Country Journal, Edition #16 - September 27, 2021

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

CountryJournal Week commencing 27th September 2021

Better 1 year late than never

The Freestone State School will be celebrating its 150 years too late on Saturday 9th October, but that pent up extra 12 months should make the celebrations extra special.

“This is an important event for our community,” one of the organisers, Kathy Payne said.

“Every generation is excited”... and that includes Norm Madsen, who attended Freestone State School in the run up to World War II, and recalls some of the adventures kids got up to those day in the story, as told to Krista Bjorn

Border country Shearing stalwart memories

An invisible borderline between NSW and Queensland was the only thing keeping the energetic and enthusiastic Killarney Show and Rodeo Society president Jan Hamilton from putting in the hard yards at the showgrounds in recent months. In this week’s Face to Face, Leyburn shearer, Wattles stalwart and local Gerard Walsh takes Jan through some of the identity Alwyn Hamblin passed away recently, and highlights, an insight into one of the leading it brought back memories of the shearing shed in lights of the Killarney and border community. full swing for Gerard Walsh. See page 7...

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2 COUNTRYJOURNAL AgQuip gives up for 2021

Country briefs

Australia’s largest agricultural field day, AgQuip, has been cancelled and will not proceed in 2021, having already postponed the event from its initial date in mid-August.

Extended lockdowns and restrictions on travel throughout New South Wales and interstate, as well as snap lockdowns through-

and technology.

However, following the cancellation of this year’s event, AgQuip has not been held for the past two years given concerns regarding COVID19 and restrictions in place on both occasions.

out other parts of the country, meant organisers were forced into cancelling event after initially rescheduling it to November.

AgQuip – the country’s largest agricultural field day – usually draws a crowd in the tens of thousands and exhibitors travel across the country to showcase the latest in agricultural machinery

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fields are again under pressure from resurgent mouse numbers which could threaten the winter crop harvest over the coming months, according to the CSIRO and Grains and Research Development Corporation

Chinese apple market struggling

The Chinese fresh apple market expect a difficult season thanks, in part, to an increase in production.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that summer apples in China in 2021 were sold at record low prices given large stocks of the 2020 apple harvest in the country’s fruit storage facilities.

Since Chinese farmers started supplying Gala apples to the markets in late July and early August, the situation in August only worsened and prices remained at record lows.

Farmers often received less than $0.2 per kg for good-quality summer apples, and buyers paid no more than $0.10 per kg for small-sized apples.

Despite low prices throughout the season, China managed to increase its apple exports by only 2% compared to the 2019/29 season to 1.1 million tons.

This was the highest export volume in the last three seasons, but it was significantly lower than the export in the 2016/17 and 2017/18 seasons. In those years, China exported 22-24% and almost 260 thousand tons more apples than in the 2020/21 season.

Apple imports to China last season were also at a record low for many years – only about 69 thousand tons. However, this did not save the situation. It seems that an alternative to the Russian market, access to which (for Chinese apple exporters at least) is still closed, has not been found.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Fabulous 150 for Freestone

3

Festivities may be 12 months late due to COVID-19, but Freestone State School will finally get to celebrate 150 years on Saturday 9 October 2021.

Norm Madsen joined Freestone School in 1938.

Photo: Krista Bjorn.

EA SY

time capsule items up close and reconnect with their old school connections.”

Norm and Verlie Madsen began attending Freestone School in 1938.

“My brother and I started school together,” Verlie said. “I was just five and he, six.

Norm and his brother started at the same time. We all rode ponies. I had three busters before I left the school grounds continued page 5....

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“This event is important for our Freestone community as it is one that brings people together,” Kathy Payne said. “Every generation is excited about it. Those who were at the school many years ago are looking forward to catching up with old school buddies and the present students are looking forward to showcasing how they do school. It's a family event so special for all. Plus, I think the old time races for the young at heart should be a hoot! Egg and spoon race is always a winner.”

Gates open at 10 a.m. with morning and a barbecue lunch on offer. An official welcome and opening of the 1988 Bicentennial Time Capsule will be at 11:30 a.m., and the afternoon will feature old-time races, group photos with former year groups, and the cutting of the anniversary cake. At 4 p.m., guests will move to the Freestone Memorial Hall for Social Saturday where students will perform, a raffle will be held, and guests can purchase loaded baked potatoes and country sweet treats for dessert.

