056
SALE 5144 4441
STRATFORD 5145 6844
TRARALGON 5174 2955
WARRAGUL 5623 6911
YARRAM 5182 5148
On Thursday 20th June, BrownWigg opened thegateontheir large-scale fodder cerealdemonstration plots.
There hadn’tbeen aplantoholdafield dayatthis time of year but with some starkdifferences between varieties and treatments,animpromptu open gate afternoonwas held on asunny midwinters day
Over 30 farmerswitnessed astark contrast betweensix different varieties of Fodder Oats as well as FodderBarley andTriticalesown under full tillage and direct drill regimes
An increaseofover50per cent fresh weightyield wasmeasured in the plots where tillage had been performedas partofa double knock pre-seeding weedcontrol program.
Thisincreasewas attributedtosignificantly lessweedpressure and better
germination in whatproved to be adry end to theautumnatthe Munrosite
As expected, the Fodder Oat varieties Express and Cooee areleading the chargeofthe Oats so far and theBarley has produced themostearly-feed.
The Triticale gotoff to aslow startbut is now reallystartingtotiller out, so good things areexpected from thiscropinthe spring.
The plots aredue to be grazed in the next fortnightand then setup for hay at the end of thewinter
In addition to the FodderCereals, Brown Wigg also have 20haofAnnual Ryegrass plotsinatthe Munro site
The team at BrownWigg look forwardto sharing moreinformationabout this as theseason progresses andhopetosee you at their fieldday inthe springtosee howall the cropshaveprogressed.
Worker Bee Drones
Drones have become increasingly popular in recent years, with applications ranging from photography to package delivery.
However,one industrythat stands to be revolutionised by this technology is agriculture.
Drones offer arange of benefits that can significantly impact farming practices and ultimately improve crop yields and efficiency
One of the main advantages of drones in farming is their ability to gather precise and current data.
Equipped with advanced sensors and imaging technology,drones can capturedetailed information about crops, soil conditions, and irrigation needs.
This data can then be analysed to identify areas of concern, such as pest infestations, nutrient deficiencies, or water stress.
By pinpointing these issues early on, farmers can take prompt action to mitigate risks and ensureoptimal crop health.
Furthermore, drones can be utilised for moretargeted and efficient pesticide or fertiliser application.
By using their on-boardsprayers, drones can precisely apply chemicals to specific areas, reducing waste and minimising environmental impact.
This targeted approach also helps to reduce soil compaction, ensurethat crops receive optimal treatment, enhancing their growth and reducing the chance of pests or diseases spreading.
Drones also save farmers valuable time and labour
They can cover large areas in ashortamount of time and navigate hard-to-reach or hazardous terrains.
Additionally,autonomous drones can be programmed to performregular inspections or monitoring tasks, freeing up farmers to focus on other important activities.
Drones have the potential to revolutionise farming by providing valuable data, improving efficiency,and enhancing crop health.
As this technology continues to advance, farmers will be able to make moreinformed decisions, optimise resource usage, and ultimately increase their productivity and profitability
With drones, the futureoffarming looks promising.
ADVER TISING FEA TURE
Making farmers lives easier
At Autonomous Ag, they believe in making farmers’ lives easier
They arepioneering the next generation of agricultural technology with CHCNAVsteering solutions.
The NX510 is an automated steering system that easily retrofits many types of new and old tractors.
It is acompact, up to date and all in one solution, providing significant productivity gains and reduced operator fatigue at aprice every farmer can afford.
Easily importand exportfarms, fields, boundaries, tasks with the farm management software.
The CHCNAVNX510 uses the latest
generation integrated guidance controller,with access to all GNSS constellations and RTXcapabilities providing 2.5cm accuracies even in areas whereRTK networks are unavailable.
All kits come with everything included, areISOBUS ready,with no hidden costs or unlocks, for $8950 (+GST).
Ask Autonomous Ag about their low cost auto steer solutions that turn everytractor into anext generation farming machine. Call 0419 872 238 or email: info@autonomousag.com.au for moreinformation.
Advertising in the Gippsland Farmer
gets results!
Butdon’t just take ourword for it...
Here are just afew testimonialsfromsomehighlysatisfied clients, whoseGippsland Farmer advertisinghas worked forthem.
“
Th Gipps
hank-you Gippsland Farmer foryour many years of support. Youhavealways provided service well abovethe norm, incorporating the personal touch andthinking outside the square with excellent distribution of your publication. Well done to the team –pastand
eam past an present.
Je Mc Me Al
ACV/GARDS
In my role rural property s salesman invariablyI end up at the farm’s ‘kitchen table’
“
r
The national weekly rural publications we grew up with in past decades and piled up issue by issue, appear to havebeen replaced by Gippsland’s own rural paper…..The Gippsland Farmer
eclients of the Giippsland Farmer and d we have always enjoyyed a good working relaationship with Paula annd the team in the adveertising department They are always proffessional and friendly They go out of their waay to make sure you get t the right ad for the right message – we higghly recommend them whhen you are looking to seend a message to the coommunity Top quality, Professional and work with you all the way to achieve the outcome with groups you are targeting
Given the average age of farmers, I can only surmise they aremore comfortable sourcing the services and products they require fromlocal suppliers.
enny cDavitt erungle lpacas p
At Doben Park horns we advertise with Gippsland Farmer because it allows us to concentrate on the direct Gippsland market.With howGippsland Farmer is distributeditgivesus greater access to the wider Gippsland area. We have had great success with advertising with Gippsland Farmer,having sold quite afew bulls through the ad. Gippsland Farmer have been great with their communication with us and offering us great opportunities, through extraadvertising space and articles in line with eventssuch as Beef Week.
As the leading gltural publication for the region, Gippsland Farmer is atireless advocate for local businesses, connecting with clients and readersalike.
“If you’reserious about results-based advertising and promotion, Paula Hansen from Gippsland Farmer will help youachieve your business goals”, said Mr Bowman.
Greg ckett P ncip de Rea sta
g ett lpa rs al ate
Newspaper advertising
Doug Benson Princip Dobe Park Shortho A Shorth
g on l pal en k orns
“I found Paula’s local knowledge, attention to detail and brandawareness, agreat asset when it comes to reaching my rural target audience. As aNeerim South-based business, with a large operation in Rosedale, Iknowthat the newspaper coversall corners of the region which my family has been invested in forover Ba B G A agricul
135 years,” he said Glenn Bowman wm Principal owman Genetics s
National Farm Safety Week
Join VFF’sMakingOur Farms Safer initiative
Get ready to revolutionise farmsafety with the Making Our Farms Safer (MOFS) initiatives during National FarmSafety Week (NFSW)! Farmsafety is vital for Victoria’svibrant agricultural community,and this NFSW,the MOFS team is rallying everyone to make the most of the wealth of resources available and elevate safety standards on your farm. Head to the MOFS website for awide range of resources, including training guides and comprehensive handbooks.
At the end of July,we’reback on the road! Our dedicated Safety Advisor will be visiting as many farmsaspossible, bringing personalised safety advice, resources, and support to your farmwithour FarmSafety Visits.
This valuable, free service is a great opportunity to team up with neighbours and friends, so the safety messages can be spread as far as possible. Don’tmiss out—book your visit through the MOFS website today!
Our Safety Advisor is also available speaking at community events and workshops,offering expertinsights on general farmsafety or specialisedtopics. Reach out to the team to see how we can contribute to your event.
