THE message from farmers and CFA volunteers was made clear on Tuesday, 20 May as over 5000 protestors used emergency vehicles to block the Spring and Bourke Streets intersection outside Parliament House to protest the state government’s new emergency services levy. A cavalcade of over 100
Country converges on the city in protest
CFA re trucks and other emergency vehicles from all over the state had slowed major arterial freeways and roads into Melbourne that morning to bring the new levy to the attention of Melbourne residents and the government.
Mans eld Shire Mayor Cr Steve Rabie attended the rally with Deputy Mayor Cr
James Tehan and did not mince words in taking aim at the government’s lack of communication with councils before the levy’s announcement.
“At no time was there any prior consultation,” Cr Rabie said.
“There was zero consultation - I think that is disgraceful in the least.”
Cr Rabie said the shire had been ‘very loud’ with its message.
“We oppose this massive increase at this time, when there’s a drought on, when there’s a cost-of-living crisis and when there is mental stress.
“Everybody will be a ected by this tax.
“You can’t increase a levy
by 189 per cent and not expect people to jump up and down.”
Cr Rabie also said almost all councils meeting through Rural Councils Victoria and the Municipal Association of Victoria were opposed to the government’s expectation for councils to collect the levy.
“The State Revenue O ce should be collecting this state government tax and
not the local governments,” he said.
“We absolutely oppose the collection of this because it’s not only going to be a cost shi for the shire but also a reputational shi onto us as well.
“Local government is the only level of government with a front desk, and our sta in the rates o ce and those on the front desk, they will get hammered.
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PHOTOS: Duong Nguyen
Country converges on the city in protest
■ From front page
“I have a responsibility for (sta ) welfare, and I am worried that they will most probably receive angry calls and have angry people coming in.”
Liberal and Nationals leaders Brad Battin and Danny O’Brien told the rally that a coalition government would repeal the levy legislation if elected in 18 months-time.
“We will ensure that we will cancel this tax,” Mr Battin said.
“We will guarantee you that we will scrap it once and for all and hand that money back to Victorians.”
CFA group o cer Pat Millear from Westmere addressed the crowd and listed o all res attended to by volunteers since Black Saturday 2009 when all of Victoria’s units were in service.
He commended those present for their duty.
“You never complain and never get paid; you are on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week,” Mr Millear said.
“You never seek accolades you just go about doing your job of saving lives and property, and at the very least what you want and what you need is support from your government.
“You don’t want to be used as a shield to raise money to retire debt.”
He said it was not the responsibility of those present to be o duty with their service vehicles to attend the protest.
“It’s the state government’s choice to leave the state unprotected, it’s not
SUCH FEELING: Mansfield farmer and councilor James Tehan is feeling a strong community opposition to the levy. “I have been farming for 40 years and I have never seen such feeling like this.”
ours,” Mr Millear said.
“We are all out, just like you will be next election.”
Wangaratta CFA volunteers were among the thousands on the steps of parliament on Tuesday.
The Wangaratta group eld command tanker and a Greta tanker were among the chorus of lights and sirens
• All tanks are 2.26m (7’6”) in height
• All tanks walls are 130mm (5.2”) thick
GRAIN Producers Australia southern region director Andrew Weidemann spoke at length to the rally and afterwards told North East Media that the government would attempt to ‘water down’ the day’s protest.
“They will use tactics against the people, saying that there’s no real new levy and all that rhetoric,” Mr Weidemann said.
“But that’s nonsense because we know that this is a levy that goes across services we have never funded before and we know also that the money that has already been collected has been misappropriated.”
Mr Weidemann said that only
parked as the protest gatecrashed the government’s unveiling of the 2025-26 Victorian Budget.
Wangaratta group CFA of-
cer Lachie Gales said it was a showing of the anger and “disillusionment” felt among CFA volunteers statewide.
Mr Gales said in response to the levy, 10 District 23 bri-
• All foundations (tank floors) are 250mm (9.8”) thick
about 20 per cent of the current levy’s collection was going to support volunteers, with the rest going to general consolidated revenue.
“That’s why we are seeing thirty and forty-year-old trucks rolling up here today.
“Ripping $2.1b plus out of rural communities in Victoria is something that we can’t afford when the cost of living is absolutely crippling people.”
Mr Weidemann also questioned motives from cross bench politicians in helping pass the legislation for the levy through the upper house.
“I can’t believe the Greens were that stupid to agree to it,” he said.
“God knows what they’ve agreed
gades have gone o ine as a protest in the way volunteers and their communities feel they have been treated.
“They’ve taken the heavyhearted measure of making their tanker available for a short period of time… you can’t underestimate how tough it is for a brigade to take that kind of action,” he said.
• Tanks are algae free
• Cool in summer
• Won’t blow away
to in terms of some other policy determined down the track.
“The reality is that the Greens have just imposed a rent increase on every renter in Melbourne and anywhere else that is in rural Victoria – the levy cost has got to be passed on.”
Mr Weidemann said farmers were going to stand with the shires and continue the fight, including campaigning in marginal seats.
“We will decide it at the next election,” he said.
“If this government wants to get elected, it is something they have got to consider, there’s no question about that.
“We are the food army, and we are here to stay.”
“However, it’s really important to know they’re neighbouring brigades and colleagues would have been looking a er their community for those short periods.”
Glenburn farmer and CFA volunteer of 45 years David
Webb-Ware said his main concern had not been answered either at the rally or
by the government.
“The one question I didn’t hear answered today is not answered because nobody can give an answer,” Mr Webb-Ware said.
“And that is: why have farmers been given a higher percentage increase than in any other category?”
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■ From page 2
Mr Webb-Ware said the current government was treating regional Victoria with ‘utter contempt’.
“They are not worried about anything that doesn’t give them a vote.
“It’s a cost that I don’t want to have to pay, another ten thousand.
“Clearly, I think we obviously need to fund the re emergency services but not by using a new tax.”
Mr Webb-Ware said the levy would impact his bottom line, regardless of seasonal success.
“It’ll just mean the pro tability of the farm will be lower or else it will increase my loss.”
House.
Mans eld Deputy Mayor and CFA volunteer James Tehan said local opposition to the levy was unlike anything he had seen before in the bush and that the levy had come at a bad time for farmers.
“I have been farming for 40 years and I have never seen such feeling like this,” Cr Tehan said.
“And I have never seen a drought like this too, so for the government to bring in something like this at this time, to a ect farmers (by costing) three or even four-fold including the last three years is an absolute disgrace.”
Cr Tehan said one farm he knew of would be paying $45,000 for the levy on top of
OFF DUTY, BUT ON SONG: PROTESTORS LISTENED TO A RANGE OF SPEAKERS FOR OVER AN HOUR BETWEEN CHANTS OF ‘SCRAP THE TAX’.
GREATER Shepparton City Council Mayor, Cr Shane Sali, said council is extremely disappointed that the fund will lead to money being directly taken from regional Victoria.
“This legislation will result in millions of additional dollars being collected from regional communities like Greater Shepparton,” Cr Sali said.
“For our municipality alone, this change means an increase of more than $4.7 million compared to what is currently collected under the FSPL.
“Under the new structure, the primary production variable rate will rise sharply from 28.7 cents to 71.8 cents per $1,000 of Capital Improved Value (CIV), a shi that disproportionately a ects regional and rural areas.
In addition to the nancial impact on regional communities, Cr Sali highlighted the ongoing trend of cost shi ing from the State Government to local councils.
‘THAT
Australia’s
“Councils are increasingly funding services that should be a State responsibility, everything from libraries and school crossings to maternal and child health, kindergartens, waste, and environmental management,” he said.
“Now we are being asked to absorb not just the nancial hit as landowners, but also the potential cost and complexity of collecting this new tax on behalf of the State.”
$59,000 in increased rates.
“That’s a family they can employ which they won’t and so that farmer takes on the onus of the work he should not be doing and is wearing himself out, putting himself in danger.
“This government has no sympathy to anyone in that respect.
“They just care about their votes in the city.”
Cr Tehan said the state treasurer had betrayed her grass roots.
“Jaclyn, I thought you were ok; you came from Benalla you’re a good country girl, but you’ve turned your back on the country, and you should feel ashamed of yourself.”
NOT MINCING WORDS: Mansfield Shire Mayor Steve Rabie said no consultation with local government prior to the levy’s announcement had been “disgraceful in the least”.
Bird flu testing site rolls out
By ANDY WILSON
EUROA’S bird u outbreak seems to be nearing its end with AgVic’s testing station leaving its showgrounds site a er over three months meticulously testing birds of all feathers in order to contain the disease.
A local egg-producing company reported outbreaks on four separate properties in February, resulting in closure of all sites and the destruction of over 590,000 chickens.
Fast action from VicEmergency personnel a er the rst reported case and ‘excellent cooperation’ from the community ensured no further infections were reported a er 24 February.
Emergency response local incident controller Banjo Patterson said it was time for the mobile testing station to ‘close up shop’.
“Since we have not had any infections since February, we have spent the meantime eradicating the disease and more recently concentrating on cleaning and disinfecting all the premises and equipment,” Mr Patterson said.
LOCAL BIRD OWNERS PRAISED FOR RESPONSIBLE ACTIONS
“It’s time for us to move on.”
Mr Patterson said the task now was to allow the a ected business to return to normal operations by dispatching ‘canaries in the coal mine’.
“We are in a situation now
- as part of the process - that we put a ock of sentinel birds into three out of the four sheds.
“That placement is all completed and now it’s in a period where we undertake surveillance of those sentinel ocks.
“The last of those placements was on May 12.”
The surveillance will continue until June 9.
“But in the meantime, we’ve done as much as we can as part of the recovery for not only the producers, but the wider community too.”
“We are very keen to move on as much as we can and move fully into recovery.”
Mr Patterson said the testing with the wider community had been comprehensive, along with numerous surveys of dead birds reported by the public.
“We have done a lot of testing, not only of the infected properties, but surrounding properties that have got birds.
“At this stage, all those indications are in the clear.”
Mr Patterson said there were no escapes of the disease into the wider community.
“I think we’ve had excellent cooperation from not only the industry, but the community at large,” he said.
“And that entails certain
obligations and responsibilities for not only the infected properties, but adjoining properties that have all been impacted to a greater or lesser extent, particularly being in the controlled area or the restricted area.
“The community have also responded very positively by reporting any suspicious cases to us, which is part of our ongoing surveillance to limit the spread of any disease.
“So we’re very appreciative of all the e orts of people.”
SHUTTING UP SHOP: Biosecurity o icers and veterinarians Kate Rowe and Brigitte Pattinson closing down the mobile bird flu testing station with Mr Patterson looking forward to leaving town.
PHOTOS: Andy Wilson
State Nats look away from federal split
By STEVE KELLY
THE Victorian branch of the Nationals Party has washed its hands of the split between their federal counterparts and the Liberals.
The absence of a commitment from the Liberal Party on key National Party polices was a catalyst for the Coalition split, according to party leader David Littleproud. These include the $20 billion
Regional Australia Future Fund; ‘big stick’ divestiture competition laws that keep the big supermarkets honest; improved Universal Service Obligation for communications forcing a better minimum standard for regional mobile and internet access; and the potential of nuclear power as a necessary element of a balanced energy mix that secures Australia’s energy security.
However, the Victorian
Leader of The Nationals
Danny O’Brien declined to comment on the policies when asked for his view by this masthead.
“The Federal Nationals will make their own decisions,” Mr O’Brien said.
“We have a very strong Coalition here in Victoria.
