The Magazine of the Collingwood Children’s Farm
FARM YARNS Autumn 2015
farmland
Since 1838
We would like to acknowledge generous support from the following organisations:
Ph: 9681 8121
The Collingwood Children’s Farm are proud to acknowledge the Wurundjeri of the Kulin Federation as the traditional owners of the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage Farmlands, the land we respect, care for and farm on behalf of all Victorians. The Farm thanks all Wurundjeri Elders past and present, for their guardianship of these lands.
Farm Patron - Mrs Elizabeth Chernov, Government House
2014-15 Committee of Management Cheryl Cameron
Jennifer Black
Netta McArthur
Helen Semmler
Kirsty Williamson
Catalina Sinclair
Jessica Gillespe
Lily O’Neill
Richard Ginsburg
Jane Ogilvie
Lachlan Turner
Cr Misha Coleman
Alex Walker (Farm Manager) Farm Yarns is a quarterly publication from the Collingwood Children’s Farm (CCF). The CCF, a not-for-profit, educational small-holding city farm was established in 1979 as a “country experience for city folk”. The Farm is sited on the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage Farmlands, the oldest continually farmed land in Victoria (since 1835). The CCF is guided by a Committee of Management, elected annually. Front Cover photo - Nature in balance, all parts being present. A Cabbage Moth butterfly paused on a Zucchini Flower. (image Andrew Phillips) Rear Cover photo - Charisma our Anglo-Nubian matriarch wishes everyone a happy Year of the Goat! (image Andrew Phillips)
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Farm Manager
Alex Walker
Managers Report Being an inner-city working farm presents the
conducted a “Kids have a Say” information
unique opportunity for all visitors to benefit
gathering through both a week-long written
from
experience.
survey, and more structured day event. The
Because we are not a fun park or zoo, but a
results will be used to ensure children
proper farm that breeds and works its animals,
continue to experience what they like the most,
grows food crops, cares for the farmland and
as well as gently direct what we might plan for
larger ecosystem in which it operates. If that
in the future. Thanks kids!
a
positive
agricultural
isn’t farming, I don’t know what is. With a modern lifestyle that sees us more and more
Some of the survey results have been very
disconnected from our food sources and the
open, interesting and informative. Children
cycles of nature, it’s never been
told us exactly who their favourite animals
more
were in no uncertain terms. Amongst the top
important to actively stay connected.
three were our Anglo-Nubian goats, who with Children are our number one customers at the
their curious (about us) and easy-going
Farm. And we always want it to stay that way.
natures, combined with a sense of cheeky fun,
To ensure we are listening to what our many
received many positive comments.
small visitors have to say, the Farm recently An interesting coincidence is that 2015 is the Below, inset : Asking kids what they want and think about the Farm, always important
Chinese
Year
of
Goat—which
got
me
investigating what some of the personal characteristics of a “Goat Person” are. If that’s you (born in 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003 and 2015), here’s what I found: You form the eighth symbol of a twelveyear cycle of animals Your chinese calligraphy symbol is “山羊” or Shānyáng Carnation and primrose are your lucky flowers (which goats love eating) Lucky numbers are three, four and nine Green, red and purple are your lucky colours You are considered kind, popular and enjoy peace and quiet. People trust you. Of course you can take this with a grain of salt if you wish ... however our goats do love their salt (licks, that is)!
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In the last Farm Yarns I enthused about the
contribution to us and the local community
important work carried out by our volunteers.
deserves recognition. As an active member of
Many of those individuals who contribute
the Vietnam Veterans community, Bob can
regularly become well-known to both the
also be remembered and thanked through a
Farm staff and our visitors. One such regular
donation to the Victorian branch of the
was “Tractor Bob”, who with a warm smile
Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia
and for the satisfaction of a well-cooked snag
(http://vvaavic.org.au/). It is great to see the Young Farmers returning for another year of fun farm activity (not to mention a bit of hard work). It is the oldest continual social-engagement program we offer for the local community and has an important ongoing value within our operations. Both Saturday and Sunday groups have a few new children commencing the program; and so I would like to extend a special welcome to our new participants. And for our “old hands”, welcome back and I thank you for encouraging
and
supporting
our
newcomers until they learn the ropes. Being part of the European Federation of City Farms (EFCF) is something the Farm feels extremely proud of. Having an international family of city farms (which continues to grow) helps by providing a network of peers who are able to advise, assist and support each other. Together we Above: Year of the goat kids too!