“These occasions offer locals an opportunity to catch up,” Payne said. “I am looking forward to the whole day but especially keen for Social Saturday at the Freestone Hall and assisting to create an event where present and past community members can relax, enjoy country hospitality, check out the 1988

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Fruit farms expand accom capacity Two Granite Belt apple farms have had applications to provide accommodation for rural workers approved.

Earlier this year, Apple farms at Thulimbah and Pozieres lodged applications with Southern Downs Regional Council, seeking to establish rural workers accommodation, for up to 12 workers, on site.

The owner of both farms, Dino Rizzato, is an orchardist and board member of the Granite Belt Irrigation Project.

His family-owned Moonlight Orchards grow Granny Smith, Pink Lady, Gala, Red Delicious, Fuji, Kanzi, Rockit, Kalei and other varieties of apples.

The application for the apple farm at 100 Thulimbah School Road was prepared for Ler15 Pty Ltd, lodged by Adapt Town Planning and was approved on Monday.

The accommodation is proposed to complement the existing apple farm on site and will be located within the existing building.

According to the plan, four bedrooms are proposed, with the development to accommodate a maximum of 12 workers.

The Orchardist Dino Rizzato. Photo courtesy of the Granite Belt Irrigation application rently reviewing the existing system at for the apple farm at 2497 Amiens Road, Pozieres was prepared for Ladin 11 Pty Ltd, both sides to determine whether it is sufficient to service the proposed development. lodged by Adapt Town Planning and Both sites will continue to operate under approved Wednesday of last week. the existing waste management arrangeThe accommodation is proposed to comments unless otherwise specified by plement the existing apple farm on site Council. and will be located within the existing building.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Fabulous 150 for Freestone continued from page 3... one day during my first year at school. We used to be told that you weren’t considered able to ride until you’d had 19 busters.

I did just that!”

The school had a long paddock where the students would graze their ponies during school hours. Norm remembers the day he and a friend helped clear the area of big gum trees.

“We dug down with a shovel beside that tree and filled an ice cream container full of urea and half a stick of gelignite,” he said. “We put that down in the bottom of that hole, lit the fuse and ran for our lives! It blew the tree right out and made a big hole that was really smooth.”

In 1939, Freestone residents began preparing the school grounds for war.

“Our parents had to go down and dig trenches between the

fence and the creek,” Norm said. “We all had a number in school, there were about 30 kids then, and we’d all file out and we’d have a space in the trenches where we could squat down.”

“We were to retire to them in the event of an air raid,” Verlie explained. “Practices were held and we ran in good order to our places in the trenches so we’d be safe if the bombs fell.”

They also remember rationing during the war years. “We had to have ration coupons for tea, sugar, butter, also clothing,” Verlie said. “There were many items of clothing handed down, mended, or passed on to other families. I remember my aunt making herself a new dance dress out of a pair of white hailspot curtains. It looked very nice.”

Verlie has many happy memories of her school years. “I was

the only girl in my class and I used to read a lot,” she said.

“That’s how I’d spend my lunch hour, reading books leaned up against the classroom door.”

Norm, meanwhile, was outside with the boys playing rounders and keeping a weather eye open for snakes slithering up from the creek.

“There were always snakes by the school because it was right by the creek,” he said.

“One boy was bitten by a snake and the teacher took his belt off and put the belt above the bite,” Verlie recalled. “He’s lucky he didn’t lose his trousers. Then he cut the wound and sucked the poison out. The kid lived and is still out at Freestone.”

In those days there were no paved roads and no power in Freestone. Norm remembers when teacher Peter Roberts moved with his wife Joan and

5

their family to Freestone in 1955. They eased their way up dirt roads and were unloading furniture in the mud when Norm arrived to give them a hand loading electric appliances.

“He hadn’t told his wife there was no power,” Verlie said.

“And she had 28 appliances!”

Thankfully, Norm was on hand to teach them how to use a kerosene fridge.

Norm and Verlie are excited to attend the 150th anniversary of the Freestone School and reminisce with old friends.