Stay in the loop with our latest initiatives by following us on social media, subscribing to email updates, and visiting our website.
Visit us at Making Our Farms Safer and join the movement to make our farms safer and our communities stronger!
Confusion making frustrations clear
AS THOUSANDS of beef industrydelegates visited last month's Rockhampton beef conference, there was aclearsense of frustrationat theconfusingnature of Australia’s carbon market.
The government has clearly stated it will need the carbon market to reach its goals of a43per cent reduction in emissions by 2030 and net zeroby2050. It conducted and backed the findings of an independent review of the market, which largely gave it aclean bill of health.
While many werehoping the findings of that report weregoing to give the industry some direction, it appears confusion is still one of the overwhelming sentiments on carbon.
Producers who spoke to AgCarbon Central appeared to be engaged, with many of them talking aboutthe short-livednatureof methaneand the potential for agricultural land to sequester carbon- particularly in the soil.
Many remarked that they did not know wheretostart or who to believe, with some saying they could see an opportunity and others saying they could not.
Thesoilcarbonindustry had some green shoots appearing atthe end of lastyear with ahandful of producersreceiving large amounts ofcredits.But the response to the issuances wasnot what many of the industryparticipants had predicted.“We all thoughtwhen the floodgates weregoing to open when we had some runs on the board but it hasn’t been that straightforward,” one participant told AgCarbon Central.
One of the main issuesthe industry is facing is aseries of highly publicised concerns from scientists about the integrity of the credits that have been issued.
University of Melbourne professor Richard Eckardhas beenleadingthe criticismof the soil carbon market -raising concerns about alackoftransparencyfromthe regulator and sayingsome projects are being recognised for soil carbongains that havelikely comefromincreasedrainfall.
He addressed aQueensland Department of Agricultureforum, wherehespoke about some of his carbon accounting research and concerns about soil carbon. Prof Eckard and others on the panel spoke about the potential for soil carbon to go backwardsin drought years, which could make producers liable.
ABC landline’s Pip Courtney was hosting the session and asked if he had come across any producers who had signed up to soil carbon projects and had regretted it.
“Unfortunately, Ihavehad afew,not just one,” Prof Eckardsaid.
The discussion was challenged by carbon developer Natalie Hick, from Natural Capital
Co, who said she felt carbon developers werebeing unfairly undermined.
“Any carbon project developer worth their salt would do their duediligenceand make surethe project is viable beforestarting,” Ms Hick said.
“I agree that moreresearch is needed and Iagree that rainfall has ahuge bearing on it, but Idon’t knowwhatthe solutionis if there is this continued undermining of what hascome beforeus.”
Prof Eckardsaid he was not trying to undermine carbonaggregators and that he was mainly concerned about the soil carbon projects and how they wererolling out.
“If Iwas to re-writing the soil carbonmethodology, Iwould be factoring out rainfall specificallybecausethe currentmethod doesn’t overtly separate it out.”
It must be saidthereare measuresin place to protect from soil carbon reversal in dry years,with projectsrequired to keep carbon in the ground for 25 years and the Clean EnergyRegulator holding 25 per centofthe credits in thecaseofrainfall dominating the result.
The soil carbon industry was asignificant presence at Beef 2024, with soil carbon service providers taking up many trade
stalls in the Tech Yards. Many of them told AgCarbonCentraltheywerereceiving a steadystream of inquiry from producers keen to sign up to projects, but they were having tough discussions about contracts -with who owns what and succession planning being two of the main factors.
Dr Terry McCosker from Carbon Link, which has generated the most Australian Carbon Credit Units through soil, said there arealot of costs developers incur.
“I think producers look at the amount a carbon developer makes at the end of the day and Ican tell you from bitter experience that you aremaking alot moremoney out of it than we are,” he said.
“In our organisation we have over 20 skill sets that areinvolved in running aproject for seven years beforethereisany income back to us.”
Dr McCosker was keen to make the point that soil carbon projectswereworking in a complex regulatory environment, with his projects that werecredited last year audited multiple times over morethan ayear.He was keen to make the point that thorough measurement that may involve more capital upfront decreased risk at auditing time.
While the soil carbon projects have been
the source of public debate, the regulator has shown no signs of stopping it. It is a different story to vegetationprojects, which arefacing uncertainty at aregulatory level.
The main issue appears to be with amethodology called human induced regeneration (HIR), which focuses on changes of practice to encourage vegetation growth.HIR has receivedrepeatedcriticism from agroup of ANU scientists, whichhas giventhe DepartmentofEnvironmentcold feet in re-writing it into anew methodology.
Carbon project developers working on the vegetation projects have been put on hold in anticipation for the new methodology, with one of them saying it is costing alot of money.
HIR has driven alot of property transactions in the north and some of the corporates have eitherstarted or lookedatstarting new projects under the methodology.
At thispoint, the department says it is tracking towards having adraft of the Integrated Farmand Land Management methodology later this year,which will include are-written version of HIR.
-BeefCentral
Oppositiontoreverse emissionstarget if elected
Eric BARKER
THE Federal opposition has set the tone for its next election campaign, pledging to reverse the current government’s 2030 emissions target.
Labor’s goal to reduce emissions by 43 per cent between the years of 2005 and 2030 has had aprofound impact on agriculture since it was elected in 2022 -prompting investment into renewable energyand ramping up reliance on the carbon market. The goal has received mixed responses from the agriculture sector,with some seeing it as an opportunity for the industry, others seeing it as an unnecessary burden and all opinions in-between.
Now theOpposition ismaking adirect challenge to Labor’s approach, with Peter Duttonpledgingtoditch the 2030 target and rely on nuclear energytoreachnet zeroby2050. Most of the heavy lifting is expectedtobedonebetween 2040and 2050 as the transition into nuclear would likely take that long to come online.
The primary objective for ditching the 2030 target appears to be about taking
the pressureoff the rollout of renewable energy. Large-scale wind and solar projects have been central to Labor’starget,which is hoping 82 per cent of the nation’s electricity grid will come from renewable energy by 2030.
The federal government has put aseries of financial incentives in place to scale up development and has been designating areasfor renewableenergydevelopment and building transmission lines to plug them into the national grid.
The renewables industry believes it can meet the target, citing the country’s efforts to scale up other electricity sources like gas in ashort space of time.
The Coalition says the goal is unachievable and it could only be achieved at the detriment of agricultureormanufacturing. It was inferring that it would compete with agricultural land use and makingpower too expensive for manufacturing.
Renewable energy has been apart of the Australian energy grid for some time and speaking to Sky News, Nationals leader David Littleproud said it would continue be.
“Thereisaplacefor renewables and I
believe the best place for renewables that in an environment it can’t destroy, which is on rooftops wherethe concentration of power and the concentration of population is. So, therewill be arenewablesmix is part of our grid,” he said.
It is unclear whetherthe Coalition is planning to wind back the financial incentives for renewable energy companies.Ifthe Coalition is elected, it is unlikely to see the end of demand forcarbon projects.The Coalition was the first to implement the main policy underpinning carbon projects, called the safeguardmechanism.
It sets an emissions limit for big emitters, like electricityand miningcompanies,and forces them to purchase offsets if they exceed the limit.
Since coming into power,Labor has ramped up thesafeguardmechanism making those limits decline year-on-year until 2030 -inline with the 43 percent reduction.
