Country Journal, Week #74 - June 6, 2022

4000 COPIES DISTRIBUTED WEEKLY IN THE SOUTHERN DOWNS REGIONAL COUNCIL AREA + DAILY JOURNAL & STANTHORPE RECORD

CountryJournal Week commencing 6th June 2022

Open door for new shearers

Death of the cowboy

Happy 100th to the CWA

Better deal for growers: ACCC Elizabeth Voneiff

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

C

hicken meat processors will change their behaviour according to a report released by the ACCC. In investigation into unfair contract terms by the chicken growing industry has resulted in some of Australia's largest chicken meat processors agreeing to change certain terms in their contracts. he ACCC's investigation identified a number of potentially unfair contract terms, including terms that allowed processors to vary growers' supply arrangements or impose additional costs on growers. Some of the terms also required growers to make significant capital investments or contained imbalanced termination clauses.

"We were concerned that clarity about the circumstances unfair contract term laws crebroad terms, such as allowing in which processors can ate challenges for investigaprocessors to vary supply impose additional costs on tions involving agricultural arrangements during the term growers, and to balance notice contracts. The proposed of the agreement, could periods for termination claus- changes to these laws tabled potentially lead to significant es. during the last federal parliafinancial harm to growers," The ACCC's investigation mentary sitting will, if enacted, ACCC Deputy Chair Mick focused on the types of poten- better protect Australian small Keogh said. tially unfair contract terms that businesses against unfair con"Several processors have were identified in its Perishable tract terms, and will enable the agreed to amend certain con- Agriculture Goods Inquiry ACCC to seek pecuniary pentract terms to address some of final report. alties for breaches," Mr Keogh the ACCC's concerns."

"The thresholds and the lack said.

The changes that these pro- of penalties in the current Continued on page 3... cessors have agreed to will provide some additional certainty and transparency Servicing Warwick, Stanthorpe and Beyond for growers, including by Made from Bluescope Australian Steel clarifying the circumstances FULL SERVICE - SLAB, ERECTION & COUNCIL in which a processor may require growers to upgrade •Acreage Sheds their farm facilities and •Farm Sheds when processors can make (07) 46 619 835 •Garages changes to their grower E warwick@rfsteelbuildings.com.au manuals.

QBCC: 1197750 l NSW: 237076C Additional changes have E warwick@rfsteelbuildings.com.au been agreed to provide

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

To-do this week Ensure frost sensitive plants have either been moved or covered.

Particularly if your stock are relying on pasture ensure you have lick blocks out.

Be aware of predators (foxes and quoll) around chooks, lambs and kids.

-Ben Boland

Women’s clinics Darling Downs Health mobile women's health nurses are on the road, travelling to our rural locations to provide free and confidential health clinics.

Our mobile women's health nurses offer a range of services, including cervical screening tests, breast awareness, sexual health testing and advice for issues such as continence, menopause, family planning, contraception and general wellbeing.

Upcoming clinics will be held at the following locations: o 8 June, Warwick Hospital, phone 4660 3900 o 16 June, Stanthorpe Hospital, phone 4683 3460 o 21 June, Clifton Medical Centre, phone 4697 3097 o 23 June, Killarney Medical Centre, phone 4664 1488 o 28 June, Southern Cross Care Allora, phone 4666 3171 o 29 June, Oakey Hospital, phone 4691 4888 Please call for an appointment.

Coming to an orchard near you Elizabeth Voneiff

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

M

onash University reports that robotic apple harvesting is a very hopeful solution for orchardists in the near future.

Autonomous robotic technology developed by Monash has the potential to deal with labour shortages and an increased demand for fresh produce.

Following extensive trials in February and March at Fankhauser Apples in Drouin, Victoria, the robot was able to harvest more than 85 per cent of all reachable apples in the canopy as identified by its vision system.

Of all apples harvested, less than 6 per cent were damaged due to stem removal. Apples without stems can still be sold, but don't necessarily fit the cosmetic guidelines of some retailers.