Guests are encouraged to bring cash to the event as not all vendors will have EFTPOS. Bookings are essential to assist with catering and COVID management. To book a spot, text name and number of attendees to Bernie Ryan at 0431 014 863 or by email at bernieryan@ westnet.com.au

6

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Weight off for Safe Haven A $300 donation has been made to Warwick Safe Haven Inc after the Country Journal Weight Loss program in the run up to Father’s Day. Six people have donated $50 to the cause regardless of whether they achieved the aim of a weight loss of 5kg.

The four Ps who joined in were politician Mayor Vic Pennisi, printer Deb Wheeler from the Daily Journal and Stanthorpe Record, Warwick Gymnastic Club president Coby Walker was the president and Gerard Walsh was the primary producer.

They were joined by Southern Downs Regional Councillors Andrew Gale and Steve Tancred in donating $50.

All, except the primary producer, lost between 2kg and 5kg.

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Warwick Safe Haven consists of a volunteer committee which meets monthly and supports recovery and prevention of domestic violence across the Southern Downs in various ways.

“We donate money to the Domestic Violence Action Centre in Toowoomba for their support of Southern Downs clients with safety needs,” Mrs Bonney (pictured with Deb Wheeler, Gerard Walsh and the mayor) said.

“Safe Haven has helped to provide safety “emergency call” apparatus for victims, security cameras, screens and change of locks to keep women and

children safe in their homes and out and about.

“This support has changed lives and made families feel safe in their own home and out in the community.

“We also produce emergency number cards which are distributed through various avenues, including doctor’s surgeries, professional agencies and frontline service outlets (eg hairdressers).

Mrs Bonney said Safe Haven had also hosted Awareness and Education Workshops and were there to help professional agencies and the community across the Warwick and Stanthorpe areas.

“The Safe Haven organisation is totally funded by the community, and we have always been appreciative of the way the Southern Downs has supported our work.”

200 too many As of this week, 200 lives have been lost on roads across Queensland. Two in three road deaths occur on regional roads. Lives lost on our roads this year are on a trajectory to reach their highest number in over a decade. Already, we’re at 14 more than this time last year, and are on track to surpass 300 lives lost by Christmas. The largest increase has been on roads across Brisbane (+10), the state’s Southern (+6) (our area) and North Coast (+6) regions.

COUNTRYJOURNAL Our property at Greymare is a sheep/ cattle property and it was always an exciting but busy time at shearing. Half of our property is traprock country which is better for sheep and the other half, the granite, is more suitable for cattle.

My father used to say that sheep got wormy on the granite/sandy country but with the improvement in the quality of drenches, worms were almost a thing of the past.

Last month, a lot of memories flowed back about our shearing when I was told of the death of Leyburn shearer Alwyn Hamblin (pictured) at age 79. Many would know Alwyn and his wife Mary for their long involvement, along with their four sons, in the Wattles Warriors rugby league club.

Mary was the first woman to chair a Toowoomba Rugby League club and Alwyn was one patriotic supporter. Alwan Hamblin and Andrew Costello, who lives at Thane, were the two main shearers on our property at Greymare.

They would shear 230 sheep a day between them and neighbour Michael Ryan was one of my main helpers in the shed. Shearing more than 100 sheep a day as Alwyn did kept shed staff busy but the more shorn a day, the quicker the shear-

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ing was finished. To this day, I remember the phone numbers of Alwyn and Andrew, well everyone had a 46 at the start and I memorised the other six digits.

At the time, there were 10 woolgrowers in the Greymare area, now there are none, due to dingoes. My guess is we could have shorn up to 20,000 sheep annually in the district.

It was always tricky to get shearers as everyone shears predominately in the summer.

You tended to get the same shearers each year and Alwyn and Andrew were usually available. For Alwyn, rugby league was one of the smoko and lunch discussion points while for Andrew it was rugby union and cricket to the forefront.

There was no way you weren’t ready for the shearers at 7.30am each morning.

They were being paid by the sheep so they worked 7.30am-9,30am, 10am to noon, 1pm-3pm and then 3.30pm to 5.30pm five days a week. A bit of the breaks was used by shearers to sharpen their gear.

At the time, two of the families with a lot of shearers in the Karara area were Fearbys and Cullens. Each family had two generations shearing and all of our shearers were professionals and easy to get along with. cont’d page 10.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Jan Hamilton

After a wait of two months due to COVID-19 border restrictions, Killarney Show and Rodeo Society president Jan Hamilton and husband with gerard walsh Ross are back volunteering at the showgrounds.

