Queensland Farmer Today February 2022

February 2022

SANTOS

Festival of Rugby Special lift out Pages 11 to 18

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Our Miss World PAGE 3

Celebration of Rugby 8-PAGE LIFTOUT

Learn to live with climate It seems that every time there is a major weather event it is blamed on climate change and each one is always bigger than the last, says columnist Tom Marland.

“Each fire or flood or drought or cyclone is worse than the one before - or at least that is how it is reported. And almost universally - every weather event or natural disaster is today blamed on climate change,” Marland writes.

“Whether one prescribes to the mantra of manmade climate change or not - the reality is that the earth and its climate can be an unforgiving and hostile place no matter how hard we try to tame it.”

Recent research by Deloitte Access Economics has revealed that investment in better planning and preparation for natural disasters would save Australia $380 billion in gross domestic product over the next 30 years.

“Australia will always be a land of ‘droughts and flooding rains’ - it is what we do in between which effects how we both respond and recover when mother nature decides to turn the scales,” Marland says.

Flocking to region The Western Downs is emerging as one of the big winners of a nationwide shift to regional living, as more Australians realise the benefits of the bush.

With one-in-five city residents seeking to move to the regions, cities such as Dalby and Chinchilla are now standing out more than ever as options for young families and first time home buyers.

STORY PAGE 5

Hamey Hayllor moved from Brisbane to Dalby after falling in love with second-generation farmer, Dan. They are pictured walking through a barley crop on “Kensington Park”, Macalister, with their children, Addison and Hunter.

COLUMN PAGE 21

New beef chief

By Fiona Gowers

Simon Irwin’s distinguished and diverse career that encompasses a wealth of commercial business experience has culminated in his appointment as CEO of Beef Australia.

After studying journalism, Mr Irwin worked

as a stock and station agent through rural Queensland before enjoying 34 years in leading roles across media operations and management for News Corp and APN. He managed The Central Queensland News in Emerald, was deputy general manager for The Daily News/Gold Coaster in Tweed Heads,

general manager of The News-Mail in Bundaberg, regional manager based in Lismore and Rockhampton, director of sales and operations and then, finally, executive general manager regionals.

When News Corp in Queensland transitioned from a print to digital focus in 2020, Mr

Irwin called time on his career and began what his wife, Linda refers to as his “gap year”.

It was during Mr Irwin’s “first real break since school” that the opportunity arose with Beef Australia and, as he says, “here we are”.

STORY PAGE 4

11-12 FEB 2022 GALLAS FOX PARK ROMA, QLD

FEATURE EVENT GUIDE SCAN FOR EVENT AND TICKET INFO 12527859-BL04-22

INSIDE

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NEW BEEF CHIEF ........................... page 4 REGIONAL MIGRATION .................. page 5 FLOOD RECOVERY ...................... page 10 RUGBY CELEBRATION ...........pages 12-19

Regional Queensland punches above its weight as a sporting nursery . . . Greg Norman, Rod Laver, Duncan Armstrong, Anna Meares, Pat Rafter et al are all publicly proud of their rural roots.

Roma is often recognised for producing an amazing number of professional athletes — among them rugby league legends Artie Beetson, Darren Lockyer and Willie Carne, rugby union star Fabian McCarthy and Olympic swimmer Denise Spencer.

Fittingly then, this town in south west Queensland will host the 2022 Santos Festival of Rugby, culminating in a preseason match between the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs.

“It’s certainly a big deal for our town,” Maranoa Regional Council mayor Tyson Golder said. “For the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs to come to the bush and play rather than us traveling to the city, it really means a lot.”

And, who knows? Maybe, just maybe, Australia’s next sporting superstar might be cheering on their hero at Gallas Fox Park, the home of the Roma Echidnas!

SOCIAL SCENE ........................... page 20 COLUMNS ...........................pages 21-23 BACK FROM THE BRINK .............. page 28

DAM LEVELS Beardmore.................................... 96.3 % Bjelke Petersen .......................... 100.93% Borumba ..................................... 100.4% Boondoomba ............................... 99.04% Cedar Pocket ............................... 101.2% Chinchilla Weir ................................ 100% Coolmunda ................................ 100.89% Cunnamulla (Alan Tannock Weir) ....... 100% Leslie .......................................... 99.88% Paradise .................................... 100.76% Somerset ...................................... 79.2% Wivenhoe....................................... 53.9%

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Figures from Queensland’s Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) reveal the number of goats stolen has almost doubled in the past 12 months.

Rules to curb goat theft AgForce has welcomed tighter regulations for wild game harvesting in a bid to stamp out the theft of commercial goats across Queensland.

Driven by Safe Food Production Queensland, amendments came into force on 12 January, placing greater onus on wild animal harvesters and processors.

The changes, which include the need for harvesters to obtain a signed consent form from landholders, were introduced following a rise in goat thefts sparked by soaring meat prices.

Figures from the state’s Major and Organised Crime Squad (Rural) reveal the number of goats stolen almost doubled in the past 12 months – with 429 head reported stolen across the state last year compared to 220 in 2020.

With cases of both stolen and legal goat carcasses being processed through kangaroo chiller box facilities, concerns have been raised over animal traceability.

AgForce Sheep and Wool Board president Mike Pratt hoped tighter regulations would curb the problem, but urged producers to eartag kids at marking time and to remain vigilant and report all suspicious activities to police.

“The domestic goat market in Australia has gone from strength to strength over the past decade, and Queensland has been a key player with many producers receiving prices upwards of $10 per kilogram,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the downside of that is that we are seeing callous individuals trying to cash in by taking what isn’t theirs.

“Some producers have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result, and, as well as

the financial implications, there is an emotional toll, with many producers left devastated.”

Tighter regulations mean food safety programs and management statements of wild animal supply chain businesses must now ensure compliance with the following: All wild game harvesters are required to obtain written consent from each landholder where harvesting of wild game is undertaken; The consent form must contain contact details for the landholder and list the species of wild game permitted to be harvested on the property; The consent forms for each landholder must always be carried by field harvesters when in possession of wild game carcasses; All Safe Food accredited field depot operators and wild game processors that source field shot wild goats must retain a copy of the consent form on file and contact the landholder within 48hrs of receipt. This will verify the accuracy of the information on carcass tags and consent forms before the animals are sent or presented for further processing.

Mr Pratt said the crackdown was a welcome step in the right direction, and encouraged landholders to ensure they had a signed consent form prior to allowing a harvester on to their property.

“We commend efforts by Safe Food Production Queensland to deter this illegal trade, and look forward to working with them to help protect the state’s commercial goat industry,” he said.

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- Fiona Gowers

Honour for water expert Gold Coast-based consultant, Simon CowlandCooper has been awarded a medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for service to the irrigation industry.

An OAM is given “for service worthy of particular recognition”. Mr Cowland-Cooper, a certified irrigation designer, was founding chief executive/ senior consultant of Broadwater Consultants from 1992.

He has held many roles with Irrigation Australia, which is the peak national organisation representing all sectors from water users, consultants, designers and installers through to educational institutions, government, manufacturers and retailers.

From 1994 to 1996, Mr Cowland-Cooper was regional chair, he headed the organising committee for the national irrigation conference in 1998, 2006 and 2014 and was a national board member from 2010 to 2014 In 2012, he was made a life member of Irrigation Australia, and was a representative on the Ipswich West Moreton committee, Regional Development Australia from 2011 to 2013.

Miss World winners - breed by breed FEMALE WINNERS

Little Valley Miss Majestic (Miss · Braford: World bronze, Miss Asia/Africa gold) ex-

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hibited by Little Valley Brafords, Stratheden via Casino, NSW. Brangus: Viamonte Red Brangus (Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Viamonte Brangus, Coonabarabran, NSW. Charolais: 4 Ways MJ Avoca N21E (Miss World bronze, Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by 4 Ways Charolais, Inverell, NSW. Galloway: Monreith Mary Queens of Scots (Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Jason and Suzanne Vials, Spring Hill, NSW. Droughtmaster/Beefmaster: Glenlands D Bellevue (Miss World bronze, Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Glenlands Droughtmasters, Bouldercombe, Qld. Hereford/Poll Hereford: Wirruna Golden Vanity M261 (Miss World silver, Miss Asia/ Africa gold) exhibited by JTR Cattle Co, Roslyn, NSW, and Tobruk Poll Herefords, Wagga Wagga, NSW. Other breeds: Barronessa International Q5 - Ultrablack (Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Barronessa Farming, Atherton, Qld.

Gertrudis: Santahat Queen B Q79 · Santa (Miss World gold, Miss Asia/Africa gold)

exhibited by Santahat Santa Gertrudis, Monto, Qld. Shorthorn: Royalla Merendee P161 (Miss World gold, Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Royalla Shorthorns, Yeoval, NSW. Simbrah: KBV Que Vaca (Miss World silver, Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Marty Rowlands and Stephen Lean, KBV Simmentals, Murphy’s Creek, Qld. Simmental/Fleckvieh: Trinity Vale Queen of Hearts (Miss World silver, Miss Asia/ Africa gold) exhibited by Trinity Vale stud, Kingaroy, Qld. Speckle Park: Hanging Rock Heather (Miss World silver, Miss Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Hanging Rock Speckle Park stud, Victoria.