from the BBQ, did a sterling job of driving the
have a global voice. In April this year our EFCF
family
is
celebrating
the
25th
anniversary since the creation of the
Farm tractor for (over the years) thousands of
organisation
in
happy children on Family Day. Sadly I have to
important event, this year the EFCF Annual
inform that Bob passed away unexpectedly
General Meeting is being run in an extended
late last year. And whilst Bob had not been
format in Stuttgart, Germany. Unfortunately
able to assist at the Farm for a few years, his
we haven’t been able to send a representative,
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
1990.
To
celebrate
this
5
Above: The woolly long and the short of it.
however the Farm would like to wish all EFCF
getting. Because you can ask them. So whether
attendees a successful and informative AGM.
you are one of our regular market attendees
Please blow out a few of the 25th anniversary
(which we would always encourage), or
candles for us!
directly support local farmers through mail order
purchasing
(and
there
are
many
As recently demonstrated with imported
Australian farmers doing this now), where you
Hepatitis
berries
buy from is important and has positive
affecting Australian consumers, supporting
influence. By investing in a local farmer you
local, alternative agricultural business models
provide rural employment and help support
(as we do through hosting our monthly
regional communities. And whilst there are no
Farmers
more
100% guarantees regarding food safety, I think
important. When you purchase directly from a
the obvious benefits of purchasing locally-
local farmer, you know exactly what you are
grown food stand for themselves.
A-contaminated
Market)
has
frozen
never
been
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Inset: History in comparison. Contrast the upper photo with the lower; currently we have the most dairy cattle on the Abbotsford Precinct Heritage Farmlands since the Sisters of the Good Shepherd’s flock in the 1950’s. (upper image Olivia Knowles)
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
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Team Leaders
Bridget Bainbridge/ Nick Karavokiros
Water usage over the summer months on the
various chutneys, jams and jellies. This will
Farm has been closely monitored and slowly
hopefully eliminate the need to store produce
refined to allow maximum usage in our
that sometimes doesn’t keep well for long
gardens and for our stock. Through our
periods of time. We are open to experimenting
determined efforts to keep everything alive
with your family’s secret (promise we won’t
and productive we have discovered certain
tell) or personal favourite recipes, so please
current water lines that could do with some
pass them on to either Julia, Nick or Bridget
refinement ... eg more lines!
via staff@farm.org.au.
These new lines will allow the safe and
The breeding season started off well with all
convenient transfer of our precious water to-
running smoothly; with the many hens laying
and-from our main header tanks located at the
consistently and the roosters doing their jobs
Workshop. The combined staff and volunteer
enthusiastically. The first few clutches looked
efforts to lay these new lines is still a work in progress. It’s dirty and dusty work and
Below: Hubert the Merino helping himself to some potatoes. Oops. (image Sam Imbrogno)
the Farm wishes to thank all involved. These works are the early phases of eventually
having
the
whole
Farm
irrigated to the point where we are using the windmill to send water across to all our paddocks, as an alternative and sustainable alternative to mains pressure. We are also looking at systematic ways to monitor and implement our maintenance regimes to enable us to have the best water quality at all times. It’s been time to harvest and reap the rewards for all our hard work in the orchard. From fruit to veggies it’s been a bumper year for certain produce, which then brings up the gardener’s perennial problem of what to do with our glut of yummy produce. So apart from selling at Reception and the Farmer’s Market stall, it has been enthusiastically recommended we create some seasonally limited jars of
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
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promising until not nature but technology let
Repairs would be too costly on the old
us down badly. Our tired old incubator
incubator therefore the Farm has to acquire a
decided to cook the eggs rather than work
new incubator. We are now looking forward to
properly and allow chicks to develop. As you
a trouble free season in 2015-16. A big thanks
can imagine this was quite distressing to all
goes to all the staff who persevered with our
the Farm staff. So it was with sheer luck that
faulty equipment trying to make it work.