“Recent state events – a brutal budget and protests on the steps of parliament about the emergency services
tax – shows 100 per cent that we need a strong Coalition alternative to the Allan Labor Government.
“The Liberals and Nationals will provide that alternative in November [2026] and we will work together in the next 18 months to make sure we get rid of this terrible Labor government.”
Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy was contacted but he declined to comment.
Further detection of Tomato Rugose Fruit Virus in Victoria
FOLLOWING an outbreak earlier in the year, Katunga Fresh has once again tested positive for the tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) with routine testing of seedlings detecting the infection.
As a part of a national ToBRFV Response Plan, the infected property has been replanting glasshouses and testing seedlings as they arrive since the initial January 2025 outbreak.
This ongoing testing has now found a new positive detection of ToBRFV.
Given that the seedlings
had only been on the property for a few days, it is unlikely that this new detection has originated from the Victorian property.
The seedlings were sourced from a commercial nursery in New South Wales, where there have been no previous detections or links to the virus.
Testing conducted at the nursery has shown no evidence of the virus, with NSW authorities trying to determine the source of the new detection.
Victoria’s Chief Plant Health O cer, Dr Stephen Dibley said quarantine con-
Producers should make a report if they suspect the presence of ToBRFV in their crops.
You can:
Report online via Unusual plant, insect, pest or disease form.
Phone the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881.
More information about ToBRFV can be found on the Tomato brown rugose fruit virus webpage.
trols remain in place at Katunga Fresh and Agriculture Victoria is working closely
with the business to prevent spread of the virus.
“We know this is a very challenging situation for the impacted business,” Dr Dibley said.
The previous outbreak resulted in crops destroyed, operations shut down and over 120 sta being laid o .
Employing about 160 people in Katunga, it is one of the small township’s biggest employers, with about 40 per cent of sta locals.
“Supporting business continuity and the welfare of all a ected parties are central to our work,” said Dr Dibley of
the newest outbreak.
Tomato brown rugose fruit virus is a highly contagious plant virus that a ects tomatoes, capsicums and chillies.
High contagious, it deforms and discolours tomato, capsicum and chilli plants.
The virus spreads through contaminated tools, hands, clothing and direct plant to plant contact including graing and cuttings. It can also be transmitted in seeds and irrigation water.
The virus can remain viable in seed, plant waste and contaminated soil for months and once a crop is infected, the
only way to eradicate the virus is by destroying all infected plants and material.
There is no risk to food safety or human health from eating tomatoes with this virus.
ToBRFV was detected in South Australia (SA) in August 2024 and is known to be present on four properties in SA and con rmed in Victoria in January 2025.
Victorian tomato and capsicum producers and home gardeners are encouraged to monitor their crops and to contact Agriculture Victoria if they suspect the disease might be present.
* Victorian Nationals leader Danny O’Brien.
Have your say on renewable energy projects
MAKE A STAND: Member
Renewable Action Group at parliament to protest the Cooba Solar Facility.
VICGRID has released a dra of its rst Victorian Transmission Plan – outlining locations and details for major renewable energy infrastructure across the state.
The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, is urging locals to provide feedback on the plan, saying it’s a crucial opportunity for farmers, residents, and local industries to have their voices heard.
Towns including Colbinabbin, Stanhope, and Girgarre are identi ed in a proposed Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), with large-scale developments like the Cooba Solar Facility already planned for the region.
The controversial Cooba project would see 740,000
You are able to have your say by:
Completing a renewable energy zone study area feedback form, project status survey, or other submission through the Engage Victoria website: http://engage.vic.gov. au/victransmissionplan,
Emailing your thoughts to vicgrid@deeca.vic.gov.au, or
Sending written feedback to VicGrid, GPO Box 527, Melbourne VIC 3001.
Feedback about the transmission plan is open until June 24, 2025.
A link to the digital map is on the Engage Victoria project page: http://engage.vic.gov.au/victransmissionplan
eight-metre-tall solar panels installed across 665 hectares – just 4.5 kilometres from Colbinabbin – sparking serious community concern.
Other areas such as Ru y, Winton, Goorambat, Glenrowan, and the Strathbogie Ranges have also raised objections to renewable pro-
jects in recent years, despite not being located in o cial REZs.
Ms Cleeland said changes made by the Labor Government to reduce community appeal rights through VCAT had made projects more divisive and le rural communities feeling powerless.
“Labor has stripped away the ability for locals to meaningfully challenge these developments, creating serious tension and division in our towns,” Ms Cleeland said.
“These aren’t small decisions – they permanently change landscapes, a ect neighbouring farms, and disrupt the lives of people who’ve worked the land for generations.
“Too o en, prime agricultural land is being targeted when there are more suitable sites available.
“I strongly encourage anyone who may be impacted to have their say – it’s one of the few opportunities le to inuence these decisions and ensure proper protections for farming land.”
Strathbogie Shire farmers overlooked in state drought support package
STRATHBOGIE Shire
Council is calling on the Victorian Government to urgently reconsider its drought support eligibility criteria, a er the shire was excluded from the state’s recently expanded $29.4 million drought assistance package.
Despite clear evidence of worsening conditions, local farmers are facing the season with no access to the direct support measures now being made available to neighbouring areas.
Livestock producers across
Strathbogie are dealing with severe feed shortages, exhausted on-farm water supplies, and una ordable freight costs with some paying up to $20,000 per load to bring in hay from interstate.
Mayor Claire Ewart-Kennedy said the omission sends a disheartening message to farmers already operating at breaking point.
“We are hearing directly from our farmers these are not just numbers or forecasts.
“These are real people making heartbreaking deci-
sions about whether they can a ord to keep going,” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said.
“Right now, our producers don’t need infrastructure grants.
“They need feed.
“They need freight subsidies.
“And they need nancial relief to keep their stock alive and their businesses a oat.”
The current package includes infrastructure grants and support for mental health and decision-making.
While council welcomes those investments, Cr EwartKennedy stressed they can-
not replace the urgent need for practical, place-basednancial assistance.
“We recognise and value the support being o ered in mental health and business resilience.
“But without help to meet the basic needs of stock and soil, that support rings hollow for many,” she said.
Council is particularly concerned that several Local Government Areas (LGAs) across the Hume region have been excluded, despite facing the same climatic and
economic pressures as those deemed eligible.
Cr Ewart-Kennedy also raised concerns about the compounding disadvantage faced by excluded LGAs, which are also ineligible for partial rebates under the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund, linked to the infrastructure grant program.
“This is a moment that calls for equity, urgency and leadership,” she said.
“Drought doesn’t stop at shire borders and neither should drought relief.”
The Strathbogie Shire Council is calling on Agriculture Victoria to:
Reassess current drought conditions across the entire Hume region;
Revisit the eligibility criteria for drought support packages; and
Extend support to all affected LGAs, including Strathbogie Shire.
for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland joined the Colbinabbin
Giving lamb growers an early edge
A RUNNYMEDE lamb producer is urging the industry to rethink how and when they invest in young stock, with research showing earlystage nutrition and management can deliver the biggest e ciency and pro tability gains in lamb production.
Jessica Conlan, a 2022 Nufeld Scholar, has released a new report titled Grams on Grass: Strategies to Give Lamb Growers an Edge.
Supported by The William Buckland Foundation, Jessica’s research identi es critical growth windows, and how aligning inputs with the unique seasonal and environmental factors of each farm can dramatically improve lamb growth and sustainability outcomes.
“In those rst ve months, lambs are incredibly ecient at converting feed into weight.
“That’s the time to go hard,” Jessica said.
“Every dollar spent on quality pasture, targeted mineral licks or early supplementary feeding can deliver much bigger gains than trying to make up ground later on.”
Through her global study tour, Jessica investigated a range of practices from multispecies pastures and customised nutrition plans to soil moisture probes for forecasting pasture ushes and
how these tools can be tailored to suit individual farm conditions.
icking practices from other regions.
they can nish beautifully on grass.”
Her travels took her from the UK and Ireland to India, Mexico, and Zimbabwe, visiting high-performing livestock systems around the world.
The report encourages producers to design systems that capitalise on the natural strengths of their own environment, rather than mim-
“I used to think farms with more rainfall had it easier,” Jessica explains.
“But while those systems can grow more feed, they often have slower growth due to lower nutrient density.
“Our drier Victorian springs give us dense, highquality pasture if lambs are set up well through winter,
Jessica also highlights the power of data in decisionmaking, especially soil moisture probes that allow producers to forecast the strength of upcoming pasture growth and plan accordingly.
“Instead of reacting to poor growth or low rainfall, we can make early, informed deci-
sions weaning, feeding, fertilising based on real data from our own paddocks,” she said. Jessica’s report is lled with practical strategies to improve lamb nishing systems, whatever the rainfall zone.
She encourages producers to focus less on one-size- tsall solutions and more on knowing their land, animals and goals.
The early months of a lamb’s life are a golden window for productivity.
“If we invest wisely during that period with the right feed, pasture and management the returns can be enormous.
“This is about smarter, earlier action, tailored to each farm’s unique conditions.”
- 2022 NUFFIELD SCHOLAR, JESSICA CONLAN
“This isn’t about chasing perfection it’s about backing yourself to do better with what you’ve got,” Jessica said.
“It’s a mindset shi .” Jessica’s full report is now available on the Nu eld Australia website, alongside a video of her presentation at the 2024 Nu eld Annual Conference in Launceston, o ering further insights into her research and ndings.
Twin lamb disease
By DR JEFF CAVE, SENIOR VETERINARY OFFICER, AGRICULTURE VICTORIA
AS WE move towards winter sheep producers may begin to see cases of pregnancy toxaemia or twin lamb disease in their ewes.
Twin lamb disease occurs when ewes have an inadequate energy intake during the last four to six weeks of pregnancy.
During this nal period of pregnancy, ewes’ energy needs increase substantially, as she is providing energy for both herself, and her rapidly growing lamb.
Ewes that are carrying twins are particularly susceptible, hence the name.
In fact a ewe carrying twins has one and a half times the energy
requirements of a ewe with a single lamb, and more than twice the energy requirements of a dry ewe.
Sheep fed in containment areas generally require 10–16 per cent less energy compared with animals walking around paddocks looking for feed.
An outbreak of twin lamb disease is o en triggered by stress and environmental conditions that cause a low intake of food such as during yarding or holding o feed or severe weather conditions.
A ected ewes usually appear dopey, blind and unresponsive.
The condition may progress over several days.
The presence of a ected ewes is an indication that all is not well in the remainder of the ock.
Many other ewes may also be
sub-clinically a ected and may progress to become further cases of twin lamb disease.
Twin lamb disease occurs because of a breakdown of body fat at a rate with which the ewe’s liver is unable to cope.
As a result, on autopsy an a ected ewe’s liver will appear swollen, yellow, crumbly and greasy.
A ected ewes can occasionally be successfully treated by an energy-rich drench such as glycerine provided the drench is given during the early stages of the disease.
More importantly, good quality supplementary feeding should be given to those ewes most at risk.
Increasing the ewe’s energy intake through appropriate ration formulation during the last eight weeks of pregnancy can prevent twin lamb disease.
WITH the federal election behind us the re-elected Labor government seems determined to progress its plan of a proposed tax increase on super balances over $3 million, the so-called Better Targeted Superannuation Bill.
The treasurer has reaffirmed he intends to double the tax on earnings from super balances above $3 million to 30 per cent.
If the Greens in the senate have their way when the new super tax is legislated, it would apply to funds above $2 milllion.