BULL WINNERS Angus: Hillview Quigley Q18 (Champion of the World bronze, Champion of Asia/ Africa gold) exhibited by Hillview Angus, Bungendore, NSW. Braford: Little Valley Mateo (Champion of the World bronze, Champion of Asia/Afri-

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ca gold) exhibited by Little Valley Brafords, Stratheden via Casino, NSW. Brangus: Barronessa Chosen One (Champion of the World bronze, Champion of Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Barronessa Farming, Atherton, Qld. Charolais: Winchester Lock N Load GAVQ2E (Champion of the World silver, Champion of Asia/Africa gold) exhibited

by CB Charolais, Delungra, NSW, and Winchester Charolais, Orange, NSW. Hereford/Poll Hereford: Kanimbla Power Quest Q006 (Champion of Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Kanimbla Poll Herefords, Holbrook, NSW. Shorthorn: Royalla Ventura P158 (Champion of Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Royalla Shorthorns, Yeoval, NSW. Speckle Park: Wattle Grove Dust N Smoke P07 (Champion of the World silver, Champion of Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Wattle Grove Speckle Park, Oberon, NSW. Wagyu: Mayura Q2134 (Champion of the World bronze, Champion of Asia/Africa gold) exhibited by Mayura Wagyu, Millicent, South Australia.

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Brett Hatton, Santahat stud, Monto, Qld, holds Santa Gertrudis Miss World winner, Santahat Queen B Q79 (P) and Adam Hatton holds her calf.

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Picture: KENT WARD

Queen B is Miss World

By Fiona Gowers

Two Australian females have eclipsed an elite field of international exhibits to win the Miss World title of their respective breeds.

Announced in December, Shorthorn Miss World was presented to Royalla Merendee P161 while Santahat Queen B Q79 won the Santa Gertrudis Miss World sash.

Both were named grand champion female at Beef Australia 2021 and beat many other countries to clinch their world titles.

Santahat Queen B Q79, the three-year-old

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daughter of Yarrawonga Friendly L690 and out of Santahat K48, had only calved a week before Beef Australia 2021, which qualified her for the online world competition.

After the announcement in December, breeder Brett Hatton said it was an honour to receive recognition on a world level Santa Gertrudis Breeders Australia Association general manager Chris Todd said the Miss World title gave the entire breed a lift.

“It is an honour indeed,” Mr Todd said.

“The association would like to congratu-

late the Hatton family for its belief in the Santa Gertrudis breed and the opportunities the breed offers to all Australian cattle producers.

“The Hattons have a very good Santa Gertrudis herd, both with its stud and its commercial operation.

“They shared the most successful breeders’ award at the Beef Australia Commercial competition in 2021.”

Shorthorn Miss World winner, Royalla Merendee P161, received eight points to take the top honour.

Two of the four judges, including Andrew Masterton of South Africa and Non Thorne of Wales, placed her first.

Neilson, Sue and Nicholas Job of Royalla Shorthorns, Yeoval, NSW, bred and exhibited Royalla Merendee P161, which the Durham family of The Den, Mole Creek, Tas bought for $29,000 at the Job family’s 50th Anniversary Jubilee sale in October.

This win marks the second time the Job family has won the prestigious title, also claiming it in 2016 with Royalla Isobel H135.

Results - breed by breed - page 2

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New Beef Australia CEO

By Fiona Gowers Simon Irwin’s distinguished and diverse career that encompasses a wealth of commercial business experience has culminated in his appointment as CEO of Beef Australia.

After studying journalism, Mr Irwin worked as a stock and station agent through rural Queensland before enjoying 34 years in leading roles across media operations and management for News Corp and APN. He managed The Central Queensland News in Emerald, was deputy general manager for The Daily News/Gold Coaster in Tweed Heads, general manager of The News-Mail in Bundaberg, regional manager based in Lismore and Rockhampton, director of sales and operations and then, finally, executive general manager regionals.

When News Corp in Queensland transitioned from a print to digital focus in 2020, Mr Irwin called time on his career and began what his wife, Linda refers to as his “gap year”.

It was during Mr Irwin’s “first real break since school” that the opportunity arose with Beef Australia and, as he says, “here we are”.

He will head the team as planning begins for Beef 2024 to be held in Rockhampton from Sunday 5 May to Saturday 11 May, 2024.

“It was always a role that has interested me and so when it came up I did commit myself to the process,” Mr Irwin said.

“I think Beef is a globally-recognised event, it’s an Australian event, an iconic event and, apart from anything else, it’s here in Rockhampton. So, it kind of ticked a lot of boxes for me.

“I also thought that it brings together a lot of the experience I’ve had, from an understanding, as imperfect as it is, of the cattle industry, understanding central Queensland and having worked around Queensland for a long time, you’re not starting from scratch and learning names around the place.”

Mr Irwin credits his five years as a stock and station agent/ auctioneer for AML-Estates and Elders Pastoral in the 1980s as laying the foundation for his commercial business success.

“The thing about being a stock agent is, particularly in those days, you did so many different things,” he said.

“You helped out with merchandise stocktakes and sales, you sold sheep and cattle, as well as real estate sales and auctions.

“It was just a wonderful experience when you were a young person to be able to do so many different things. It taught you to be interested in a whole lot of different stuff, I suppose.”

Speaking to Queensland Farmer Today two days into his new role, Mr Irwin said he was confident of delivering another world class Beef Exposition in 2024, with the return of international attendees a high priority.

He said he was looking forward to organising an event “hopefully” unconstrained by the stress of Covid-19.

“It would be lovely just to be able to do what we do really well but do it without the turmoil

Beef Australia CEO Simon Irwin. that they went through last year,” he said.

“We had 115,866 people going through Beef Australia in May 2021 - a 15 per cent increase from 2018 - and, within weeks, they were playing rugby league in empty stadiums.

“It’s a great testament to the faith that our sponsors, exhibitors and the public have in the organisation, but it also shows the faith that the Board had in the team to put it on.

“My focus will be to ensure that, through

growth and innovation, this event continues to lead the world and help to secure beef producers a bright and sustainable future.”

Beef Australia chairman Bryce Camm said a specialist recruiter oversaw more than 180 applications from candidates across Australia vying for the role.

“We were delighted with the extremely high calibre of applicants for this role and the commitment to work through a comprehensive re-

cruitment process,“ he said.

“We are confident we have secured the best candidate for the role and are excited by what Simon brings to the organisation through his vast experience in the commercial sector.“ The first Beef Expo was held in 1988 and its success saw it grow to a triennial event.

Despite Covid-19 difficulties, last year’s event delivered more than $94 million to the Rockhampton and Livingstone economies.

Excellence in eating quality series to return Beef producers who consistently deliver carcases with superior eating quality are set to be recognised when the Meat Standards Australia (MSA) Excellence in Eating Quality series is held nationally in March 2022.

Hosted by Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA), the series will travel to six states across the country, with each event featuring an interactive forum centred around the theme of ’growing and grading the greatest meat on earth’. The awards ceremony will follow.

Registrations are now open for the halfday forums, which are designed to equip producers with the tools to make practical on-farm changes to benefit their herd’s eating quality outcomes, the end consumer and profitability of the industry.

The biennial series, originally due to be held in September and October this year, was rescheduled to 2022 due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions.

4 TODAY February 2022

The Explorers Inn Function Centre in Roma will host Queensland’s event on Thursday, 10 March.

The awards are presented to top-performing MSA-registered producers and are based on MSA Index results for MSA-graded cattle during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 financial years.

Awards will be announced in each state for Most Outstanding MSA Feedlot (with the exception of Tasmania) and two awards for Most Outstanding MSA Beef Producers, to recognise producers of both larger (Band 1) and smaller (Band 2) MSA consignments.

One producer from each state will also win the MSA Excellence in Eating Quality Progress award for showing the greatest improvement in their MSA results since the last awards series.

A new award will be presented to one producer in each state for the Champion MSA Index Carcase. This will be presented for an

individual carcase that had the highest MSA Index in the state over the two-year period.

MSA was developed by the Australian red meat industry to improve eating quality consistency of beef and sheepmeat. The MSA beef program is based on almost 1.2 million consumer taste tests from more than 171,000 consumers from 11 countries and takes into account the factors that affect eating quality from paddock to plate.

MSA program manager Dr David Packer said the forums would provide the opportunity for beef producers and others along the supply chain to hear from the MLA leadership team and industry speakers on how to maximise value using the MSA program.

“The forums will detail the 2021 Australian Beef Eating Quality Insights (ABEQI) report as a tool to benchmark MSA performance against other producers and understand the on-farm production factors that influence beef eating quality,” Dr Packer said.

“Attendees will hear from local producers who are using MSA and carcase feedback to meet their target markets and key industry advisors providing guidance on management and genetic factors to influence positive MSA outcomes. The audience will also have the unique opportunity to ask questions of local processors and brand owners about the importance of meeting customer requirements.

“The strong eating quality performance of Australian beef over 2019-21 has been supported by participation along the entire Australian red meat supply chain. I hope to see many members of our red meat industry at these events, so we can celebrate these outstanding results together.“ The awards and producer forums are free to attend, but registration is essential, and numbers are limited.

Doors open at 12pm, with the forum to begin at 2pm.