With the robot limited to half its maximum speed, the median harvest rate was 12.6 seconds per apple. In streamlined pickand-drop scenarios, the cycle time reduced to roughly nine seconds.

By using the robot's capacity speed, individual apple harvesting time can drop to as little as seven seconds.

"Our developed vision system can not only positively identify apples in a tree within its range in an outdoors orchard environment by means of deep learning, but also identify and categorise obstacles, such as leaves and branches, to calculate the optimum trajectory for apple extraction," Dr Chen, the Director of Laboratory of Motion Generation and Analysis (LMGA), said.

Automatic harvesting robots, while a promising technology for the agricultural industry, pose challenges for fruit and vegetable growers.

Robotic harvesting of fruit

and vegetables require the vision system to detect and localise the produce. To increase the success rate and reduce the damage of produce during the harvesting process, information on the shape, and stem-branch joint location and orientation are also required.

To counter this problem, researchers created a state-ofthe-art motion-planning algorithm featuring fast-generation of collision-free trajectories to minimise processing and travel times between apples, reducing

harvesting time and maximising the number of apples that can be harvested at a single location.

The robot's vision system can identify more than 90 per cent of all visible apples seen within the camera's view from a distance of approximately 1.2m.

The system can work in all types of lighting and weather conditions, including intense sunlight and rain, and takes less than 200 milliseconds to process the image of an apple.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Crouching tiger, hidden agendas?

Orchard walk The great orchard walk has returned after three years in hiatus.

APAL, the peak body for apples and pear growers, announced this week that they will be joined in-0erson for the first time by AgFirst and international pome fruit specialists for the Future Orchards winter series.

On Monday, 13 June, Nicoletti’s Orchard in Stanthorpe is slated for an official Orchard Walk with guests Craig Hornblow and Willie Kotze.

The walk will take place between 9 and 12:30 pm in Nicoletti Lane in Pozieres.

Hosted by Nicoletti’s Orchard, the Stanthorpe Orchard Walk will feature discussion on targets for the coming season, identifying and discussing inputs that are required to meet those targets.

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Elizabeth Voneiff

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

Hosted locally, in-orchard throughout June, the Winter Series will feature: 1.

Reviewing the past season’s crop and setting targets for the coming season 2.

Techniques, inputs and systems to address production targets locally 3.

Technical advances and best tree management techniques to help you make decisions that are practical, sustainable and profitable The Winter Series will also feature a Pear Orchard walk in the Goulburn Valley to discuss inputs and management options for producing first-class pears.

While the Southern Downs slowly starts to move from rain puddles to mud lakes, cold weather and winds have screamed across the region bringing down trees. Many residents fired up the chain saws for the first time this year in order to exit their properties.

Mayor Vic Pennisi last week escorted Queensland Governor Jeanette Young and her husband around the Southern Downs. They went to schools, community halls, strawberry farms, apple orchards and hospitals.

“It was absolutely fantastic,” the Mayor told us. He mentioned that the Governor, being a scientist, was particularly interested in the medical facilities. Our journalist in Stanthorpe, Selina Venier, said that Governor Young was exceptionally good humored when reading books to children in a Granite Belt School.

Apparently, the endless interruptions of intrepid six-yearolds did not ruffle a single feather.

Meanwhile, our State MP James Lister remembered the late David Corey in Parliament last week before getting into a

tiny stoush with the Treasurer, Cameron Dick, who didn’t appreciate Mr Lister’s sense of humour.

The Planning and Development Tribunal has found in favour (substantially) of builder Ian McNally who brought the matter to the Tribunal in February. In Mr McNally’s opinion, the Council’s determination to interfere with the planning application in Dalcouth was politically motivated.

Councillors, of course, would probably disagree, and the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor have both commented on the encroachment of urban life on rural areas. However, there would be other Councillors who might be more sympathetic to Mr McNally’s point of view.

Stay tuned as there was a closed session of Council late last week to discuss a possible appeal to the Tribunal.

All these stories, and more are covered in depth in the Daily Journal (Warwick) and Stanthorpe Record, out at newsagents and other places newspapers are sold on Tuesdays and Fridays

Better deal for growers: ACCC Continued from page 1...