Labor’s policy has been tipped to force up the price of carbon credits beforethe end of thedecade. Beef Central asked where the Coalition plans to take the safeguard
mechanism if elected, which is still unclear. Carbon captureisstill part of the plan.
One of the morecontroversialendsof the carbonmarket has carboncapture and storage - which involves taking waste CO2 from power stations and pumping it into the ground. In Gippsland, it would be pumped into empty oil and gas reservoirs in Bass Strait.
Glencore's plan to trial pumping into the Great Artesian Basin was denied by the Queenslandstate government after lobbying from agriculture, environmentalists and regional communities concerned about its impact on an important water source. Whilethe Opposition has been calling on the federal government rule out any more projectslike Glencore’s in the GAB, it is still backing carbon captureasaconcept if it is in the appropriate areas.
In the same interview with Sky News, Mr Littleproudsaid gas with CCS would be part of the plan. -BeefCentral
Many people wereleft confused after the findings of the carbon report
Photo: iStock
Environmental Accounting Platform launched
AUSTRALIA'S first definitive cross-sectoral carbon calculation engine for the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors has been launched after asuccessful beta-period and the completion of an independent impact assessment.
The AIA (Agricultural Innovation Australia) Environmental Accounting Platform(AIA EAP) was made live in early May, delivering astandardised approach to carbon accounting across awide range of commodities.
Arecent independent impact evaluation of theAIA EAP, carried outbyMarsden JacobAssociates,has shown that there arebig benefits for Australian agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors.
Their evaluationshowed that the research, development and maintenance of asingle, common platformprovides to stakeholders net benefits of close to $84 million and a benefit to cost ratio of close to 17:1.
The evaluationalso showedthat asingle, common platformsuch as the AIA EAP is around 11 times morecost effective for rural industries than the development and maintenanceofindividual, commodity specific calculators, representing asaving of morethan $50 million.
AIA's chief executive, Sam Brown, said the EAP was anational-scale, pre-competitive solution, which will provide an accessible, reliable andconsistentreferencepoint to support supply chains with abetter understanding of agricultural emissions.
“When it comes to carbon accounting, it is clear thereare significant benefits to developing, updating and maintaining a single common platformthat works across commodities, particularly for mixed farm enterprises, which represent ahigh proportion of our primary production landscape,” Mr Brown said.
“As anot-for-profit, we arecreatinga single source of truth, backed by science, so producers and other providers can reduce administration by entering their data just once to achieve awhole of enterprise carbon footprint.
“Thereare also efficiency benefits for participating rural research and development corporations (RDCs) by reducing duplication of common updates and refinements, and for thirdparty users looking to avoid costly workarounds on multiple platforms.
“Weknow that one of the biggest barriers to carbon accounting has been the complex, time consuming and confusing natureof current default methods for measurement.
“The AIA EAP will change that, while at the same time providing data and evidence to empower users to make informed decisions around reducing emissions, capturenew business opportunities and help drive positive environmentaland economic outcomes for Australia.”
The AIA EAP provides universal access to carboncalculatorsthat areconsistent with the most widely used and current de-facto
Agricultural
Innovation Australia Chief Executive, Sam Brown said the Environmental Accounting Platform will provide a consistent reference point to support supply chains
Photo: AIA
standard,the University of Melbourne’s Primary Industry Climate Challenges Centre Greenhouse Accounting Frameworksfor AustralianPrimary Industries(GAF Tools).
Chair of the AIA EAP Technical Advisory Panel and Director of the Primary Industries Climate Challenges Centre withinthe University of Melbourne, Professor Richard Eckard, said the overall objectiveofthe EAP was to provide Australia with acommon and standardised way for producers and their industries to calculate their carbon footprintand makemoreinformed decisions.
“The AIA EAP has been developed to move with thechanges ofour rural industries in that we areable to evolve the model to accommodate new factors, including mitigations, as well as add new and additional calculators as needed, including emerging accounting frameworks such asnatural capital," he said.
“The independent impact evaluation completedbyMarsdenJacob Associates found key benefits of the platforminclude
reducingcostfor both RDCsand thirdparty users by eliminating duplication of commonrefinementsand removing the need for costly expendituretofind workarounds for inconsistencies and gaps across multiple platforms.
“The completion of the beta period and theindependent impact evaluation mark areally important step forwardfor the AIA EAP and confirms it has the potential to transformthe way we carry out carbon accounting across our rural industries.”
As Mr Brown explained, the AIA EAP is a national-scale solution, making it areliable and consistent reference point to support the entiresupply chain with understanding agricultural emissions.
“Havingacarbon calculation engine that delivers acommon methodology and supports aunited narrative around emissions and emissions reduction will put Australia ahead of the rest of the world when it comes to carbon accounting,” Mr Brown said.
“Weencourage the supply chain, farmand business solution providers, agribusiness,
financial institutions and others to integrate with the engine, and build it into their own service offerings.
“This evaluation by Marsden Jacob Associates shows the value of cross-sectoral investmentinwhole of agriculture solutions and clearly demonstrates the potential of AIA’s collaborative approach. On behalf of our rural and regional industries, and the communities that service those industries, we couldn’tbemoreexcited aboutthe impending launch of the AIA EAP.”
The AIA EAP has been built by AIA with investment from several of Australia’s rural research and development corporations including the GrainsResearchand Development Corporation, Meat &Livestock Australia, Australian Eggs, AustralianPork Limited, AgriFutures Australia, the Cotton Research and Development Corporation, the Fisheries Research and Development Corporationand the Australian Meat Processor Corporation.
Regulators urgedtoupdatecalculations
CATTLE Australia (CA) has urged regulators to update their greenhouse gas emission calculations to reflect the science on beef cattle emissions and fully realise the potential for the industry to be part of the solution to climate change.
CA Chief Executive,DrChris Parker said unlike the burning of fossil fuels, the beef industry was not an exhaust pipe into the atmosphere.
“The beef industry is unique, in that methane is the largest attributable greenhouse gas to our sector,not carbon dioxide,” Dr Parker said.
“It is important to recognise thatnotwithstanding their warming effect, methane emissions arepart of a12-year,short-lived biogenic cycle and thereforehave adifferent impact on global warming than emissions from fossil fuels, which areadditional to the atmosphereand persist for thousands of years, if not millennia.”
A2023 report from the CSIRO,'Pathways
to climate neutrality for the Australian red meat industry', recognised that different targets were needed fordifferent types of emissions in order to measurethe industry’s progress towards achieving a state climate neutrality.
“Cattle Australiasupportsatargettobe climate neutral, apoint at which emissions from the beef industry will have no additional impact on global temperature rise,” Dr Parker said.
“The Australian beef supply chain has shown its commitment with significant contributions towards mitigating its emissions and will continue to do so, with large sections of the industry already sequestering moreCO2 than they produce.
“Given the scale of Australian grazing land, beef producers also have the ability to sequester carbon in vegetation and soil like no other sector.”
But Dr Parker said current methodologies risk policy misstepsand unfair
burdens on acritical sector of the economy.
“These risks will potentially involve costly interventions and greater difficulty accessing financialservices, which would have directimplications on productioncosts and asset values,” Dr Parker said.
He said the beef industry was an important part of the solution to stabilise global warming but wasbeing stymiedbya national accounting method that did not reflect the complexity and opportunity of grass-fed enteric methane.
“Thereisalack of understanding regarding the net position of grass-fed enteric methane emissions, and we areonly partially measuring the emissions versus sequestration equation (CO2 capture through biomass).”