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City dwellers move west

By Fiona Gowers The Western Downs is emerging as one of the big winners of a nation-wide shift to regional living, as more Australians realise the benefits of the bush.

With one-in-five city residents seeking to move to the regions, cities such as Dalby and Chinchilla are now standing out more than ever as options for young families and first time home buyers.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) CEO Ali Davenport said that with less traffic and more housing affordability, it’s little surprise there’s a surge of activity.

“The Western Downs is a powerhouse region with a population of 34,000 people, who love the employment opportunities, relaxed lifestyle and cheaper cost of living compared to metropolitan areas,” Ms Davenport said.

The Western Downs is a front runner for people considering a move west and TSBE has developed a new liveability magazine in partnership with Western Downs Regional Council.

‘LIVE Western Downs’ promotes the community, parks, health services, education and job opportunities on offer.

The number of local jobs in the region has increased significantly over the past 10 years to 20,834 jobs, with opportunities continuing to rise due to the strong pipeline of developments.

Western Downs Regional Council mayor Paul McVeigh said dynamic agricultural, manufacturing and energy industries underpin the diverse economy.

“Our active, vibrant community is supported by energetic locals who are proud of where they live and it’s this homegrown hospitality that sets our region apart,” he said.

“We are delighted to build our region and showcase everything that’s great about living on the Western Downs.”

The LIVE Western Downs magazine includes

Western Downs Regional Council Mayor Paul McVeigh, Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE) CEO Ali Davenport. stories of people such as Hamey Hayllor who moved from Brisbane to Dalby after falling in love with second generation farmer, Dan. “Clearly, I wasn’t going to get the cotton farmer to move to Brisbane, so I had to make the move to Dalby and I’m so glad I did.”

“We live 20 minutes out of town in Macali-

ster on one of the properties Dan runs (“Kensington Park“). It’s a great lifestyle and wonderful place for us to raise our family,” the mother of two said.

Hamey is a PT Instructor and owns Physical Fix gym in Dalby.

“With Dan and I both having very busy work

lives, we are so lucky to have such a supportive network of family and friends, plus amazing staff to help us achieve what we do within both our businesses and at home,” she said.

LIVE Western Downs is a free magazine which will be available at businesses, motels and tourism attractions across the region.

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Funding to protect fruit

By Fiona Gowers Southern Downs producers will soon have access to $10.92 million in funding as the federal government expands its Horticultural Netting Program trial.

Federal MP for Maranoa David Littleproud announced the grant in Pozieres in December, saying the funding would help producers buy and install new netting to protect their crops.

He said the protective equipment would shield crops from extreme weather and predators, as well as increase water efficiency.

“The first tranche of the program has already seen more than $1 million out of $2.1 million in funding provided to apple and pear growers in the Southern Downs, with permanent netting installed to protect their valuable produce,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Protective netting, which can reduce the impact of weather events and pests, is a significant cost barrier for a lot of horticulturalists across Australia.

“That is why we are co-investing in horticultural netting to secure Australia’s food supply while we recover from the Covid-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters across the country.

“Already the Horticultural Netting Program trial has allowed apple and pear growers in Queensland to supplement half the cost of purchasing and installing protective netting, enabling them to protect their crops and secure their investment.”

Rosie Savio, who is a part-owner of the Queensland apple growing business, P Savio and Co, said installing protective netting was a significant capital investment for growers.

The Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL) Qld director, who grows eight apple varieties across 120 hectares, said the funding was essential to ensure continuity of quality production.

“We started installing netting 35 years ago because with the frequent hail storms in Stanthorpe, you can’t grow quality fruit profitably without some orchards protected by netting,” Mrs Savio said.

“Netting also protects crops from birds, bats, wind-rub and sunburn.”

According to Mrs Savio, climate change experts predict hail storms will become more common.

And, as consumers now have an expectation of blemish-free fruit, this scheme will add to food security supply chains.

“The (the Horticultural Netting Program trial) was an initiative of APAL,“ Mrs Savia said.

“They started the ball rolling, which was really appreciated because up until now in Stanthorpe growers have fully funded their own

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud announced the $10.92 million funding boost at Pozieres in December, with Rosie and Rob Savio of P Savio & Co. netting at a cost of $70 to $80,000 per hectare to install, which is more than the land costs!”

APAL CEO Phil Turnbull said netting was an increasingly important tool to protect Australian apple and pear orchards from birds and pests as well as extreme weather –

Students stay close to home Local students enrolled in any Australian university now have free access to a hightech campus-like facility to complete their studies.

Country Universities Centre (CUC) Maranoa opened its doors in Roma in early 2021.

CUC Maranoa marks the start of the future of a new way of educating, with the hope of closing the tertiary education gap between regional communities and larger cities.

CUC Maranoa chair Cameron O’Neil said an aspiring student’s future should not be determined by where they live.

“Our centre will allow local students to participate in tertiary education and achieve their educational goals from their hometown and community,” Cr O’Neil said.

“Practically, it means local students can access high-speed internet, printing and video conferencing, as well as academic, administrative and peer support.”

Cr O’Neil said plans to give local tertiary students a real, local option to study had been “on the cards” for several years.

He said with CUC the first centre of its kind in Queensland, this vision was being realised.

“To be able to offer local students a choice to study local will increase the chances of 8 TODAY February 2022

keeping them in our communities for the long term,” Cr O’Neil said.

“It makes our region a more attractive place to live and will make it more sustainable.

“CUC Maranoa is a game-changer for keeping our youth in our communities while also giving anyone, of any age, the opportunity to further their studies from the place they call home in a professional, purpose-fit and technology-advanced country universities centre.

“I am thrilled with the support from our four foundation sponsors as it truly illustrates the strong local backing our centre has in the community.”

CUC Maranoa, which relies on financial support from the federal Government and sponsors, Santos, Origin, Maranoa Regional Council and Powerlink, had 126 students registered in 2021.

Any student wishing to discuss their eligibility to study should call the centre manager on 0407 033 289.

Maranoa Country Universities Centre (CUC) manager Bec Coffey, students Nick Whip and Anna Rowbotham and CUC Maranoa chair Cameron O’Neil at their end of year celebrations.

from hail to heat.

“Australians love their apples and pears – this program is helping ensure Australians continue to enjoy great quality locally produced fruit,” Mr Turnbull said.

The economic boost expands the trial na-

tionally, with allocated funding reflecting the level of horticultural production in each area.

Horticulturalists will be able to apply for grants in coming months, and the program will operate until either the funds are fully committed or through to 30 June, 2025.

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

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Key export connections

By Fiona Gowers Queensland food and ag businesses will have the chance to develop key connections with major buyers in the Middle East, without leaving the state.

Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s (TSBE) Southern Queensland Export Hub is hosting a virtual trade mission on Thursday, 3 February.

This collaboration with the Food and Agribusiness Growth Centre (FIAL) is an online business matching event for exporters to capitalise on a fast-growing Middle East consumer market from the comfort of their own office.

TSBE’s export manager for Food and Agribusiness Justin Heaven is encouraging suppliers to participate in the exclusive event.

“This is a unique opportunity to meet one-to-one, online, with UAE buyers across various channels from major supermarket chains, retailers, distributors, importers and more.

“TSBE will work closely with FIAL to streamline supplier product samples as consolidated air freight, to be delivered to UAE buyers once you have completed your virtual meetings to capitalise on this trade mission,” Mr Heaven said.

Several Queensland businesses such as Grassland Goats and SMA Marketing have already shown interest in the trade mission.

Grassland Goats director Keeleigh Allport said the Middle East is open for business and has an upbeat approach to encouraging Australian businesses to explore its competitive export markets.

“Exporting will allow us to develop alternative markets that are complementary to our current domestic trade of premium goat meat,” Ms Allport said.

“It will provide access to more businesses and customers and offer opportunities for us to learn innovative practices and processes.”

“By leveraging this knowledge, it will make us more competitive in the red meat industry, both in Australia and overseas,” she said.

SMA Marketing business development manager Belinda Boshammer said exporting was a great way for the business to achieve diversification within the customer and consumer base.

“Australian farmers produce high quality products that are sought after in overseas markets and we feel exporting complements our product offering and domestic supply chain,” Ms Boshammer said.

Next month’s trade mission follows the success of a Middle East Market Insights and Trade Readiness webinar held in December 2021, which featured the success story of Frosty Boy Global.

Frosty Boy Global’s general manager of international sales Alistair Rossouw said any insight he could share would only make the Australian and Queensland business community stronger to compete on the world stage.

“The export market presents huge opportunities for Queensland Food and Beverage

Grassland Goats is run across “Inverclyde” at Moonie.

Keeleigh and Brian Allport of Grassland Goats, “Inverclyde”, Moonie. companies to diversify their market and customer base,” he said.

“I would strongly encourage both new and

mature exporters to continue to explore and expand into new markets.”

Businesses interested in the Virtual Trade

Mission must be export ready and registered on FIAL’s Australian Food & Beverage catalogue.

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February 2022 TODAY 9

NEWS QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

‘Years to recover’

By Arthur Gorrie The worst flood-hit areas will take years to recover from the “once-in-a-lifetime“ downpour which devastated a large area from Goomeri and Kilkivan to Miva, Tiaro and Maryborough, Gympie mayor Glen Hartwig told recovery officials .

