HEAR THE VOICE - FARMERS PROTEST ON SPRING STREET Rising tide of rural anger Melbourne people have heart in right place ... but

THE messages were blunt, the voices loud at Tuesday’s Stop the Towers protest.

There was farmer anger from across the Loddon, brewing since Australian Energy Market Operator switched preferred routes early this year to put prime local agricultural land under the path of 80-metre high towers.

Mysia’s Sue Gould used her placard to tell AEMO and the State Government that their compensation offers failed to convince local people: “We will not be Boort,” her sign said.

A union of frustration was formed with farmers south of the Great Dividing Range who have been battling Ausnet’s Western Renewables Link project.

The alliance has quickly morphed since February when Loddon farmers learnt of the route change from the Loddon Herald and the first group gathered at Woosang fire station in bewilderment and concern for the future,

That was the start of trying to have local voices heard by deci- sion makers in Melbourne and Canberra.

Tuesday’s protest had its roots in silence and non-engagement with local communities by the State Government and what Loddon groups, including the shire council, has labelled unsatisfactory consultation processes by AEMO.

Protest organiser Glenden Watts said of the rally: “We will be seen. We will be heard.”

St Patrick’s Cathedral for the front of Parliament House to cheers from protesters making their voices heard in the state capital. Wedderburn’s Susie Lockhart was at the front of the crowd, walking the footpath with her protest sign.

Alex and Tony Holt held up one of the No Go AEMO banners that have become a common site across the Loddon Shire. Karen and Chris Holt were just metres away with another placard making clear their anger at how the VNI West project is being rolled out in Loddon communities.

During a media conference, he was asked whether there was respect and understanding among people in Melbourne for rural communities.

“They’re hearts are in the right place ... ,” came the diplomatic response.

Within minutes the convoy of tractors chugged off from besides

The Holts were among a large group of Loddon farmers who had travelled by train early in the morning from Bendigo to take their places on the steps of Parliament House.

So, too, did Wedderburn’s Peter McHugh - CFA volunteer overalls rolled up under his arm ready for the symbolic warning hours later that firefighters remain unconvinced that VNI West will not increase the risk of fire across the region.

LAKE

John, who was part of a Melbourne blockade in 1991 against plans to raise water rates by 65 per cent, said the VNI West plan “is out of kilter with rural Victoria who won’t benefit.” He said: “If we’re going renewable, don’t cart the energy half-way

Sheep

THERE was a similar sized yarding at Bendigo on Monday of 9580 lambs, although there was more new season young lambs which accounted for about 1100 head.

Demand from the buying group remained dull with not all fully active across the sale. The auction showed a cheaper trend, noting Bendigo was coming off a reasonably strong industry result the previous Monday.

Prices for new season lambs dropped $12 to $15 this sale. Old season lambs varied from $5 to $15 cheaper in another very mixed quality line-up.

Angus selected in top team

TANDARRA dairy farmer Angus Fraser will be in Australia’s five-member team at the Young Breeders School in Belgium this month.

Angus, who works for Tandara Brown Swiss’s Ben Govett, was selected by Holstein Australia and Jersey Australia for the school and an industry tour into the Netherlands.

The five-day event, run by the Association Wallonne de l’Elevage, involves hands-on workshops including bedding, showmanship and clipping, as well as classroom-based sessions such as marketing and herd promotion.

Earlier this year Angus led three-year-old Tandara Carter Ann Arbor 48 to the intermediate Brown Swiss championship at International Dairy Week before the animal went on to be named the grand champion.

He is part-owner with Ben, receiving a share of ownership in recognition for his work on the property.

Angus owns about 20 cows in the Tandarra herd - a mix of different breeds, including Holsteins and Jerseys.

He has been working with Ben for the past two years, having moved from Queensland to experience Victorian dairy farms. After completing the Young Breeders School, Angus will spend three months working on a Canadian dairy farm and assisting with preparation of its show stock before returning to Tandarra.

“Selection in the Young Breeder School is a great opportunity for Angus to learn more skills and bring them back and contribute to our program at Tandarra,” said Ben.

Heavy new season lambs around 24-28kg cwt sold from $130 to a top of $140/head at an estimated 530c to 550c/kg cwt, with the lead pens showing plenty of freshness and weight.

Underneath this was some medium and light trade types at $87 to $122/head. There was no young store lambs for restockers in the line-up.

Heavy export old lambs from $135 to a top of $155; heavy crossbreds 26-30kg cwt from $123 to $139, and heavy trades $113 to $128/head.

These good processing lambs were trending between 450c to 480c/kg cwt. Once onto the general run of lambs the market showed a lot of variance based on quality and presentation, with any lambs in long and seedy skins continuing to be harshly treated by buyers. There was a lot of wintery trade and light lambs from $50 to $115 or 320c to 420c/kg cwt. Small Merino lambs down to $21.

The sheep sale fluctuated with most mutton still holding between 200c to 250c/kg cwt, although some extra heavy ewes and very light sheep sold for less than 180c. Big crossbred ewes $61 to $90, heavy Merino ewes $72 to $94; general run of sheep mostly $30 to $65. There was sales below $10/head including for rams.

SUCKERS

Everdale Holdings Calivil (61) $140.G & L Broad Durham Ox (28) $138.WW & RG Farming Macorna (103) $136.P & B Meighan Mitiamo (110) $130.D & R Hannigan Barrakee (32) $105.

CROSSBRED LAMBS

Lemac Farms Kooloonong (136) $155.A & C Branson Colbinabbin (32) $150.B & S Griffiths Malmsbury (33) $150.Cummins Past, Kerang (66) $148.M Palmer Echuca (18) $146. S & N Snelson Tongala (123) $145.G & C McKinnon Pyramid Hill (33) $144.J,S & W Brown Colbinabbin (32) $141. Mirnee Partnership Hunter (118) $139. E & J Mead Wycheproof (60) $135. A & C Branson Colbinabbin (32) $134. Hansford Livestock Campbells Forest (68) $132.RK Payne King Island (90) $126. E & B Cox Rochester (71) $124.B & F Moon Pyramid Hill (60) $123.

MERINO WETHERS

L Soulsby Rheola (58) $85.

CROSSBRED EWES

R Weeks Colbinabbin (47) $90.G & L Broad Durham Ox (15) $72.B & E Kelly Kilmore (32) $72.

MERINO EWES

Gulthal Euston (138) $90.Whinfield Farms Macorna (80) $90. Ettrick Farms Serpentine (115) $90.A & R Hiscock Ivanhoe (15) $82.