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CountryJournal Week commencing 7th February 2022

Gamble? Try this instead

A bang for your buck

This week, Ben Boland joins us to talk ethical hunting. From being introduced to firearms by his uncle, an ex-police marksman, to being a landowner and gun club member himself, Ben brings a calm sensible approach to the question of ‘weapon of choice’ for doing the job, with minimum fuss and minimal chance of failing to kill humanely. Ben’s column also includes some practical tips around the farm at this time of year. Ben is filling in for Gerard Walsh who has taken ill--we wish him all the best, and wish Ben good luck filling those big (07) 46 619 835 shoes of E warwick@rfsteelbuildings.com.au Gerard’s.

Olive insider secrets

The olive industry went through a boom, and more than one crash, but it hasn’t gone anywhere...partly because the olive makes eternally good sense in our diet and in our restaurants... Krista Bjorn gives an insiders insight into harvesting olives, the old fashioned way, and how to prepare a very unusual fruit for the table.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Increased rural service

Country briefs

Rural Health Connect now has 90 psychologists registered on the platform with a plethora of experience and interests.

He suffered leg, abdomen and head injuries as a result. The helicopter pilot landed the aircraft on the private property, where the aeromedical team met with local Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics to treat the patient.

Chainsaw prang

A man was bested by a chainsaw last week near Goondiwindi. The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue crew airlifted a man to Queensland Fire and Emergency hospital, after he was critically injured Service (QFES) personnel were also on while cutting down a tree, in the scene. The man was flown to the Goondiwindi region last week. Princess Alexandra Hospital in a critical The man was reportedly using a chain- condition.

The organisation, serving rural communities, have also expanded their services to include GPs (for Mental Health Care Plans) and Financial Counsellors. Your GP can refer you to Rural Health Connect.

AgMove extended

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Since May 2021, almost 5,500 AgMove agreements have been negotiated with people from all walks of life who committed to move to regional and rural Australia for short-term agricultural work.

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said the six-month AgMove extension to 30 June 2022 provides a timely boost to Australia’s vital agriculture sector.

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Poultry owners are being urged to enhance biosecurity measures after cases of avian influenza (AI) were reported in more than 40 countries over the last 6 months. Bird watching enthusiasts are also being encouraged to report any signs of AI in birds in their environment. If you suspect AI or notice large numbers of sick or dead birds, contact the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888. If you discover large numbers of sick or dead wild birds, you also need to report this to the hotline so it can be investigated.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

A reflection on your herd

Hi-vis cattle ear tags are being trialled in Queensland this year in hopes that this simple solution will help prevent serious trauma and fatalities on rural roadways. Senior Constable Andrew Perrett came up with the solution after observing hi-vis safety mining gear used in the Central Highlands regions. "Cattle have their management tags, so we've applied a reflective sticker to the front and back of them," Senior Constable Perrett said to the ABC. "The tag is highly reflective and requires a very low amount of light to actually reflect back. So I would estimate that you would probably have at least 500 metres on a straight road before you come across the cattle." The trial of reflective ear tags is being conducted in the Nebo area, west of Mackay, to ensure motorists have every chance to see cattle on the roads, especially at night. AgForce is supportive of any ideas that can help the industry. "When [cattle] get out on the highway you don't know about it until it's too late or they've caused disruption," Cattle president Will Wilson said. "We do our best to keep the fences up, but you can't stop a tree from falling a limb over a fence. It's

pretty hard in this day and age with different climatic events to keep fences up all the time, so the more we can make it safer, the better." Reflective tags are more expensive than standard tags, running between fifty cents and one dollar more per tag, but road safety advocates believe it's worth it.

doesn't happen again?'" Mr Ransley noted that for every fatality, up to 18 people were seriously affected by the incident. "It's not just the financial cost, when you've got serious injuries there's sometimes years of rehabilitation," he said. "Often there is serious brain trauma, seri-

"Anything that prevented these types of crashes should be supported," Road safety campaigner Graeme Ransley told the ABC. "There were some P-plater drivers who had very, very serious injuries, horrific injuries, and I'll never forget the grandmother of one of those girls said, 'What can you do to make sure this

ous spinal trauma all of those things can take enormous effect on families, even break up families." Senior Constable Perrett is hopeful that soon the reflective tags will be in use across the sector.

Top price to Tanny in Warwick sales GNF reports this week that J Ellis of Tannymorel earned top price in the cows for a Charolais cross at 384.2 c/kg. T Luscombe enjoyed 540.2 c/kg for a Clifton-bred Limousin cross steer. Export heifers ranged from 428.2 c/kg with J Ellis in Tannymorel receiving 436.2 c/kg for a Simmental cross that weighed in at 610 kilos. IN the heavy feeder steer category, Kiara Downs and H,W & T Grayson both reached 616.2 c/ kg for Angus specimens weighing in at over 400 kilos. In the feeder steer yarding, P Byrne of Warwick realised 600.0 c/kg for an Angus cross and M Comerford of Nobby, in the domestic feeder steers category, got 656.2 c/kg for their Angus cross. Top price for yearlings went to J & W Klotz of Pilton for a Simmental cross steer at 586.2 c/kg. The weaner steer yarding handed P&J Corcoran of Koreelah 842.2 c/kg for Angus steerls and M Droney of Pittsworth 638.2 c/kg for Angus cross weaner heifers.