However of greater community concern is the government’s plan to target unrealised capital gains, or what might be referred to as ‘paper profits’ - taxing profits not made and may never be made.
While the government maintains the changed super tax will be modest, it estimates the new tax will develop $40 billion collected over the next decade.
With no indexing of the super balance limit, it will affect millions of Australians.
Self-managed super funds, who will have to find extra funds to pay unexpected and potentially significant tax bills, will not see the change as modest, let alone costs of valuations and potential legal disputes.
Super industry advisers point to the potential for funds to sell assets to pay tax liabilities for unrealised gains, which might have vanished at the time the asset is eventually sold.
They also say the proposed super
tax changes sets a precedent for potential extension of other taxes by the government on unrealised gains.
It’s believed Treasury has been working on the new tax for some time, yet the question of it applying to defined benefits pension schemes remains uncertain.
Of concern to trades people, small business and farming families will be the prospect of liquid assets in super funds such as farms or buildings, and the potential cash flow problems that occur.
Australian family enterprises have for decades planned their business structures, investments, and retirement benefits around super and selfmanaged superannuation funds.
These arrangements have been based on long term plans and predictable guidelines.
The proposed tax changes represent a serious threat to personal and business financial stability and to a reliable income stream.
The government now needs to listen, rescind its planned changes as unfair and destabilising, and consider other revenue raising options.
And with Labor’s strong election result, the National and Liberal parties should put their differences aside, combine their expertise and experience as an effective opposition, to progress a more active response on this and other contentious legalisation.
SUPPLEMENTARY FEED: Ewes pregnant with twins are at risk of pregnancy toxaemia if not provided with adequate energy intake.
Cattle composting trial underway
A SMALL-SCALE cattle composting trial is underway until the end of 2025 at Agriculture Victoria’s Rutherglen site.
The trial is part of Agriculture Victoria’s Emergency Animal Disease Preparedness Program and is funded by the Livestock Biosecurity Fund.
Dry conditions see 2000 head offered at autumn sale
PREVAILING dry conditions saw a much higher than expected yarding of 2000 head of predominantly local weaners from the Alpine, Ovens and King valleys go under the hammer at the Myrtleford Autumn Special Cattle Sale on Wednesday May 8.
More than 100 people gathered in the Nutrien Ivone Yards, removing their hats and observing a moment of silence to the honour the memory of Stephen Paull - founding partner of Paull and Schollard Nutrien Ag Solutions - who passed away last month.
The auction drew plenty of interest from northern buyers, keen to restock southern cattle on land in northern NSW and Queensland that unlike here, has enjoyed seasonally high rainfall.
“Certainly our dry conditions saw more local producers go a bit early with their calves...selling the mostly
spring drop weaners, of ve to eight months, rather than try and carry them through winter into the spring, as feed and water is tight for many,” selling agent Dan Ivone said.
Despite the challenging conditions, Mr Ivone said stock yarded were in pretty good shape, but they sold a bit cheaper than two weeks ago.
“We’re seeing more stock into the markets, and we’ll see prices continue to fall given the dry conditions, but most of our vendors were pretty happy with their sales.”
Steer calves, weighing 200 to 300 kilos, made between $3.80 to $4.10 a kilo while heifer calves of weight fetched between $2.60 to $3.10 a kilo.
“Some of the heavier cattle, over 400 kilos, sold for $4 a kilo, on the back of an expected short supply in winter for kill cattle for ab-
attoirs,” Mr Ivone said.
“Most of the cattle went north, but some were bought by producers in local valleys.”
Rosewhite cattle breeder, Gary Howell, o ered up 20 Black Angus steers.
“We usually sell in March, but the way the season has gone, we’ve had to keep them on until now,” he said.
“It’s been pretty tough, not only here, but everywhere.
“We need a big rain: it’s a bit dry now.”
Keith Preston from Mudgegonga also had to update his sale plan due to seasonal conditions.
“Today we’re selling eight of our biggest Angus steers,” he said.
“Normally we sell our cattle in August during the spring sales.
“We’re selling early this year because it’s so dry.”
Attendees at last week’s cattle sale enjoyed the opportunity to socialise with other
farmers, get a bite from the barbeque, and guess the weight of ‘Norman, the big red steer’, which for the record was 980kgs.
Cattle carcasses are being composted in windrows, along with green waste and other organic matter.
The cattle were sourced from a Victorian farm and died of weed toxicity - they pose no disease risk.
The trial has EPA approval, with strict environmental and odour monitoring processes in place.
Agriculture Victoria Director Biosecurity Strategy Dr Julie Simons said the trial will help Agriculture Victoria consider how composting could be used on-farm, including in the event of an emergency animal disease outbreak.
“Managing dead livestock is an important part of biosecurity planning, and this trial will help us to better prepare for different options to manage dead livestock in an emergency animal disease outbreak.”
“When done correctly, composting can be an effective and safe way to manage dead livestock and control
disease – but it requires some forward planning to make sure you have the correct site and the machinery to minimise any biosecurity, environmental or other risks,” Dr Simons said.
Agriculture Victoria will closely monitor the trial with advice from an environmental consultant who specialises in the composting of animal mortalities.
“Composting is an active process, so the community can expect to see some movements on site over the coming months as the windrows are carefully managed,” Dr Simons said.
In the event of unusual signs or suspected cases of emergency animal disease, please report them immediately to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888. Early reporting increases the chance of effective control and eradication.
If an emergency animal disease outbreak is declared, Agriculture Victoria is responsible for the destruction and disposal of animal carcasses, including those that can be buried or composted on-farm.
Further information on farm biosecurity and animal disease is available on the Agriculture Victoria website at agriculture.vic.gov.au/ biosecurity/animal-diseases
holdings walkway before being returned to their pen by a vigilant Nutrien Ivone sta member and local farmer.
weight to win this season’s cattle sale prizes.
ALPINE’S AUTUMN AUCTION: More than 100 people attended Mytleford’s Autumn Special Cattle Sale at the Nutrien Ivone Yards last Wednesday.
Food brings people together
By ANDY WILSON
FINE food, wine, and beverage producers waved the Strathbogie Shire ag and waved it high at this year’s Tastes of the Goulburn Valley festival on Saturday, 26 April.
The annual event welcomed over 2500 visitors through its gates in Seymour’s Station Street as it celebrated its 24th year of showcasing local production.
In addition to the bluesy music of Hanna Donnelly, a three-piece band dressed up as cutlery paraded the street playing covers of classics songs that had folk on their feet dancing.
Queues were o en more than six people deep at some stalls, such as at goat farmer Victoire de Raphelis’ stall where the celebrated Winton cheesemaker had roped in her sister Agathe who was visiting from France.
“Agathe just graduated in marketing from Versailles,” Victoire said.
“So we are just testing to see if she chose the right thing to study.”
Next door, Wahring ower vendors Julie and Trevor Cubbin were moving bunches of their unique native owers at a fair pace.
Strathbogie culinary experts punch above their weight
NDIS with two people with disabilities.
Antcli ’s Chase winery was one of ve wineries in the shire selling their range of dry reds and whites on the day.
Winemaker Chris Bennett planted the original vines at the Caveat vineyard with his father in 1982 and seven years later celebrated their rst vintage.
Wife Susan is known in Euroa as the ‘Beanie Lady’ from her seven years at the Farmers Market and took up her half of the trestle table to show o her handmade wool beanies which she knits from handdyed and homespun wool shorn from their own sheep. However it was the popular
outdoor Production Kitchen which had seats lling fast for each of its ve shows which were hosted by Euroa’s Helen Waterworth - who admitted to putting in her ‘two cents worth’ with guest chefs - but no show lled faster than the day’s nal act of Longwood’s Geo Kruck demonstrating how to make limoncello ice cream, which was then shared among the crowd.
Mr Kruck was originally known for making sour dough bread which he sold from the back of Avenel’s
Bank Street Pizza.
His inspiration for the ice cream came from a threeyear 2015 overseas trip where he and his wife worked on a ‘farm stay’ at Tortoli in Sardinia, which exposed them to Italian food.
“The farmer’s mother would drop o a bottle of limoncello liqueur every fortnight,” Mr Kruck said.
“At the end of the stay, Inally asked for the recipe.”
Mr Kruck praised the creativity that was on show at the festival.
“I think everyone has got their own take on fresh produce,” he said.
“Since COVID, I think everyone is more passionate and there is more evidence of an emphasis on using seasonal produce and trying to find the origin for different things; and then trying to find the best of the best.”
He said he was taking a planned break from his 25 years as a chef to work at Tahbilk winery and also apply his skills through the
“To me that can be more rewarding than working in restaurants.”
The festival’s committee co-chairperson Anna Rogan said the festival had grown over the years and that the day had over 2500 visitors coming through the gates.
“Each year we have more vendors and we are hitting our maximum this year with about 60,” Ms Rogan said.
“We do this because we love where we live, we think that the people and the produce here are just spectacular, and we want more people to know about it.”
Sadly, a truck re on the Hume Freeway the night before caused six vendors to turn around and so cancel their attendance.
Which means next year’s Tastes Festival will be even bigger as it showcases what the local region can produce.
Mr Kruck said he was looking forward to enhance the shire’s culinary industriousness by sitting down with ‘four or ve local chefs’ for a meal as suggested recently by a workmate.
“There would be plenty to talk about,” he said.
“We all bene t getting together from time to time.
“Food brings people together.”
MORE THAN FOUR DECADES: CAVEAT WINEMAKER CHRIS BENNETT FIRST PLANTED VINES WITH HIS FATHER IN 1982. HE NOW SELLS A SELECT RANGE OF WHITE AND RED WINES.
Final push….community rallies against solar farm
By BAILEY ZIMMERMANN
OPPOSITION to the proposed Meadow Creek Solar Farm continues to grow as around 200 people rallied in a nal push to lodge their objection before the project’s deadline.
Meadow Creek Agricultural Community Action Group members and its supporters showed strong unity in Oxley on May 22 as they look to halt the development of a proposed 566-hectare solar facility on agricultural land.
Local and state government representatives Rural City of Wangaratta mayor Cr Irene Grant, deputy mayor Cr Harvey Benton, Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy and Northern Victoria MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell all spoke at the rally and echoed the community’s resentment of the project.
Mr McCurdy said the support from the community for Meadow Creek was fantastic to be a part of.
“This is not the right place for a solar factory, and the proponents have not won over the support of neighbours, the community, or the council,” he said.
“Instead of Labor taking away our right to farm, they should step outside of the tram tracks and support our farmers and the regions.”
A convoy of around 100 vehicles covered in protest signs and spray paint led by Richie Callaway and his Clydesdale Sheena then descended on the location of the proposed development before nishing at the Bobinawarrah Hall.
Group member and nearby landowner Jess Conroy said plenty of new faces were seen at the rally, most of them nearby Oxley residents who raised concerns around the proposition of around 100 trucks passing through the township in the proposed peak periods of solar farm construction.
Richie Callaway and his Clydesdale Sheena led a convoy through Oxley down to Bobinawarrah on Thursday.
“It was double the crowd of a previous meeting we held early last year; it was really positive” she said.
“We feel like we’re playing an unfair battle at the moment, it feels like we have ve players on the footy eld and the government have 20.
“I tell my kids if we were playing a fair game of footy we would win, but we’re not.”
The project’s fate will ultimately be decided by state government minister for planning Sonya Kilkenny after the objection
period closes on 10 June.
More than 420 objections have been lodged on the basis of multiple factors including the occupation of prime agricultural land, a failure in community consultation, water contamination risks and the removal of the right to appeal via VCAT.