we got any chicks at all, seriously affecting our breeding program for the next season. This
We are also in the process of selling on some of
unfortunately means we won’t have any (or
our older stock Indian runners to a good
very few, mostly cockerels) for public sale.
home. They are all from excellent show bloodlines and ideally the Farm would like
Below: Yardley in spaaaccceee! (image Bridget Bainbridge)
them collectively to end up at nice home. Indian Runner duck eggs are great for baking or in Asian-style soups such as Vietnamese pho. If you’re a fan of the cartoonist Michael Leunig, they are the visual inspiration for his lovely “curly ducks”. For further information please ask for Nick or Bridget. One
of
our
latest projects (apart from
irrigation) has been the upgrade of the external pig fencing. This has been prompted due to our very intelligent Berkshire pigs observing up close hands (or sniffing those that might have food enclosed) that belonged to people who couldn’t read our safety signs that said “don’t feed the pigs”! So for everyone’s safety (especially the pigs), management has decided on an upgrade. We’ve also kept the signs. Our last lot of piglets, eight in all, romped around like they owned the place, seeming to find and squeeze through every nook and cranny at will. They have gone to a new home with rare breeds aficionado Bronwyn Cowan. There will always be an ongoing project in all sties as our entertaining pigs (who love to outwit us) entertain themselves by eating their
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
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Above: Boss cat hard at work. Or dreaming about being hard at work. Obviously exhausting either way. (image Sam Imbrogno)
way through solid fencing. Therefore the pig
several
paddocks
yard fencing has been strengthened with the
upgrading
help of Corrections clients, corporate and
replacement, but in other areas it just needs
regular volunteers plus staff.
patching up or restraining.
Fencing 2015 and beyond. Like on any farm,
Cow milking has still remained cow brushing
ours needs constant vigilance and repairing
for the public, as Daphne (even after being
them is our next major challenge. We feel we
sent to cow camp to learn some manners)
will better off repairing in sections with
continues to be what old farmers would call “a
realistic results attained according to the skill
kicker”. At the Farm we will not risk public
of the people doing the repairs. It’s an
safety so at the moment Daphne is still
opportunity to pass on experienced fencer’s
learning to be milked using safety shackles
knowledge to all interested, including groups
while in the headstock. She can still move
or individuals. The riverbank fencing in
about if she wants, it’s just restricted to smaller
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
has
therefore
perished needing
beyond complete
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steps and kicking the milk bucket not the staff.
tricks was to saunter up to the Feed Shed and chirp until a staff member shared out a
Our flock of Chinese Grey geese has expanded
handful of corn. She had us all very well
to eleven birds, with two drakes and nine
trained, and we will miss her dearly.
geese replacing the very old birds. This will hopefully see some much-needed goslings
A special mention must go to master painters
(and yes, we could call them Ryan) appear at
Roger and Kyung for their ongoing work with
the Farm in the near future.
our signage. Without their excellent creative efforts it would still be very confusing across
Sadly we have to report the recent passing of
the Farm to find your way.
Mabeline, our oldest Muscovy duck and a real character at the Farm. She was a great
And on a personal note from Nick, I would
favourite with staff and visitors, who very
like thank all who passed on their best wishes
much enjoyed her outgoing personality and
with the arrival of our latest son Thomas Jacob
cheeky twinkle in the eye. One of her best
Karavokiros - σας ευχαριστώ!
Inset: Naughty piglets not where they should be. With the new fence repairs, this won’t happen again! (image Sam Imbrogno)
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
11
Garden News
Andrew Phillips
With the extra heat (which seems to be
regime. Your diet, health, tastebuds and the
swinging wildly from day to day at the
planet will all thank you to no end.
moment), our watering regime has been steeped up a notch in order to ensure the
Every season and their transitions always
vegetables and fruit in the orchards don’t
produce different results in the garden. For
wither away or set poorly. It’s times like this
example this Summer/Autumn it’s the corn,
when the value of a heavy mulch (although we
nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines)
take care not to completely surround roots and
and squashes (zucchini, pumpkins) that seem
trunks up to their bases though, and leave a
to be doing the best. To quote from the musical
little “well”) really comes into play.