Dr Parkersaid the beef industry had specificnuances whenitcomes toGHG emission, and thereneeded to be morework done to understand the biogenic natureof
methane emissions from grass-fed cattle and the manner in which this contributes both to net GHG emissions and to atmospheric warming.
“It is crucial governmentand industry research efforts areinsync, and producers have access to accurate data onthe net effect of both their CO2 and their methane emissions -something which is currently missing," he said.
“Thereisareal opportunity heretofurther display the benefit of redmeat production in Australia to the environment while considering the importance of food security, nutritional security, and the societal role of meat.
“Futuregoals need to continuetostimulate investment to ensureanongoing positive impact on the climate, in conjunction with the continued profitability and productivity of our sector.”
HOT WASH HEROES
Cleaning oily and greasy farmgear with hot water and steam offers huge advantages over cold water cleaning It’s more efficient,cutting cleaning times by up to 75 percent,uses less water and reducesthe need for cleaningchemicals.
Forservice techniciansitisnot only faster,but helps to identifyhydraulic leaks prior to maintenance,facilitating less equipment downtime andreduced service times. For livestock producers hot waterand steam can deliver a morehygienic clean,killing bacteriaand germs.
This makesitanideal optionfor cleaningindairies, piggeries and chicken sheds.
AussiePumps offers arange of hot wash machines and steamcleanersthat arespecifically designed for Australian conditions
“When we set outtosellhot waterand steam pressure cleanersinAustralia, we knew that the standard European machines did not measure up to the localconditions,” said Aussie Pump’sChief Engineer John Hales.
“Reliability is vital,especially in remote areas where the breakdownofthe steamcleaner canmean themachine is out of action forweeks,” he said
Aussie Pumps set out to design key featuresintotheir hot washmachines that gaveusers advantages they felt were essential, without including over complicated components with thepotential to fail
AllofAussie’s electric drivehot water machines come with four pole motors andslow speedheavyduty European triplex pumps
They provide alonger andtroublefreelife.
The rangeincludesboth single and three phase options withpressures from 1,800psi all theway up to 4,000 psi. They also comewith stainlesssteel covers,replacing the traditionalEuropean style polypropylene cover, asteel chassis, andfour wheels,not castors,for easeofmovementonuneven surfaces.
Aussie’smachinesare streets aheadofimports.
They feature awide range of protectiondevices that are aimed at providing the maximum convenience forthe operator
Theseinclude Timed TotalStop, Auto Shut-down, Microleak Detection, and Low Fuel sensorwith warning light “Aussie’ssteam cleaners areastoughonthe insideas they look from theoutside butstilloutstanding value,” said Hales.
AUSSIE SIZZLER ….GREATVALUE HOTWASH
TheAussie Sizzlerrepresents aprice breakthrough,but without compromising quality
The hot washdelivers1800psi pressurewith aflowof10 lpm.
With amaximum temperature of 80°C,the machine has proven popular for cleaningfarmequipment anddairy washdown.
TheSizzler comes in astainless steel coverovera four wheeltrolley
The secretofthe machine’ssuccessiswhat is underthe cover
It comes withatop quality slow speed firstworld heavy duty triplex pump with solid ceramic pistons.
It is driven by afourpole 1450 rpmelectric motor and equippedwithloads of safety protection gadgets
Thediesel firedburnerhas been settoproduce hotwater to amaximum of 80°C
“Experiencehas taught us thatrunning ahot washat thistemperatureisbothfuelefficientand delivers great cleaning results,”saidHales
TheAdmiral cansavetime, waterand electricity in the cleaning process.
The 4,000psi capability with flowsto15lpm,means it can move caked on debrisfast, delivering huge time savings It’sthe combinationofsteam (up to 130°C),4,000 psi pressure andhugeflow that getthe jobs donefaster
Theoperator hasthe ability to varybothpressure and heat from thecontrol panel to optimise performance and cleaning efficiency
Thisheavy duty machineisideal for busy transporthubs and high volumewashbayswhere themachine willbe used for mostofthe day
AUSSIE HEATWAVE...MOBILE STEAM CLEANING
Yes, Aussiecan evensupply Honda engine drive, portable 4,000 psi hot wash machines delivering steam up to 130°C and it’s called theAussie Heatwave.
The 13HP electricstart Hondaengine drivesaheavy duty triplex pumpwithsolid ceramic pistonsand topquality seals for alongtrouble free life.
The Heatwavefeatures a12volt ignition systemand a diesel fired burner
The heating system enables the operator to go from using cold tohot waterwiththe flick of abutton.
The operationaltemperature of the waterdeliveredcan be dialled up from ambientto130°C
The unitisbuiltintoacompact stainlesssteel framewith four steel wheels with rubber tyres.
Thismeansitcan be used as amobilewashunit for landscapers and maintenance contractors.
Alternatively,itcan be hardmountedona Ute, truckor trailer together with a300 or 400litre water tank to become aself-contained mobilehighpressureon-sitecleaning system.
LOCALPARTNERS FOR LOCALSUPPORT
Victoria is blessed with ‘AussieGoldDistributors’likeValley Pumps &Irrigation in Moe,who hold stock and sell Aussie Pump products.
Theirteams canassist withpressure cleanerselectionto ensure customers get the right machine first time.
To locate your nearest GoldDistributor use thedetails on thefull pagead.
Alternatively check out the Aussie Pump website (aussiepumps.com.au) or callthem directlyon0288653500
Aussie Admiral heavy duty steam cleaner is ideal for preservice cleaning of trucks and farmgearinhighvolume wash bays.
The single phase electric powered Aussie Sizzler is agreat on farmtool for general gear cleaning.
An Aussie Admiral in action cleaning tanks on afish farmwith high pressuresteam
Perfecting the art of the mushroom
BRANDON
Katrina
“NOTHING makes you moreofahypochondriac than being amushroom forager,” according to localmushroomeducator, Natasha Vorogushin.
Ms Vorogushinhas been practising the art of mushrooms for many years and teaching foraging and cookingonmultiple occasions. She conducted courses and talks with MYCommunityApplied Mycology, anotfor-profit she founded, and String and Salt in Warragul for five to six years. Now, she runs courses with her own company, Tash Can Cook.
“I run my workshops very differently from how Itaught them through String and Salt, as that was moreoftheir structure andformula. Now thatI am running my workshops,I mainlyfocus on education and justteaching people how to identify mushrooms,” Ms Vorogushin said.
“I teach about mushroom biology, so I go through all the detailsofthe parts of the natural mushroom. Without knowing that,it's tough to identify and learnhow to specify different features of different mushrooms.Afterwards,I liketotake people out for alittle walk and see what we find out there.”
Through the classes and workshops, Ms Vorogushin talks about how thereis always achance of misidentification while foraging, the different things to look out for, and the many different ways to confirma mushroom's identity.
Some things to look out for include;
Smell;
Colour change in ascratch test;
The textureofthe cap (smooth, scales, hairy, warts);
The environment they arein;
The gills underneath the mushroom
(spacing, how they areattached to the stem), and;
The stem itself (hollow, is it brittle, and has askirt (a thin film that covers the gills when the mushroom is still immatureand as it matures and the cap opens up, that film falls off).
