Aaron joins NKPL Merino hoggets stolen

Rural Crime Investigators from Monaro Police District are appealing for the public’s help as they investigate the theft of 53 Merino Hogget ewes from a property near the intersection of Avonside and Kosciuszko Road, Avonside.

The sheep are believed to have been stolen between the end of September 2022 to mid-December 2022.

At the time of the theft, the sheep were ear tagged with yellow NLIS tags labelled ‘ROMANI’ and ‘NH630488’ in the left ear and white management tags in the right ear.

The sheep were branded with a triangle earmark cut out of the bottom of the right ear as depicted in the photos below.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Rural Crime Investigator Detective Senior Constable Archie French on 0427 993 314. Alternatively contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Aaron Mackay has joined the team at NICK KIRSHNER Property & Livestock, starting on January 1.

Aaron was born and bred on the Monaro and has been working in the Riverina for the past 26 years as a stock and station agent.

Aaron over the time has worked with various companies – Elders Limited in Wagga Wagga, was a partner in Hamilton Luff & Burton Company which was then sold to Delta Ag where Aaron continued to work, and in the last two years Aaron has worked for Riverina Livestock Agents selling rural property and livestock.

Aaron is excited about joining the team at NICK KIRSHNER Property & Livestock as a partner and director in the business and is looking forward to building new relationships with clients on the Monaro, as well as maintaining current relationships with existing clients. Aaron will be selling rural property & livestock. Aaron is contactable by via mobile 0419 432 728 or email aaron@nickkirshner.com.au

Don’t forget about country roads

The state’s peak farming body has issued a challenge to match a billion-dollar Western Sydney roads pledge across regional NSW.

The Premier announced $1 billion to “upgrade critical roads” in Western Sydney, while the rest of the state was left to make do with a $500 million road repair fund for local roads.

NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said there was an even greater need to fix country roads, and called for far greater funding – and resources – to tackle the problem properly.

“We’ve seen funding promised to local councils to repair potholes – but the damage is significant – multiple patching of the road surface is not going to increase safety,” Mrs Reardon said.

“Our backroads have become defacto highways over the past year and while there have been some bigticket announcements, there are no clear plans of how to tackle this very serious issue that’s impacting safety and livelihoods. The farming communities of our state produce the food Sydney needs, it’s only fair we get safe, fit-for-purpose roads.”

There was an estimated 10,000km of flood-damaged roads across the state, and while local councils were doing their best to prioritise works Mrs Reardon said it was clear it was a huge task given the unprecedented damage.

“And while we’re calling for a billion-dollar funding pool, the money must be accompanied by a workforce and access to materials –both are in short supply – and a strategic approach to the road network.

“The damage has led to increased traffic on regional roads at a time when harvest vehicles also need to move safely, and we will continue to raise this issue until we get a solution.”