Ms Conroy said a further cause of frustration has been the continued refusal of Ms Kilkenny to visit the site of the proposed development.
that the community have raised around the roads, the loss of strategic agricultural lands, how they’re going to mitigate the risk if there’s a further run o … but they’ve pretty much ignored us,” she said.
munity, and we understand why they’re so concerned, she said.
potential thermal water runo s from the proposed solar farm.
“In the 800 pages of the application the proponents have put on the ministerial website, never once have they mentioned it’s in a declared special water catchment zone, which is huge,” she said.
While unable to attend the rally, Independent MP Helen Haines was represented by chief of sta Sally Whyte.
Dr Haines said the situation with the proposed Meadow Creek Solar Farm highlighted inconsistencies and problems with planning and community engagement for such projects in the state.
“I have written to the Meadow Creek Solar Farm proponents to express my continued disappointment with the lack of meaningful community engagement regarding the project and to request that they meet with locals to discuss their concerns,” she said.
“I last met with representatives of Meadow Creek Solar Farm and Ubris in August 2024 and I’m concerned that a face-to-face meeting, at or near Bobinawarrah, has not occurred since then.”
State government agency VicGrid released the outlook of Victoria’s renewable future dra ing seven proposed renewable energy zones, none of which are in the North East.
“They had a chance to answer a lot of the concerns
Cr Grant said council had contacted Ms Kilkenny’s ofce for the minister to see the site and the importance of agriculture to the municipality on two occasions, but had only received a con rmation of receipt in reply.
“We’ve supported our com-
“This doesn’t meet the requirements of the Rural City of Wangaratta and we’re concerned without the opportunity to object, we have no right of reply.
“It speaks to what our planning scheme actually says and this is an inappropriate development.”
Ms Conroy said the group will meet with Goulburn Murray Water on 30 May to discuss the risk mitigation of
Dr Haines said she had written to Victorian ministers Lily D’Ambrosio and Sonya Kilkenny, asking a number of questions to help locals gain better understanding of the proposed zones and how they may a ect planning decisions for proposed renewable energy projects already in their communities.
The state government were contacted to clarify its renewable energy zones, but comment had not been received.
FUTURE AT STAKE: Jack Conroy (12) in front of one of many vehicles showing a protest of the proposed development.
STANDING UNITED: A crowd of around 200 people gathered at Oxley to protest the proposed Meadow Creek Solar Farm.
BLUNT REFUSAL: Mayor Irene Grant, Northern Victoria MP Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Jess Conroy and Ovens Valley MP Tim McCurdy.
ONWARDS:
Autumn break still a no show
By KURT HICKLING
PRESSURE is mounting on local farmers with the autumn break still a no show and no forecast of rain.
For the second year in a row, the usual autumn break around the ANZAC Day period that allows farmers to sow their crops or generate winter grass has failed to appear.
Sheep and cattle producers are also being stretched to the limit as sale prices have fallen in the last six weeks.
Cattle producer Denis O’Connor who runs Limousins on his 440 acre ‘Mistletoe’ property in Greta South has been on the land for 32 years.
He fears the worst.
“All farmers alike are feeling the pinch and the pressure is now becoming very real as there is no rain in sight,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We had rain in March this year which prompted a few farmers to plant seed, including us.
“The gamble has fallen on its head, as the crops have died o and we’ve lost money on the seed.
“Cattle, sheep, cropping and agriculture are all su ering in one way or another.
“Hard decisions need to be made in the rural sector.
“Normally our paddocks are full of rye grass, however, there is only dust and dirt for
as far as the eye can see.
“Like everyone else we have been obligated to buy in hard feed and will be purchasing corn and grain to sustain our cattle.
“Purchasing hard feed is very limited, prices have increased based on the availability which is also stretching the budget of every farmer.
“Water sources are another
issue as some dam levels are critically low.
“A handful of producers have expressed they have roughly six weeks supply of water, until it will need to be trucked in if we don’t see any signi cant rainfall.”
According to the Bureau of Meteorology, weather patterns across southeast Australia have been dominated
The gamble has fallen on its head, as the crops have died off and we’ve lost money on the seed.
- CATTLE PRODUCER DENIS O’CONNOR
by multiple slow-moving high-pressure systems.
This is a continuation of weather patterns seen throughout much of 2024.
These slow-moving highpressure systems have resulted in persistent warm and dry conditions, with fewer outbreaks of cold air or rain-bearing weather systems.
State of the Climate 2024 has indicated that there has been a shi towards drier conditions across southern Australia, especially for the cool season months from April to October.
While some areas can have above average rainfall in some seasons, for southern Australia as a whole April to October rainfall has been be-
low the historical 1961–1990 average in the last 30 years since 1994.
The declining trend in rainfall is associated with a trend towards higher surface atmospheric pressure in the region and a shi in largescale weather patterns.
There have been more highs, fewer lows and a reduction in the number of rain-producing lows and cold fronts.
Over the southern Australia region, there has been an increase in density, and therefore frequency, of highpressure systems across all seasons.
Sea surface temperatures remain much warmer than average in the Australian region; El Niño–Southern Oscillation and Indian Ocean Dipole are neutral.
The latest weekly SST analysis (ending May 20) shows warmer than average waters around most of the Australian coastline, reaching up to 3 °C above average to Australia’s south-west, south and east.
Global SSTs remain substantially above average.
Each month in 2025 has been the second warmest recorded for its respective month, only slightly cooler than 2024.
Overall, a drier and warm winter is forecast based on the current conditions with no autumn break in sight.
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THE DEAL IS REAL: Greta South cattle producer Dennis O’Connor believes this is one of his toughest years in a long time.
PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
VFF drought talk draws farmers out in force
By LYNN ELDER
FARMERS presented a united front on May 14 at a Mans eld drought discussion with one thought on their collective minds, “When is it going to rain?”.
To add insult to injury the state government’s $15.9 million package announced only days later o ered only token support for farmers in the North East according to The Nationals’ Member for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland.
“It is capped at $5000 per grant with strict conditions that prevent farmers from using it for the most basic and urgent needs like purchasing feed and water,” said Ms Cleeland.
“While we support relief for all drought-a ected farmers across the state, it de es belief that areas like Benalla, Strathbogie, and Campaspe where rainfall deciencies are as bad or worse than those receiving support have been completely overlooked.”
Cr James Tehan a Bonnie Doon farmer a rmed the Mans eld Shire was also in a rainfall de cit, with January to April the driest on record in the area.
“But still not drought declared,” lamented Cr Tehan.
With drought on everyone’s mind and the ongoing dry conditions, the Manseld branch of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) organised the free informative talk for locals to help tackle these pressing issues.
It was supported by Manseld Shire Council and Nutrien Ag Solutions
A packed function room at the Mans eld Golf Club of more than 150 people was open to VFF members and any other concerned residents.
There were husbands and wives, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and farm workers among the
Victoria to have access to drought relief measures.
crowd re ecting the local farming community.
VFF Mans eld branch president Mark Ritchie in his introduction said with “anxiety levels rising” and concerns around “water problems and feed problems” something had to be done.
He thanked Cr James Tehan and the Mans eld Shire for being able to organise the gathering less than a week out.
Representatives from the Mans eld Shire gave a short spiel on community wellbeing resources and other practical assistance like the portable water trailers available through the council.
Those present were urged to reach out to their local council for help.
This was followed by renowned veterinarian and drought specialist, Dr John Webb-Ware, also a cattle farmer from Glenburn.
Dr Webb-Ware said it was a privilege to address the large turnout which was a “re ection of where everyone is headed at the moment”.
MEMBER for Euroa, Annabelle Cleeland, has launched a petition calling on the Victorian Government to formally recognise drought conditions in North-East Victoria and provide urgently needed support to local farmers.
The petition was put online on the evening of May 20 and within 24 hours had already received over 2000 signatures – highlighting the community’s growing concern over the impact of the drought.
“The state government’s recent drought support package completely excludes North-East Victoria, leaving our farming communities behind during one of the toughest seasons in recent memory,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Farmers in our region are dealing with bare paddocks, empty dams, and skyrocketing costs to transport hay just to keep their livestock alive.
“The pressure on saleyards and freight is immense, and morale is at a breaking point.”
While many are thinking it will rain soon, he said, “It is the uncertainty you have to deal with”.
“In mid-spring to late summer you hope for an early autumn break, mid-autumn you are hoping like hell, then by ANZAC Day and late April the anxiety sets in when the rains don’t come,” said Dr Webb-Ware.
There is the need to review your current situation and take stock to inform your decision making, he said.
Farmers in central NSW when faced with drought conditions several years ago did a panic sell o of livestock.
Now that there is a return to plenty of feed in the paddocks without any stock.
“There are consequences of decisions made earlier which come back to haunt you,” said Dr Webb-Ware, He outlined the di culty in relying on Bureau of Metrology to forecast spring rain falls.
“This time of year, the accuracy of those forecasts are
The petition calls for:
- A formal drought declaration for North-East Victoria - particularly the Mitchell, Strathbogie, Benalla, Campaspe, Greater Bendigo, Greater Shepparton, Alpine, Mansfield, and Wangaratta local government areas.
- The immediate inclusion of the region in all relevant drought assistance programs.
Being eligible for this support would also ensure farmers can access much-needed rebates under the government’s Emergency Services Tax.
“This isn’t about asking for handouts,” Ms Cleeland said.
“It’s about ensuring farmers in our region are treated fairly and given the support they need to keep going.”
The petition is available to sign at: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/ get-involved/petitions/drought-innorth-east-victoria
not worth looking at, later in winter or early spring, yes,” he said.
“However outside of a week or two you enter dangerous territory”.
Western Victoria since late last winter has recorded the lowest ever rainfall, with the North East not as bad but “pretty close”.
Using previous autumn rainfall records, how do you make a plan?
“Looking back at the past doesn’t help plan for the future, but historical rainfall records can be used to determine probabilities of rain,” said Dr Webb-Ware.
If the season does not break, then it is time to evaluate the quality of your pastures and future feed costs.
Farmers could be facing an average cost of $350 per ton of mixture grain and hay.
Dr Webb-Ware emphasised the importance of making a decision as to what stock to keep or sell.
“Talk early to your bank about increasing your overdra ,” he urged.
It is all about communication he stressed.
A simple budget was presented to the audience to help calculate the associated costs against the value of keeping stock.
“There are opportunities for o oading stock and some people do well by buying when prices are low,” Dr Webb-Ware said.
Monitoring stock especially sheep by weighing gives good information about stock and is a valuable tool too, he said.
This led to discussion about feeding requirements for di erent stages of livestock development and pitfalls to avoid.
The use of lime on paddocks was encouraged as a long-term activity.
Supplementary feeding is dependent on quality and what is available in the paddock.
“If uncertain talk to someone,” he said.
As a vet he was able to explain threats to animal welfare and the importance
of good nutrition during drought.
Animals in con nement are at greater risk, and he urged with any amount of rain stock were better out.
The next speaker Lachlan McKenzie from McKenzie Ag Services based in southern Victoria provided some hay and grain strategies for producers.
“The export market has so ened in the last four weeks with Trump’s tari announcement,” Mr McKenzie said.
“But all the domestic markets are holding it up.”
Mr McKenzie has vast experience in all aspects of beef and lamb feedlot operations and livestock trading. His focus was on o ering livestock producers in the room a broad range of stockfeed options as well as advice regarding animal nutrition. His presentation gave alternatives to the traditional hay options and the pros and cons of each including price point.