WARWICK CREDIT UNION

Speak to a local lender.

Warwick Credit Union Ltd ABN 98 087 651 116. AFSL and Australian credit licence 240556.

"We expect all chicken meat processors to continue working with growers and grower groups until the contracts they have in place are clear and balanced. We'll be monitoring the industry to see that it happens and will re-examine these and other contracts if unfair con-

tract term laws are reformed."

Processors will engage with growers and grower representative groups directly about amendments to their agreements.

The industry is worth a combined value of $790 million for egg and chicken meat production as of 2014-15.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Shearing course on offer Elizabeth Voneiff

editor@thedailyjournal.ink f you've always thought you had what it takes to be a true-blue Aussie sheepshearer, listen up.

Australian Wool Innovation is hosting a series of free shearer and wool handler training courses in Barcaldine and Quilpie starting in June, to help retain and upskill existing shearers and attract new talent to the industry.

Barcaldine will host a novice shearer and wool handler training course from 27 June to 1 July, and an improver course from 3 to 8 July, while Quilpie will host a novice course from 4 to 8 July 2022.

Interested participants located in the border regions also have the option of attending a novice course at Tenterfield from 20 to 25 June, or an improver course at Lightning Ridge also from 20 to 25 June.

Pip Gilmore, Extension Officer with the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, said the handson practical in-shed training is designed to increase the skills, productivity and professionalism of shearers and wool handlers.

"With the current shortage of shearers and wool handlers in the industry, extra novice and improver training courses are being held to attract new talent and upskill existing staff," Ms Gilmore said.

I

"Having the ability to source highly skilled professional staff is essential to ensuring Australia's high-quality wool clip is harvested and handled at the optimum time for flocks and woolgrowers.

"These courses are open for anyone interested in learning new skills. They are being held during school holidays to provide young people with an interest in taking up a position in the industry to get some skills under their belt.

"This is also a great opportunity for woolgrowers who would like to improve on their own abilities in order to shear those inevitable stragglers."

Woolgrower, Scott Counsell, 'Lyndon', Barcaldine, will host the Barcaldine courses on-farm at his shearing shed and

provide sheep from his Merino flock.

Mr Counsell has hosted the courses in previous years and said they are vital to attracting new people to the industry.

"I'm a wool classer by trade as well and I host the courses to help encourage more young people to enter the industry,

which we need," Mr Counsell said.

"Shearing contractors throughout the eastern seaboard of Australia are having issues sourcing staff.

"The courses provide a great insight into the industry and the career options available, particularly if someone wants to learn a trade and work in the bush.

"It's a good lifestyle - you can travel around Australia and get a job in any of the sheep growing areas around the country.

"And you don't have to become a shearer. There is a shortage of wool classers as well and we need more people working their way up to attain their classer's stencil."

To register for upcoming training in Queensland or NSW, phone AWI on 1800 SHEARS or email swt@

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Plight of the American shepherd Elizabeth Voneiff editor@thedailyjournal.ink

A

merican news agencies report that sheep herders in that country have banded together to sue their employers, accusing them of operating an illegal cartel that artificially suppresses their wages. A lawsuit to that effect was filed last week.

The case could have implications for how antitrust laws are applied to labour markets in a country where unions and employee group actions are not welcome, according to legal experts. President Biden and his centre-left administration is gearing for greater competition in every sector of the economy.

The suit alleges that ranches

coordinate through the Western Range Association (WRA), a ranching trade group, to suppress sheepherder wages and avoid competing for labour. Herders apply to jobs through the WRA which then assigns them to ranches, leaving no room for the herders to

negotiate or shop around among ranches, the complaint said.

The arrangement violates the Sherman Act, a 130-yearold antitrust law that prohibits wage-fixing agreements among employers, the suit alleged.

"Even workers who make

Don’t miss out Elizabeth Voneiff editor@thedailyjournal.ink

Southern Downs primary producers and small businesses facing clean-up from flooding can now apply for low-interest loans through the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recover y Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

"The severe weather and seemingly unending rainfall that hovered over Southern Queensland during May flooded several communities, many of which had already been affected by previous flooding events since the start of the year," Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services The Honourable Mark Ryan said.

