NORTH EAST AND GOULBURN MURRAY
Part of the Farmer Group Rural Newspapers Covering Victoria Published since 1984
JULY, 2017
37 Rowan Street, Wangaratta 3677
Farm safety
Sheep & wool show
Angus breed feature
PAGES 11
PAGES 13-16
PAGES 22-24
New generation of VFF The Wangaratta and District VFF have voted LQ WKHLU ¿ UVW HYHU IHPDOH president
GOAL DRIVEN: Natasha Lobban is excited about her new challenge as president of the VFF’s Wangaratta branch. She is pictured with husband Dean and daughter Harriet. PHOTO: Marc Bongers
NEED TYRES? Celebrating 1 year in Wangaratta
WE STOCK
AT just 31 years of age, Eldorado farmer Natasha Lobban has become the first female president of the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Wangaratta branch. Mrs Lobban has been serving as branch secretary over the last year, and when outgoing president Greg Mirabella decided to step down, it was a natural fit. “It just kind of happened,” Mrs Lobban said. “It wasn’t something I ever planned, but I’m proud to be a young farmer with a vision.” Mrs Lobban grew up near Wagga Wagga on her dad’s sheep and crop farm. She then took up a career in regional and rural j o u r n a l i s m , wo r k i n g i n the North East for the last decade. Two years ago, Mrs Lobban and her husband Dean Lobban bought their first farm in Eldorado.
BY JARRAH LOH
jloh@ nemedia.com.au
The property was previously owned by late cattle farmer Bob Andrews, father to Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, and now serves as the Lobban family Angus beef enterprise. With new farm in hand, the couple began visiting the local VFF. “Dean’s father Ian, who passed away four years ago, had always been heavily involved in the VFF,” said Mrs Lobban. “So we had always known of the benefits. “And now having a child, it makes you even more passionate about it,” Mrs Lobban said of her seven-month-old daughter Harriet, who is already attending VFF meetings. Continued page 3
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