“Oklahoma”, the corn really is (well almost) as high as an elephant’s eye (well okay perhaps a
Mulch has great value in keeping the ambient
pony’s ear). None of that rhymes well though!
soil temperature at a lower level for plants, and also allows for water to evaporate at a
Most of our early harvest fruit trees have been
slower rate. This in turn reduces the amount of
well and truly plucked (whether by birds,
water you have to use, something we all have
possums
to be always mindful of in such a dry
understand we aren’t a free supermarket),
continent as Australia. So if you aren’t one of
with only a few late-ripening varieties left to
our lucky garden plotters and have been
harvest for sale at our Farmers Market stall.
or
curious
visitors
who
don’t
trying to grow your own food at home (great!), just make sure to keep up a good mulch
The pigs at the Farm do really well out of the “windfall” fruit, as they
Inset: Mulch, mulch, glorious mulch ...
get
to
devour
all
the
yummy stuff that has been disturbed off the tree. The pigs not only benefit, but so do the fruit trees, as leaving rotten fruit on the ground
attracts
pest
species (of the winged, legged and furry kind) and can cause non-beneficial fungal mycelium to spread into the surrounding soils. So if you are lucky enough to have a fruit tree in your backyard, give it a regular ground-sweep!
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
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1
GARDEN BED PHOTOS 1 Looking like a Dave Chihuly glasswork, the spinning trunks of a Zucchini plant 2 Where the corn is as high as a pony’s ear 3 A dragon’s head perhaps? The stunning outline of a Zucchini flower. 4 Yellow and green are not the only colours dancing in the orchards!
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2
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Farmers abroad ... Part Two
Bridget Bainbridge
It’s only just now, at the end of January 2015
or so in the United Kingdom. It was a
that I’m sitting down to write this report for
combined work/holiday trip, culminating in
the Farm Yarns and having a look back
the last week in Wales where I met up with co-
through photos to jog my memory of an
worker Julia, and we attended the European
(already fading, sadly) amazing trip. However
Federation of City Farms (EFCF) Conference,
it may be best this way, as I have now had
this time being held in Swansea, Wales. The
time to properly absorb and process what I
EFCF holds its conference annually. In 2013 it
saw and think about it in relation to our farm
was held in Bødo, Norway and in 2012
in Collingwood. This means that I can now
Lübeck, Germany (this was attended by our
share a report with a good general overview,
Manager Alex and co-worker Andrew).
its responses better thought through. In retrospect I possibly got more out of visiting I went to Europe in September last year, for
sites in Scandinavia with similarities to our
three weeks in Scandinavia and then ten days
farm than I did from the sites we visited
Below: Old breed sheep from the local area beneath a conserved windmill at the Frilandsmuseet (Copenhagen, Denmark)
during the Conference. Why? Perhaps because I could pick put projects that appealed to me individually, and also take a broader view of what “city farming” might entail. That’s not to say however, I didn’t
pick
up
some
important
and
insightful information about projects (what city farms are called in Europe) in Wales because you always learn stuff everywhere! Perhaps the nicest thing was being able to talk to other people in the same line of work as I am - dealing with running farm animals in a public arena. It was simply wonderful to speak to other people who all faced the same problems and situations as I do on a daily basis. It was great to see in action other people’s original solutions to dealing with our familiar problems across a variety of situations. It was also quite inspiring to see so many projects that mirror facets of our farm (some
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
done
better
or
more
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Above: The flower picking gardens at Rosendals Trädgård in Stockholm, Sweden
comprehensively, some not so). Also, very
to pat; extensive flower/vegetable and fruit
important to realise that I don’t think anyone
gardens (where produce is sold through the
in Europe has a project quite like ours (yet),
cafe and shop), festivals held in the gardens
that encompasses so many of these facets in
and cider making; rare breed animals being
such a succinct and interrelated way. Without
preserved along with examples of traditional
blowing our trumpet too loudly, we really are
architecture
one in a million here at the Farm, we just don’t
sustainable building practices combined with
realise it ... maybe because we’re so isolated at
work skills and trade certificates for at-risk
the end of the world.
youth and young adults.