"Low-interest loans under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements will provide concessional loans up to $250,000 and essential working capital loans of up to

$100,000 to help kick-start the recovery of impacted primary producers and small businesses. Primary producers can also access freight subsidies of up to $5,000 for the movement of stock, feed, machinery, fuel, water, building and fencing materials."

Mr Ryan also assured councils who are included in the extension that they don't need to worry about costs.

"Their costs associated with counter-disaster operations and the repair of their essential public assets damaged by the flooding, such as local roads, will be covered under the DRFA," he said. "The Australian and Queensland Governments will continue to work closely with local councils to support their ongoing recovery efforts and identify where further assistance can be provided to ensure all impacted communities have the best possible support."

some of the lowest wages in our economy should be able to benefit from the fair competition that our antitrust laws ensure," said David Seligman, executive director of Towards Justice, which brought the suit.

Ellen Jean Winograd, WRA's general counsel, said the suit's allegations "appear to lack merit," but that the group could not comment in more detail.

Sheepherders are typically men from rural Peru who come to the United States on agricultural H-2A visas and live in isolated areas, according to the complaint. Their wages have stagnated even as pay for other agricultural labour has risen in recent years, the complaint said.

Picture of a Peruvian sheep herder.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

BIGGEST BIRTHDAY EVER

CWA CELEBRATES 100 Gerard Walsh editor@thedailyjournal.ink

Marcia Hughes cut the cake at the Border division QCWA 100th anniversary luncheon after being a member for 73 years.

A large crowd from the Border division was at the celebration at Warwick Town Hall which included the state president, vice president south and immediate past state president of the QCWA. The QCWA was for med in Toowoomba in 1922 with Kingaroy the first branch formed and Allora the second.

Mrs Hughes joined the Freestone branch at the age of 16 and was a member for 36 years.

For the past 37 years, she has been part of the Condamine Valley Warwick branch.

She helped in the tea rooms in Warwick for more than 25 years.

“I only stopped helping when I had a knee replaced,” she said.

She has been president, secretary and treasurer of both branches.

As president, she went to state conferences as far as Rockhampton.

“When we met at the Brisbane City Hall, you could go shopping at lunchtime, we didn’t have any shopping centres in Warwick then,” Mrs Hughes said.

“I enjoyed the international days, branch birthday parties and Mother’s Day functions at Cunningham.”

Many times, she made three or four different plates for

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cooking competitions.

“My husband Col would get the left overs,” she said.

“The QCWA had wonderful concerts, we went to Brisbane for choir competition at state conference.”

But most of all, Mrs Hughes loved the companionship of the QCWA and the chance to get to know so many people.

Olive Shooter was at the

2 luncheon and recalls joining the Victoria Hill branch 59 years ago.

She joined Allora in 2000 as the branch was in danger of closing but she didn’t want the history of the Allora branch as the second oldest in Queensland lost. enemy.

There was a hope that.

Beth Schotteluis (Dalveen), Shirley Owens and longest-serving Border division member Marcia Hughes (both Condamine Valley Warwick) at 100th anniversary celebration of the QCWA; (2) QCWA Border division president Irene Peachey, state president Sheila Campbell, vice president southern region Carolyn Jackson, immediate past president Christine King and Border division longest-serving member

Marcia Hughes at the QCWA 100th anniversary luncheon at the Warwick Town Hall on Saturday; (3) Emu Vale members Bernadette Carey, Merle Rettke and Jan Peters0n at the QCWA Centenary Luncheon at the Warwick Town Hall.; (4) Wallangarra members Fran Williams and Kerry Hampstead at the 100th centenary dinner of the Border division of the QCWA; (5) Ray and Olive Shooter from the Allora branch, the second oldest in Queensland, at the QCWA Centenary Luncheon on Saturday; (6) Leyburn members (front, from left) Sheryl Wieden, Mary Hamblin, Elly Beasley, (back) Lyn O’Neill and Christine Frazer at the 100th anniversary of the Border division of the QCWA. Photos Gerard Walsh

COUNTRYJOURNAL

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Hot market for cold weather Ross Ellis McDougall and Sons

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Agents saw the numbers increase for both cattle as well as sheep and lamb numbers as we saw the drop in the rainfall but an increase from the Arctic blast. This did not deter the buyers who kept the markets at a fairly level pegging on the last sale results. Cattle numbers rose to 794 head and Sheep & Lambs were up to 1855 head .