Ms Vorogushin said arule of thumb when foraging is to throw it out if in doubt and that you need to be 100 per cent sure that what you arelooking at is edible. She also said that foraging can be quite scary because you can accidentally hurt someone, but once you have familiarised yourself and cross-checked with your sources, it does become easier
“When I first started, I was also terrified because I didn’t want to hurt myself in the process. So, it took me a long time even to pick up the couragetoeat anything Ifound, even though Icould see very clearly what I foundresembled 100per cent of what was representedonlinethroughfield books, photos and trusted colleagues and other mycologists online,” she said.
“Thereare about 30 different ediblespecies of mushroom out therethat can be foraged for.Online recourses,Facebookgroups (such as the Australian Wide Mushroom Hunters), and field guides are allhandy recoursesfor you to cross-reference with what you see out therecompared to online.”
The mushroom foraging season is as early as the start of March through to the end of July, depending on seasonal weather, according to Ms Vorogushin, which is when she runs her classes.
Ms Vorogushin’s classes arerun all around Gippsland, mainlyinthe Baw Baw and Latrobe Valley regions.
For moreinformation, visitthe TashCanCook Facebook page.
Natasha Vorogushin,local mushroom forager shares her knowledge on howtoforage safely and whattolook out for in amushroom.
Photo: Contributed
ThebrainsbehindSailorsGraveBrewery
HOPKINS
Philip
IT was in the wilds of Vermont in the US that Gab and Chris Moorefound the key to their futureinEast Gippsland.
The journey into the remote northern American state was the culmination of a three-month, fact-finding tour of the US. The couple, both landscape architects who had met studyingatRMIT,had left their Sydney bar restaurant that they had run for four years.
“Wehad seen the rise of craft beer in Sydney, in theearly days -10years ago now. Iwas pregnant with our second child. We came back here(Orbost) to take stock, but we knew it would be into craft beer,” Gab told the Gippsland Farmer
With two kids in tow, the couple’s research trip out of Los Angeles soaked up experiences and knowledge at breweries to try and find out what would work in Orbost.
“In Vermont, we weredriving to find this brewery. The bitumen road turned into a dirt road and it started to sleet and snow. We werethinking -‘Gosh, we must be lost! Then the cars startedtopile up on theside of the road, numberplates from all over the country, even Canada,” Gab said.
“Itwas that brewery that made us realise if you aredoing something fantastic, you can do that anywhere, so we came back with that knowledge gained over there and decide to stay in Orbost and build the brewery.”
Thus, the partners in life and business started Sailors Grave Brewing eight years ago. The aim was always to stay in the home region.
Gab stems from Orbostmulti-generational farming families. She is the sister of the former Independentmember for East Gippsland,Craig Ingram, and is partof the well-known Nixon family.
Chriswas borninMelbourne, but his grandfather is aPerry who grew up in Orbost, so he has relatives in the district.
“Weoriginally wanted to start the brewery on our farmbetween Marlo and Cape Conran, but thereweretoo many barriers in the way. We contacted the butter factory; therewas nothing in here. We rented this space, it has been agreat fit for us -anold dairy,butter factory was almost purpose fitfor abrewery,” Gab said.
Local tradition inspired the brewery’s quirky name. Sailors Grave was alittle cove at Cape Conran.
“Therewerealot of sailors graves there at some point. From the ‘20s to the ‘80s, there was asea shanty village thereon 100-year leases, which did not survive; all weredemolished,” Gab said.
“I used to summer thereatmygrandfather’s house. Thereused to be abar set up in the dunes -a bar,table and keg. When we moved back here, we wanted to have aname that reflected time and place... therewas so such freedom then. Therewere horse yards on the beach, utes groaning full of crayfish -it was alot of fun. We had just
moved from Sydney, which felt like areal nanny state -and it was also acool name. ”
‘Provenance’ -local food -was the theme of their Sydney restaurant and underlay of their Orbost venture.
Working closely with Food &Fibre Gippsland, Gab and Chris set about developing agrain economy in Gippsland.
“All the ingredients arehere-water,hops, maltand yeast. While we try to have as much provenance, ‘terroir’ as wine makers do, it’s hard,” Gab said.
They have developed connections with local growers, using fruit,oysters, seaweed, vegetables, honey, carrot seed heads and cornfromSnowy River Seeds.
“Wedoa lot of work with growers and makers, we do alot of foraging,” Gab said.
For example, Honey BushBraggot beer was inspired by traditional methods of gathering and soakingthe nectar-heavy blossoms in waterfor anutritious drink favoured by local indigenous people.
“OurversionusespureBanksia honey from Tambo ValleyHoney (in Bruthen) resulting in atoffee, caramel beer base with adeep floral character,” Gab said.
The company also has adeep commitment to honouring Aboriginal people’s cultural and spiritual relationshipwith the land.
Thereisabeer made in collaboration with Uncle Bruce Pascoe: Dark Emu Dark Lager,inspired by Bruce Pascoe’s book ‘Dark Emu’.
“Wewantedtovalue addfor Gippsland grain and get higher price for farmers, create anew industry,” Gab said, but the main ingredients arestill commodities; the grain comes from everywhere.
“Thereisarecent pushto talk about provenance, but in general, the provenance of malt you get -no one knows wherethe malt is grown; it’s accumulated from various farms and malted by large companies who have great relationships with farmers, but no provenance,” Chris said.
“We’ve been banging on for years -how can we malt local grain? It’s expensive. Thereis alot of grain being grown in Gippsland, but
much is going to feed. We’ve gotsome locally grown barley and it stacks up against grain grown in the Wimmera.”
Thereare alot of agronomic challenges; raincan ruinmaltand makealarge percentage unviable. Chris and Gab in collaboration with Food &FibreGippsland have bought asmall brewing system from acraft maltster,Voyager Craft Malts from NSW,asabasis for futureexpansion.
Water, akey ingredientfor beer, comes from the Rocky River
“It’s mains water,not out of the Snowy River -atributary, soft beautiful water, which is what you want forbrewing,” Chris said.
Thisistoppedupwith rainwater;a filtration system keeps the waterclean, and thereisa big emphasis on reusing water -“we have spent $280,000 on waste reuse system”, Chris said -asbrewing uses alot of water
“Thereare four and six litres of water for everylitreofbeer made. Alot of thatis cleaning. Some gets soaked into the grain, othersinto the actual beer,the rest is cleaning,” he said.
Sailors Grave has acorerange of five beers that the company makes all the time.
“Thereisanother range we make regularly and seasonally, and thereare new releases everyfortnight.Overayear, we have 30-40 different beers. Someofthose arebeerswe do every year;othersare one-offthatwe never do again. At any one time, thereare 10 beers out there,” Chris said.
Acreativeartistindividuallyillustrates the various beer flavours.
In its infancy, the company ignored the traditional approach of starting with asmall cellar door
“Given our location, we knew we needed to get into Sydney andMelbourne first and work our way back -build areputation in Sydney and Melbourne, by also making beers no one had everseenbefore,” Gab said.
They targeted certain vanguardbars and bottle shops-‘it’ places.
“Getintothem,the rest wouldfollow -that’s exactly what happened. We are now building back into Gippsland and hope Gippsland will be one of our biggest markets,” Gab said.
They have been exporting to Japan since 2019 -small batches, but also to Singapore and New Zealand.
“Wewant to grow that as we expand as well.”
Gaining knowledge about craft beer is a learningprocess.The UStrip taught them while science underpins the fundamental principles of brewing, thereare many different ways to do things well.