Mr McKenzie discussed availability of competitively priced customised grain mixes, a range of pellets, cereal grains, protein meals, legumes, hay (vetch, lucerne and cereal) and cereal straw.
He stressed the importance of putting together a feed budget and balancing it against economic outcomes.
“The worst thing you can do is make no decision,” Mr McKenzie said.
Also speak to your neighbours and advisors to help develop a strategy, he added.
Speaking to several attendees a er the talk the general consensus was positive about the content.
A passing remark from one local livestock agent summed it up, when clients ask should they sell their stock during this dry spell, he says ask yourself are you sleeping at night?
If the answer is no, then you have your answer, he said.
Tail of two towns
By MIKE SMITH
THE farmers of Mans eld
Shire have long resorted to silent gestures when they feel no one is listening.
When frustration mounts and words fail, they sometimes turn to striking acts that deliver a clear message: listen.
One such message appeared on Sunday, 4 May 2025, at the intersection of the Midland Highway and the Midland Link, near the Barjarg Fire Station.
With the region in the midst of a total power blackout, passersby reported seeing a large black dog strung from a tree its body suspended by its tail and back legs.
Some viewed it as a grim warning.
Others called it grotesque.
Conservationists soon joined the outcry, citing new research suggesting many wild dogs are actually pure dingoes.
For generations, farmers in the region have displayed fox carcasses on fences a rural tradition dating back to old estate gamekeeping in Britain.
Some say it serves as a warning to neighbours that predators are active.
Others believe it was a way to show landowners what the keeper had culled.
There’s also the contested idea that the sight and smell of the dead fox might deter others.
But a dog is not a fox.
And in 2025, the distinction carries emotional weight.
To some residents, the incident crossed a line.
“You could clearly see a huge black dog hanging by its tail and back legs from the tree at the intersection,” said one local, who did not wish to be named.
“I understand that farmers need to protect their livestock, but the way it was showcased was disgusting.”
A second eyewitness echoed the concern.
“I believe it’s cruel,” they said.
“People don’t need to be hanging animals in clear view of the road.
Shooting them is one thing this is something else.”
Both expressed concern for the impact the display might have on children, though each acknowledged the threat wild dogs pose to local farms.
As stock losses mount, a farmer’s protest draws concern from townsfolk and conservationists
When asked whether they believed wild dogs should be protected from culling, one responded:
“I’ve never been in that situation,” they said.
“I don’t know enough about it, and it’s not something I care to be informed about.”
North East and Goulburn Murray Farmer contacted the farmer responsible for the display, who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity.
A seventh-generation landholder, their family has farmed in the Mans eld district since the 1850s.
They drove us across a 1000acre swathe of land one-third of their property that borders Mt Samaria State Forest and now sits empty.
Wild dogs, they said, come from the bush nightly.
Electric fencing hasn’t stopped them.
Until recently, the farmer was a producer of award-winning Merino wool.
They’re just one of numerous farmers in the shire known to have abandoned Merinos altogether due to wild dog predation.
“We can’t use a third of our land anymore,” the farmer said.
“We’re spending nearly $10,000 a week on grain just to keep stock alive.”
The farmer showed us mauled sheep carcasses some buried, others le where they fell.
“You nd ewes with their hamstrings chewed out, lambs dead in the frost because their mothers ran o in panic,” they said.
“It’s constant.”
The farmer con rmed they had hung the dog, explaining the act was intended to make people understand the scale of the problem.
“People in town might see a dog we see a killer.”
While wild dog culling is legal under Victorian law, the public display of carcasses is controversial and unregulated.
In 2016, a “fox fence” near Yapeen, south of Castlemaine, made headlines a er tourists began stopping to photograph the strung-up animals.
That incident divided opinion and prompted a broader discussion about pest control, rural life, and animal welfare.
So too has the Barjarg dog.
In the past few weeks, dingo conservation groups have highlighted recent genetic studies indicating that many so-called “wild dogs” in the region are, in fact, pure or high-percentage dingoes rather than feral hybrids.
These groups argue that such ndings should shi the conversation away from eradication and toward greater ecological understanding and protection of Australia’s apex native predator.
For some in town, the display is a bridge too far an act of cruelty against a creature they see as a pet.
For many on the land, it’s a desperate attempt to draw attention to a silent crisis that continues to cost them dearly.
The incident has highlighted an uncomfortable divide in Mans eld: between those who live by the rhythms of the land and those who have settled in growing residential estates on its fringe.
Whether the act was a justied message or a misstep, it has started a conversation.
And that, perhaps, was the point.
effort required to manage threat of wild dogs say VFF
By MIKE SMITH
VICTORIAN farmers must come together to overcome the threat of wild dogs during this upcoming lambing season.
That’s the message from Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Vice President and Talgarno farmer (pictured).
“It’s a statewide issue and the issue is getting worse,” Mr Starr said.
“Obviously we have increased wild dog activity in the North West where the unprotection order has been lifted and farmers are now forced to watch on helplessly as wild dogs kill their sheep upon their farms.
“Before the unprotection order was lifted it seemed to be singular dogs while we are now receiving more reports of pack activity.
“I keep hearing reports of attacks on sheep in the north east around Mansfield.
“I am increasingly getting phone calls from farmers in my area in the upper north east around Talgarno and they are very concerned by the increase in wild dog activity that they are noticing.
“They have had trouble with wild dogs in Taggerty for a while and now it seems those dogs have pushed in on the city and have been seen around Lilydale.”
The issue is anything but new for Victorian farmers or the federation who represents their interests and is resigned to the fact that more sheep are going to be killed on farms.
“There’s just no silver bullet where wild dogs are concerned,” he said.
“There is or there certainly should be a living to be made in sheep farming but not while they’re being eaten alive on farms around the state.
“Community awareness helps.
“And to get to community awareness we need those going through the dog problem to speak about it, to communicate with each other.
“Report dog attacks and sightings to your local controller.
“The more he knows about what’s going on, the better.
“Use the Feral Scan app whenever you encounter a wild dog on your farm.
“And come together as a community.
“That’s the best tool farmers have at the moment - each other.
“Coordinated community baiting can be an effective tool to manage wild dogs in an area.
“People need to come together to try to contend with the worsening wild dog problem, that’s the way forward.”
A MESSAGE: A large black dog, believed by the farmer to be a wild dog, was strung from a tree near Barjarg on Sunday, 4 May. The display drew criticism from some residents, who said the method of sending the message was distressing and inappropriate.
PHOTO: Mike Smith
Tougher times trigger higher numbers
By STEVE KELLY
CLIVE and Diane Anderson from Benambra were selling for the rst time at Wangaratta with about 90 Hereford and Angus cattle, o oading due to the drought conditions in the area.
They decided to sell at Wangaratta on Thursday May 15 because it was the last good sale before winter, as they would be unable to drive over Mt Hotham once the cold weather and snowfalls hit.
“It’s real bad at the moment and going into winter we’ve got to reduce numbers now,” Mr Anderson said.
“We always sell at the High Country sales and we run about 700 breeders and we retain all our younger cattle that are unsuitable for the market and we’ll fatten them and send them to JBS.
“These are all surplus to what we’ve
TOUGH TIMES: BENAMBRA FARMERS CLIVE AND DIANE ANDERSON SOLD CATTLE AT THE WANGARATTA LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE FOR THEIR FIRST TIME.
got at the moment because it’s so dry.”
The Andersons sold 14 Angus steers weighing an average of 235kg for $965/ hd ($4.10/kg), and 12 Angus heifers at 485kg/avg for $1650/hd ($3.40).
Prior to the sale, AWN livestock agent Ryan Hussey said given the countryside in the North East prices have been fairly good, with steers either side of $4/kg and heifers between late $2.80-$3.70/kg.
The footnote was that this depends on weights, quality and the bloodlines.
“Any cattle with weight 380-400kg and heavier are maintaining a bit of a rate because of your feeder cattle entry weights,” he said.
“You’re nding people selling heavy cattle but don’t have the feed in the paddock, and they’re not jumping in to buy the volume of the cattle that are coming forward in these lighter ones.”
•
READY TO GROW: 7-8 month old Charolais Simmental x steers with Rangan blood were on o er by vendor A Diamond of Moyhu.
PHOTOS: Steve Kelly
HEALTHY ANGUS: 8 Angus steers averaging 364kg were sold by Greg Maroney at $4.15/kg. D Arnold of Arcadia also sold a good lot of steers and heifers at the sale with the latter selling for $3.47/kg.
Tup Forge off to the states for ride of her life
By LYNN ELDER
GROWING up around horses and cattle all her life has prepared Tup Forge from Oxley for the ride of her life next month when she competes in the women’s saddle bronc at one of the biggest rodeo events in the northern hemisphere.
A relative newcomer to the sport the 28-year-old North East woman, decided more than 18 months ago to have a go at a Ranch Bronc school she attended.
Now she is the Australian 2025 Women’s Ranch Bronc Championship (WRBC) winner with a chance to compete on the international stage at the USA Cheyenne Frontier Days, described as the world’s largest rodeo and everything western.
“Determined to try something new and unsure what to expect I was hooked quicker than ever,” said Tup. “At that rst school it was make or break.
“It wasn’t long before I found myself at my rst rodeo and from there… the rest is history,” Tup said.
Her motto is “believe you can and you’re halfway there”.
“I guess you could say if you want something bad enough and work as hard as you can for it, anything is possible,” Tup added.
One gets a sense of Tup’s work ethic developed over many years on the family Hereford cattle property owned by parents Graham and Anne Maree Forge where she works fulltime.
The Forges have responsibility for up to 8000 acres which also covers a lot of bush.
Tup with her parents also runs Forge’s Farm which organises and operates one of Victoria’s largest heritage cattle droving trips, mustering experiences, packhorse trips, trail rides and riding lessons giving visitors an opportunity to enjoy the high country.
Before she could walk her father Graham would hoist Tup up on his horse while out mustering.
Growing up in Oxley, she describes herself as a farm girl with a love of horses.
“I never did pony club, but we always had stock horses,” said Tup.
This led to her rst campdra at Mans eld riding Basi in the junior.
She described it as a humbling experience a er not going too well but “stuck at it”.
The keen campdra er has gone onto pick up rst and minor placings across several dra s in recent years: a re ection of her dedication to keep improving.
A trip up north to outback Queensland earlier this year was a chance for Tup “to broaden my horizons with work” and experience a different agricultural environment.
She also discovered some “cool ponies” to ride, with some being sent down south.
Tup is passionate about campdra ing and will continue to be so.
However, the focus for now is preparing for her debut in the States next month as the Australian WRBC representative.
One would think staying on a bucking horse for eight seconds would be frightening but for Tup the thought of her rst airline trip to America holds more fear.
She agreed that all equestrian
sports carry some risk, but good preparation and safety measures are in place.
“I have had a few rough horses to break in so have already had that experience,” said Tup.
Her parents are very supportive of their daughter, but Tup’s biggest fan in the family is her 94-year-old Nan who lives on the farm with them.
“A er a bronc ride, we do Facetime,” said Tup.
Tup will y out a week before to settle in before her two rides in the women’s saddle bronc on July 20 and 21.
A combined score determines the winner.
In the meanwhile, Tup will aim to keep t, practice on her bucking machine and work with her own horses.
There are also two Queensland rodeos at Normanton and Jundah where she can gain points for next year’s WRBC season.
Tup is thrilled to be travelling to Cheyenne Frontier Days, which runs over 10 days attracting up to half a million people.