The market if it had any softening was in the feed on and light stock categories as we move closer to the frost and cooler weather.

Vealer steers averaged 584.3c/kg topping at 738.2c/ kg or $1455.01 to $2125.92 Vealer heifers averaged 579.2c/kg topping at 686.2c/ kg or $1480.15 to $1959.11 Feeder steers averaged 505.6c/kg topping at 583.2c/ kg or $1981.61 to $2783.56 Feeder heifers averaged 448.1c/kg topping at 520.2c/ kg or $$1539.44 to $2210.85 Yearling steers averaged 559.5c/kg topping at 656.2c/ kg or $1964.68 to $2487.29 Yearling heifers averaged 521.1c/kg topping at 680.2c/ kg or $1426.27 to $2260.44 Steers averaged 424.7c/kg topping at 550.0c/kg or $2634.31 to $3850.29

Heifers averaged 413.8c/kg topping at 492.2c/kg or $2240.82 to 2809.76 Cows averaged 326.3c/kg topping at $395.0c/kg or $1807.35 to $2960.00 Bulls averaged 367.5c/kg topping at 522.2c/kg or $2124.80 to $3940.72 Lambs topped at $235 to average $144.10 a rise of $2/ head Hoggets topped at $212 to average $169.41 drop of $5/ head Ewes topped at $182 to average $98.64 a drop of $18/head Wethers topped at 200 to average $147.40 a drop of $13/ head Rams topped at $188 to average $171.92 a drop of $95/ head Lamb rams topped at $240 to average $139.50 Ewe lambs topped at $300 to average $174.86 a drop of $66/ head The sale average was par with last week's result.

Pork numbers were on the rise with Boars making to $180, Sows $150 to $260, Gilts $200 to $228, Baconers to $180, pork $157 to $186, stores from $28 to $159.

Poultry saw hens selling to $15, Roosters to $17.50, Pullets to $20, Turkeys selling to $27.50, Ducks to $10

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Commodity report: bumper year Elizabeth Voneiff editor@thedailyjournal.ink

T

he Southern Downs is laying the groundwork for a third consecutive bumper harvest.

Australia-wide, this year's total planted crop area is forecast to reach a record 23.83 million hectares, according to Rabobank's 2022/23 Winter Crop Outlook report.

The report concludes that the expansion would be nearly one per cent up on last year's record planting and 11 per cent above the five-year average. It includes a 1.4 per cent lift in wheat and a record canola planting, up 20.9 per cent on last year, albeit at the expense of barley, oats and pulses.

The specialist agribusiness bank says - in a year of global shortages and high commodity prices - the forecast record planting comes as global markets look to Australia to deliver a "hat trick of great grain and oilseed production" at a time when poor production and export constraints in a number of countries are prompting the United Nations to warn that the world is on the brink of a food crisis.

Locally, the bank says, "hopes are on" another large winter crop to allow Australian farmers to secure good margins in the face of high costs for inputs including fertiliser, fuel, freight and agrochemicals.

Across the states, the report says, winter plantings are forecast to be up on last year by 10 per cent in Victoria and eight per cent in Queensland.

Based on current plantings and slightly above-average yield expectations, the bank estimates Australia will be on track to deliver total wheat production of 32.5 million tonnes (down 10 per cent on last year), barley of 11 million tonnes (down 18 per cent) and canola of 5.8 million tonnes (down nine per cent).

This would see Australia with "well above-average export poten-

tial again in 2022/23", the outlook says.