Recovery co-ordinator Paul de Jersey toured flood-ravaged areas with Deputy Premier Steve Miles.

One reporter said Mr de Jersey, a former Supreme Court chief justice and Queensland Governor, appeared “taken aback“ by what he saw.

“We were told this morning in Gympie that it could take four to five years (for the region to recover) - there is a lot of work to be done, it is not a short exercise,“ Mr de Jersey reportedly said.

Cr Hartwig said the region was still reeling from aftermath of Cyclone Seth.

“The damage to our roads and infrastructure is at such a significant level that it will take years to repair the damage that has been caused,“ he said in an AAP report.

“Working in partnership with both the state and federal government we want to look at ensuring that we repair this infrastructure to a level that damage of this nature doesn’t occur again.

“That will take a considerable amount of time to plan, design and install.“ Cr Hartwig said worst-hit areas were Kilkivan, Tansey, Woolooga and Booubyjan.

“When people study the deluge and intensity of the rainfall they will understand that it is hopefully a once in a lifetime event,“ the newsagency reported him as saying.

“It is not like a normal flood where you can prepare yourself emotionally for what is to come - this was an absolute deluge, nearly 12 months’ worth in about 12 hours.

“So it was difficult for people to prepare for the damage and the massive loss to stock and livelihoods.

“But all rural communities are the same.

They get around each other and support each other in difficult times - and these are very difficult times.

“These are very tough people. They just need a little help from state and federal government to get back on their feet.“

Flood damage.

Picture: TAMMY SHORTEN

Cash splash for flooding victims Extraordinary assistance grants of up to $50,000 for primary producers and up to $25,000 for small businesses hit by the recent floods in central, southern and western Queensland are now available to help communities recover.

The financial assistance is being jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience Bridget McKenzie said the activation of extraordinary grant assistance under the DRFA was vital to help kick-start the recovery of affected primary producers and small businesses.

“While rain is always welcome in droughtprone Queensland, these floods could not have come at a worse time, with many growers now unable to harvest their winter crops, while others have had to watch their early plantings drown,“ Ms McKenzie said.

“This assistance is in response to the extreme circumstances these hard-working primary producers and small businesses find themselves in, especially at this time of year.

“The National Recovery and Resilience Agency will continue to work closely with communities and industry to help these communities get back on their feet.“ The latest announcement is in addition to the disaster assistance already available in Banana, Balonne, Barcaldine, Barcoo, Blackall-Tambo, Boulia, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Diamantina, Goondiwindi, Flinders, Lockyer Valley, Longreach, Maranoa, Murweh, Scenic Rim, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba and Western Downs regions.

State Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Steven Miles said DRFA assistance of $1 million had also been provided to the Goondiwindi Regional Council to support the recovery and resilience of that community, which the flood hit hardest.

“The people of Goondiwindi are no strangers to flood waters but the destruction on display throughout the region as a result of this most recent event is on par with some of the worst in living memory,“ Mr Miles said.

“This payment will assist the council with ongoing recovery efforts and resilience planning for future flooding events.

“I welcome the support that producers and small businesses affected by the floods can now access in the form of extraordinary grant assistance to help them through the hard times on the road to recovery.“ He said both federal and state governments would continue to assess the recovery efforts over the coming months and provide further assistance to help communities get back on their feet.

More information on the assistance available to primary producers and small businesses at the QRIDA website or freecall 1800 623 946.

10 TODAY February 2022

The Woolooga Trader is inundated by water.

Bailing out the flood-affected farmers

By Arthur Gorrie Flood-hit primary producers can apply for major natural disaster recovery assistance, including concessional loans up $250,000 and emergency grants.

Acting Rural Communities Minister Mark Ryan announced the help, under jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Mr Ryan said the Agriculture Department had received reports of extensive damage from recent heavy rain and flash flooding across Wide Bay-Burnett, he said.

The damage affected the agriculture sector across Gympie and nearby regions.

“We have received reports of significant loss of fences and impacts to infrastructure, lost cattle, crop losses, erosion and soil loss and impact to the supply chain,“ Mr Ryan said.

“Category B assistance will help affected producers with assistance including concessional loans of up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to $100,000 at a concessional interest rate, and freight subsidies of up to $5,000.

“AgForce are collecting information from producers using an online map which provides access to a survey where producers can report the flood extent on their property, animal welfare concerns and damage assessment.

Primary producers who have suffered major damage outside the above declared areas may apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) declaration.

“An IDSP provides access to Queensland Government assistance similar to the Category B DRFA of freight subsidies and conces-

Krebs Bridge, between Murgon and Wondai, goes under. sional loans,” Mr Ryan said.

Category B Natural Disaster Assistance loans are administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority

Picture: MALCOLM BAYNTUN

(QRIDA) on behalf of the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments.

For more information or to apply visit qrida.qld.gov.au or freecall 1800 623 946.

Santos

FESTIVAL OF

RUGBY ROMA 11 - 12 February 2022

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SEE INSIDE FOR ROMA

EVENT PROGRAM FRIDAY 11TH - SATURDAY 12TH FEB 2022

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SANTOS Festival of Rugby

Roma 11 - 12 Feb 2022

Celebration of Rugby Following the overwhelming success of this last year’s inaugural event in Narrabri, the annual Celebration of Rugby heads north to outback Queensland in 2022 as the Reds look to avenge their loss to the Waratahs and claim the Santos Cup with victory over their oldest rivals on home soil.

Hosted by the Roma Echidnas Rugby Union Club and in partnership with Santos and Maranoa Regional Council, the two-day festival will be held between 11-12 February and is set to deliver entertainment for fans both on-andoff the field.

On both days the annual Roma Rugby 7s tournament will take place with men’s and women’s teams from across the state descending on the region for the lucrative title and prize money up for grabs.

There will also be live concerts on the Friday and Saturday nights with performances by iconic 90’s Australian rock band Chocolate Starfish and also energetic cover band Furnace and the Fundamentals who played at this year’s Super Rugby AU Grand Final at Suncorp Stadium.

While both bands are sure to get the party going in the small country town, the Reds and Waratahs fixture forms the centrepiece for the festival and will provide both teams with an important final hit-out ahead of the newly formed Super Rugby Pacific tournament that kicks off the very next week.

“We’re looking forward to once again being involved with this high-quality event,“ QRU CEO David Hanham said.

“It’s great we can bring this Celebration of Rugby to regional Queensland next year and we can’t wait to experience the country hospitality throughout our stay in Roma.

“This has become a flagship event in the Rugby calendar and we look forward to making it even better than last year.

“Following the success of our ‘Reds to Regions’ visits over the past two years, the twoday event will further our connection with country communities across this great state and we thank our major partner Santos, Maranoa Regional Council and also the New South Wales Rugby Union for making this festival possible.”

NSWRU CEO Paul Doorn said: “The Santos Festival of Rugby is a fantastic event for country Rugby and something we’re really excited to continue to be involved in.

“Last season’s event in Narrabri was a huge success and provided the Waratahs with a great opportunity to connect with the Rugby heartland of country New South Wales and the players to get a pre-season hit-out against our oldest rivals.

“Whilst we maintain a fierce rivalry on the field, we’re so pleased to be working with the Reds and Santos on this great initiative to foster the growth of our great game.”

Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said: “It’s set to be another cracking Festival of Rugby in 2022 after the terrific success earlier this year in Narrabri.

“The Festival is a true celebration of the Rugby community that the regional game

The Roma Echidnas will host this great celebration of a great game. thrives off, right around Australia. We are all looking forward to the 2022 edition, that is set to deliver great rugby on the field and warm hospitality off the field from the people of Roma.“ Santos managing director and chief executive officer Kevin Gallagher said the 2022 Santos Festival of Rugby builds on the enormous success of the Narrabri event, which saw more than 3,500 people attend and generated almost $1 million in direct and indirect spend with local businesses and investment in legacy infrastructure.

“Sport brings communities together and promotes healthy living and the Santos Festival of Rugby drives a significant boost in economic activity for our regional towns,” Mr Gallagher said.

“In Narrabri we know the pubs and cafes had their busiest weekends ever, the kids got access to training opportunities with Australian legends and there was a buzz around the whole town.

“Our regional communities are the lifeblood of the country. It’s a pleasure to support the Reds and Waratahs as they give back to these towns and we look forward to welcoming even more people in 2022 as Covid restrictions hopefully ease.”

Resources Minister Scott Stewart said the resources sector has been a long-term economic contributor in regional Queensland through jobs and business opportunities.

“Resources companies also play a role in community life through their work in schools, community groups and initiatives like the Fes-

tival of Rugby,” Mr Stewart said.

“I congratulate the QRU and Santos on this initiative and I encourage everyone in the south-west to support the Festival of Rugby and the Queensland Reds in their match against the Waratahs.”

Maranoa Regional Council Mayor Tyson Golder said the region is extremely excited to host this event next year.

“We look forward to welcoming the Reds and Waratahs, as well as all the Rugby 7s players and spectators to the outback,” Cr Golder said.

“We thank all those involved for the opportunity to host the 2022 Santos Festival of Rugby in Roma.”