Most projects I visited only had the capacity or
So perhaps the most salient thing I took away
scope to look at one or two aspects of what we
from
do. Some of these encompassed: Riding for the
understanding that we take it so much for
Disabled, having guinea pigs and sheep/goats
granted the sheer complexity of what the Farm
the
and
entire
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
farming
practices,
experience
was
and
the
15
each), these were the Projects I visited during the work part of my travels: The Ecobubble (Copenhagen, Denmark) – their focus is on sustainable living and growing food throughout the year in a high latitude Northern hemisphere location The Frilandsmuseet (Open Air Museum) (Lyngby, Denmark) - they have a collection of
examples
of
traditional
animals,
architecture, farming and cultures from around Denmark through the ages The
Botanical
Gardens
(Copenhagen,
Denmark) - amazing as they were happily growing plants that are noxious weeds in Australia; and also have incredibly ornate (albeit slightly rundown) glasshouses Rosendals Trädgård (Stockholm, Sweden) a huge garden-based project, set around six Above: A house built of cob at Down to Earth, constructed by young people at risk (Swansea, Wales)
or eight large glasshouses that host a cafe space, produce spots and an outdoor eating
offers. We are so many things to so many
area. They have a large grassed orchard that
people. There is something for everyone here:
functions as a park/event space, beautiful
from
coffee
drinking
to
rare
breed
preservation to harvesting vegetables to
Below: Pictorial display at the Guerrilla Plots (Stockholm, Sweden)
jumping in puddles to having your own garden to horse riding to patting baby goats to eating our pigs to watching native birds on the river to learning about plumbing to making new friends to watching the pups grow up to purchasing raw wool to spin to being part of a team to planting seeds to being sneezed on by a cow to fishing to eating the garden to learning about bees to watching the clouds go over to ... and the list goes on. Infinitely. So in order (and with a brief summary for
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
16
(they have lawns and sheds for shelter) The Guerrilla Plots (Stockholm, Sweden) more vegetable garden/food production based than the Garden Plots, but also geared around connecting people rather than pure relaxation The
Skansen
smaller,
(Stockholm,
busier
Freilandsmuseet,
Sweden)
version with
of
larger
-
the visitor
numbers. Has an excellent educational side. Above: One of the old glass houses at the Rosenthal Gardens (Stockholm, Sweden)
Vauxhall City Farm (London, England) situated on a very small block of land, predominately provides Riding for the
garden spaces, a flower-picking garden, a
Disabled with some animals for patting
maze, fields of vegies and education space
such as sheep, goats and guinea pigs
The Garden Plots (Stockholm, Sweden) -
Swansea
along the same ownership lines as our
Wales)
garden plots in Melbourne, but bigger in
resourced education section
size and functioned more as a “backyard”
Down To Earth (Swansea, Wales) - earth
than a vegetable garden for food production
building techniques meet disengaged youth
Community -
has
a
Farm
(Swansea,
well-structured
Want to find out more about the places visited by Bridget ? Here’s a few useful website links.
Frilandsmuseet
Vauxhall City Farm
http://en.natmus.dk/
http://vauxhallcityfarm.org/
Botanical Gardens http://botanik.snm.ku.dk/english/ Rosendals Trädgård http://www.rosendalstradgard.se/
Swansea Community Farm www.swanseacommunityfarm.org. uk/ Down to Earth
Skansen
http://downtoearthproject.org.uk/
http://www.skansen.se/en/
Vetch Veg
kategori/english
www.vetchveg.co.uk/
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
and
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with impressive results. A dynamic project, achieving plenty in a very short time. Vetch Veg (Swansea, Wales) – a large, busy community garden with inspired gardeners. Finally I would like to sincerely thank the Farm management very much for giving me this incredible opportunity to go and have a sticky beak around Europe and find out what they’re doing with city farms/projects.
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CITY FARM PHOTOS Danish Red cow at the Frilandsmuseet Icelandic Pony nibbling grass at the Skansen in Stockholm The Ecobubble, situated on a Copenhagen Canal Hand-milling flour at Swansea Community Farm in Wales (all images Bridget Bainbridge)
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3
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18
Animals and conflict
Andrew Phillips
Regardless of how you feel about its role in
Plus it was not only horses that suffered
defining us as a nation, this April contains a
greatly. Modern industrial combat in WW1
very significant event for Australia. One that
resulted in 25 million miles of combat trenches
will undoubtedly dominate headlines for a
displacing and disrupting endemic wildlife
sizeable portion of the year and cause much
across thousands of acres in Belgium, France,
discussion, deliberation and reflection. This
Italy, Germany and Russia. And just like then,
event is the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC
today in 2015, alongside civilians who are now
forces dawn landing at Gallipoli, Turkey, on
included as “collateral damage”, animals
25 April 1915.
continue to be the innocent victims of conflict.