Jan Hamilton has been president for eight years and is a second-generation show volunteer.

Her parents Ron and Verna Taylor and her husband’s parents Geoff and Margaret Hamilton were involved with the society so Jan and Ross are second-generation volunteers.

Ron and Verna grew up at Acacia Plateau, just east of Killarney.

Ross’s great grandfather first settled at Tabulam(NSW) and the family bought their Legume property in 1965 The sons of Jan and Ross and their wives are heavily involved in community events.

Son Geoffrey, and wife Angela (nee Killarney Show and Rodeo Society presiMaher) live at Murray’s Bridge and he dent Jan Hamilton with society vice presdrives for Wickham’s Freight Lines. ident and secretary Natalie McCauley.

Angela works at Warwick Friendly Society Pharmacy. restricted to doing some work on the Son Graeme works for McMahon computer and making grant applications.

Brothers and wife Anna (nee Gilchrist) Last week, we returned to the showlive on the family farm at Legume. Anna grounds for the first time in two months is one of the Killarney First Responders, as a crossing permit now allows for vola group of volunteers who provide first untary work. aid at the scene in the Killarney area G: How tough were the restrictions? while the Queensland Ambulance Service J: It was tough emotionally. is travelling from Warwick.

We rang the Killarney Co-op and Ross Both the Maher and Gilchrist families would pick up our food on the way are volunteers with a capital V, the Mahers have been heavily involved in the through as he carted cattle to abattoirs and sales. His work with cattle was conWarwick Show and Rodeo Society and sidered as an essential service. the Gilchrists in the annual Warwick G: Who are the main people behind you Pentath-run. at the Killarney Show and Rodeo Society.

Ross and Jan have five grandchildren.

J: My backbone in my community “We are very proud grandparents,” Jan involvement is husband Ross, Mal Smith, said.

Natalie McCauley, Glenice Price, Les Gerard Walsh: Tell us about Killarney Kable and our Killarney butcher Steve and Border restrictions?

Carey.

Jan Hamilton: We live on the New G: Talking about the border, which team South Wales side of the border and do you support in State of Origin rugby couldn’t get a crossing permit to work at league? the Killarney Showgrounds. I was

FACE TO FACE

Rodeo Queen

J: Ross was born at Casino and I was born at Kyogle so we are Blues supporters at State of Origin and like to stir up a few Queenslanders.

We live at Acacia Plateau (NSW) and one of our boundaries is the border with Queensland.

G: What has been the high point of your involvement with the show society?

J: Running successful events and seeing showground facilities used. I love seeing the kids in the showgrounds arena at pony club and visitors to Killarney enjoying events.

G: How have you gone with the pandemic and the last two shows?

J: We haven’t missed a show, the past two shows have been held. The only events we have lost have been rodeos and campdrafts as well as last year’s Bonfire Night and trail ride.

The society hosts the Killarney Bonfire Night annually as part of the Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival. The bonfire attracted 3900 online bookings and another 100 bought cash tickets at the gate this year.

G: Have many volunteers?

J: We had more than 200 volunteers for the bonfire this year, including two blokes from Brisbane who are hospital wardsmen who wanted to volunteer. They helped Paul Graham stoke the fires set up at the bonfire night.

G: How many trail riders for the big Killarney trail bike ride each year.

J: Numbers were restricted this year to 500 due to covid but the ride normally attracts 2000 riders. The ride was only over one day this year.

G: Who runs the trail ride?

J: The Killarney State School P and C. continued next page....

COUNTRYJOURNAL continued from previous page... Community groups involved in the Bonfire Night are the Killarney Show and Rodeo Society, Killarney Recreation Club, including polocrosse and community volunteers, Killarney Girls Brigade, Killarney Memorial Aged Care and Killarney Lions run the barbecue.

The clubs/organisations get a share of the profit.

The Waddle, Saddle and Pedal Ride each August/September is a show society event.

G: How did your mother first get involved in the show society?

J: Mum, Verna Taylor, was involved with the Killarney Show Ladies and first got involved when she was called by Betty Ross who asked her for milk from our dairy farm for the custard at a wedding. Mum said she would make the custard which started her involvement with the ladies.

G: Where did you meet Ross?

J: We met at a monthly country dance at Legume.