Excess carryover from 2021/22, together with another above-average harvest and strong global demand, means we expect Australia could export around 26 million tonnes of wheat again in 2022/23, almost 50 per cent above the 10-year average and more than 50 per cent above the five-year average. Australia is forecast to provide an impressive barley and canola haul this year although canola planting was at the expanse of barley and pulses.

Chinese anti-dumping tariffs that were still in place on Australia barley and lower prices earlier in the year are the primary reasons for less barley hectares being planted. For pulses, the low pricing and high stocks till on farm are contributing to lower plantings.

The bank expects global wheat prices to continue trading near current levels with Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) wheat to trade around USc 1100 per bushel out to the first half of 2023. But it expects prices to be extremely volatile in this higher range, as markets react to news of changes in crop prospects and what can ultimately be exported from Ukraine, Russia and India.

Strong demand for feed barley as a substitute for highpriced wheat and corn feed should keep global barley consumption near or above last year's levels and be supportive of global prices, Rabobank says.

For canola - which sits in the broader edible oil market - prices are also expected to remain strong. This is given the tight global supply of edible oils, elevated fuel prices and good crush margins. Some softening of canola prices, although not substantial, is likely to occur when the northern hemisphere new crop comes on board in Q3 2022, according to the

report.

Local prices for wheat, barley and canola are expected to remain historically strong, Rabobank says, albeit continuing to trade at a discount to global levels.

Domestically, the bank expects Australian premium white (APW) wheat track prices to trade at an average above AUD400 a tonne over the balance of the year.

Local feed barley prices are forecast to trade between AUD 415 and AUD 354 a tonne over the next 12 months, while local canola prices are forecast to range from AUD 938 to AUD 805 a tonne over the course of 2022/23.

When it comes to farm inputs, prices for most are believed to have peaked, but are expected to remain elevated due to the high cost of production and freight, as well as the sanctions on Russia and Belarus, according to the Rabobank outlook.

Prices for potash are believed to have peaked and local potash prices should be helped by an expected rise in the Australian dollar by the end of the year, though marginally.

The bank's survey had indicated many farmers were already well prepared when it comes to farm inputs, with a large amount of their needs already on farm. This was shown to be particularly the case in Western Australia, where farmers reported they had almost 80 per cent of their fertiliser and ag chemical requirements already on farm and in South Australia, where farmers already had close to 80 per cent of their fertiliser needs and 70 per cent of ag chemicals.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

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COUNTRYJOURNAL GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Who created the comic strip 8 9 10 11 13 16 19 22 24 25

Ginger Meggs, James ... (6) What is an agent, sent on a mission (8) Bizet was best known for which opera (6) Which enlarged masses of lymphoid tissue often prevent nasal breathing in children (8) To banish someone from a country, is to do what (6) What is an orchestral composition forming the prelude to an opera (8) Name a well-known tax worker (8) To treat a corpse with chemicals in order to preserve it from decay, is to do what (6) What are limbs of a tree also known as (8) Name a white ductile metallic element, symbol Ag (6) What is a short interesting narrative of a particular incident (8) Which NW European kingdom is bordered by Finland and Norway (6)

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Cot Cry Cube Cup End

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much used in military music (4) 6 Which term describes a person accompanying another 26 to a dance, party, etc (6) 7 Which bladed vehicle is used for levelling roads (6) DOWN 12 What are plays on words (4) 2 To become less in strength, 14 What are exits also called (8) is to do what (5) 15 Name that one of the 3 What is a short appearance in two bones of the forearm a play or film by a celebrity (5) which is on the side 4 Who are members of Letters have a number value the upper house (8) opposite to the thumb (4) Some values are in the right hand cells.

E-QUATIONS 7 Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

E-QUATIONS

17 Name Australian English, 18 20 21 23

humourously and affectionately regarded (6) Which man is employed as a harem attendant (6) What is the lowest portion of a ship’s interior (5) What is a lord, entitled to allegiance and service (5) Name the entire foot of a horse, donkey, etc (4)

W÷C F÷D A-R DxD AxA C-D P-A

E A U I U Y

Ham Ice Met Ripen Run

M S P B N P

E E N D E E

N A T A N K

Sea Shine Stem Tank Tap

Trip Tub Type Use

CURIO

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One of history’s best kept military secrets was… the wheelbarrow! In ancient China, farmers used wheelbarrows to take their goods to market, but they also doubled as a military tool for transporting goods and wounded, and as mobile barricades. They were referred to in code as ‘wooden oxes’.