At the Farm we have a special connection to
Throughout modern military conflicts, animals
this event with our rare breed Waler horses,
have increasingly been drafted into frontline
Zac (short for ANZAC) and Mega. Waler
or support service, provided a memory of
horses were of course the main type of horse
home or boosted morale as Unit or personal
that carried most of the Australian Light Horse
mascots/companions (some examples are dogs,
battalion
13,000
kangaroos, pigeons and cats). Unaware of their
Walers were selected and trained for service in
own importance, they have on our behalf and
the ANZAC forces from 1914-1918. They (and
demand, performed great deeds of bravery
all equine mounts who served in WW1)
and sacrifice in truly extreme circumstances.
performed a wide variety of duties; from direct
Only a tiny few are individually recognised or
combat, reconnaissance, cartage, first aid and
remembered
transport. The irony of the failed Gallipoli
Simpson’s Donkey and winners of the Dickin
campaign is that topography and the brutal
Medal or Purple Cross Award.
throughout
WW1.
Over
for
this
service,
such
as
efficiency of modern warfare meant all Australian Light Horse battalion soldiers
At the War Memorial in Canberra, there is a
fought in trenches, on foot and unmounted.
National
Animals
in
War
statue
that
commemorates the service of all animals who The war extracted a huge toll on the over
have served with Australian forces. However
six million horses, donkeys and camels who
there is currently no National or State
were pressed into service by both the Allies
memorial for those uncounted millions of non-
and Central Powers. It is estimated over one
combatant animal species for whom modern
million were killed from various causes, from
warfare impacts negatively upon their lives.
direct combat wounds to illness. Due to quarantine restrictions, only one Waler (an
War is not glorious nor glamorous. It extracts a
officer’s horse) was returned to Australia. At
terrible toll on humans and animals alike. And
the end of the war, around 15% were simply
so at the going down of the sun and the rising
euthanized and the rest sold locally or
of the moon, we should remember and reflect
redistributed within the British Empire forces.
on all these casualties.
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FARMLAND SINCE 1838
20
Bills Troughs
Andrew Phillips
Sometimes the most interesting things, after
passionate animal lovers (especially horses),
time, become “lost” to our conscious due to
and so a trust was instructed to:
being in front of us all the time. I actually think it’s a very human thing, meant to help us
“... construct and erect and pay for Horse-Troughs
adapt to a constantly changing environment
wherever they may be of opinion that such horse
(and
remembering
troughs are necessary or desirable for the relief of
everything you’ve ever seen?). And so when the
horses or other ... animals either in Australasia in
Farm was recently contacted about some
the British Islands or in any other part of the
fascinating (and that we have two of) historical
World”
could
you
imagine
objects that quietly sit on the property, it prompted me to investigate further. I am of course talking about our two pre-cast concrete “Bills Troughs”. One of these sits just inside in the Barn Paddock and the other is situated outside the Stables. Neither of these have operated as water
troughs
at
the
Farm
for
some
considerable time. We actually don’t know if they ever did, when they arrived or how they got here. Two thoughts are they may have been donated in the early days of the Farm or perhaps the Sisters of the Good shepherd used them. We just don’t know—do you? The story of how these troughs came about is a great early example in the development of Australian animal welfare (which in turn would eventually support creation of the Royal Society for the Protection of Animals
Above: George Bills, passionate about animal rights (image George Gemmill)
(RSPCA)). Their construction and distribution commenced in 1927 when the estate of George
The first troughs were originally individual
Bills bequeathed an amount of £80,000 (worth
creations (one of the first was hewn from a
over a million dollars in today’s money) for
solid piece of granite), however the cost and
any town who wanted a water trough for
time involved required that a standard form in
horses and other animals.
pre-cast concrete be created. These were designed by a friend of the Bills family and
Both George and his wife Annis were
made for a time in Hawthorn (just up the road
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARMLAND SINCE 1838 FARM
21
from the Farm!). The standard design included two low drinking reservoirs at either end for dogs and other small animals to drink from (ours are sadly missing these). Due to rising demand in the early 1930’s, construction was then
handed
over
to
ROCLA
Concrete Products, a large-scale firm (still in business today) that cast a wide variety of industrial concrete products. ROCLA kept producing the troughs up until 1939.