G: Tell readers about your own cattle?

J: We have 60 Brahman Cross breeders and are involved in breeding bucking bulls for contractors. We bred bulls for contractor Frank Biddle. It is lovely to see bulls we have bred in the rodeo arena, just like watching family members at the school athletics.

G: What about the high cattle prices?

J: I wish the increase in cattle prices didn’t follow the drought as we had de-stocked during the drought and then it was hard to buy breeders (at a reasonable cost) for the first six months after the drought. We had to decide to sell everything or de-stock and used our available cash to hand feed some of our cattle through the drought.

9

Notes from a country vet Earlier this month, I, along with Dr Edward Maxwell were called out to see a heifer, having her first calf, and showing signs of dystocia. This means that she was having difficulty calving. On arrival at the farm the vets were straight into their overalls and off to assess the situation. With calvings and especially foalings speed is of the essence to ensure a live calf/foal. The first thing to determine is, is the calf presented and positioned normally in the pelvis. We want their front feet first followed closely by the head, thankfully in this little guy’s case that was just how he was positioned. An epidural was placed to help relax the first-time heifer, calving chains were placed on the front limbs and obstetrical lube was pumped into the birth canal. Under gentle traction and care Dr Edward and Dr Andrew were able to deliver a healthy happy bull calf pictured below.

One week later the young calf if happy and healthy running circles around the paddocks none the wiser about his hurried birth into this world.

Dr Andrew Hopgood, Warwick Equine Vets.

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Long Paddock cont’d from page 7.. Shearing was a bit of an adrenaline rush, especially the hope that our Lister engine would start straight away after each break.

The old Moffat Virtue shearing headgear worked well even though we had power in the shed and could have gone electric.

I can admit it now but for all of my time in the industry, our shearers used wide combs. A wide comb would increase a shearers’ daily count from 100 to 120 and that meant a 20 per cent increase in pay. Every shearer to walk into our shed had land themselves and most had sheep. The union at the time was trying to stop the introduction of wide combs but the change eventually happened.

One of the main jobs around shearing time was to have one day of dry sheep, hopefully two, so if the rain came, shearing

would not have to be put off for three days. Wet sheep can’t be shorn, the wool has to dry on the sheep before shearing.

Most of our wool went to market in Brisbane, now wool from this area is sent to Brisbane but is sold at Newcastle or Sydney with buyers having the test results of each lot of wool. We once topped the prices in the Australian Estates (later part of Elders) catalogue one day in Brisbane. We couldn’t claim all the credit as we had bought the sheep three months earlier at a sale at Moree in New South Wales. Another Greymare wool producer, Philip Cleary, took 150 sheep from the mob and we took 200, our top price showed we bought good sheep.

Philip remembers the wethers for their big frames. Reminds me of the day I took neighbour Geoff Thornton with me to a machinery sale at Moree, we arrived at 9am for a 10am sale.

Forgot about daylight saving so couldn’t hear the tractors we were interested in running as they were only started in the

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Olympians sighted out and about locally It was good to see Olympic rower Harriet Hudson honoured last week at the Southern Downs Regional Council meeting. She is a great ambassador for the Warwick area and the sport of rowing and it was nice the quad of four could share in the excitement of a bronze medal win at Tokyo 2020.

Harriet is one of five athletes with an association with the Allora, Warwick and Stanthorpe areas who competed at Tokyo.

Matthew Denny from Allora was presented with a council certificate a couple of weeks ago after a fourth place in discus at the Olympics. Rugby sevens Olympian Demi Hayes was living at Glenmorgan at the time she was a boarder at Scots PGC College in years 8-11.

She played her first rugby at the college and is now based in Sydney and a regular member of the sevens team which travels to tournaments around the world.

Her family were always in Warwick for rodeo week as her parents Michael and Bec Hayes are outstanding campdrafters along with her siblings. The odds are Demi will return to campdrafting after her rugby career.

Charlotte Caslick was a rugby gold medallist in 2016 and the world’s best player at Rio and was a teammate of Demi this time. The women’s team lost to the United States and Fiji by the same score, 14-12, so they missed out on a medal this year.

Charlotte’s father Don Caslick was a classy rugby league player in the Stanthorpe area before moving to the big city. She has relatives on the Granite Belt.