WARWICK CREDIT UNION

Speak to a local lender. Warwick Credit Union Ltd ABN 98 087 651 116. AFSL and Australian credit licence 240556.

4 COUNTRYJOURNAL A WAPA of a year for apples and pears WAPA, the World Apple and Pear Association, released today the first apple and pear stock figures of 2022. The figures show that in Europe apple stocks increased by 5.1% compared to 2021 to reach 4,308,683 T, while pear stocks decreased by 18.2% to 661,587 T. In the USA, apple stocks as of 1 January 2022 stood at 1,674,042 T (-2.7% compared to 2021), while pear stocks reached 190,192 T (24.8% above 2021). In the USA, apple stocks in January stood at 1,674,042 T, down 2.7% compared to 2021. This is due to a decrease among the largest varieties, such as Fuji (-19.6%), Honeycrisp (-15.5%), Red Delicious (- 12.5%), and Gala (-8.3%), and despite significant increases for Cosmic Crisp (+147%) and Pink Lady (+17.4%). Pears stocks in the USA stood at 190,192 T, which is 24.8% above last year. WAPA will continue to release the stock levels for the rest of the season. The figures from the 1st of February 2022 will be made public on the WAPA website at the beginning of March.

The Small Newspaper Company Published, Printed, Designed, Owned, Administered....here Not London. Not New York.

Main phone number: 07-4641 7953 Head office: 69 Dragon St Warwick A.C.N. 167 171 217

• Editor: Elizabeth Voneiff editor@thedailyjournal.ink * Sales: Gordon Bratby 0437 417 736 * Sales: Peter Schmidt 0447 105 846 sales@thedailyjournal.ink A little bit of legals While every care is taken to compile this newspaper accurately, we cannot be held responsible for any errors that may occur with advertisements or articles. All submitted content does not necessarily represent the opinions of The Small Newspaper Company or The Country Journal All art and editorial content remains the property of the relevant copyright holder and may not be reproduced without permission. If we have got something wrong, get in touch, and we will print a correction in our next edition...and apologies in advance!

Prepare,

Southern Downs landowners understand bushfires, have experienced them and hope they never see them again. That’s not going to happen. Instead, residents have the chance to attend two free fire preparedness sessions the end of March. The popular fire and vegetation management information session and workshop series will give local landholders the chance to share and learn how to prepare for and manage fire on their properties and in the surrounding landscape. “Southern Downs residents have experienced bushfires in the past, and these sessions are a great opportunity for local landholders to prepare their properties for fire,” Mayor SDRC Mayor Vic Pennisi said. “These sessions are free of charge and will give residents the knowledge needed to better manage fires and access personalised advice.” Both sessions will be held at the Glen Aplin Memorial Hall and will focus on fire management roles and responsibilities, fire season planning and preparation, as well as managing fire regimes to protect and enhance native vegetation. The initial information session will be held on 26 March from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., followed by a more intensive fire planning workshop on 27 March from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. where attendees will learn about land types and native continued next page...

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

plan and preservere continued from previous page... vegetation and be given a set of free maps for their properties and will receive assistance to develop their own property management planning kit. Afternoon tea will be provided at the information session, and morning tea and lunch will be supplied for the fire planning workshop. Anyone planning to attend the workshop must attend the initial information session. Minimum requirements to attend the planning workshop is 1.5 hectares, unless the property is next to or adjoining a very large natural area. Representatives from the Rural Fire Service Queensland, Southern Downs Regional Council, the Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium, SQ Landscapes, and the Stanthorpe Rare Wildflower Consortium will also attend the event and share information about their roles and offer advice about planning for the approaching fire season. Local laws, vegetation management, fire and grazing, fire and timber production

and the conservation of plants and animals will also be discussed. The sessions come out of a partnership between Queensland Fire and Biodiversity Consortium (QFBC), a program of Healthy Land and Water, the SQ Landscapes and the Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC). Tickets must be booked by Thursday 17 March 2022. To book free tickets for the Information Session: www.eventbrite. com.au/e/property-fire-information-session-management-planning-workshop-glen-alpin-tickets-224460717047 To book free tickets for the Fire Management Planning Workship: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/property-fire-information-session-management-planning-workshop-glen-alpintickets-224460717047 For more information, please contact Craig Welden on craig.w@hlw.org.au or 0437 726 279.

MACINTYRE WIND FARM PRECINCT SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM Would your community organisation or group benefit from sponsorship funding? ACCIONA Energía is now taking applications! As part of our commitment to supporting local communities, ACCIONA Energía is inviting community groups to apply for small grants or sponsorship funding for projects and events in 2022. A total of $40,000 will be available this year to assist local community groups who make a difference by enhancing the social wellbeing and/or improving environmental, educational, cultural or economic outcomes of the local community. Apply now through our website: www.acciona.com.au/sponsorship

Applications close 31 March 2022 Call Us: 1800 283 550 Email Us: macintyre@acciona.com