Above: Benefactors Annis and George Bills, detail of trough dedication plaque
Each cost ÂŁ13 plus transport and installation
value has now been recognised by a group of
costs, with most located across country
passionate enthusiasts who have created a
Victoria and New South Wales between 1930
database to record their many locations and
and 1939. Their construction ceased due to
images across Australia and internationally.
WW2 leading to material shortages and the
Some remain in their original sites whilst
inevitable decline in horse usage due to the
others have been relocated and/or repurposed.
rise in motor vehicle use for transport. An
Currently the database has around 320
estimated total of 700 troughs were located in
troughs, and they are looking to find more. So
Australia and 50 in other countries. They have
if you have one in your backyard or possibly
been
know of where one may be, please feel free to
recorded
as
being
installed
internationally in England, Ireland, Wales and
write to or contact:
the United States. Wayne and Judi McKail And the generous legacy of the Bills continues
51 Laidman Street
to benefit animals of all types to this day. In
Maryborough Vic 3465
1964 the trust funded construction of the
Mobile: (0419) 101144
George Bills RSPCA Rescue Centre (still the
Email: sewwhat@bigpond.com
largest animal shelter in Victoria) and another animal rest home in Burwood East. That so
Reference sources
many animals continue to be protected and
http://pateblog.nma.gov.au/2014/05/14/for-the-
cared for today reflects the deep and sincere
relief-of-horses-a-gift-from-annis-and-george-bills/
passion for animal welfare demonstrated by
http://members.iinet.net.au/~geogem/history5.htm
George and Annis Bills. A great legacy.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bills_horse_troughs https://billswatertroughs.wordpress.com/
Their important historical (as well as practical)
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
22
Committee of Management As caretakers of Crown Land the Farm must
wearing a Farm uniform or milking the cow,
have an elected Committee of Management
they
(CoM) to provide for corporate governance.
successful daily operation.
contribute
throughout
the
Farm’s
All our CoM members are volunteers who generously donate their time and skills. They
As we have recently been joined by a few new
meet on average ten times per year as well as
CoM
participating
learning a little about who they are! All were
in
several
ongoing
sub-
committees. And whilst you may not see them
members,
we
thought
you
might
asked to respond to the same questions.
Catalina Sinclair
Jennifer Black
What was your first discovery/exploration of the Farm like, and how long ago was it? I first went to the Farm for the first time perhaps ten years ago with my then baby niece. I was enchanted by an urban oasis, the river, the green space and of course the animals. What do you think the Farm does best? When I joined the CoM I would have said sustaining a working farm in the middle of the city, engaging and teaching city kids. But at each CoMs meeting I learn something new about the great work of the Farm, the Young Farmers program for example. Do you come from a farming background? My mum comes from a dairy farming family. How do you see your skills best benefiting the Farm? I work as a lawyer Fitzroy Legal Service. I am a clear communicator, a motivated and organised person and I have a strong professional network within the City of Yarra. How might you see the Farm changing to further benefit the community? I would like to see the Farm encourage the engagement and participation of diverse communities, families living in public housing and newly-arrived communities. What is your favourite farm animal? Perhaps because it was my first pet but I love the guinea pigs :)
What was your first discovery/exploration of the Farm like, and how long ago was it? I first came to the Farm when I was a little kid which would have been in the early eighties. I remember the white and black chickens (I think the Farm still has this same breed), the mural on the shed, and cuddling the guineas. I didn't really appreciate how amazing the Farm is until later on, it was just always there and easy to take for granted. What do you think the Farm does best? Provides a unique place for children and families. It's so popular because of the animals and the cafe, but it's such a relaxing place to come, which has got to be a byproduct of the amazing environment. It's so nice for kids to come down to the Farm and get dirty and feel a bit wild, especially if they live [in the] inner city. Do you come from a farming background? Nope! My background is in graphic design and communication and I think especially in the communications area my skills can benefit the Farm. Social media, for example, takes a lot more time and planning than many people think. Communication with the community and members can always be improved. How might you see the Farm changing to further benefit the community? I think the Farm could connect with more people through communicating the benefits of the passes and membership better. Also it would be kind of cool to get the Farm involved in something like Open House Melbourne http://www.openhousemelbourne.org where the history of the site could be communicated to a really wide audience. What is your favourite farm animal? The pigs. The pig is my spirit animal! They're very chilled out creatures and piglets are the cutest things ever.