“You can carve your own path, make some mistakes. our brewing knowledge is vastly different now from when we opened the doors, we arealways improving. Youcan go to school to learnaparticularway of brewing, but that can be limiting, but also empowering. Thereare pros and cons to both approaches,” Chris said.
Excise makesbeerin Australia much moreexpensive than it is in America. It’s also abig capital investment. To expand theAustralian beer market, Gab said as awoman in the industry, “women aremy target audience”.
“A lot of people who think they don’t like beer-when growingupwith Carlton or VB, that’s what they think beer is. Beer is alot morevaried than that. Ilike to push the boundary on those beer styles and try to convert people,” she said.
“Having saidthat, alcohol consumption is dropping, we have to move with the times. Anew development -wehave apasteuriser making non-alcoholic beers.
"Weare also starting to branch into other drinks -sodas, new drinks for asophisticated pallet and not just asoft drink. Justbecause someone does not drink, it doesn’t mean theydon’t want agrownup drink. Thereisa real futureinthose types of drinks.
“Everybeer is telling astory; theaudience is curious people. Beer is agreat way of opening doors and startingconversations. That paves the way for Sailors Grave’s new development path -anexpanded brewing and tourist development that is expected to be ready in August-September this year,locatedontheirfamilyfarmhalf-way between Marlo andCape Conran.
“No other places wereavailable to us. It’s abig challenge, agreenfieldsite,” Gab said.
“After the (2019-20)bushfires, therewere the post-bushfire grants. We thoughtif we wereever going to be able to do something, now was the chance. We putinan application for brewing and malting. The goal was to malt local grain,” Gab said. The application was successful.
“That has taken anumber ofyears. It’s been abig journey, with escalating costs. It’s been atough time financiallytosurvive -especially now, when we arebuilding the development at the same time. But when you’reinit, you’reinit!”
Chris and Gab Moorepose withtheir craft beers.
Photos: Philip Hopkins
Chris and Gab Moorelaunched Sailors GraveBrewing eight years ago.
Therange of craft beers on offer from Sailors Grave Brewing.
What does the futureofOrbost hold?
Philip HOPKINS
EAST Gippsland is looking to agriculture as akey driver of regional economic growth after the closure of the nativetimberindustry by the state government.
The forest industry and the region in generalwas badly affected by the savage 2019-20bushfires, and the then-Premier, Daniel Andrews, vowed to rebuild the East Gippsland industry after the fires.
The forest industry survived enough to provide jobs and economic stimulus as an emergency industry during the pandemic lockdown, which effectively forced the closureof tourism, but the state government reneged on akey part of its post-firepromise and closed the native forest industry.
Now, the region is picking up the pieces from the wreckage through astate government$500,000 transitionalgrant,being administeredbythe OrbostChamber of Commerce that aims to develop plans for the future; called the Future of Orbost project.
“Five hundred thousand dollars sounds alot,” saidthe Chamber’s secretary, Garry Squires, but it soon starts to disappear Mr Squires, aveteran forester with decades of East Gippsland forest management experience, said when the fund was originally set up, the timber industry was going to close in 2030.
“That was seven-to-eight years away. The idea was to start to look at how to change economyoverthat period to plot anew future,” he told the Gippsland Farmer
“Wegot nearly two years into that process, then the government changed it to seven months, not years. In terms of community development strategy, that really changed the situation all of asudden. What can be done quickly -that has become one of our biggest issues. Thereare not many things you can do to change an economy quickly to completely changeits direction.That has been the challenge -tochange from seven years to seven months.”
Mr Squires said the forest closurehad now occurred and lots of people had been paid out. Agricultural was now afavoured replacement.
“Weare looking at value-adding milk -a cheese factory -but this investigation is in its early stages,” he said.
“Hemp is potentially an alternativecrop-a trial of hemp, on at least one or maybe a couple of farms, is on the agenda. We will try acouple of different strains of hemp and see whether our climate is right for it.”
Mr Squires said rainfall in East Gippsland was generally welldistributedthroughthe year
“Traditionally June and July can be quite dry months, but like all parts of Victoria, you can havedry months. We hadgreat rain recently,” he said.
Hemp can be used in building products or for making clothing.
“It avery versatileproduct, but to be a viable industry therehas to be enough of its
growing to justify a plant to process it - for hemp oil,” Mr Squires said.
The OrbostChamber is also looking at biochar.Mr Squires said aconsultant researched waste streams in the district For example, corncobs from cornseed processing now burnt to waste could be burnt to create heatorelectricity,while the cobs could be burnt to create biochar, aproduct valuable for agricultural use.
“Weare lookingatall thesethings,”he said, including roadside clearing waste.
The biocharoption was similar to the pyrolysis plant that Radial timber had establishedatYarram. Source material for biocharispotentially available from native forest, but “thinning of forests is not on the agenda at present”, Mr Squires said.
“You would hope that common sense prevails eventually and thereis active forest management, particularlyfroma fireperspective but also aforest health perspective. Common sense is not always common.
"That would also be agood source of wood for abiochar plant.”
Wild venison is also emerging as a niche sector
“A couple of guys have a company that is doing some wild venison at present, there is an abattoir in Orbost that mainly does sheep, beef, pigs and wild venison,” he said.
“Thereare plenty of deer out there; there’s quite a market for it in restaurants. It’s a small industry that might help us into the future.”
While thenative forest industry has closed, Parkside, a big operator of the old BrodribbmillatOrbost, hasdecided to leave the mill in an operating status.
“Basically, most of the mills have done the same. The equipment inthem- it would cost them to pull it apart for scrap metal, that’s all it’s good for For a couple of years anyway, they’ll leave the mill there in case there is a change of heart in terms of government,” Mr Squires said.
“I thinkitwould beextremelyunlikely even with achange of government that the
decisionwould be overturned, particularly as the current government is moving to make moreofthe forest into national park. The morenational park, the less likely you could start up atimber operation again.
"All the values they aretrying to conserve in national parks are already conserved in state forest anyway. In fact, they are more likelytobelost if they make anational park because they arenot managed.”
The fate of the workers from the East Gippslandmills has varied.MrSquires said there were three categories of sawmill or bush workers:
Category 1: People more than 55-years-old with awife in part-time work - would retire or pick up casual work untilthey went on the pension.
“They are not in a position to sell a house herefor $300,000 and buyfor $600,000 somewhereelse,” he said.
Category 2: Younger family people, who have said ‘I can’t wait around to see whether things are going to develop in this district, I need to make my future, so I’ll leave’.
“Some have left. Some of that category aredoing ‘fly in, fly out’; at least the money comes back into our town,” he said.
Category 3: ‘In-betweens’ -people paying offahouse, car,a wife may have part-time work, the kids areatschool.
“They arenot in asituation to move but thereare not many options for them here, so asmall number have pickedupwork in other areas as contractors, not permanent,” Mr Squires said.
“Themiddlegroup willhit awall in the middle of the next four years. Some got payouts of $150,000 a year or so ago, but that money will run out quicklyifthey have no job. Businesses in town starting to feel that already. Throw in the cost-of-living crisis -it’s avery difficult story really for those groups.”
Farmforestryisanoption.MrSquires said in far East Gippsland, the reality was thatsix per cent of the land masswas cleared, 88 per cent was forest and 12 per
cent was private land. Of that private land, half was still forest, leaving six per cent of that area for farmforestry.