COUNTRYJOURNAL

A gamble that's healthier than the pokies

Instead of the pokies, why not spend the arvo poking around for real gold in the fresh air? You won’t lose much and have a lot more fun. John Gordon recently travelled to Thanes Creek fossicking area from the Gold Coast to try his hand at panning for gold. "I watched it on TV and thought, that's something I want to go and do," Mr Gordon said. In true Aussie fashion, he wanted to be written up as a professional fossicker with 23 years of experience and a track record of pulling out five ounces of gold a day, but reality is a little less awe-inspiring. "My skill and knowledge is none whatsoever," Mr Gordon said with a grin. "I bought hundreds of dollars worth of stuff and my first time out a leech bites me and I've got a bad headache." Undaunted, he grabbed a pickaxe and his gold-panning gear and headed to a different part of Thanes Creek to try his luck. There are three fossicking locations on the Southern Downs where explorers can hunt for alluvial gold, jasper, slate, and other interesting rocks. Thanes Creek, Talgai State Forest, and Durikai State Forest are all within easy driving distance and can be accessed even by those without four-wheel-drive vehicles. Before heading out fossicking, it is imperative that a Queensland fossicking license be purchased since on-the-spot fines can be incurred without one.

Fossicking licenses can be purchased for 1 month, 6 months, or 12 months, and are available for individuals, families, clubs, educational organisations, or commercial tour operators. They can be purchased online at www.myminesonlineservices. business.qld.gov.au/Fossicking/ , a regional or district office, or a fossicking licence agent. Once the licence is secured, taking the time to check out the Queensland fossicking rules and responsibilities will help ensure the fossicking is a fun adventure instead of a series of calamities. The rules include simple, common sense things like wearing suitable clothing, sun protection, and insect repellent, bringing

a first aid kit, and bringing along gloves, boots, and eye protection. Others are more activity-specific like being careful when digging around large boulders lest they dislodge, not entering underground workings, and making sure to refill any excavations before leaving. The Warwick & District Lapidary Club is an excellent place to learn how to go fossicking in a safe and fun manner. They can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/warwicklapidaryclubqld For more information on fossicking, visit: www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/ areas-facilities/fossicking

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Commodities report looking bright RaboResearch senior commodities analyst Dr Cheryl Kalisch Gordon said 2021 had been a “once in a blue moon” year for Australia’s agricultural sector. “There was a combination of drought and adverse weather in key cropping regions around the world, strong stockpiling demand in the face of potential food shortages along with Covid-induced labour shortages which impacted intensively-produced agri products and transport,” she said. “This delivered clouds to agriculture sectors in many regions of the world and a silver lining for Australian agriculture. This second straight year of increasing commodity prices coincided with again favourable to very-favourable Australian pro-

duction conditions. And for those commodity sectors where production has been lower, high pricing still delivered strongly profitable positions.” While the outlook for 2022 is also positive, the bank expects the year ahead will bring “less pronounced opportunities” for Australian agriculture. continued next page bottom...

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Rabobank reports that Australia’s agricultural sector is set for another profitable year ahead, with the gross value of agricultural production on track for a fourth consecutive year of growth in 2021/22. “Australia’s second year of great pricing and mostly exceptional production conditions in 2021 means the Australian agriculture industry is well placed to take on the challenges of 2022. More importantly, it means the industry can prepare for the time when the sun is not shining so brightly in its favour,” the ‘Making Hay While the Sun Shines’ Australian Agribusiness Outlook for 2022 report said. The specialist global agribusiness bank says a stellar 2021 represented a continued recovery from the crippling 2017-2019 drought and had positioned Australian agriculture for a strong year ahead thanks to high to record-high agricultural commodity prices and production volumes reaching record levels in some Australian commodities.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Krista’s patch.... The olive harvest For several years now, a kind friend of ours has invited us to pick olives from the trees that surround his business. We get up early in the morning when the air is still fresh and cool, hang baskets from strings around our necks, then duck into the trees and emerge a couple of hours later, hair everywhere, hats askew, baskets and buckets filled with ripe olives. We’ve tried numerous ways of curing olives over the years, some easier than others. After a good soaking for a couple of weeks in fresh water that we change every day, the olives have then been transferred into various salt brines. We’ve done plain salt, salt with garlic,

“Somehow it slithered its way up from the jar, out of the lid, and cascaded in a glistening stream into the cupboard and down over every jar resting below”

and, our favourite, salt with garlic, rosemary, and lemon zest. One time I soaked them too long beforehand and ended up with a couple of jars of soft olives. Instead of pitching them out, I blended them up with garlic, capers, and some olive oil to make a scrumptious tapenade that we spread on sandwiches, toast, and the base of savoury tart shells. We’ve also packed olives in salt without going through the bother of soaking them in water first. This was definitely the easiest option, but, I’ll be honest, eating them is rather like nibbling on a salt lick. They’re pretty good chopped up finely and scattered over something where a salty, olive-y

kick is welcome, like potato salad or a casserole, but not so great for nibbling with some good cheese and a glass of homemade apple wine. Last year we tried another way of curing them that just might be my favourite version yet. Our friend told us it was a traditional Greek method, and it sure was fun to put together. I got a big earthenware jar and poured in a layer of coarse salt followed by a layer of fresh olives, repeating until I got to about 1-2 cm from the top of the jar where I finished with a final layer of salt. Then I got a huge jug of olive oil and began to pour and pour and pour. It took a while to get the olive oil down into continued next page...