BIYWORD

060

Letters A to Z have a number value. Some are shown in the right-hand cells. Create remaining values using clues in centre cells.

A D C F P R W

T C H C R T

050

Find the following words in the grid. They may be read in any direction, even diagonally.

Some letters are used more than once.

23

5 What is a high-pitched flute,

MINI WORD FIND

050

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.

CLUES: Deposit (abb) (3) Dessert (5) Emphasise: ... Upon (5) Good record: clean ... (5) Holy (7) Number (3) Pine-nut, garlic & basil paste (5) Playground equipment (7) Surf Lifesaving (3) Top: ...-shirt (3)

L

9 25

E E E E L O

A B D D E E

P S S S S S

S T T T W W

© Auspac Media - meq0060

ntire foot of a horse, donkey, etc (4) ord, entitled to allegiance and service

7

CROSSWORD

6

F M I F D E

E G S S A R Y C A N O I D S R E R T U R E L N M B A L M I I I L V E R G G W E D E N

5

V E G O R E E S S T E S

4

B A N C K S B A E C A R M E N T E A D E P O R T U O N R A S S E S S T U B R A N C H I U O A N E C D O E H F

BIYWORD

SUDOKU

9 25 1 20

4

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Dish,

5

3

P R W

GS

F

3

P E T S E D T E O

A D C

2

c26-050

1

DOWN 1 Force 2 Mental flash 3 Sharp rebuke 4 In this place

S E E S A W S

A:5, D:3, C:4, F:9, P:25, R:1, W:20

ACROSS 1 Plate 5 Inactive 6 Approximate 7 Sticky stuff

5 Idle, 6 Near, 7 Tape.

D DOWN: 1 Dint, 2 Idea, S W © 3 Slap, 4 Here.

B L E S L T

Solve the crossword.

Each answer has four letters.

SOLUTIONS

050

E-QUATIONS A:5, D:3, C:4, F:9, P:25, R:1, W:20

QUICK THINK

N A T A N K

050

MINI WORD FIND S T E M E S C A S E I H U P N C C I B D O R U N E T T Y P E

SUDOKU

COUNTRYJOURNAL

The Long Paddock with Gerard Walsh

S

eems like the first two weeks of the Albanese Government have gone pretty well.

I can see a difference between Albanese and some other Labor Prime Ministers.

He hasn't tried to change too many things in a week or two and is talking up trying to have the Parliament a more civilised place.

We have enough yelling in the community without it happening in Parliament.

There are many immediate issues, one is to talk to the nations of the Pacific which China is trying to move in on.

One of my suggestions after this election is to do away with How To Vote Cards, ban any party workers within 100 metres of a polling booth.

I can recall going to Brisbane in my 20s to help out at by-elections or in seats the National Party was trying to win and standing in the sun for 12 hours.

Those were the days voting was 8am to 8pm.

Interesting when the booths closed at 8pm, there seemed to be more voters just before eight than there are now just before six.

I know some people enjoy handing out How To Vote Cards and it is a chance for a school P and C to make some money out of a sausage sizzle or a cake stall but do we need it when the name of the political party is printed on the ballot paper.

I didn't have a How to Vote Card, I just looked for six groups to vote for in the Senate and to be honest found it hard to fill my last two votes.

I voted for the Australian Federation Party as one of my six groups.

There were six people handing out How To Vote Cards at Douglas Feez Pavilion at the Warwick Showgrounds on the

Saturday afternoon, four for Clive Palmer's United Australia Party, one for the LNP and one for the Australian Federation Party.

The ALP had a marquee and

no helper at the showgrounds and in three hours I only saw one person go looking for a How To Vote Card.