Charlott’s partner Lewis Holland was in the men’s sevens rugby team at Tokyo and both were spotted going to the gym in Stanthorpe during a visit to the Granite Belt in the past year or two.

Lewis and Charlotte are considered sevens royalty and they both highlighted the plight of people on the land back in 2019.

AUCTION

Saturday 9th October 2021 at 9am At 256 LYNDHURST LANE, WARWICK

REMINDER

•Oil Bottles, Tins, Racks, Cans, Stands, Signs, Fuel Bowsers •500 Rabbit, 100 Dog & Animal Traps, Imperial Collectors Figures •100+ Bells, Old Tricycles, Scooters, Tin Car, Steel Wheels •Cast Iron Pots, Boilers, Saucepans, Kettles, Camp Ovens, Fountains •Blacksmith Anvils, Vices, Swage Block, Forges, Tools •Enamel Cannister Sets, Jugs, Billy’s, Saucepans, Basins, Stone Ware •Tobacco Cutter, Corn Cracker, Shellers, Chaff Cutter •Pack Saddles, Dray, Haynes & Collars & Shearing Gear •MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION For Photos Visit - www.stuartbondrealestate.com.au AUGUST 2009 ON SITE 10AM PAYMENT29TH STRICTLY DAY OF SALE•EFTPOS AVAILABLE•CANTEEN

AUCTION FURNITURE &

HUGE HOUSEHOLD COLLECTION ITEMS SALE 2679303aaH

10

TODAY

57 BAGULEY STREET, WARWICK Stuartbondrealestate & agtrader.com.au A/CSTUART BRUCEBOND MAUNDER. PLEASE CALL ON 0419 677 775

Call or email Kelvin Hutchinson

PH. 0407 733 836 l kelvin@visioninaction.net More details - www.realestate.com.au Reference No: 202706266

D

SOL

STUART BOND REAL ESTATE & AUCTIONEER

WARWICK 46613462 or 0419677775 sbondrealestate@bigpond.com

Helen Harm

COUNTRYJOURNAL

11

Real Estate

WALK TO CBD

$170,000 “ROSALIND” - A GRAND LADY Co Un nt de ra r ct

$375,000

Investment opportunity!

• CBD Unit with an elevated aspect to capture breeze • Air-con, 2 built-in large bed • Open-plan living with good sized kitchen, combined bathroom laundry • Views over Warwick and beyond from deck & living areas • Separate lock up storage, 1 car garage

INVESTORS: Rent is $235 per week

INVESTOR ON BIG BLOCK

50 FITZROY STREET, WARWICK • Heritage Listed on the SDRC Local Heritage, not on the Queensland Heritage Register • Zoning is “Mixed Use” which permits – Residential, Low Impact Industry, Commercial Office, Childcare • Flood Immunity – SDRC requires all new building

work above Q100 flood level • General Development Requirements please contact our office • Land size is 3360m² - home has 13 rooms in total Here’s an opportunity for lovers of grand old homes with original features!!

$265,000 SELLING A DREAM Potential to subdivide 1325m² lot •1960’s timber 3 built-in bed home •Window air-cons in lounge, main bed •Lounge media off entry hall •Open-plan tiled living has aircon •Kitchen has slow combustion+elec . appliances, bench space & pantry •Bath has shower over bath, separate toilet •Laundry utility, ramp to yard •Close to private schools, golf course & sports fields

INVESTORS: Renting at $275 per week

RURAL LIFESTYLE WITH INCOME

$585,000 RURAL ACREAGE

$500,000

Currently running Angus cattle • 100 .7ha fenced to paddocks • Infratructure - igloos used for piggery 10 yrs ago • Site office - 2 bed, shower, open-plan, aircon, woodfire • Electric kitchen, dining & living • Sandy loam scrub soil and rich loam along Turners Creek • Dams and creek frontage Avoid COVID escape populated areas

STOP URGENT!!

WE NEED RENTAL PROPERTY IN GOOD REPAIR

Set up for horses - dam, bore feeding tanks, water troughs in each paddock • 10 .45ha fenced to paddocks & laneways • Main sheds - 20m x 8m, 12m x 5m, 4 bay garage/workshop/shed • 3 bed hardiplank – open-plan • Electric kitchen, dining & family • Fully screened north facing full length verandah • Large bathroom, separate toilet & laundry

COMMERCIAL PREMISES

WE HAVE NO VACANCIES!!