Commodities report looking bright continued from previous page... “We start 2022 with the Australian food supply chain under unprecedented pressure, supply chain disruption and bottlenecks being felt across the board – from access to inputs at the farm level through to consumers accessing food on supermarket shelves,” Dr Kalisch Gordon said. “And the impacts on supply chains are expected to linger at least through the first quarter of the year. Rabobank believes the outlook is mixed

for Australia’s agriculture production. “Very favourable seasonal conditions in 2021 – and in some cases record rainfall – have provided a beneficial start to 2022 for cropping and pasture prospects, due to good soil moisture,” Dr Kalish Gordon said. “That said, at this point, we can’t expect a repeat of the record grain and oilseed harvest we’ve seen for the 2021/22 season. Although for livestock, we do expect yearon-year lifts in slaughter numbers for both cattle and sheep, given the extended peri-

THE HON

DAVID LITTLEPROUD YOUR FEDERAL MEMBER FOR MARANOA

Proudly supporting the Southern Downs community P5, 81 Palmerin Street, PO Box 188, Warwick Qld 4370 E: david.littleproud.mp@aph.gov.au P: (07) 4661 2494 www.davidlittleproud.com.au Authorised by Hon David Littleproud MP, Liberal National Party, Dalby Qld

Focused on Maranoa’s future

od of good seasonal conditions we’ve seen in most regions that have enabled some rebuilding of stock numbers.” Milk production was also likely to lift, but only in the second half of the year, the report said, while 2022 cotton production was on track to continue rising, to see an 85 per cent increase on last year. Rabobank believes that 2022 will also bring some challenges, including the ongoing impacts of COVID as the world grapples with the Omicron surge and also “the prospect of Rho, Sigma or Tau delivering the next blow”. Other considerations will be inflation, which continues on MP one of the steepest rises in 30 years, ongoing supply chain issues and geopolitical tensions such as problems between Russia and Ukraine which could impact wheat, oil, and fertilizer. The report says the current situation presents an ideal opportunity for the sector to prepare for future times when things may not run so smoothly. This, Dr Kalisch Gordon said, included preparing for an increase in margin pressures (when global prices decline and Australian farm returns come under pressure) , diversifying markets and trading relationships, and equipping farm businesses for future droughts and climate change.

COUNTRYJOURNAL continued from previous page.... every nook and cranny. I would pour until the jar was full, then walk away for a bit and return to find it all filtered down and ready to be topped up again. I repeated the process until a couple of centimetres of clear oil sat atop the final layer of salt and didn’t disappear. Then I topped it with a lid, set it in a cupboard, and left it there for the past year. One thing I did not realise is that even though the olive oil was under the lip of the jar when I started, it would not remain there. Somehow, it slithered its way up from the jar, out of the lid, and cascaded in a glistening stream into the cupboard and down over every jar resting below. Note to self: next time, place the jar in a baking dish before storing. Other than that messy mishap, the olives are coming along well. Even though they haven’t been in the jar for a full year yet, they’ve lost their bitterness and are on track to becoming downright scrumptious. Now that I know this simple process works, I will be preserving our yearly olive harvest like this from now on. I am looking forward to further experi-

Curing olives can be a hit-or-miss proposition, as Krista has discovered. mentation with the process, making smaller batches and including herbs like rosemary,

bay, sage, and lemon thyme, definitely some garlic, and perhaps some thin slivers of fresh orange or lemon rind.

Warwick State High School ~ Excellence Through Effort ~ Founded in 1912, Warwick State High School is one of the oldest state secondary educational institutions in Queensland. Our gracious heritage buildings reflect a proud tradition of educational excellence, while modern classrooms and facilities provide the environment and resources to prepare our students for the challenges of the 21st century. In its century of achievement, there are many things that have remained constant and these include: • Strong academic and sporting achievements • Extensive curriculum offerings • Broad extracurricular opportunities • Community engagement • School values of “Excellence Through Effort” The school offers a challenging and balanced curriculum which encourages students to explore options and achieve their personal best. In Senior Secondary the school offers 21 General Subjects, 14 Applied Subjects and 4 Vocational Education and Training (Certificate) subjects. Students in Years 9 and 10 can select from a minimum of 12 subject electives, in addition to studying the core subjects.

Appointments for enrolment interviews for students entering all year levels can be made by contacting the school Administration Office on 07 4666 9222.

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

Ally Axle Barked Den Era

DOWN 1 What might we call

tightrope walkers and trapeze performers (8) 2 What is a long, loose, heavy overcoat (6) 3 Name a female steroid sex hormone (8)

12 13

E-QUATIONS 7

Fan Far Fox Jet Mad

ferryman who conveyed souls of the dead across the Styx (6) 16 Name an earlier unmanned US spacecraft, designed to explore Mars (6) 17 Which highly vascular glandlike organ is also known as the lien (6) 20 Salt Lake City is the capital of which US State (4)

“Men wanted for hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter cold, long hours of complete darkness. Safe return doubtful. Honour and recognition in event of success.” In 1912, Sir Ernest Shackleton placed this ad for his Antarctic expedition – 5000 applied and all 28 selected survived!