I take my hat off to many of the party supporters who stood at the polling booths all day, especially those where it was highly unlikely their party would win.

I was told one ALP supporter was at Warwick East State School all day which included three hours when it rained off and on.

At one stage of the Senate count, the Cannabis Party had 80,400 first preference votes, 23,000 more than the United Australia Party which spent millions of dollars on advertising.

I didn't even know the Cannabis Party was in the ballot and media reports suggest their office was at Nimbin in Northern New South Wales and they spent less than $20,000 on the campaign.

The first I knew they were in the ballot was when I saw their party name on the ballot box.

There is one issue I hope Prime Minister Albanese resolves and that is to allow that Biloela refugee family to return

to their hometown.

Politics needs a bit of compassion and there is little in the new Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.

Would allowing a family of four which had been to hell and back to head back to Bilo open the floodgates as they say?

Good to see Member for Maranoa David Littleproud the new Nationals leader.

Many Inglewood cricketers can say they played in the same team as the now Nationals leader. His brother John starred in Toowoomba cricket and their father Brian was a brilliant batsman out Chinchilla way so there is a fair bit of cricket history in the family.

I was a bit of a fan of Barnaby Joyce but I thought he didn't seem to have the same fire in his second period as Deputy Prime Minister as in his first and clearly there was a mood for change in the Parliamentary Party.

Like Barnaby, David has plenty of fire in the belly which is needed to fight for rural and regional areas.

We seem to be getting a few leaders around here after Lawrence Springborg was Leader of the Opposition in Queensland.

State of Origin Queensland State of Origin second rower Kurt Capewell is originally from Charleville and played polocrosse for Queensland before he played league for the state.

His whole family played polocrosse.

There are a fair few polocrosse players also good at other sports.

One in particular is Australian Test polocrosse player Jim Grills who played high level Aussie rules in Albury and wasn't too far away from pushing for higher levels.

Warwick player Cameron Shepherd was a junior rugby league fullback before he concentrated on polocrosse and went on to captain Australia.

11

Steam, stamina, delays Continued from back cover Neil said, "There is no other event in Australia that does five races over two days. We have teams from Brisbane, Tasmania and London."

Neil reported that this year had the greatest number of runners competing in all five of the events that make up the full 42.2 km marathon.

Along with water stations breaking up the gruelling run, roadside entertainers were scattered along the marathon route. Dianna Miller known as Lady Di, stood dressed as a leopard with her partner danced on the side of the Warwick Allora Road and shouted words of motivation to the wearying runners.

"You can catch them, they are slowing down at the front," Lady Di called out whilst dancing energetically to booming dance music that thumped from the couple's van.

After 6 bypasses in her leg, the 70-year-old had retired from marathon running and instead of racing, encourages those who can complete the event.

Due to the train's delay, a list of runners beat the steam train to the station to shouts of excitement from family and friends waiting at the finish line.

12

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Steam, stamina, delays Leonie Fuge editor@thedailyjournal.ink

It was a double delay for the annual Steam and Stamina race of the Warwick Pentathrun that had over 450 runners racing the steam train from Deucher to Warwick Train Station on Saturday morning.

Thick fog delayed the runner's start of the 21km half marathon by 30 minutes due to a lack of visibility on the Warwick Allora Road. When the fog finally lifted the eager runners were released however, the steam train was then delayed by two grain trains and didn't align its trip with the 11/2 marathon participants as they ran, walked and Harlem shuffled their way back to Warwick unit later in the race.

Neil Burtenshaw, Warwick Pentathrun race director said, "There is lots to coordinate.

We have to line the race up with the train but it's been logistically challenging with the fog, There are 44 traffic controllers with 18 vehicles coordinating road closures. We also have the Warwick police officers volunteering their time for

the weekend."

The Warwick Pentathrun is an unusual event that attracts competitors from across the globe who come to the Southern Downs to enjoy the weekend. Competitors arrived dressed in all sorts of running

gear, from well-known brandnamed lycra shorts to sparkly tutu's and one competitor wore a highlander kilt.

Continued on page 11...