PLEASE CONTACT US IMMEDIATELY IF YOU HAVE A RENTAL AVAILABLE

$427,000

$395,000 ALLORA - Business situated in main street • 2 Showrooms • 2 Offices • Storage • Staff amenities – kitchen, bathroom & laundry • Solar System – leased with income • Parking off back street entry • Rainwater tank in fenced backyard on 1019m²

PRESS Call …Helen Harm Real Estate 4661 3663

HIGH PROFILE FRONTAGE

$735,000 “We built our dream home here” • Brick 4 bed, built-ins, 2 bath • Timber kitchen/dining • Big lounge living • Hallway storage • Shower & bath, separate toilet • Ducted aircon • Fenced 2 .5 ha yard, 8 car, shed • Pool & tennis court • On city bus route, close to schools & shops

INVESTORS: Rent as separate facilities

LAND •WARWICK - 2851m², high profile Commercial, flat block, power, town water, curb & channel . . . . . . . . . .$427,000 •WARWICK - 1330m², near facilities, power, town water, curb & channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$185,000 •WARWICK - 1 .16 Ha on spring fed creek, bitumen frontage, power, fenced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$189,000 •MARYVALE - 2023m², power nearby, school, bitumen road frontage, VIEW . . . . . - SOLD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$75,000

Great opportunity for a light industry venture to establish a new business or upgrade to a higher profile site behind Black Toyota, Top Two Motorcycles, Betta Storage and Ken O’Dea Floor Coverings • Off New England Highway • Corner of Betta Place and Ogilvie Road

• Both are bitumen roads with good high-profile frontage • Larger level 2851m² block • Power, water sewerage nearby • Zoning is specialised Centre • Map shows underground infrastructure

53 FITZROY STREET, WARWICK www.helenharm.com

•MARYVALE - 3642m², power available, character with gully, VIEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$50,000 •HENDON - 3819m², adjoining blocks, 2 deeds, power at road, new home area - Under Contract . . . . . .$80,000 •PRATTEN - 4047m² (2 available), bitumen road, water & power available . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$90,000

See www.helenharm.com for more listings

0408 457 496

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Graymare Hall first of the Festivals The Greymare Hall will be joining the number of rural venues that are part the Festival of Small Halls Spring Tour in October.

The hall at Greymare was built in 1936 and later the supper room was added after a former Second World War building was moved from Risdon to Greymare.

There were fund-raising functions, farewells and welcome home functions in the hall during the Second World War but there was a break in hall events in the 1960s before activities resumed with cabarets attracting capacity crowds.

The Greymare Hall stands on the traditional lands of the Kambuwal People.

The Festival of Small Halls concert at Greymare is on October 13 with dinner at 6pm and the concert at 7pm.

Travelling pair Darren Hanlon and Kelly Brorhaha will provide the entertainment along with Warwick musician Phil Vellacott

who has relatives with land at Rodgers Creek, just to the east of Greymare.

Hall committee chairman Matt Cleary said he was thrilled to get funding through the Flying Arts Alliance to

foster a spirit of adventure and appreciation of the visual arts.

Down the years, reunions and Back To Greymare days have been held at the hall along with functions put on for cricket and the nearby Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Church communities. Weddings and gift evenings have been held in the hall down the years and two district history books have been published.

At one time, the hall was hired out for a Warwick school end of year party and thousands of dollars were donated to RACQ LifeFlight which was needed by five district residents down the years.

In the past two years, noted sportsmen Shane Webcke and Carl Rackemann have been guest speakers at hall/cricket functions.

A new cricket pitch on the adjoining Greymare cricket oval was laid this year in time to host two days of cricket at the Warwick Australia Day Cricket Carnival.

The Festival of Small Halls will also visit rural communities from Cunnamulla in the west, to Hughenden and Charters Towers in North Queensland and Mapleton in the Blackall Ranges west of Nambour.

Google “Current tours – Festival of Small Halls” to book tickets online or call Jane Sullivan on 0435 340 560 or Kylie Gross on 0427 611 546 by October 8.