Roma Echidnas Rugby Union Club President Richard Bright said it was great to build upon the success of the Roma 7s tournament with a festival of Rugby in the region.

“We’re looking forward to hosting everyone in Roma for an exciting weekend of Rugby and entertainment culminating in the Reds and Waratahs pre-season fixture at the home of the Echidnas at Galas Fox Park.”

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Qld Reds trial schedule

12 TODAY February 2022

The Queensland Reds will take on the New South Wales Waratahs and the Western Force in pre-season fixtures next month as preparations for the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific competition ramp up.

Queensland was scheduled to play the Force in Geraldton, however border complications due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have seen the game shift to the East coast. The two sides will do battle in a closed trial at Ballymore on Saturday February 5, with the game set to be live-streamed exclusively to Reds email subscribers.

The following weekend will see the Roma Echidnas host historical rivals Queensland and New South Wales on Saturday 12 February. The match shapes as the centrepiece of the second annual Santos Festival of Rugby, with the club hosting two days of action including the Santos Roma Rugby 7s.

Reds General Manager Sam Cordingley said: “It’s great to have our trial schedule for 2022 confirmed. We’ve been working closely with the Force on our pre-season fixture.

“It’s unfortunate due border restrictions that we aren’t able to travel to Western Australia, but we’re pleased to have found a solution for both teams and are thankful to the Force for their cooperation.

“Last year’s Santos Festival of Rugby in Narrabri was a great success and we’re looking forward to hosting the event in our home state this year,”.

Queensland Reds 2022 trials Queensland Reds v Western Force: Saturday 5 February, 2022, Ballymore Stadium (closed trial).

Queensland Reds v New South Wales Waratahs: Saturday 12 February, 2022, Roma Echidnas Rugby Club, Roma.

· ·

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SANTOS Festival of Rugby

Roma 11 - 12 Feb 2022

Roma’s abuzz for festival

By Fiona Gowers Roma is buzzing as it prepares to host the 2022 Santos Festival of Rugby on 11-12 February.

Culminating in a pre-season match between the Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs, the annual Roma Rugby 7s tournament will run both days, attracting teams from across the state.

Roma Commerce and Tourism general manager Debbie Joppich said she expected the Santos Festival of Rugby to drive a significant boost in economic activity for the regional town.

She said the influx of visitors would provide “substantial” benefits for all sectors still finding their feet post-Covid such as hospitality, retail and accommodation.

“We are full of energy and excitement for the Santos Festival of Rugby,” Mrs Joppich said. “Events like this are huge for our town and highlight the many great assets we have here.

“Accommodation businesses are already reporting 100 per cent occupancy for that week and pubs and cafes are preparing for their busiest weekend ever.”

According to Mrs Joppich, Roma’s rugby fields at the town’s eastern entrance are “first class” and, with Santos investing in their upgrade, it will bring long term on-going benefits to the town.

Hosted by the Roma Echidnas Rugby Union Club - and in partnership with Santos and Maranoa Regional Council - the two-day festival will entertain fans both on-and-off the field.

Maranoa Regional Council mayor Tyson Golder said the region was “extremely excited” and grateful to have the opportunity to hold the event.

“We look forward to welcoming the Reds

Roma Commerce and Tourism general manager, Debbie Joppich, expects the Santos Festival of Rugby to drive a significant boost in economic activity for the town. and Waratahs, as well as all the Rugby 7s players and spectators to the outback,” Cr Golder said.

“I think it’s wonderful for our region to experience that level of competition in Roma. It’s certainly a big deal for our town.

“Our children are top sportspeople, so many young athletes represent Roma at the highest level, and these are the professional athletes they look up to.

“For them to come to the bush and play rather than us travelling to the city, it means a lot.

“As a council, we also appreciate Santos upgrading Roma’s rugby fields, which will leave a lasting legacy for us to enjoy.”

Santos managing director and CEO Kevin Gallagher said the 2022 festival built on the success of last year’s Narrabri event, which attracted 3500 people and generated $1 million in revenue.

“Sport brings communities together and promotes healthy living and the Santos Festival of Rugby drives a significant boost in economic activity for our regional towns,” Mr Gallagher said.

“In Narrabri, we know the pubs and cafes had their busiest weekends ever, the kids got access to training opportunities with Australian legends and there was a buzz around the whole town.

“Our regional communities are the lifeblood of the country.

“It’s a pleasure to support the Reds and Waratahs as they give back to these towns and we look forward to welcoming even more people in 2022 as Covid restrictions hopefully ease.”

Roma Echidnas Rugby Union club president Richard Bright said it was “great” to build upon the success of the Roma 7s tournament with a festival of rugby in the region.

“We’re looking forward to hosting everyone in Roma for an exciting weekend of rugby and entertainment, culminating in the Reds and Waratahs pre-season fixture at the home of the Echidnas at Gallas Fox Park,” he said.

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SANTOS Festival of Rugby

Roma 11 - 12 Feb 2022

Women are raring to go

By Clancy Nugent The Darling Downs women’s team is ready to go for the Santos Festival of Rugby with a strong side including players from right across the region playing in the Roma Sevens.

With women’s rugby going from strength to strength in recent years, the girls are fired up to play some classic country footy.

Captain Meg Jakins said she was excited to play with some high quality players that she would otherwise be versing in their local competitions.

“I feel like it is really exciting for the Darling Downs to have a team in the Roma Sevens, usually we are girls that are playing against each other so it’s really nice to come together and represent the Downs and showcase what talent we do have,” Jakins said.

“We are very strong in terms of contact in the Downs, there are a few girls that are really great at tackling and contact.

“We have also got quite an agile and running style of game which will hopefully compete well against some of these other teams from across the state.

“Typically the Downs are known for that contact style of game so I think expanding and playing a running style is really exciting and shows the progression of our side at the moment,” she said.

Jakins also said it was wonderful to see women getting represented in competitions from club rugby right up to the professional level.

“It is really great to see women getting off the sideline and onto the field and showcasing the skills that we do have.

“It is so exciting to see such high interest in the Roma Sevens competition from the men’s and women’s teams so I’m really looking forward to it,” she said.

The Roma Sevens will be played across both days of the Santos Festival of Rugby before the Reds take on the Waratahs on the final day.

Lauren Robinson can bust tackles.

Shannon Reynolds will be running the ball hard for the Downs!

Shannon Reynolds has some speed.

Hannah Jakins will offer the Downs some classy skills.

There will be some awesome footy.

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WBelievers ESTERN RURAL SERVICES in the Bush, Servicing the Bush

81 King Street, Charleville, Qld 4470 | Telephone: (07) 4654 1179 | Facsimile : (07) 4654 3207 12532952-NG04-22

16 TODAY February 2022

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SANTOS Festival of Rugby

Roma 11 - 12 Feb 2022

Roma has seen big crowds before.

Female rugby is strong in Roma.

‘Great for our community’

By Richard Bright, Echidnas President We are so excited to welcome people from far and wide to the Roma Echidnas Rugby Union Club for what will be a wonderful festival for all things rugby.

Having two quality Super Rugby teams in the Reds and Waratahs playing in Roma is great for our community who love their footy and getting behind the local teams.

For the Roma Sevens to play a major part

A proud footy club.

18 TODAY February 2022

in the festival is also going to be fantastic and we can not wait to showcase the talent that will descend on Roma from across the state.

The Santos Festival of Rugby will bring so much to our country town through tourism and I am sure everyone who comes along will enjoy a feed and a beer while watching some great footy.

I would like to express a huge thankyou to the Roma Committee for their tireless efforts in putting this festival together over the past

few months. The grounds and clubhouse are ready to go and looking fantastic.

For a regional club and town, It is a privilege to be hosting a game of the calibre of the Reds versus the Waratahs. The motels are booked out and we are expecting a crowd of 3000 so it is a huge boost to the Roma economy especially in these difficult times through Covid.

As a club we welcome everyone who will attend the festival and can’t wait to see you on 11-12 February.

Plenty of trophies earned over the years.

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February 2022 TODAY 19

SOCIAL SCENE QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

And they’re off at Taroom A big crowd of racegoers celebrated the start of 2022 trackside in Taroom at the Dawson Jockey Club’s D & E Murray Builders New Year’s race day.

The five-race meet attracted more than 2000 locals and visitors, some of whom had travelled from as far away as Cooktown, Mackay and Winton.

Taroom has hosted the races since 1859, with the Dawson Jockey Club formed in 1890.

It boasts one of only four left-handed tracks in Queensland, with horses racing anti-clockwise.

Fashion on the Field contestants, Emily Coggan and Georgia Schick.

Emily Coggan and Katie Chicalas.

Will Alexander, Tilly Parry Oakden, Taroom, Hugh Robinson, Condamine, Gus Morris, Moonie, Taylah Peterson, Brisbane and Shelby Emerson, Mundubbera.

Pictures: LILLI KELLY

Gus Morris, Moonie, Boyd Radel, Injune, Howy Bassingthwaite, Mungallala, Madi Brady, Brisbane, Taylah Peterson, Brisbane, Sophie Rice, Gold Cost and Hugh Robinson, Condamine.

Hugh Robinson, Condamine, Henry Smith, Condamine, Cameron Anderson, Clermont and Tom Coggan, Meandarra.