13 15

BIYWORD

E M I E R S N K D

F R A G I L E

B:13, D:15, G:3, H:25, J:8, K:5, Y:10

DOWN 1 Party thrower 2 Biblical preposition 3 Identifying mark 4 At this point

G I I I I K

A D E E E F

L L M N N O

P R R S S T

SOLUTIONS

034

P M I © L I N S T O

QUICK THINK Solve the crossword. Each answer has four letters. ACROSS 1 Quiet 5 One occasion 6 Asterisk 7 Raced

CLUES: Aged (3) Annoy (3) Before (3) Breakable (7) City in Florida (US) (5) Correct text (5) Piebald (5) Prefix: wrong (3) Reek (5) Tarries (7)

034

Build it yourself using the clues and each of the twenty-four letters once only to form ten words: five across and five down. A key word (bold clue) builds on the letter set in the grid.

13 15

SUDOKU

034

BIYWORD

are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

Tea Wax

CURIO

E-QUATIONS

044 Some values are in the right hand cells. Create remaining values using Letters A toclues Z haveina centre number value. cells.Some

J+K K×G J-K D+Y B-K H÷K D-K

Man Map Old Ran Rat

15 Name the mythological

Letters have a number value

B D G H J K Y

N E D M A P

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally. Some letters are used more than once.

metallic element has the symbol Zn (4) To which animal family does the leopard belong (6) Name an alternative term for a customer (6) Who discovered X-rays in 1895, Wilhelm Konrad ... (8) Which person is capable of a polished performance, but lacks real substance (4,4)

A A L L Y X

18 20

4 Which bluish-white

M T N X O N

5 6 7

the lien (6) ity is the capital of which US State

SUDOKU

T E A F A R

CROSSWORD

D J F R R W

F C N E F L U L I L I N E R N N M E N T S H S O E P H E W L P H E T T O E N I N E T Y

B A R K E D

T U T E Z L S W I S S E T N T R E C L E R O R G A R E O A V E N G E I N N K R U P T I T G U N D A G E G H N

is to be what (6) Which epidemic virus is a variety of H-one N-one (5,3) Which colour is reddishbrown, light brown, or yellowish-brown (6) What do we call a long lounge seat used for lying back on (8) Name a lively Spanish dance in three-four time (6) What are articles of clothing known as (8) To search among refuse for anything usable, is to do what (8) What do we call one’s sister’s son (6) Which term describes an insolvent debtor (8) Name a city area in which a minority group lives in poverty, overcrowding, etc (6) What do we call the fee charged per pound in weight or money (8) How many degrees in a right angle (6)

034

A S C R U O B O A T S C H B A R P O N

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Hush, 5 Once, 6 Star, 7 Tore. DOWN: 1 Host, 2 Unto, 3 Scar, 4 Here.

167-034

E-QUATIONS B:13, D:15, G:3, H:25, J:8, K:5, Y:10

N E D M A P

MINI WORD FIND

MINI WORD FIND B D T M A A J E T A R F A N L K R F X L E R A O Y D W R N X

ACROSS 1 To be sagacious or shrewd,

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Hummingbird cake scones are delish adaption of classic Hummingbird Cake is such a delightful dessert flavoured with pineapple and banana and studded with crunchy pecans that it simply begs to be turned into hummingbird cake scones. Tender and flavorful with a crunchy raw sugar crust, these scones smell wonderful as they bake and are pure comfort served with whipped cream cheese sweetened with real maple syrup. They're a great way to use up overripe bananas and the tail end of a can of crushed pineapple, and, if you don't have any pecans on hand, they're just as nice with a handful of chopped walnuts, hazelnuts, or almonds. Hummingbird Cake Scones Flour Although these can be made with one hundred percent white flour, they're especially nice with a mix of white and whole wheat. The whole wheat adds a lovely nuttiness and pairs really well with the banana, spices, and pecans, while the white flour keeps the scones light and tender. Sweetness Hummingbird cake is quite a sweet cake with the pineapple, banana, and added sugar, so you can play around with sugar amounts if you want to reduce the sweetness. Two tablespoons of brown sugar adds a pleasant but not dessert-level sweetness to the scones, while ¼ cup will bring it up to almost a cake-level. The smaller amount works well when serving the scones for breakfast, while the larger amount will make them sweet enough for afternoon tea. Spices Traditional hummingbird cake is spiced with

ground cinnamon alone, but ground cardamom is a good addition that brings another level of flavour and fragrance. You could also try ground ginger or ground nutmeg, but cloves and star anise would be too strong for these scones. Additions These hummingbird cake scones are laced with crushed pineapple, pieces of banana, and finely chopped pecans. You can use fresh pineapple if you have some on hand, but they work just as well using canned. Crushed pineapple will save you some work, but if you only have pineapple chunks or rings, just add them to the blender with the milk and let it do the chopping work for you. Fresh bananas work well with this recipe, but frozen will do the trick too as long as you defrost them first. Defrosted bananas are rather limp and difficult to chop, so add them to the blender too and before you know it, you'll have a fragrant and delicious slurry ready to add to the flour mixture. As mentioned above, pecans are the traditional nuts used in hummingbird cake, but walnuts are an excellent substitute. Mixing Light and quick is the key to making tender hummingbird cake scones. Depending on the liquid content of the bananas and pineapple, the dough can be either too dry or too wet. Keep a bit of milk and flour on hand to add to the mixture if it's going too far one way or the other. Mix gently just until there is no flour visible, then turn out the dough onto a lightly-floured surface and, using your hands, gently knead it just until it comes together in a mound. Press it out into a circle about 1-inch thick, cut into 8 equal triangles, and place on a parchment-lined baking O R L D S sheet about two inches