In her event, Tup will be competing against the “best of the best” including competitors from the US, Australia, Canada and Europe.
The top three women from each country qualify for the world nals.
Asked about the recent media coverage, Tup believed the interest stemmed from competing in what is considered a male dominated sport.
Achieving the dream to compete overseas also requires a lot of fundraising and support to get there.
Tup is so appreciative of the generosity of people so far, but further donations would be most welcomed.
“Eight seconds can seem like a long time” once you leave the chute on a bucking bronc according to Tup but there is no doubt with her can do attitude, she will do Australia proud.
To help her journey to Cheyenne, Tup is open to fundraising opportunities and sponsorship from businesses, visit her Facebook page ‘Tup Forge - Aussie Bronc Ride to USA’ for more information or contact sabine@equinehsd.com.au
CHAMPION: Horsewoman Tup Forge and Done Deal won the maiden at the 2024 Mansfield Campdra . Tup is switching sports to have a crack at winning the Women’s Ranch Bronc Championships in the US next month. PHOTO: Lynn Elder
New excavators, dozers bolster LiuGong line-up
THE rapid rise of LiuGong equipment across the Australian marketplace is continuing, with more excavators joining the F Series range and dozers hitting our shores for the rst time.
Liam McCormick with LiuGong Australia said the new 22-tonne and 33t LiuGong 922F and 933F excavators added to the manufacturer’s wide excavator range that extended up to 135t and would be suitable for quarry, waste and recycling, and civil works.
Liam said the LD Series dozers extended on the heritage of European manufacturer, Dressta, following LiuGong’s acquisition of the popular brand about a decade ago.
He said it was exciting to be introducing another LiuGong product to the Australian industry with the rst three dozer models arriving, including 20t, 28t and 40t machines, would be attractive for land ll, agriculture, quarrying and civil activities.
“It’s great to be having another product, and, as is renowned with LiuGong equipment, it is very well-priced without compromising on quality,” Liam said.
“The Dressta heritage is there, but it’s been re ned with LiuGong’s engineering.”
He said the F Series excavators and LD dozers continued to feature the latest, improved Cummins engines used in many LiuGong machines, however the cabin in the new excavators had undergone a major faceli .
“It’s all new European styling with a larger cabin and updated operating features, incorporating advanced technologies, that steps it up to any alternatives in the market.
“All functions, including hydraulics, can be adjusted from inside the cab.”
The new electro-hydraulic system provides lightening fast signals between the joysticks, pumps and valve blocks to deliver pinpoint precision and maximise available engine power, while new boom oat technology improves performance and prolongs tool life by preventing excessive pressure during braking applications.
It also reduces fuel consumption by allowing the boom to fall under its own mass.
The boom oat, travel
speed and proportional auxiliary controls are customisable and ngertip controlled.
The operator interface also is now even more intuitive and easy to use.
A large, eight-inch LCD colour screen can be controlled via touchscreen or by a ngertip navigational control dial conveniently located in the armrest control panel.
Liam said in addition to the Cummins engines in the LD dozers, LiuGong’s enhanced serviceability traits were well highlighted with the machines arriving in Australia.
A er opening a large side cover, all maintenance is directly at operator ngertips.
The air lter and fuel lter have been grouped on the le side of the machine, while the electrical box has been con gured on the right side.
Radiator levels also can be easily viewed from the ground.
There is a centralised diagnostic interface as well, and the machine monitors and provides alerts of any faults.
Auto-gear shi ing can manage the dozers under dif-
ferent working conditions.
It selects the shi at the best shi point for more stable and powerful operation, as well as lower fuel consumption.
Liam said a six-way PAT blade was used with the 20t LD dozer, while the larger 28t and 40t dozers featured three rippers and high capacity semi-U blades.
The new excavators and dozers, as well as the wider LiuGong range in Australia, also have been bolstered by enhanced levels of support and backup following the
NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
BEECHWORTH
Beechworth Machinery 30 High Street
RUTHERGLEN
McNamara’s AGnVET
Cnr Murray Valley Highway
MYRTLEFORD
Buffalo Farm Equipment 62-66 Myrtle Road
Tafco Rural Supplies 215 Myrtle Street
SEYMOUR
Seymour Equine & Rural 38 Emily Stree
BENDIGO
Bush’s Produce Store 94-96 Williamson Street
VIOLET TOWN
Violet Town Rural & Hardware 31 Cowslip Street
ECHUCA
Echuca Rural 37-41 Cornelia Creek Road
Haeusler’s Echuca 2-10 Murray Valley Highway
SHEPPARTON
Aussie Ag Supplies 6 Sofra Drive
Bertoli Farm Machinery 198-200 Numurkah Road
Haeusler’s Shepparton 219 Numurkah Road
Konigs Shepparton 355 Midland Highway
O’Connor’s Shepparton 212 Numurkah Road
Shepparton Rural 21 Telford Drive
A LBURY
North Albury Newsagency 1082 Mate Street Nth Albury
WODONGA Cadmac 233 McKoy Street
FarmTech Machinery 30 Moloney Drive
Birallee Newsagency, Shopping Centre, Birallee Place
KYABRAM
Irwin Stockfeeds 20 Wood Road
Kyabram Motorcycles 121 Albion Street
WANGARATTA
Elder’s Insurance 24 Rowan Street
McGregor Machinery 150 Tone Road
Landmark Wangaratta 4 Mason Street
BIGGER DIGGER: ONE OF THE FIRST LIUGONG DOZERS TO ARRIVE IN AUSTRALIA, THE 20-TONNE LD20 WILL BE ATTRACTIVE FOR LANDFILL, AGRICULTURE, QUARRYING AND CIVIL WORK.
opening of new metropolitan dealerships including Truganina in Melbourne.
The Construction Distribution Australia (CDA) dealerships, backed by the McIntosh Group, have an exclusive focus on the LiuGong brand and provide strong parts support, as well as onhand service technicians and sales sta .
The LiuGong range in Australia is supported by an extensive network comprising 80 dealers nationally, including local parts depots and product support sta .
Wangaratta Chronicle 37 Rowan Street
Wangaratta Rural Supplies 40 Ryley Street
NAGAMBIE
John Sanderson Machinery 36-38 Industrial Cres
BENALLA
Peter Davis Rural 46 Gillies Street
Smyth Seeds 35 Gillies Street
W AGGA W AGGA
Hunters Newspower 68 Fitzmaurice Street
Southcity Newsagency Shop 6/1-7 Tanda Place
M ANSFIELD
Mansfield Newsagency 57-59 High Street
Soil biology and climate resilience
RENOWNED soil microbiologist Phill Lee and veterinarian Dr Gundi Rhoades will demonstrate how conventional farming methods contribute to heat stress, drought conditions, and declining animal and human health at an upcoming Delatite Landcare Group eld day ‘Soil Biology and Climate Resilience Field Day’.
Lee, founder and director of Regenerate Earth, has spent decades researching how agricultural practices a ect soil health and local climate dynamics.
His research shows that conventional ploughing and tillage signi cantly impact landscape temperatures by exposing soil biology to elements that increase heat radiation.
The eld day will also feature Dr Gundi Rhoades, a practising veterinarian with over 30 years of experience and member of Regenerate Earth.
Dr Rhoades will address the critical relationship between soil biology and animal health.
“Through my veterinary practice, I’ve observed a concerning increase in health issues in both farm animals and pets,” said Dr Rhoades.
“Many of these problems can be traced back to nutritional de ciencies stemming from food grown in depleted soils.
Phill Lee said many farmers may not realise that bare, tilled soil acts like a heat radiator.
“This contributes to the formation of high-pressure heat domes that block moisture in ow and worsen drought conditions that are already challenging Australian farmers,” Mr Lee said.
The eld day, scheduled for June 12 and 13 in Manseld, will demonstrate practical alternatives to traditional farming methods.
According to Lee, maintaining year-round green cover over paddocks helps cool local climates by enhancing the soil’s capacity to retain moisture and support microbial life.
Third-generation farmer
James Wilson from Narromine juts outside of Dubbo adopted Lee’s methods three years ago and has seen remarkable changes.
“Before switching to yearround cover crops and rotational grazing, our soil temperatures in summer were reaching dangerous levels,” Mr Wilson said.
“Now, even in the hottest months, there’s a noticeable di erence in both soil temperature and moisture retention.”
Climate scientist Dr. Sarah Chen from the University of Sydney, who is not a liated with Regenerate Earth but studies agricultural impacts on regional climate patterns,
con
rms that ground cover makes a signi cant di erence.
“Our data shows that regions with higher percentages of bare soil experience measurably higher average temperatures and more extreme heat events,” Dr Chen said.
With Australian farmers increasingly facing climate extremes, the eld day aims to provide practical solutions that can help agricultural communities build resilience while potentially contributing to regional cooling e ects.
The event will feature a
presentation, practical activity exploring the soil biology from local samples, site visits, cover crop selection for di erent farming systems, and methods to transition from conventional to regenerative practices without sacri cing productivity.
For Lee, the mission extends beyond individual farm bene ts.
“When enough farmers adopt these practices, we can actually in uence regional climate patterns in positive ways,” he said.
“This isn’t just about one farm’s productivityit’s about transforming our relationship with the landscape.”
The field day is open to farmers, agricultural professionals, Landcare carers and interested community members in the Mansfield Shire.
Registration information can be found at www.up2us. org.au or by calling 5779 1593.
COVER CROPS: Ground cover is paramount.
Where’s the water?
Climate change reality
In just the last few months alone we’ve seen gigantic amounts of water dumped in NSW and Queensland – particularly in the Burdekin watershed – all the way up to Cairns, and down to northern New South Wales.
Moving inland, we saw the “Channel Country” under water with the loss of up to a million drowned beef cattle, and who knows how many sheep.
As the floods continue to subside, the death count grows.
In the meantime, Victoria is in drought, large sections of South Australia and southern New South Wales are suffering as well.
All that, and city folk passively watch it on television without understanding anything like what farmers and our regional relatives go through.
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Visionaries like John Bradfield, renowned for designing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, recognized the potential of Australia’s water resources in 1953.
Bradfield proposed redirecting northern rivers into the Murray Darling Basin to irrigate droughtstricken regions, and support agricultural productivities.
Yet, almost a century later, his vision remains unrealized.
Political short-termism has hindered progress.
Ideas like Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce’s 100 Dams Project never got off the ground.
Political instability derailed their implementation.
Real progress requires longterm commitment which only state and federal governments can accomplish.
AUSSIE PUMPS’ ANSWER
The Aussie Pumps team have a totally different attitude to most of their colleagues in the pump business.
Aussie has become the most respected business of its kind in the country, with huge organic growth over the last 30 years.
A lot of the credit goes to our Chief Engineer, John Hales.
John has done amazing things in his career, from building power stations to designing earthmoving equipment and, for the last 20 years of so, being the Chief Engineer at Aussie Pumps.
His attitude is indicated by the ethic of producing products “as if we were going to use them ourselves”.
That attitude of - the customer first - goes right through the whole ethic of Aussie Pumps and is shown in their products.
NOT JUST FIRE PUMPS
It’s true that Aussie Pumps make the world’s best lightweight portable fire pump, with 220,000 Aussie QP205SE pumps operating not just in Australia, but around the globe.
Our product is so different to the tired old brands from the past, that consumers can tell just by seeing the outside, what the inside of the pump might be like.
We’re working on new designs all the time and are about to launch a single impeller fire pump that will perform as if it’s a twin impeller.