20 TODAY February 2022

Henry Smith, Condamine, watches the races.

Best Dressed Couple in Fashions on the Field, Emily Coggan and Hugo Schmelzer.

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

The power of mother nature in Tansey.

OPINION

Picture: CONTRIBUTED

Learn to live with climate It seems that every time there is a major weather event it is blamed on climate change and each one is always bigger than the last.

Each fire or flood or drought or cyclone is worse than the one before - or at least that is how it is reported.

And almost universally - every weather event or natural disaster is today blamed on climate change.

Whether one prescribes to the mantra of manmade climate change or not - the reality is that the earth and its climate can be an unforgiving and hostile place no matter how hard we try to tame it.

Recent research by Deloitte Access Economics has revealed that investment in better planning and preparation for natural disasters would save Australia $380 billion in gross domestic product over the next 30 years.

The report estimates that natural disasters have cost Australians $120 billion over the past 50 years but could hit $1 trillion by 2050 under the business-as-usual model.

Dr Pradeep Phillip, the lead partner on the Deloitte report has stated that: “For Australia, mitigation alone will not be enough. Adaptation requires adjusting to actual or expected future climate changes to reduce the vulnerability of our communities and its assets”.

It’s difficult to “adapt” to receiving 675mm of rain in 14 hours as a mate of mine at Marodian west of Gympie received over Christmas but there are still very practical and achiev-

Australia will always be a land of ‘droughts and flooding rains’ - it is what we do in between which affects how we both respond and recover when mother nature decides to turn the scales. ”

TOM MARLAND able things we can do to protect ourselves and reduce the impacts of future climate change driven natural disasters.

One thing that might help during super cell or severe storms - is to be able to provide accurate forecasts and warnings to at risk communities well in advance of the disaster unfolding.

The Bureau of Meteorology comes under constant criticism for their often-inaccurate weather predictions, but they can only use the information and technology available to them. We need to be investing more in both short (storm) and long (drought) weather forecasting so that we can prepare and allocate resources accordingly. This would also assist with tracking and managing cyclones or lowpressure systems which can cause significant damage and loss of life.

The other is to ensure that there is proper communication and co-ordination between our relevant government departments about who is doing what and who is going were.

When the recent floods hit Gympie, I was on holidays with my family at Noosa and trying to

find a way home. The best advice came from the RACQ website and Facebook in relation to road closures and traffic delays on the Bruce Highway. While this was simple inconvenience for me, it could have been a life-threatening situation for someone else.

When it comes to fire - prevention is the best medicine and we must be investing more resources in hazardous fuel reduction, maintenance of green buffers and fire breaks. It would also make sense not to build houses in the middle of a eucalypt forest with limited escape routes when a fire strikes.

Flood mitigation is important - not only with built levies but also maintaining open river, creek and man-made channels and flows.

Investment should also focus on saving lives first and design buildings and infrastructure that can be individually flood resistant rather than trying to hold back the whole weight of the tide.

Droughts are simply a case of reduced rainfall. They can be mitigated by storing water in the dry times i.e. dams and spreading it out in

dry times i.e. pipes. Humans have been doing this for over 4000 years for much success but in Australia - the driest continent on earth - water conservation and storage still appears to be a dirty word.

Australia will always be a land of “droughts and flooding rains” - it is what we do in between which affects how we both respond and recover when mother nature decides to turn the scales.

Humans have shown over the last 200,000 years of our evolution and 6000 years of build civilization that we are never good at adapting to our surrounding environments. With all our modern advancements and gadgets - we sometimes forget that no matter how smart we are or think we are - we cannot control the weather.

However, we can protect ourselves against it with community and political will.

We may also be able to reduce it getting worse than it needs to be by reducing greenhouse gases.

But this alone will still not protect us unless we learn to protect ourselves.

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February 2022 TODAY 21

OPINION QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Getting round life’s paddock Welcome back to 2022. I hope you tried a few ideas I’ve suggested already about your health and wellbeing management.

Maybe you have taken a break and got away.

Perhaps you took your partner on a date. You might already be looking after yourself well and we are just encouraging you to do more.

It could be that you liked the idea of trading solvent every day in your wellbeing account and that you might now start to invest in small amounts to change the trading figures for this year.

A little less sugar in your diet, more regular exercise attention, finally going and getting that screening test for skin, bowel or prostate cancer with your doctor that you’ve been putting off because you are too busy, and you aren’t bleeding out of any orifice, and there is nothing funny you can see on your skin so why bother.

This year I hope you can join me on a journey. We will look at some things we have been providing to people who we see in our health programs, both in the city and the country.

Let’s put Covid aside for a minute and focus on the underlying thinking of wellbeing and how it can become your greatest asset in life.

Where does such thinking come from?

If you are really lucky you chose the right parents for what’s called their genetic disposition. Hybrid vigour is a term some of my bush friends tell me is getting the right genetics. You might have also landed on the money if they were great guides in life teaching you the right things, the right values and giving you the right abilities to problem solve. They may have even encouraged you to take care of your health

FARMERS’ HEALTH WITH DR TOBY FORD from the start because they were doing it.

Alas, too many people in the bush don’t look after themselves well, because their role models, their family elders or people they looked up to were self-destructive, saying things like if it ain’t broke don’t bother, there is no time to look after yourself in the bush. But lucky that’s changing very quickly as we see bush people choosing to be well, picking more closely the foods they eat, maybe training for a triathlon, taking regular leave, learning more about mental wellbeing.

So if you are on the right track this next bit I hope confirms your right and if not it might just be the start of changing things for you. We are going to start with stress. It is the most important thing in life.

Two American psychologists Yerks and Dodson came up with a bell curve to describe its impact on our performance. First, they said if you didn’t have enough pressure in life you might rust out and secondly if you got too much of it you might burn out.

So getting the right amount of pressure in your life is important. It is like a rubber band.

When the band is flabby and loose it’s not really acting like a rubber band. So putting a bit of tension into it causes the elasticity

properties to start to appear. In other words, there is a flexing of forces against each other bouncing and making the best use of the rubber bands true characteristics. However, if we overstretch the band it starts to lose its elastic property and just become almost rope-like failing to flex. It can also be so twisted up it’s a ball with no rubber features at all. Lastly, pull it too hard and busts which is like the graph says burn out.

So what I think is a good start for wellbeing is that we all need stress in our lives. We need stress tension to perform to our best. We need to learn more about how we can in a matter

of minutes to days shift without realizing it to stress torsion where we lose our elastic coping property.

But guess what sometimes the people you live with can pick when you go from stress tension to torsion better than you can. So between now and next time ask your two closest friends or spouse “Hey can you tell when I am about to lose the plot before I do?”.

What is it they see in your behaviour and see what they tell you, you might learn something useful for coping better in life and that is to prepare before an event rather than react after it happens?

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Australia’s most trusted rural charity, Rural Aid, has been overwhelmed by the generous support for our mates in the bush.

Australians showed amazing generosity for farmers doing it tough as part of the charity’s inaugural Giving Day. Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said the outpouring of support shows just how loved and valued our farmers are.

“Our incredible farmers push through disaster after disaster to put food on our tables and clothes on our backs,” Mr Warlters said. “It’s heartwarming to see the public recognise their grit in such a generous way.

“We’re humbled to receive more than $1 million in donations on our first Giving Day. Thank you to the thousands of Australians who dug deep to help our mates in the bush,” Mr Warlters said.

In the past two years, crop and cattle

farmer Chris Neilsen has battled through bushfire, drought, mouse plague and most recently, excessive rains on his Warwick property. “We’ve been from one extreme to the other,” Mr Neilsen said.

His wheat and barley crops were days away from harvest before flooding rains caused them to shoot.

“In the period of a month, you’ve seen what you’ve worked the last six months for and it’s gone.”

Rural Aid’s supporters answered the call for help with compassionate gusto.

Rural Aid originally set a fundraising target of $750,000, but that goal was beaten around lunchtime on Giving Day, Friday 10 December. A revised target of $1 million was soon reached.

“We are grateful beyond words for every dollar donated.,” Mr Walters said

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Putting runs on the board FROM THE MLA JASON STRONG Australia and the United Kingdom share many similarities as countries and as people.

In keeping with the sporting theme in this edition of the paper, our mutual love of cricket is one of those, although one country is more skilled than the other if this summer’s Ashes series is anything to go by!

It’s due in part to our shared values and beliefs, that Australia was the first country to sign a free trade deal with the UK post-Brexit.

The Australia-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (A-UK FTA) will allow for tarifffree access for a huge range of goods, with some ‘sensitive’ Australian products subject to expanding volume quotas, prior to eliminating the barriers completely over various time frames.

For the Australian red meat and livestock industry and our UK customers, the A-UK FTA represents tremendous opportunities. In fact, the red meat industry’s access to the UK from day one of the FTA will exceed the available annual access we have had to the European Union for the past 50 years.

Under this landmark FTA, future trade will be more streamlined, removing burdensome costs from the supply chain that ultimately disadvantage British consumers and stifle opportunities for Australian red meat producers.