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
23
The magic Merri
Andrew Phillips
The Farm is of course surrounded on all sides
However an increasing awareness of the
by the Yarra, arguably the most important
damage done has resulted in government
waterway in the greater Melbourne area. Its
legislation and community action to restore
original name in Wurunjderi was Birrarung.
the health of our rivers. The Merri Creek is
The modern name Yarra comes from a mis-
monitored by the Merri Creek Management
translation of another Wurundjeri word Yarro-
Committee (MCMC), who recently attended
Yarro meaning “ever flowing”.
our Family Day with creek water “critter samples”. Based on the quantity and variety of
As a critical food and spiritual resource for our
creatures counted per sample, these provide a
First Nation Wurundjeri people, it was greatly
very accurate gauge as to the current health of
valued and respected pre-European settlement
the Merri. If you would like to do your own
in 1835. Sadly since this time, the creation of a
sample survey, the MCMC have provided a
modern city of over four million people has
copy of their form on pages 24 and 25.
negatively impacted on the health of the Yarra
Remember to always return the critters back
and its important tributary the Merri Creek.
once you’re done and take care not to fall in!
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
24
Very Sensitive Animals Caddisfly’s are often found in portable cases made from materials such as sticks, plant material, stones, sand and silk
Gills along their body (abdomen)
3 ‘Tails’ Some Caddisfly’s do not use cases and may look like this
Stonefly Nymph
Mayfly Nymph
Caddisfly Larvae
Sensitive Animals
Shrimp are often transparent or ‘see through’ No gills along abdomen
Or 3 ‘Tails’
Freshwater Shrimp Damselfly Nymph
Dragonfly Nymph Mites are smaller than a match head and can be red, yellow, blue or green in colour
Mussels have a hard shell like a clam
Water Mite
Freshwater Mussel
Freshwater Yabby
COLLINGWOOD CHILDREN’S FARM
Alderfly
25
I have a pair of very long legs and I swim upside-down
Backswimmer
I have four long legs that help me walk on water
Tolerant Animals
Water Boatman
Water Scorpion
Water Strider
Side-Swimmer or Scud
Adult
Larvae
Adult
Larvae
Diving Beetle
Whirligig Beetle
Look for me sliding along the bottom
Flatworm
Leech
Nematode
Freshwater Snail
Very Tolerant Animals Bloodworms are usually bright red in colour
Biting Midge Larvae
Blackfly
Mosquito Larvae
Non-Biting Midge (Bloodworm)
FARMLAND SINCE 1838
Aquatic Earthworm
FARM YARNS st
Next edition due out 1 day of Winter
Collingwood Children’s Farm PO Box 80 Abbotsford 3067
PLACE STAMP HERE
Farmland since 1838
Farm phone: 9417 5806 Email: reception@farm.org.au Website: www.farm.org.au
Family Fun Days First Sunday of the month (no Family Fun Day in December and January)
Also enjoy hay rides and pony rides (when available), and other farm activities all for price of standard entry.
Farmer’s Market
Where to find us St Heliers Street, Abbotsford Melways Ref 44 G5 Open every day of the year Entry: $18 Family $9 Adult $5 Child
The concept of a supported held the second Saturday of volunteer program is unique to every month for beautiful our farm. Originally it was fresh,as quality produce. Proknown the Disability gram, but we prefer to focus on abilities rather than the lack of them … just like the renamed RDA riding program! You may ask why the program exists and what are the benefits of it to the participants and the farm. In the case of special school students, both in class groups