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apart. Brush each scone with milk and sprinkle with raw sugar to give it a shimmery crunch after baking. Serving These scones are decadent served with sweetened cream cheese in homage to the frosting used on hummingbird cake, but they're also nice spread with salted butter or topped with a dollop of lightly sweetened whipped cream. Hummingbird Cake Scones Ingredients: 1 cup white flour 1 cup whole wheat flour ¼ cup brown sugar 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground cardamom ½ cup butter ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts ¼ cup crushed pineapple ½ banana ½ cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract 1-2 Tbsp milk for brushing tops 2 Tbsp raw sugar for sprinkling tops Directions: Preheat oven to 230C. In medium mixing bowl, stir together flours, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and cardamom. Add butter and cut in until mixture resembles coarse sand. Stir in chopped nuts. Place pineapple, banana, vanilla extract, and milk into bowl of blender and pulse until smooth. Add to dry mixture and toss gently with a fork until flour disappears. Dump dough onto lightly floured surface and knead gently just until dough comes together. Press into a circle about 1-inch thick and cut into triangles. Place on baking sheet about 2 inches apart, brush with milk, sprinkle with raw sugar, then bake for 10-12 minutes until tops are golden. Remove to cooling racks and cool until room temperature if serving right away, or cool completely and store in fridge or air-tight container. The scones are best the first day, but can be wrapped in foil and warmed the next.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

What are they up to? Masked Councillors made for a strange first meeting of Council last week in Warwick. Perhaps the inability to speak before first removing their masks, or perhaps the summer break contributed to a more subdued Council. Not that all the bickering has ended. The topic of conflicts of interest continue to raise hackles between colleagues. This week it was the agenda item giving pre-approved status to about 100 local businesses that got the debate heated up with Cr Stephen Tancred and Cr Marco Gliori agreeing to abstain from voting. Cr Jo McNally gave an emotional tribute to former Mayor Peter Blundell, whom she clearly admired. It was decided that the Mayor would attend the Australian Local Government Association national conference in Canberra later this year. Cr McDonald and the other present are keen on the topics that will be brought before Federal ministers - even though it might be a new bunch of Federal ministers before long. The Allora Show Society, which had to

cancel, or at least amend, this year's festivities will get another pile of money from the tourism funding budget. The Stanthorpe Apple and Grape fandago will receive funding as well. "Let's stomp those grapes and saddle up the horses" commented Cr Gliori. The first financial report, operations and personnel reports passed without much discussion. Instead, the halving of the Community Grants from $5,000 to $2,000 turned up the heat in Chambers. Cr Gliori expressed his unhappiness at the resolution - which will cut the ceiling amount but double the spread - but he was countered by Deputy Mayor Ross Bartley and Cr Tancred who both agreed with the alteration. "This community is screaming out for its roads to be considered, so I think what we've done here is appropriate" said Cr Cynthia McDonald. The top amount allowed in the funding scheme has changed fairly continuously over the years and will no doubt be amended again in the future. The Warwick Saleyards still await the funding that Council hopes will take the renovations over the line. Killarney residents will have to wait a

few more months for their urban design scheme to unfold. The Council planning department is smashed with overwork, is understaffed, and dealing higher application and have asked that the scheme be moved to the second half of this year. Big money will be spent on the Warwick water treatment plant under the Building Better Regions funds round 6. Some hope was expressed that the Stanthorpe waste treatment plant could get in on the deal, but that will have to wait. Other agenda items were dealt with handily with practical discussion and a minimum of political rhetoric before the meeting came to a close after lunch. Editors note: I offer a summary of the week in Council for readers of the Country Journal based on my more fulsome coverage in the Daily Journal and the Stanthorpe Record. I will try to present items from Council meetings that are of most interest to our rural readers and leave out the boring bits....not that there are many boring bits in the DJ or Stanthorpe Record, available at your newsagent or other places where newspapers are sold. (Hint hint!) Enjoy! Elizabeth, Editor

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Essential Tools? BY: BEN BOLAND

We have had the privilege of escaping Sydney, and buying a lifestyle block on the Downs a bit over three years ago. While my wife came from a small farm, we are both gardeners and had some experience with backyard poultry; we have experienced a steep learning curve. While we are still very much learners, here are four tools we have found critical. We moved to Stanthorpe using shipping containers, two of which were full of shed stuff. Which demonstrates not only am I a bit of a hoarder but I had a good selection of tools (primarily wood working). Yet we have needed to invest significantly in more tools since we have moved to acreage, even small acreage. While some of these have primarily been related to renovating an old Queenslander, a number have been more ‘agricultural’ and invaluable for us. Our first purchase was a Fergie 35 tractor and without it we would be lost. While there are times when I wish I had a larger tractor and particularly a tractor with a 4-in1 bucket, the FE35 is a great tractor for us. Parts are easily available, it's big enough to drive a posthole digger (the fences on our arrival were decrepit), and the carry all had meant we have avoided the cost of a ute. Our second major purchase was not one item but a group of items and planning. I am of course talking about bushfire preparedness. Living in Australia with beautiful but ‘oily’ gumtrees, and particularly living in the Downs with Love Grass means we need to not simply be bushfire aware but bushfire prepared. I was stunned at how hot and fast Love Grass burns, believe me it's terrifying. While this topic is beyond the scope of this article the basics are as follows: Have a plan. Your home is replaceable, you and your family are not. If your plan to leave (and leaving is the safest plan) leave early. Preparation for a bushfire does not start a month or less before bushfire season, it’s a long term and continuous process. Which starts with managing the area around your home to minimise fuel load and includes equipment which is not cheap. Remember the 2019 fires cut electricity so you cannot rely on mains power and any generator and pump which is part of your fire plan has to start first time every time. A practical tip is to regularly run motors and watch out for mud wasps in the exhaust! The third major purchase was a MiG welder, I simply had not realised how much metal work there was in farming. While I already had an old (ex: Electricity Commission of Victoria) arc welder, the MiG has been a game changer – basically it makes me look