That new version of the
THE POTENTIAL: A 1946 map of how to bring water security to the inland.
Aussie Fire Chief with incredible performance is an indication of just how serious this Australian home-grown company is.
Aussie has now moved on to become Australia’s pre-eminent high pressure water blaster manufacturer in Australia, by simply making machines that are based on customer inspiration.
Dairies, for example, can rely on the stainless steel framed Aussie range of high pressure cold water blasters, available in both hot and cold configurations.
Aussie’s even got a 4,000 psi hot water machine that runs off the power of the electrical circuit of a Honda 13 hp engine.
It’s called the Heatwave.
It’s a mobile steam cleaner that can be ute-mounted or stationery in the farm wash bay.
Best of all for farmers, it’s at a good price that farmers can afford and even comes in a stainless steel frame.
ELECTRIC DRIVE HOT WASH
A complete range of hot wash and steam cleaners starts with the unique Aussie Sizzler.
THIS story is contributed by Sam Loria, Australian Pump Industries’ Victorian Area Manager.
Sam also works with dealers in South Australia where he has made loads of good friends and established Aussie Pumps as the most trusted business of its kind in Australia.
Here, Sam reflects on the drought and in more detail, the danger of Australia’s inaction in harnessing Australia’s water resources.
This is a low-cost top quality machine with a slow speed pump and motor, that runs an 1,800 psi and 80°C hot wash.
This little machine is a fraction of the price of plastic European imports and is used by a number of dairies in Australia for sterilization and elimination of bacteria.
From there the company has developed some of the best heavy duty steam cleaners in the business.
We even make one that does 4,000 psi and delivers up to 135°C steam.
Best of all the machines are bargain priced for farmers with Gippsland dairy farms able to buy direct from Aussie Pumps and get the very best package deal.
BIG PUMPS TOO
Australian Pump is working hand in hand with the United Nations.
For the past five years, we’ve shipped big 6” trash pumps, powered by Deutz 80 hp diesel engines to the South Sudan to help protect Juba from the annual monsoonal floods.
They are redirecting the Nile River to protect the capital.
Aussie’s got 26 of our big machines over there now, delivering 175 million litres of water a minute.
AUSSIE’S NO FAKE PRICE POLICY
We’ve seen many of our competitors from the old school putting up their retail prices so their dealers can give fake discounts to unsuspecting consumers.
Aussie won’t do that.
The prices are fair and have stayed the same.
Aussie’s superior products are sold at a lower price than lesser products in terms of performance, quality and features.
That applies not only to fire pumps, transfer pumps, trash pumps, and other, but also to the company’s range of high pressure water blasters as well.
INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED:
Aussie’s Chief Engineers and the Big 6-inch pumps saved Juba in South Sudan.
We think about the consumer first and foremost.
We’ll fight for water security for regional Australia
THE POSITIVE APPROACH
Here’s a quote from Ion Idreiss, Gallipoli veteran and famous Australian author of the 40s, 50s and 60s, who wrote after he saw what he called the millennium flood in 1956.
“Pause, and if only for a moment, try to imagine the unimaginable volume of fresh water that is rushed away to sea during these last few years alone.
“Then imagine the broken hearts that would not break, the homes we should save, the jobs we should keep, the individual and national wealth we should retain.”
Imagine what we could do with that water in drought times like now.
Australia has the resources, the expertise and the opportunity to lead the world in water management.
So why don’t we?
With the right investment and leadership anything is possible.
It’s painful to watch politicians gloating over the possibility of a 100 billion dollar agricultural year, when most of them have no idea how it was actually achieved.
They don’t get the work and the sweat that was put into it.
At Aussie, we are for regional Australia.
It’s time we did something about water security.
Visit aussiepumps.com.au for more information.
WATER SECURITY IS THE KEY: Sam Loiria is on the farmers’ side.
Heavy horse driving day a family legacy
By LYNN ELDER
THE 2025 Benalla Clydesdale and Heavy Horse Driving Day held May 3 was an outstanding success and a chance for the large crowd to see the strength and beauty of heavy horses in action and continue the legacy of these animals that built this nation.
The event began more than 20 years ago at the Marriott family’s farm and home of the Aarunga Clydesdale Stud at Tatong.
It has moved to the Moorngag Recreation Reserve in recent years, an easy 30-minute drive from Benalla.
Hosted by the Victorian Branch of the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society (CCHS), it is one of several events that provides support for new members wanting to learn more about their Clydesdale horse.
The society considers sponsoring and mentoring its junior members a priority as was evident at the recent event which ran a junior ring.
There were senior and novice rings as well as horses available for beginners and tuition for those who wanted to gain driving skills.
Several of the classes were set up so competitors could gain points towards the championship.
The senior ring competitors showcased the skills needed to drive a single horse in long reins, with a tyre and a sled.
Driving a pair of horses in long reins proved more chal-
CROWD PLEASER: More than 350 people travelled to Moorngag for the
STRONG TIES: Julie Barber (le ) with her niece Lucy Hansen holding her son Max next to Andrew Marriott. Max was named a er Andrew’s father and Julie’s horse Aarunga Spot On was bred by the Marriotts.
lenging with some pairing up for the rst time.
This year’s winner of the Max and Kristin Marriot Memorial Trophy – Champion Horse of the Day was an emotional moment for Julie Barber from Walla Walla in NSW when her name was announced.
Julie and Aarunga Spot On also took out Best Purebred Clydesdale Horse of the Day.
The memorial presentation conducted by Max’s son Andrew Marriott was in honour of his father and Kristin who tragically died in 2023.
“The Marriotts bred Aarunga Spot On who is now eight years old, and I acquired him four years ago,” she said.
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Julie spoke of the Marriotts with great a ection and how winning the award “felt fantastic” a er many years of hard work.
The Marriott family has shown both led and harness Clydesdales at royal and country shows since the 1940s.
“I have been actively involved with Clydesdales and the families Aarunga Stud all my life,” said Andrew.
He was recently appointed committee member to the CCHS Victorian Branch.
“I look forward to working alongside them to promote the breed for future generations,” he said.
The horse world is known for its close-knit community
and the Marriott family has always been respected and much loved.
This strong relationship is illustrated by Benalla’s Lucy and Brent Hansen who were part of the organising committee for the event.
“My connection to the Marriott family goes back to my grandfather, Ivor Barber, who also bred and showed Clydesdales,” said Lucy.
“It was through my auntie, Julie Barber who was awarded the Max and Kristin Memorial Trophy on Saturday that I was introduced to the Marriott family.
“Kristin and I shared a particularly close bond; my mum Elizabeth and Kristin
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would o en joke that they shared a daughter,” she said.
“When my husband Brent and I found out we were expecting our rst child, we both knew that if we had a boy, he would be named a er Max Marriott a man who was not only strong and knowledgeable, but also passionate, kind and deeply caring.
“We hope to instill some of Max Marriott’s qualities in our little Max,” Lucy said.
The legacy continues.
Results Benalla Heavy Horse Driving Day -2025
Senior Ring - Max and Kristin Marriott Memorial Trophy – Champion Horse of the Day (highest points scored)
- Aarunga Spot On, driven by Julie Barber - Walla Walla, NSW.
Best Purebred Clydesdale Horse of the Day - Aarunga Spot On, driven by Julie Barber - Walla Walla, NSW. The Spirit Memorial Trophy – Best Heavy Horse - Any Other Breed - Fashion, driven by Matt Fitzgerald - Katamatite, Victoria.
Novice Ring - Ross Hillis Memorial Trophy – Highest point scorer novice driverAmy Scott, driving Bethany - Strath eldsaye - Victoria. Junior Ring - Nance and Dave Weavers Junior Driver Encouragement Award - Maddie Van Der Zalm, driving Jasper - Benalla, Victoria.
Highest point scorer novice driver - Amy Scott, driving Bethany from Strathfieldsaye took out the Ross Hillis Memorial Trophy.
CHAMPION: Julie Barber from Walla Walla , NSW and her horse Spot On with judge Graeme Marriott from Mt Waverley.
heavy horse driving day on Saturday May 3.
ON A SLIDE: Matt Fitzgerald from Katamatite driving Fashion on sled. The pair went onto take out the Spirit Memorial Trophy later in the day. PHOTOS: Lynn Elder
Plenty Valley Produce cultivates new growth in Flowerdale
By EMMA OLIVER
ON the river- ats bordering King Parrot Creek - just o the Whittlesea-Yea Road in Flowerdale - a market garden has taken shape, the expansion of Plenty Valley Produce.
Michael Collins is one half of Plenty Valley Produce, a small-scale, organic market garden set-up in partnership with fellow grower Sam Shacklock.
Signing a long-term commercial lease, the new location represents the pair’s commitment to an enterprise that has gone from strength to strength over the last three years.
Previously cropping seven acres in Upper Plenty- four of which were viable with the other three delivering reduced production due to issues with drainage and shade – Michael and Sam had come to the realisation with demand only growing they needed to upscale.
And having outgrown the site that also meant relocation.
It was access to more water and the fertile soils of the valley that made leasing land at Old Farm Happy Valley an attractive proposition, with the bonus of good drainage and direct sunlight for the whole day e ectively sealing the deal.
“Here in Flowerdale we have eight acres in the main paddock alone, with the op-
portunity to farm up to 20 acres in total with vegetables and herbs - so we now have that room to expand,” Michael said.
A horticulturist by qualication Michael has travelled from the north of the country to the south.
Working as a park ranger in Cape York before taking up a position at the Mt Cootha Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, followed by a stint in Hobart at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens it was the cooler climes of the southern states that enticed him from the tropics.
“In Queensland you e ectively have two seasons, and so of course you have owering plants and things do happen, but it doesn’t compare to having four seasons.
“When a garden has gone through that cold exposure and then the sun comes out and its springtime, it becomes a completely di erent space.
“I wanted to experience this and learn di erent styles of gardening.”
It was a dream of market gardening that would then tempt Michael from across the Tasman, to rent just outside of Whittlesea.
“I was also interested in livestock management and the initial goal was to learn more about farming and then take the knowledge back to the Botanics and implement it there within that environment,” he said.
Somerset Heritage Produce
on the banks of the Goulburn in the grounds of the Somerset Winery at Seymour would be his rst professional dalliance into vegetable growing.
The Collingwood Children’s Farm was his next step, the demonstration space and the urban implementation of agricultural practices similar to the idea he had for the Botanics.
However once he was immersed in the reality of the project, Michael’s goal changed.
“I would eventually come to the realisation that what I really wanted to do was simply grow vegetables,” he said.
It was the move to Upper Plenty, to share-farm with Sam alongside other market gardeners on a larger farm enterprise, that would solidify this vision.
Walwa Park Farm is predominantly livestock run by David Markham, with part of the landholding dedicated to farm start-ups.
“In three years, Michael and Sam have gone from a start-up to servicing several farmers’ markets, employing quite a few people and growing their inventory of plant and equipment to the point they are a stand-alone enterprise and all through lower impact organic growing methods,” said David of the boys’ tenure at Walwa Park.
With tractors and equipment available and garden beds already set up at Walwa,
it represented a smooth transition for Michael and Sam - the opportunity to try their hand at market gardening with minimum risk and reduced outlay.
“I don’t think we would have made the initial commitment if it hadn’t been ready to go,” Michael said of the origins of Plenty Valley Produce.
“The notion of setting all of that up from scratch and investing all that money, would have represented too huge a barrier.”
At that stage both Michael and Sam were just beginning their journey into market gardening and vegetable growing was still secondary to Michael’s other aspirations.