“You will not do it on the Snowy flats, it’s too valuable. Youwill not do it in the general area wherethereisbeef and dairy, little pocketshereand therepotentially, but it’s almost anon-issue here,” he said.
“Farmforestry- if someone decided to put in afive-hectareplot, when it comes to harvest time, the expense of moving machinery to target five hectares is not worth it.If thereare 55ha patches in an area, amachine could have work,but farm forestry to my mind is afew windbreaks -Landcare; that’s about all in this part of the world.”
AgricultureinEastGippsland is still dominated by beef and dairy. Thereare about 26 dairy farms, acouple of big herds of 500-plus; half send their milk supply to Bega, the other half to Saputo in Leongatha -“a long way to take the milk”, Mr Squires said.
“Thereare some issues with succession planning. Therewas aviablevegetable industry here, particularly in beans, in the 1950s. Floods wiped people out; afew think it’s better to be in dairy and beef compared to agricultureand the threat of floods.”
Mr Squires said therewas an argument whether some of the high-qualityfarmland in district could be better used. Horticulture had potentially an advantage in this area, being two to three weeks aheadofthe Lindenowvalley and other areas in agrowth sense.
“Someone needs to make adecision; you can’t have half ahorticultural industry in the district. Whatisactually happening, the Lindenow Valley is expanding to the west, not the east, towards Stratfordand Boisdale -big areas under horticulture now.Wecould be growingmoreon the high-quality soils herebut thereisthe risk factor of floods,” he said.
Mr Squires said one key area the Chamber was investigating was water security.
“Go to farmers about doing something with their land, the subject that comes up all the time, thereare asignificant number of water allocationsinthe district not being used,” he said.
“One consultant talks to farmers about who has water,who wants water,are there match-ups we can do? We can’t get more water allocations from the Snowy valley due to the waterallocations, but the current water allocations arenot fully used.”
Potentially, people may want to do something if water security was there.
“Lindenow has built some mammoth big off-stream storages. Thereare stacks of regulationsregarding off-stream storage that we areworking through. We might find we can give morepeople security and diverse their properties to something else if they have assured irrigation,” he said.
“Some didn’t even know they could trade water –even for five years and not lose it.”
Orbost Chamber of Commerce Secretary,Gary Squires.
Photo: Philip Hopkins
Hometown heroes hope to rule the pool
TomHAYES
BOUND for the pools of Paris.
The Traralgon duo of Emily Beecroft and Ruby Stormwillset offfor theirsecond consecutive Paralympics together later this year,after both qualified to represent Australia in Paris.
It will be Beecroft's thirdParalympics, after competing at the 2016 Rio Games, and 2020 Tokyo Games (played in 2021 due to COVID-19 delay), while for Storm, it will be her second Games, after also competingin Tokyo three years ago.
Swimming at the 2024 Australian Swimming Trials at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre from June 10 to 15, the two girls competed in their respective classes and strokes with hopes of gaining aqualification time worthy enoughtosend them to France.
Bothweresuccessful in that hunt,qualifying for anumber of events between them.
Beecroft was happy to see her hardwork pay off.
"I'm super excited, Iknow I've had areally good six months of training and I'm just really happy and relieved to have finally qualified and be certain that Iamgoing over to Paris," she said.
Stormsaid she felt amassive weight lifted offher shoulders after hearing about her qualification.
"I was pretty relieved, very happy with how Iwent over at trials. Ithink as it's avery stressful week, and we got atext message saying that we made it, and Ithink when alot of us received thattext message a lot of weigh just came offour shoulders," she said.
"Obviously our goal was to make the Paralympics, our next goal is to do really well at the Paralympics."
Beecroft has confirmed she will be competing in the 100 metreFreestyle and S9 100m Butterfly. She is confident that she will also qualify for the 34 Points Mixed Medley Relay in the S9 classification.
"I've always just been really grateful and happy to attend aParalympics," she said.
"I think going intothis year,I'vethink just based offofmyperformances this year and based of performances from my other competitors, I'm hopingto do morethan just compete.
"I'm in good contention of getting apodium finish sohopefully Ican continue to do some good times… and hopefully grab an individual medal."
Storm, although qualifying at the 11th hour,willhave avery heavy schedule in Paris.
She qualified for S14 classified events including the 200m Freestyle,100m Butterfly, 200m Individual Medley, 100m Backstroke, and 4x100m Relay.
"I do pretty well with avery heavy schedule, just with the stress and everything, just not putting all the eggs in one basket with events," she said.
"I want to do well obviously in the 100m (freestyle) for the relay, and then the 100m (butterfly), and 200m freestyle -they'remy main ones."
The pair, who currently live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, will have just over two months to preparefor the Paralympics, whichtakes placefrom August 28 to September 8.
Since Tokyo 2020 (in2021), both girls have trained immensely to improve and try to bring home medals like they did three years ago.
Beecroft moved from Traralgon to the SunshineCoasttotrainwiththe USC HighPerformanceParaProgram during that time.
"It's just amazing to see the improvement I've made over the past three years… Ican't wait to see what Ican do in Paris to prove all that hardwork," she said.
As for Storm, she has been in Queensland since the COVID era, moving at 16-yearsof-age to pursue her swimming career.
"I've changed programs, so I've gone from USC to St Andrews… Ithink just changingthe program and justworking on my strokes and how to improve them to get those one-percenters faster (has been beneficial)," Stormsaid.
Beecroftand Stormessentially grew up together andare nowliving outtheir dreams on the biggest stage of them all.
The factthattheyget to gotoanother Paralympics togethermakes it all the more special for the duo.
Hoping to get on aplane to Paris will be asmall contingent of Latrobe Valley locals.
Now with these two confirmed alongside former Moe soccerplayer,Teagan Micah, a few more are awaiting their final qualification status.
Traralgon basketballers Jack White and Jade Melbourne will be hoping to make the final cuts of their teams, which is expected to be finalised in early July.
Micah makes the cut
TomHAYES
THE 23-player Matildas squad has made it's final cut down to 18 players for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Among those on the plane to Paris in the near futureis former Moe United junior, Teagan Micah.
Travelling with the 18 selected girls will be four injuryreserves, who will be brought into the team if injury strikes.
Some big names wereleft out, including Sam Kerr,who is continuing to recover from an ACL injury she sustained earlier in the year
It was always going tobedifficult for Micah to make an impression in aposition which fields one player on the pitch. She will sit second in line howeverto starting goalkeeper and West Ham United captain, Mackenzie Arnold.
Micahshould find her way into the starting 11 if Arnold happens to get injured, or if Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson decides to rotate players most likely during the group stage.
"This has been an incredibly challenging squad to select with so many quality players competing fiercelyfor limitedspots," Gustavsson told Fox Sports.
"It has beenamethodical process over the past couple of years to reachthis point,and each of the players selected bring unique and beneficial qualities to our teamthat will be vital for our Paris 2024 campaign."
The Matildas weredrawn into Group B, and will face Germany (July26, 3am AEST),Zambia(July 29,3am), and the United States (August 1, 3am), in hopes of progressing to the knockout stages.
The two women'squarter finals are scheduled to take place across August 3 and 4, and the semi finals August 7. If the Matildas make it all the way to the medal games, the Bronzemedal matchwillbe on August 9at11pm, and the Gold medal match will take place on August 11 at 1am.
The Matildas recently faced China across two friendly matches, the first at Adelaide Oval, and thesecondatStadium Australia in Sydney.