like I can weld! I initially borrowed (and broke) a small MiG then bought a decent sixed one and the ability to weld both very thin and very thick material has been invaluable. My first project was a cider press and I literally regularly toast the MiG. Our final significant purchase is perhaps the most controversial – firearms. A few years ago, my uncle, an ex-police marksman, offered me a number of his rifles and with the benefit of hindsight I wish I had accepted. However, we were living in suburbia and I didn’t need guns. Now we are on land and particularly since we have livestock I consider gun ownership essential. I add I regularly shoot at the Stanthorpe Pistol Club (.22 rifle) and shooting is a great and incredibly inclusive sport, but for me gun ownership is primarily ‘agricultural’. By which I mean I have firearms primarily as tools for ethical farming. Specifically, I need the ability to humanely euthanise and protect my stock (particularly as we are close to town). Some dog lovers may find this a challenging topic and I certainly take no pleasure in shooting a dog. However, as a dog owner I know care includes containment. For the record I have ‘found’ only two dogs and as both came when I called and were not chasing stock I was able to return them to their owners, but… On the topic of firearms, it is perhaps worth exploring what I consider a ‘basic set’ for a small farm. This list is of course dependent on context, preference and use (e.g. farming, sporting and hunting) but you have to start somewhere. Obviously, the starting point of shooting is safety, ethics and legality. To become a shooter in QLD requires a firearms license, which requires appropriate firearms storage and completion of Firearms safety course. As there is a ‘cooling off’ period both on the licence application and permit to acquire (for each firearm) it is worth starting the process early. Additionally, given we are so close to NSW, we need to remember the different states have different laws regarding firearms so some things legal in NSW are not in QLD and vice versa. Rimfire. The cheapest both (re: purchase and ammunition) is a .22 but there are other options. At point blank a rimfire will euthanise almost all relevant animals, is effective for rabbit control and a great gun to learn on. I

recommend getting one with at least a fiveshot magazine. Shotgun. Due to the range of cartridges from very fine shot to solids, a shotgun is perhaps the most versatile common firearm. Additionally, its limited range is helpful. There are a range of calibres available and reducing bushes can be used to allow a 12 gauge to fire smaller cartridges. Centre fire. There are so many calibres and configurations available, choosing one really requires some research. Personally, I recommend considering the following factors: Cost of the rifle (new or second hand?) and ammunition (reloading makes it cheaper but requires skill, tools and time). Availability of the ammunition, COVID19 has highlighted the challenge of supply chains, for not only toilet paper but ammunition too. Function: Ethical shooting of animals requires not only skill but adequate stopping power. Usability, there is no point having a rifle which kicks so hard you fear shooting it. Nor is there need to have one, as calibres such as 243 can ethically kill any animal in the Downs at a reasonable range.

Ben’s top outdoor priorities at the moment Due to the rain parasitic worms are very active so ensure you are on top of drenching. If you have stock now is the time to be organising Winter feed. Beekeepers small hive beetles are very active at the moment, particularly in weak hives. Inspect and possibly use traps or chux to deal with them. Gardeners, as straw/hay prices are currently low it’s a great time to buy mulch.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Love the outdoors? Hmm... If you are reading this, you probably spend a lot of time outside and live in the rural parts of the Southern Downs. For the first time, researchers have revealed how a person’s genes can play a part in their enjoyment of nature, potentially changing the way we look at our affinity with the natural world. The University of Queensland’s Professor Richard Fuller, with collaborators at the National University of Singapore, compared data from more than 1,000 sets of identical twins to find out how genetics may influence our relationship with nature. “We compared twins who had been raised

together with twins raised apart, in an attempt to demonstrate genetic heritability of two traits: how strongly they feel connected to nature, and the amount of time a person spends in nature,” Professor Fuller said. “We were truly surprised by what we found. “Depending on which characteristic you look at, these ‘nature-loving’ behaviours were heritable between 34 and 48 percent of the time. “This means there may be innate genetic differences among people’s psychological connection with natural environments and

how they experience them. “Our results help to explain why some people have a stronger desire than others to be in nature.” The participating twins were part of TwinsUK, the United Kingdom’s largest adult twin registry and the most clinically detailed twin study in the world. The research builds upon past studies which have looked at the relationship between a person’s geographical circumstances (urban or rural) and their desire to seek out nature experiences.