“Initially I was doing it to fund my other farm ideas,” he said.
“However I soon came to the realisation that I didn’t need to do all those other things like chickens, I could just grow fresh produce and I would probably be better o .”
It is this focus on keeping it simple and mastering production of a limited range that initially set the two in good stead, building a strong foundation on which to expand the business and increase their portfolio.
“Most people start o with 40 di erent lines and want to grow heirlooms and other specialist lines and embrace this whole-home-gardener-
but-scaled-up idea,” Michael said.
“We had been advised by other market gardeners both in-person and online that this was not the way to go, and so when we began farming it was with a view to do small-scale wholesale.
“We only started with carrots, spring onions, tomatoes, a little bit of pumpkin and radish.
“There was no growing a bunch of stu and going direct to retail and aiming to be that one-stop-shop at the farmers’ market.
“It just seemed to be a really complicated business model which would be dicult to run.
“So in the early days of Plenty Valley Produce this was something we actively avoided.”
Michael admits this is now exactly what they do do.
“It was because farmers’ markets really opened up for us,” he said of the about-face.
Presented with the opportunity to get into two of the biggest markets in Melbourne, Plenty Valley Produce rapidly expanded.
“You almost have to wait for somebody to die to get into the good ones,” said Michael of the state’s most lucrative farmers’ markets.
“We were just incredibly lucky – right place, right time – so that when one of the growers who had been in the
game for a while wanted to step back, we were able to ll that void.”
With on-selling frowned upon, stallholders are supposed to grow or make everything they sell.
When spots became available at these two markets there weren’t many producers who were of the necessary calibre who didn’t have prior commitments who could take on the responsibility.
Enter Plenty Valley Produce.
“And it has snowballed from there,” Michael said.
The duo now grow a wide and diverse variety of vegetables and all manner of fresh herbs, and service four inner city markets regularly adding Eltham Farmers’ Market into the mix come winter.
“It’s not something I would recommend,” Michael said with a laugh.
“I would recommend selling or growing the things you can sell a lot of.
“And that may mean you don’t generate as much per square metre, but you also don’t have to put as much labour into it because labour is the biggest expense.”
Though small scale, Michael said getting in with a good seedling grower has also proven fundamental to the success of the enterprise and removed a degree of uncertainty from the process.
■ Continued page 25
VEGIES APLENTY: PLENTY VALLEY PRODUCE HAVE MOVED THEIR ORGANIC MARKET GARDEN ENTERPRISE TO THE BANKS OF PARROT CREEK IN FLOWERDALE.
■ From page 24
“We share our order with another farm, which makes the order big enough for them to deal with us.
“And they grow just about anything.
“You can even send them in seed and they’ll grow from that.”
A signi cant outlay, timing is crucial when it comes to farming vegetables with Plenty Valley Produce getting seedlings every two weeks going into each growing season.
Another outlay in both energy and nances was setting
up the site as a market garden.
Previously used for livestock, the soil - a sandy red loam similar to up on the Murray – required tilling to break down the clods of compacted dirt before adding organic fertiliser to the mix before planting it out.
Irrigating the site was also a priority, with Michael and Sam dedicated to doing it right the rst time.
The main problem they’ve experienced so far in the new location is deer and ducks.
Leaving the brassicas
FIRST PLANTING: MICHAEL COLLINS OF PLENTY VALLEY PRODUCE AT THE FLOWERDALE SITE.
alone a er a particular point, the deer have a particular penchant for chicory.
“We’ve got ve beds of chicory on the go and when it works the herbaceous plant is really good money, but the deer just smash it,” Michael said.
The ducks represent a signi cant threat, their love of a leafy green decimating entire plantings.
Fencing o the 20 acres may be another huge but necessary outlay.
The pair are also considering a Maremma under recommendation of landowner
“AS for the crops we growwithout getting too far into the weeds of it - we grow tomatoes, chillis, capsicum, eggplant, zucchini, cucumber, beans, peas, lettuce, radicchio, spring onions, fennel, swiss chard, kale, spigarello, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, pumpkin, potatoes, onions, leeks, Asian greens, salad mix, rocket, spinach, celery, radish, beetroot, carrots and a whole manner of fresh vegetables.”
- MICHAEL COLLINS, PLENTY VALLEY PRODUCE
Strengthening action against invasive weeds and pests
THE state government is helping community groups to protect their local environments, industries, and cultural heritage from biosecurity threats through another round of the Partnerships Against Pests grants program.
Minister for Agriculture
Ros Spence announced the opening of round four of the $5 million program, which will help community-led organisations build the skills and resources to manage invasive species in their area.
Grants of $10,000 up to $50,000 are available for projects focused on managing established weeds and pest animals.
However both the fencing and the dog are a commitment the pair are happy to make, part of a long-term vision for the enterprise.
From humble beginnings and a desire to simply grow good food, Plenty Valley Produce’s relocation to the fertile river-flats of Flowerdale marks the next significant step in the journey, the promise of increased organic harvests ensuring the market garden enterprise not just grows, but flourishes.
HUGE WINTER CLEARANCE
This new round of funding totaling $637,000 will allow groups to develop and deliver community education programs and action for up to two years and can include up to $10,000 for capital items.
Capital items can include monitoring technology and weed and pest management equipment, such as monitoring cameras to track feral pigs, hoes to eradicate serrated tussock or bait laying equipment to manage rabbits.
Equipment for demonstration and education such as projector screens may also be eligible for funding.
One previous recipient, the Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network, used their $37,500 grant to deliver Project Shingleback.
“Without funding through the Partnerships Against Pests program, we would not have been able to commence upskilling of our volunteers and regional land managers to combat invasive pests and weeds,” said Buloke and Northern Grampians Landcare Network Facilitator Andrew Borg.
“The program has been invaluable for kickstarting our Pest and Weed management e orts and we’ll be keeping a close eye on future grant rounds for further opportunities.”
The project partnered with a range of stakeholders to increase pest and weed awareness within their region through a series of educational community displays, forums, workshops, and publications.
Applications for this grant round will close on Friday 4 July 2025.
The Plenty Valley Produce stall can be found at the Veg Out Farmers Market in St Kilda, at Gasworks Farmers Market in Albert Park, at Alphington and Carlton, and during winter at Eltham as well.
Diego Puyol who uses dogs to protect his chicken ocks.
First-ever tour explores historic shearing sheds
By PAM ZIERK-MAHONEY
WHEN is the next tour?
That was the question being asked by many of those who took part in the rst Shearing Shed Tour on Sunday, which saw about 70 people exploring the history of three localand very oldproperties.
Organised by the Mans eld Historical Society as a fundraiser for tting out their new museum rooms, the tour included the shearing sheds on the properties of Glenroy Station, Delatite Station, and Dueran Station.
At each of the sheds, the current owners spoke about the history and gave an update on what is happening in the sheep and wool industry today.
It has been said many times that ‘Australia grew on the back of sheep’, and this may have been true in the past, but the wool industry is not what it used to besomething made evident by those who spoke.
However, the gures quoted at each of the shearing sheds said it all, with Delatite shearing some 16,000 sheep at its peak, Dueran shearing around 12,000, and Glenroy still shearing around 10,000 today.
“The shearing shed and yards were the main hub of the station,” said Owen Shanks, former worker at Delatite Station.
“The sheep were mainly in mobs of 1000 to 3000the stockmen mustered, yarded, dra ed and lled the shed for the next day’s run.
Shearing took around three weeks to complete.
“It was full on with shed handsfrom skirting, binning, classing, pressing, to nally stencilling of the 500-plus bales.”
Once the old sheds had been toured at Delatite, it was then lunch followed by an inspection of the newest ‘state-of-the-art’ shed.
Mark Ritchie, current owner and operator of the property, outlined the design, building and operation of the new shed, which was specially built higher o the ground for ease of access and cleaning of the sheep poo that always gathers beneath the shearing stands.
The tour group was very impressed with both shedsgoing from the old to the newand the advancements made in shearing.
At Glenroy Station, Andrew Crockett gave an outline of the his-
tory of this famous property, which was rst founded in 1908 and was originally part of Delatite Station in 1902.
Mr Crockett went on to tell the tour group about when the Crockett family rst purchased the station in 1954, when it was bought by Maxwell Crockett, and its continued operation including Andrew’s father, Andrew (senior).
Andrew (junior) and his wife Helen have lived at Glenroy since 1974.
Mr Crockett said Glenroy had many associations with the district’s history, including connections to the Wonnangatta murders and the commissioning of the homestead in 1909, which was built a er the
shearing shed and workers’ cottages.
He said Prince Charles was given a special tour of the homestead and the shearing shed while a student at Timbertop School.
Mr Crockett had many stories to tell about the history of the propertysome quite humorousand no doubt there are still many more to be told in future.
At Dueran, the third shearing shed visited, current owners James and Libby Vasey brie y outlined their ownership and involvement over the past 17–18 years and the improvements made, along with future plans to extend the shearing facilities on the property.
It was said at Dueran that this shed is believed to be the oldest shearing shed in the district.
At Dueran, local poet Val Kirley gave two renditions of poems she had written.
Mrs Kirley spent some 12 years of her younger life at Dueran when her father became manager under the guidance of the original owner, Mr Lester.
At each of the three properties, volunteers ‘fed and watered’ all guests on the tour with morning tea, lunch, and a ernoon tea.
With the success of this rst-time tour, suggestions for another such tourusing di erent propertieshave been very strong.
QUIET AT THE STATION: Bush poet Val Kirley entertained guests at the Mansfield Historical Society’s shearing shed tour. PHOTOS: Ron Ekkel
CLICK GO THE SHEARS: The old shearing shed at Delatite Station. PHOTOS: Ron Ekkel
STATE-OF-THE-ART: At Delatite Station all guests were very impressed with the new shearing facilities – with owner Mark Ritchie outlining the design and build some two ago.
A BIG THANKS: Mansfield Historical Society president, Graeme Stoney, voiced his appreciation to all three station owners for extending their hospitality and opening their sheds for the day.
Wangaratta Monthly
Cattle Sale
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We have been seeing a lot of cases of colic in horses lately. Colic simply means abdominal pain. Horses with colic can show a variety of symptoms, ranging from pawing at the ground and watching their ank, to lathering up in a sweat and throwing themselves upon the ground, rolling violently.
There are many different causes of colic, which is why it is always best to have a colicky horse examined by a vet as soon as possible in order to differentiate a mild spasmodic colic from a life-threatening twisted gut. One of the reasons we are seeing an increase in colic at the moment is the very dry conditions causing horses
SAND COLIC IN HORSES
to eat a signi cant amount of dirt and sand. Some horses may ingest large amounts of sand and never colic. But other horses can develop a spasmodic discomfort, diarrhea or weight loss from the irritation caused by the sand passing through the intestine. Sand may also build up in the gut over time, slowing digestion and causing impaction of the intestine.
The best way to prevent sand colic is to ensure your horse doesn’t ingest too much sand or dirt in the rst place. Use hay nets or racks, and place rubber matting under them to catch the hay that inevitably falls out. Where possible, avoid keeping horses in overgrazed
paddocks, and always ensure clean fresh water is always available.
If your horse does suffer from episodes of sand colic, feeding a high ber diet can be helpful to move the sand through the intestine. Free access to large amounts of grass hay works best. If this isn’t possible, psyllium husk added to feed may be useful – around a cup a day for a week, and then repeat a month later. Older remedies such as feeding wheat bran and drenching with mineral oil have