Essentially, the FTA will mean that Australian beef and sheepmeat exports will enter the UK under a tariff rate quota (TRQ) regime, with initial TRQ tonnages gradually increasing over a ten-year transition period. Product within the TRQ amounts will enter the UK tariff free. Whilst there will be no TRQ regime post the tenth year, a volume safeguard provision will apply until the end of the 15th year,

performance in existing ones like in the UK, will also help ensure the sustainability and resilience of the Australian red meat industry during this decade and beyond.

Just as the Australian cricket team flourished this summer, Australian red meat producers and British consumers who love our product’s taste and quality, will flourish thanks to the A-UK FTA.

beyond which no safeguards will apply. For goatmeat, existing tariffs will be phased out over eight years.

The FTA with the United Kingdom will also go a long way to helping achieve industry’s goal of doubling the value of Australian red meat sales by 2030, as well as securing increased preferential access to key export markets. Access to new markets and boosting

From drought to floods, Maranoa keeps us on our toes FROM THE MINISTER AGRICULTURE MINISTER DAVID LITTLEPROUD gram is in great shape with 11 Maranoa participants including one from Kingaroy. With farming skills passed down from generation to generation - it’s vital that we tap into those connections to benefit Maranoa farming communities. Applications for round three open early in 2022. More information at <https://rural-leaders.org.au/our-programs/drought-resilience-leaders/> BLACKBUTT AVOCADO FESTIVAL The ongoing sustainability of arts and culture in our regional and remote areas is more important than ever to help communities rebuild their vitality.

This year’s Blackbutt Avocado Festival has

received a $27,498 boost through the $2.4 million Regional Arts Tourism Experiences package for their Resilience through Laughter: Youth and Community Workshop & Performance Program. Doing their bit to keep comedy alive, participants will co-design two festival performances.

TOURISM PROGRAMS NOW OPEN The Blackbutt Art Gallery has just received a $1,128 grant under the Culture, Heritage and Arts Regional Tourism (CHART) program, for the installation of new lighting to improve the overall impact and appeal of exhibits in the Gallery (which will also save on energy costs).

CHART funding of up to $3,000 is available for museums and galleries wanting to stage events or improve facilities, like the Blackbutt Gallery’s lighting upgrade. Applications close 29 April 2022 or once all funding is expended. Visit www.amaga.org.au/chart.

The $5 million Regional Arts Fund Cultural Tourism Accelerator (RAFCTA) grants close 25 January 2022. Funding for targeted marketing campaigns and other initiatives to

increase visitation, are eligible.

NAIDOC WEEK 2022 The Coalition Government is delivering $1.4 million to support communities and organisations celebrate NAIDOC Week from 3 to 10 July 2022. Details of eligibility and information on how to apply is available on GrantConnect, www.grants.gov.au.

More than ever before, governments are working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and are laying the groundwork for strong local and regional voices to inform future policies, programs and service delivery.

The National NAIDOC Committee has also called for entries in the annual poster competition, for artists aged 13 and over to have their artwork feature on the national stage, win a $10,000 cash prize and tickets to the Awards Ceremony.

Details of events, information, criteria and closing dates are all available at www. naidoc.org.au.

Until next month.

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Happy New Year to you. I hope your outlook for the region for 2022 is positive.

Whether flood recovery grant assistance, NAIDOC opportunities, kick-starting festivals or increasing visitation to the region, we have the Maranoa landscape in its beauty and unpredictability to keep us on our toes in 2022.

FLOOD RECOVERY GRANTS Recent floods could not have come at a worse time, with many growers unable to harvest winter crops, while others have had to watch early plantings drown.

Extraordinary assistance grants of up to $50,000 for Maranoa primary producers and up to $25,000 for small businesses, are now available under the Disaster Recovery Funding Assistance (DRFA) program to help communities get back on their feet. For more info, visit www.qrida.qld.gov.au or freecall 1800 623 946.

FUTURE DROUGHT FUND Round two of the Future Drought Fund (FDF) Drought Resilience Leaders mentoring pro-

February 2022 TODAY 23

NEWS QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Obi Obi Dairy at Kenilworth. 264807

Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace with Sara and Markus Bucher at Maleny Cheese. 264807

Part of the range produced by Maleny Cheese and Yogurt. 264807

From a picture postcard Swiss village to the Mary Valley, there have been twists and turns in master cheesemaker’s journey, as ERLE LEVEY discovered.

How Sara met Markus He was from a mountain village in Switzerland. She grew up in North Queensland.

Together, they designed a business plan while driving across the Nullarbor Plain.

Eight years later that business is all they could have wished for - Maleny Cheese and Obi Obi Dairy.

How Sara met Markus is fascinating. How they developed their business is inspirational.

Talking with Sara at Obi Obi Dairy in Coolabine Creek Rd is fascinating.

The 380-acre property is spread out in front of us - some of the richest river flats you could imagine, ringed by the Blackall Ranges.

The Obi Obi Creek runs through the middle of it.

The dairy is one of four that provide milk for Maleny Cheese, a cheese and yoghurt factory with an outlet at Clifford St, Balmoral Ridge, they established 18 years ago.

In turn, the factory provides content for four other processors in the region ... small boutique cheeseries and yoghurt factories.

Sara and Markus met in the summer of 1983 in USA. Both were passing by at a youth hostel in Denver, Colorado.

“I was a 19-year-old Australian,’’ Sara said.

“I did not hold a credit card, and as a traveller could not go into bars or hire a car.

“Markus was a young Swiss traveller, with no English.

“So we got on very well that day as we had a young Danish man with us, who could speak some English and a bit of German.

“There was a sign on the hostel notice board for a ride share available, to see the national parks.

“It seemed like a good idea so I chipped in.

“We got on well. He was travelling around the world and said he would look me up in Australia.’’

Sara grew up in Townsville but boarded at St Peter’s in Indooroopilly.

True to his word Markus came to Queensland and they had some nice times together.

That included Victoria when Sara went to Royal Melbourne Hospital with her nursing.

The Victorians thought she was crazy, coming to Melbourne from North Queensland because of the cold weather.

Markus returned home for family reasons but a year later Sara and a girlfriend decided to travel to Europe.

They looked him up in his home town of Schaffhausen, a wine-growing area on the Upper Rhine River.

“He is a formally-trained cheesemaker,’’ Sara said, “... a master cheesemaker.

“He can teach it, he is very accomplished.’’

Markus was operating a Milch Centrale, which roughly translates to centre of milk, a hub.

24 TODAY February 2022

Evening feed. Obi Obi Dairy. 264807

Driving day after day … the only regret in life is if you do not try.’’

It was very much like what they are doing now.

In Schaffhausen, he had seven dairy farms that supplied milk to his shop that traded everything from fresh bread, fruit and vegetables, to 40 different cheeses cut to customer requirements.

He was selling cheese, not making it.

“These little shops were part of Swiss culture,’’ Sara said.

“His first business opportunity included doing contracts to hospitals and institutions, delivering fresh milk.

“He supplied cream for the blood sausage makers - thousands of litres of cream for that.

“It would be delivered in milk cans, 40 litres at a time.’’

Sara said she had missed this young man so looked him up - in between Eurail journeys on trains throughout Europe - and ended up marrying him.

“We had our first three of four children in Switzerland over the next five years.

“We were both hard workers. I was using nursing skills in a rehabilitation hospital.

“They instantly employed me as an Australian nurse.

“Language was not a problem, but I went to night school twice a week to read, write and talk to people.

“A lot of the language spoken is dialect. Germanic style. So I had to apply myself to learning both.’’

It was a mutual decision to come home to

Australia. That was in 1993 and initially they were based at Townsville - without any idea of what to do.

So the tables were turned, and for the first year Markus was a home dad while learning English.

Sara went back to nursing and within a year their son Johnathan had arrived.

Today, their eldest daughter Jennepher is the business manager while Leonie lives and works in Brisbane and represents us at the farmer markets.

Gillian lives in Switzerland and Jonathan is the milk tanker driver.

However, Townsville was hot and did not have reliable dairies in the region so they put some feelers out and Markus started doing post graduate studies in dairy technology with a Victorian university.

Sara did a bachelor degree in nursing science to keep up her skills as a registered nurse.

That’s when another major change came in their lives.

Now with four children, Markus got a job in Western Australia - initially in Perth making yoghurt but was then picked up for a cheesemaking role by Margaret River Cheese.

“They were faced with closure as they couldn’t manage the factory,’’ Sara said.

“Markus came in and they soon had some sensational products coming out.

“It took three years there to finish our degrees and enjoy the children, but we were missing Townsville.

“We hatched plan to establish a business in Queensland. We didn’t know what, we didn’t know where, but we virtually developed the business plan while driving across the Nullarbor.

“Driving day after day … the only regret in life is if you do not try.’’

Their travels had taken them to Adelaide, Victoria, North Queensland, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast hinterlands.

They were looking for the right place, and settled on Maleny.

“It was the right spot for us,’’ Sara said. “It has a beautiful community, with a long dairy history and consistent rain - it was a good compromise between a Swiss and Australian lifestyle.’’

Maleny Cheese started in 2004 after two years of planning and preparation.

The factory at Balmoral Ridge is not just a licensed cafe and shop but produces a wide range of yogurts and cheeses that go into Brisbane and north to Gympie.

Being 400m above sea level makes Maleny a very good region and climate for making perfect cheese, Markus said.