Warrill View tragedy IT'S anyone's worse nightmare to receive news of a family or friend's sudden death on highways that we travel all too often as residents of The Granite Belt. The family of Jaycob Young, the 19-year-old who collided head on with a truck on the Cunningham Highway at Warrill View on January 17, must have been heartbroken to understand that he was so close to home. Newspaper reports said that he drove his ute headfirst into a semi-trailer while changing lanes at Warrill View. My daughter told me this week that teen social media reports said he'd told the

family to prepare a meal Jaycob Young memorials roadside at Warrill View. he anticipated enjoying Photo: Selina Venier. on arrival. Driving through the It's heart breaking to say the least and Warrill View stretch this week, the we are only the ones who drive on by. memorial road signs point to where the The truckdriver was reportedly unintragedy happened. jured.

Australia Day sales surprise continued from back page... to reduce holidays for workers by paying bonuses for them to keep working. Margins for export business are usually lower than domestic trade, but payments are more secure, and despite the vagaries of the logistics and freight charges many mills are increasing their focus in this area again. At a time when Australian wool production is increasing again, and getting coarser thanks to better seasonal conditions, a Chinese industry looking outward rather than building domestic consumption is not a dire situation, but

certainly one of concern. The superfine segment is already running at a considerable premium, and probably at its maximum range. The medium merino segment will need something beyond uniform consumption in the coming months to absorb the increased production, and then there are the crossbred wools which also still need a boost. So, whilst the outlook is pretty good according to just about everyone, there are just a couple of warning flags which need to be addressed.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Australia Day sales surprise Contributed by Bruce McLeish, Elders The Australian wool market looked pretty good in local reports last week as the lamb chops sizzled on the barbie during the mid-week hiatus. Sales kicked off on Tuesday and again the superfine merino segment was the most positive with gains of up to 50 cents for the finest and best types. Medium merino prices were a touch down on the previous week’s levels, but still good enough for most growers to accept. Then the auction took a day off with the rest of the country to celebrate, and being the international business that it is, the wool market actually got rather busy. Whether some of the overseas traders had a change of heart, or tried to sneak in a quick purchase whilst exporters had a can in one hand, and tongs in the other, quite a bit of greasy business was concluded on Australia Day. That meant when buyers returned to the sale rooms again on Thursday there were suddenly a lot more orders to fill. Prices for practically every category were dearer from the opening lot, and continued that way until the close of sale with buyers scrambling to fill orders or replace buyers who tested positive. At the end of the week the market had closed 15 cents higher in local currency terms, however a much stronger US Dollar meant that prices in that currency had actually dropped by 11 cents. European buyers recorded no change in the overall market indicator as measured by the EMI, however there is no doubt that their spec wools are still rising in price due to continued demand and dwindling supplies. European business has been steady throughout 2022, and nothing has changed in that regard, with buyers still pushing

ahead to secure raw materials to stocks, to encompass commodities and a complete next season’s collection, precipitate lack of confidence, and ultimateand probably doing so with a little ly recession across the globe. Hopefully lesmore urgency given the ongoing sons have been learnt from past mistakes supply chain issues. and we do not see any major mis-steps. The significant change this The wool market is delicately poised and a week, which brought about the downturn in consumer confidence would flurry of activity on Thursday was rock the boat significantly. The current the Chinese domestic market sud- European activity is all about selling the denly coming next season’s colback to life. lection, whilst the “Overseas traders...tried to Given that most proChinese domestic sneak in a quick purchase cessing mills were activity is also slowing down, and offi- while exporters had a can in beginning to focus cially shut down on on the new season one hand and tongs in the Friday 28th for the in the months Chinese New Year holi- other” ahead as spring day, it is a bit of a gamrolls around and ble by procurement the weather gets managers that things warmer. will reopen smoothly in a couple of weeks’ There is currently quite a bit of unsold time. It may or may not prove to be a flash fabric and garments left over from the curin the pan, but it was certainly a shot in the rent season and many mills are currently arm for the wool market, but the currency chasing payments for goods already delivexaggerated the move. ered, where the product may still be lanSince the close of the week’s auctions the guishing in warehouses. Poor sales during currency has continued its slide, and brothe last domestic season have had a detriken the .70 handle to trade over the week- mental effect on cash flow, and some end at .6995 USD, which should be posidomestic mills are feeling the squeeze. tive again for local wool prices in the com- Many are reportedly chasing payments ing week. That is, providing the currency from their customers as a result, which rates remain unchanged, which is a conadds to the malaise of the domestic scene. siderable ask. On top of the poor 21/22 season is the However, as Paul Edwards from HSBC rather glum outlook for the Chinese econopointed out in the daily currency update on my going forward – in relative terms. Friday, the rapidly changing curve for Anything less than a 5% increase in GDP is 2-year Treasury rates, compared to the considered sub-par, and the Chinese con10-year Treasury rates in the USA is prosumer is feeling a little jaded about the ducing what is termed a ‘bear flattener’ by immediate future, which is why the success currency traders. of the Winter Olympics will be so critical to the national psyche. For most economists this is usually a warning of economic contraction in the Stocks of superfine wool though are quite period ahead, so risk aversion kicks in low, and mills in this sector will have more buy USD, sell AUD and stocks. How the confidence to keep buying raw material. various central banks around the globe Export oriented mills in China are in a manage the change in policy direction will much better position than their domestic ultimately determine if the risk aversion counterparts, and many are actually trying spreads beyond high beta currencies and continued inside back...

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