Regional team pops up in pub room, old train station

ASSISTING farmers and rural small business holders through natural disasters is something that the Rural Financial Counselling Service has done for more than 35 years.

Last year, as soon as the local risk of flood was identified the team of financial counsellors were ready to assist farmers and small business owners and they haven’t stopped since.

RFCS says the Loddon Shire was one of the most heavily impacted by October’s flood emergency. As a result the team servicing the area from Bendigo to Swan Hill doubled in number to meet demand.

It says that normally the team meets clients on their farm or at their business, however with many properties inaccessible, or closed, they attended community relief centres.

RFCS said one was example was the area around Jarklin and a phone call from Heidi Polkinghorne at the Four Posts Hotel, offering a table and coffee! to meet those impacted, was accepted by our team.

“Heidi had told us there was demand, however we did not expect the level of enquiry,” said local counsellor Anna McGree.

“We were attending weekly prior to Christmas and at least

Sheep Market

fortnightly after that. We met with farmers from Serpentine to Kerang, from Boort to Pyramid Hill.

“Having somewhere central meant we could assist more clients, however it also provided them a chance to socialise and get away from the damage.”

The Kooyora Women’s Network has also provided RFCS with space at the Bridgewater Railway Station each Tuesday as did the Pyramid Hill Neighbourhood House and Boort Resource and Information Centre when required.

“While the drop-in centres have been incredibly valuable it has been wonderful to get back out on farms, it is a part of the role I love the most,” Anna said.

To paint a picture in October 2022 when the extent of damages was beginning to be realised Anna find people’s closest evacuation centres and was simply being an ear to those waiting for floodwaters to reach their farms.

She remembers assisting one client with cleanup and recovery, another client was surrounded by floodwater unable to leave while a third was anxiously waiting for the waters to reach them.

“Looking back that set the scene for the next six months. Every farm and business is dif-

A FEW less lambs at Bendigo on Monday with 11,700 yarded, but more sheep at 6500 head.

Lamb quality remained very mixed, with some good fed heavy lambs but a lot of plain stock \under 24kg cwt.

Three domestic buyers were still absent and support from other processors tended to be sporadic.

Lamb prices fluctuated. There was some dearer patches over the very best bred and fed lambs, but the market tended to drift down on the plainer trade and light lambs which lacked buying depth.

Overall there wasn’t a lot of change to estimated cents per kilogram costs compared to last week. The lead pens of processing lambs trended at 700c to 740c/ kg, while the general run still varied from 610c to 680c/kg.

Export lambs over 30kg cwt from $215 to a top of $245 at a ballpark cost of 715c/ kg cwt. There was mixed outcomes for heavy lambs, 26-30kg cwt, as evidenced by the price spread of $182 to $224. - there was lambs around 27-28kg cwt which were cheaper in this category. Heavy trades $160 to $196/head.

Where the market lacked momentum was on medium trades lacking fat cover at $139 to $172 and plainer light trades at $120 to $146. A couple of decent lines of young shorn store lambs sold dearer at $96 to $112, but any secondary small lambs were often cheaper.

Competition for mutton improved, heavy ewes up $5 to $15 at $97 to a top of $143 to trend around 350c/kg cwt. But light and secondary sheep remained ferent, their stories are different and their recovery will be different as well,” she said.

“While we assist farming and small business families access grants and assistance, we listen to each and work out a way to assist based on their individual circumstances.

“We also understand that the flood recovery is not short term, often referring to it as a marathon, not a sprint. We are there to support them and the community during that time, and for as long as needed during the recovery.”

Another benefit has been the RFCS wellbeing program. The team has grown to include four wellbeing counsellors locally who see clients in the Loddon Shire, providing that extra level of support to clients and their families.

“We recognise there is a link between financial pressures and emotional stress and the importance of accessing assistance early,” Anna said.

“As with the financial counselling, the wellbeing program is a free service for farmers and small business owners and their family and they are able to visit you on farm, at your business, at your home or elsewhere if required.

”You do not need a referral from your GP and if you do need a higher level of care we will sup- capped at $20 to $70 at less than 300c/ kg cwt.

Crossbred Lambs

O’Rourke Nom Boort (37) $245, J,S & W Brown Colbinabbin (63) $240, SN & DA Collins Bridgewater Nth (51) $237, DJ & ED Lees Rochester(127)

$235, RJ & DM Johnston Family Trust Boort (35)

$235, DW & RJ Martin Durham Ox (48) $234, ALBR McIntosh Wanalta (106) $230, GR & H Nankivell Raywood (70) $230, BC & AM Martin Barham (25) $230, Slater Farming Corack East (84) $228, JA Ison Wycheproof (48) $220, Ian Angove Echuca (18) $218, B & M Barlow Wanalta (71) $212, MG & SE Martin Caldwell (48) $201, F Stewart Colbinabbin (41) $196.

CROSSBRED EWES

JR & AM Brennan Corack East (11) $142, K & M Warren Picola (44) $136, D & DH Scott Bunnaloo (12) $130, Mainie Family Trust Balranald (99) $124, F Shea Campbells Forest (20) $122, Moorilim Past Co Miepoll (55) $115.

MERINO EWES

AJ Sands Corack East (176) $135, WD & BJ Jones Donald (63) $134, K & M Warren Picola (82) $130, D Chisholm & Sons Seymour (71) $106, SN & DA Collins Bridgewater Nth (38) $95, RG Barnes Shelbourne (30) $94.

G ra IN

Boort Grain Co-op prices Tuesday.

Wheat - H1 $370 FIS. H2 $366 FIS. APW1 $356 FIS. ASW $346 FIS. AGP1 $350 FIS. SFW 1 $336 FIS. FED1 $325 FIS. Barley - PL1 $333 FIS. PL1 $333 FIS. Bar1 $292 FIS. Bar 2 $271 FIS. Bar3 $245 FIS. Bar4 $225 FIS. Faba1 $381 FIS. Faba2 $381 FIS. Non GM canola $605 FIS, GM Canola CANGS $595 FIS.