Micah didn't featureinthe squad for the firstfriendlyinAdelaide, which resulted in a1-all draw.
She returned to the squad for the second friendly anumber of days later,sitting on the bench while Arnold and Lydia Williams weregiven arun in a2-nil win.
Now, Paris awaits.
Traralgon’s Ruby Storm and Emily Beecroft have qualified for yet another Paralympics campaign.
Photo: RubyStorm/Instagram
Former Moe United junior,Teagan Micah is on the waytoParis for the Olympics
Photo: File
Traralgon’s Templeton joins AFL HoF
Blake METCALF-HOLT
TRARALGON-BORN superstar Kelvin Templeton was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame last week.
Templetonplayed177 games and kicked 593 goals for Footscray and Melbourne from 1974 to 1985, with atrophy case full of awards including aBrownlow Medal (1980) and two Coleman Medals (1978, 1979).
Templetonjoinedthe Bulldogsafter an exceptionalsenior year at Traralgon in the Gippsland League (then Latrobe Valley Football League), kicking acentury of goals at just 16-years-of-age.
"Latrobe Valley was thetoughest, the bestcountry competitionamongst other country teams over acouple of years, and Latrobe Valley(had) quite afew ex-VFL players," Templetonsaid on stageupon being inductedintothe HallofFame on Tuesday, June 18.
Templeton played alongside anumber ofGippsland call-ups, most namely fellowBrownlowrecipient Bernie Quinlan (Traralgon)and former Richmondcoach and AFL Umpire Manager,JeffGieschen (Maffra) -who sat at Templeton's table at the night of the celebration in Melbourne.
"Therewerequite afew countryfull backs who weren't all that happy about askinny 16-year-oldjumping all over their back taking marks," Templeton said of his time in Gippsland.
"So, it was quite atough year,but what it did was really preparemefor the following year which was to come to Melbourne and play in the (VFL), Ihad apretty tough year of senior competition beforethat."
The soon-to-be two-time Coleman medallist booted six goals in his debut against Collingwood in Round 3, 1974.
"I was17, Ihadn't playedinanatmospherelike Victoria Park... Iremember I couldn't concentrate, the noise, the movement was something Ihadn't experienced," he recalled.
"Someone whacked me from behind (and) the next thing Iknew Iwas dusting myself offand the umpirewas putting the ball in my hand, my first kick in VFL football was five-metres out dead in front.
"The blow really had the opposite effect as to what was intended because what
happened was my head cleared (and) the noise receded and all of asudden Iwas in the game, and it went on from there."
Besides the personal silverwareTempleton would acquire, the biggestcareer highlight would come in Round 13, 1978 against St Kilda in which he kicked 15 goals nine behinds (a still standing recordfor the most individual scoring shots).
"Most of the points Ikicked, alot of them wereinthe thirdquarter. then what happenedinthe last quarter wasquite
unexpected because we just dominated the last quarter all of asudden, the ball was just streaming into an open forwardline (and) therewas not much St Kilda could do and that enabled me, in that last quarter, to kick eight goals," Templeton said.
AmemberofFootscray's Team of the Century, Templeton washeraldedby his teammates for being one of the first professionally-mindedplayers in the league, taking on additional weight programs and acquiring different training methods from athletes in other sports like with Raelene Boyle's sprint team and the Australian Olympic wrestling squad.
During anotherstruggling seasonfor Footscrayin 1980, losers of as much as 11 games in arow and only five wins for theyear, thethenfour-time club leading goal kicker was moved up to centrehalf forward, whereheaveraged19disposals and kicked 75 goals on his way to winning theBrownlow Medal, however,spoiledof his moment on the night.
"I was actually told beforehand, not only that, in those days, they use to jumble up the rounds, so, with 10 or so votes to count, I'm sitting quite away behind but Iknow what's going to happen, so Ihad to feign looking very surprised... but it was agreat thrill, of course," Templeton said.
While heonly played one final in his career,aseven-point loss toGeelong in the 1976 Elimination Final, Templeton played 10gamesfor VictoriainState of Origin football.
Post career,Templeton took on assistant coaching roles under TomHafey and Col Kinnear at the Sydney Swans and subsequently become chief executive of the club from 1995 to 2002, being akey driver in getting Tony Lockett from St Kilda.
Getting back into the swing of
Blake METCALF-HOLT
MIRBOO NORTH Golf Club reopened at the weekend for the first time since February's devastating storm.
Aftera long redevelopment process following the historic thunderstorms, Mirboo North Golf Club held competition last Saturday.
Club members have been hardatwork for the last two weeks gettingthe club back to something reminiscent of the course of the past.
"Like any small club, you can only get your six or eight(people). We've had people offer their assistance butit's pretty hardfor them," club president, Robert Clarke said.
Emergency Recovery Victoria were responsible for supporting the clearance of areas too dangerous for local volunteers to concernthemselveswith. That mainly centred on the chopping of morethan 800 fallen trees around the area by contracted loggers,which was then left forthe club to handle.
The boundaryalongthe far green once created an alluring barrier separating players from the town itself,even as far back at
the tip wherethe clubhouse sits. Houses and town streets arenow clear as day.
The Winderatrees that once spread across the course, then laid waste along the surface and wereassessed by an arborist.
Concluded that they needed to be pulled and burnt outside of the still standing trees dripline so not to damage the remaining root system.
The club has had to resort to simply burning the piles of the once green trees that mountains as big as the clubrooms itself, or leaving it along the treeline with the untreated stumps to be dealt with at alater date.
"In some places we burnt some firewood because what arewegoing to do with it?"
Clarke said.
"It's going to be piled up thereuntil at least Christmas or New Year's."
Holding their first competitioninfour months, it will still be aslow start getting back into things, with 80 per cent of the coursetobeinuse, but local golfers will be welcomed back onto the turf.
Club members will still be knee deep in fixingall the issuesthat have arose, praying for good weather to allow time to clear and
sort everything out, making the most of the drier weather
Other neighbouring golf clubs have asked to join in on the action, but have been asked to wait afew moreweeks to give Mirboo North players time to have ahit and test out if there is still spotsthatneedtobe additionally caredfor and cleaned up for areturntonormalcy.
"Until you've actuallystarted hitting a couple of golf balls around and seeing 'well that's got to go and that's got to go', we've just got to soldier on," Clarke said.
Localmembers have been offered into othercourses during the time of Mirboo North's closureto show comradery and togetherness between the Gippsland clubs.
In terms of navigation of the course as it currently stands, it's holding up quite well besides some muddy and slippery tracks that come with the rising winter weather
The clubhousehas virtually remained in tact.
"Long fairways, no (things stillinthe way) Thereismoreobstaclesinthe treeline wherewe've got piles of firewood," Clarke said.
"We've still got some cluster to get out of
things
the way, but it's going to be alot of local rules, it'll take 12 months or more.
"I had abloke have ahit the otherday, he said 'I thought the course would be easier, now Ihit every tree that's still there', but that's just the way it is.
"It's just the new normal."
AFL Commission Chairman, RichardGoyderpresents former Traralgon footballer,Kelvin Templeton with his certificate upon being inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame. Photo: Contributed
Fallen trees scattered along Mirboo North Golf Club in February
Photo: Liam Durkin It is starting to look like agolf
course again at Mirboo North.
Photo: Blake Metcalf-Holt
Mirboo North Golf Club President,Robert Clarke and his team have been busy getting the course back up and running.