“Cheesemaking is a very serious job … you need to know what you’re doing.

QueenslandFarmerToday.com.au

Sara Bucher with some of the range produced

by Maleny Cheese. 264807

Cheese selection. 264807 “You can easily learn it but to be good at it you need a lot more - an immense amount of knowledge and expertise.

“It’s about solving problems such as getting the cheese to set … if it doesn’t, you need to know why.

“Experience can help you solve problems cheesemakers are always on the lookout.

“It’s very much about being hands-on, not simply pushing buttons.

“It’s about hands-on and feeling … working with your feeling. Cheesemaking is a real art.’’

The philosophy behind Maleny Cheese is to have a lot of local support, and trying to keep farmers on land - keeping the dairy industry alive.

In doing so they are supporting people in the community.

When Markus and Sara set up Maleny Cheese, they started with soft cheese types brie, camembert and a triple cream brie.

They also make three types of feta, as well as a farmhouse cheese, Bald Knob - which is a distinctive area in the region - club cheddars and yogurt.

“We are now making more yogurt than cheese, and outgrowing the facilities,’’ Markus said.

“We have some new production lines and flavours coming on, such as rainforest berries for the yoghurt.’’

Over the past five years Maleny Cheese has won numerous cheesemaking and yoghurt awards.

They have a new range - buffalo milk, from which they make three or four types of cheese.

Maintaining a good work-life balance. 264807

Maleny Cheese factory at Balmoral Ridge. 264807

Dairy cattle at Balmoral Ridge. 264807 “It’s quite astonishing,’’ Markus said. “There are only three areas in Australia with buffalo herds - Atherton Tablelands, Victoria and Maleny.’’

People appreciate Maleny Cheese, Sara said. Especially being a local product and the fact Australian life has has gone full circle.

“In the ’60s and ’70s all the smaller cheese factories were disappearing and by the ’90s it was mainly big factories and processors.

“Now we are seeing them pop up all over the place again.

“People today want a local product, produced by local people in the area.

“That means low food kilometres if we all support our local producers.’’

Markus and Sara started Maleny Cheese with a business partner, the Simpson family. They were fourth generation dairy farmers and supplied milk from their property at Bald Knob.

“We remain friends to this day,’’ Sara said.

“Without them we would not have had a reliable milk supply.

“Yoghurt and cheese were our main product lines, because they were fresh.

“We acknowledged Maleny Milk was already operating and we knew from Europe you don’t replicate what’s already here … they do bottled milk, so we’ll make cheese and yoghurt.’’

Deregulation of the milk industry had just come in and the new price structure saw a lot of farmers going out of business.

So people like what they are doing in keeping the industry alive.

NEWS

They now have Obi Obi Dairy at Kenilworth which runs 380 milkers, 180 dry cows and 150 young stock.

It was two farms and a lot of the infrastructure had been put in place by the previous owners.

Here, they raise bull calves as well as heifers, rather than send them straight off the property.

“We turn the bulls off after about 4-6 months, based on weight.

“Eight years ago bull calves were culled, but it was a totally different situation where they were not valued.

“That never sat well with us. Right from the start we could see options.

“We value that protein, and could not see the sense. They get a life, they get an opportunity.’’

The milk for Maleny Cheese is collected from the farms and processed on the day, earning it the Snail of Approval recognition from Slow Food Noosa.

This is due to keeping the business local, the rehabilitation of the farmland, ethical treatment of animals, and respect and value for staff.

The have been operating Obi Obi Dairy for eight years in April.

As cheese makers and dairy processors it has been 18 years.

The impact of Covid-19 has shown the supply chain benefits of quality, locally-produced products such as theirs.

“It’s a great story of adventure,’’ Sara said.

“That’s the heart of it.

Milking time. 264807 “People have got to do things they are passionate about. Our lives are so short.

“Markus loves the farm … this paddock,’’ she said indicating the rich river plain in front of us.

“When we purchased the farm eight years ago it wasn’t what you see.

“The water is so precious. These irrigators are expensive but need less power to run and are a more effective use of water.

“It’s computerised. Brilliant technology.

“Right from the start a big focus has been on how to assist the environment.

“The soil and water is so stunning, so it was a matter of understanding how can we use it carefully and respectfully.

“Old Swiss farming techniques are centred around sustainable farming.

“The manure from the cows is now spread into the field. When we started, the land had only been treated with urea and lime concentrate.

“We are just trying to use what’s available, tilling it back into the soil.

“Corn and sorghum crops are harvested as silage. We try to grow as much food for our cows as we can on this farm.

“It makes sense economically as well as environmentally. The less feed you bring in to a farm, the better in the long run.

“This is still beautiful vegetation.

“We have fenced the creek off to create a riparian way. There is 1.5km of creek frontage.

“We are managing the grazing of cattle with paddocks.’’

Continued page 27

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Maleny Cheese factory and cafe at Clifford St, Maleny. 264807

How Sara met Markus From page 25 Apart from the cattle, Sara enjoys a personal interest in horses and had the opportunity to start riding in the local Light Horse regiment.

That was 18 years ago and she has been riding in Anzac Day services ever since.

Her father Jon Stephenson was a geologist, who attended James Cook University in Townsville.

In 1958 he was the first Australian to reach the South Pole, in a Commonwealth TransAntarctic party headed by British explorer Vivian Fuchs and New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary.

Not only that, Sara was a founding director of the Food and Agribusiness Network (FAN) on the Sunshine Coast.

Now in its sixth year, FAN is a networking system of 400 members that encourages industry to grow though collaboration, innovation and by driving trade locally and globally.

FAN is spread across the food value chain in the greater Sunshine Coast region of Gympie, Noosa, Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay.

The popularity of Maleny Cheese products in times such as Covid means they are flat-out meeting demand.

As well as three of their children working in the business, they employ 33 staff at the dairy and factory.

Their initial business plan developed on the Nullarbor Plain is holding up - even though they have altered some recipes.

“There is a change taking place,’’ Sara said.

“Our local customers want fresh products that come from this area.

“It’s been a remarkable journey.’’

Standing in this beautiful valley, with the sun setting behind the ranges, there is a feeling of serenity - of timelessness.

This is what the Swiss have been doing - experiencing for centuries.

So what have been the lessons learned on this journey around the world?

“Just keep trying and be prepared to be surprised,’’ Sara said.

“Trust your instinct.’’

Morning light: Obi Obi Dairy. 264807

Obi Obi Dairy. 264807

Markus Bucher of Maleny Cheese and Obi Obi Dairy. 264807

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Riding back from the brink

By Fiona Gowers Gazing across the red dirt racecourse at the 2021 Roma Cup, Ross Tilley felt lucky to be alive let alone riding in the main race.

Over the past 12 years he has overcome physical injuries - a smashed femur and L1 vertebrae - but it was his battle against the demon drink that threatened to derail his decorated career.

On weekdays, Ross would drink eight stubbies, as well as pre-mixed scotch and cola, while on both Saturday and Sunday he would consume two cartons of beer.

He said It took a nervous breakdown, a week in hospital and some sobering words from longterm partner, Carmel Baker, a horse trainer, to snap the insidious cycle of addiction.

“The bottle got me,” said Ross, the father of well-known Queensland jockey Les “Bubba” Tilley.

“Then Carmel said, ‘you’ve got to get better for yourself, not for me, not for the kids, for yourself’. That was six years ago and I’ve not touched a drop of alcohol since.”

Ross, 56, has lived in Charleville for 30 years but began his riding career as an apprentice for Ross Stitt in Taree on the mid-NSW north coast at the age of 15.

“I am the youngest of 10 children and all dad wanted was for one of us to be a jockey.

I was the one who loved working with horses and the rest is history,” he said.

“From the age of four or five we would travel to my aunty’s house for Christmas in Broken Hill where she raced horses and, I think, my interest started from there.

“One of her horses, Brown Ben, happened to win one year, which is always good!”

Having not ridden since 2009, Ross tentatively returned to track work in 2020.

“Carmel had a quiet horse in work at the time so I just threw my leg over it,” he said.

“And, because I had given up drinking, I thought, ‘this feels alright’.

“I applied for my (jockey) licence because Carmel was having trouble finding a jockey out in the country and we went from there.”

Ross’s trusty Nissan Patrol – which has clocked some 360,000 kilometres – delivers him to race meetings across the Queensland bush.

He has ridden almost 700 winners in his career and “has lost count” of the jockey premierships won in Charleville.

“I ride at all the places – Charleville, Cunnamulla, Tambo, Morven, Augathella, Quilpie, Mitchell, Roma, Barcaldine, Blackall, Longreach – there’s plenty of driving involved.”

In November 2021, Ross made the six-hour return car trip to Roma to ride against his son Bubba for just the second time. Bubba won the Roma Cup on favourite Tears Of Love, while Ross’s mount Itsallkay (trained by Carmel) finished almost 25 lengths off the winner.

It mattered little though.

“Racing is my life and it feels good to be back in the saddle,” Ross said.

“And, I’m so happy for Bubba. He’s going real good and, at 27 (years-old), has his best racing years ahead. I’m proud of him.”

The next race meeting at the Central Warrego Race Club in Charleville is on 14 May.

Charleville-based jockey Ross Tilley at the 2021 Roma Cup.

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