Killarney Real Estate

DID YOU KNOW IT’S CURRENTLY A VERY STRONG

SELLER’S MARKET Call or text Rob Hall on 0418 989 184 now to find out how much your property is worth! www.killarneyrealestate.com.au • Free Appraisal

• No Marketing Costs

AUCTION

COUNTRYJOURNAL

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SATURDAY 16TH OCTOBER 2021 - Onsite 10.00am

Followed by Clearing Sale LOT 1/172 FREESTONE CREEK ROAD, FREESTONE QLD 4370 A/C Estate of the late John Gosen

BRICK RESIDENCE ON 20 ACRES

Solid 3-bedroom residence on 20 acres just 15 minutes east of Warwick in the fertile Freestone area. Open-plan kitchen and dining area with formal lounge, 3 spacious bedrooms plus a large office. 3 bay lockable shed with concrete slab & steel machinery shed approximately 50’ x 25’ enclosed on 2 sides. 90% cultivation with quality black soils. Excellent north facing outlook.

CLEARING SALE SUMMARY REMINDER

AUCTION FURNITURE & HOUSEHOLD ITEMS

2679303aaH

•Horse drawn carriage, 3 x sulky’s, 1 x 4-wheel buggy, qty sulky lights •Sulky saddles & collars, qty horse gear, trunks/chests •Massey Ferguson 178, John Deere 2010, Deutz D68 06 tractors, rear forks •N/H 469 hay bine, N/H 3 PTL 57 hay rake, I.H.C. 440 baler, Ferguson 6’ tool bar •14 run Sunshine combine & small seed box, Silvan 400L 6m boom spray, harrows •John Deere 100 Series 15.5hp B/S ride-on mower, Howard 4’6” slasher, •1996 Ford Econovan 1 tonne tray truck (U/R), 29TH AUGUST 2009 ON SITE 10AM 2008 Mitsubishi Triton Ute (U/R) 57 BAGULEY STREET, WARWICK •1927 Chevrolet Radiator Cowell, qty metal toy cars, A/C BRUCE MAUNDER. single axle trailer

TODAY

S

OLD

STUART BOND REAL ESTATE & AUCTIONEER

WARWICK 46613462 or 0419677775 sbondrealestate@bigpond.com

•Approx. 12 x old clocks including grandfather clock, chaise lounge, conversation chair, marble top wash stand, jugs & basin sets •Samsung 5.5kg washing machine, household furniture including beds, tables, chairs, wall units, garden furniture •Qty builders’ tools, trestles & planks, qty hand saws in tin case, Makita mitre saw, Archer nail gun, storage cabinets •Donovan manual post hole auger, Silvan spray, •Qty Electric Guitars (Fender, Emprader, Sonik), Amplifiers (Fender Rumble, Danelectro Nifty Fifty, Strause Polka) & accessories •Qty 4 x 4 round lucerne hay bales and small sqs bales •1955 Dodge 8 tonne tip truck G/C •Qty of café equipment •3-25 Bluefin boat with Tohatsu 9.8 motor (plus fuel tank) •Miscellaneous items too numerous to list

For photos visit - www.stuartbondrealestate.com.au PAYMENT STRICTLY DAY OF SALE • EFTPOS AVAILABLE • CANTEEN

Stuartbondrealestate & agtrader.com.au PLEASE CALL STUART BOND ON 0419 677 775

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Special, spiced, smooth KRISTA BJORN

ketchup

tomatoes are big and ripe, I love making homemade ketchup, tomato and this spiced ketchup recsauce to Aussies, when the first of the spring ipe is a beautiful way to carry that luscious flavour throughout the WANTED year.

Spiced Ketchup Recipe Tomatoes This recipe Looking for honey bee swarms and begins with the ripest, native bee swarms, plus hives meatiest tomatoes you (eg. in trees or roof) can find. Roma tomatoes and San Marzano tomatoes are ideal. If you can Phone Ben 0408 609 331 only find beefsteak or other juicy tomatoes, simply increase the amount of tomaFOR SALE toes you use since they have so much liquid, you won’t have much sauce left once they’re cooked.

Sat. 2nd and Sun. 3rd October Vinegar: A good spiced ketchup recipe needs vinegar to balance the acidity of at 351 Forest Plain Road, Allora the tomatoes and the sweetness of the Starts 8am both days sugar and create that ideal sour sweet Bottle Trees, Mixed Plants, Craft balance that makes ketchup so scrumpand much more tious. You can use apple cider vinegar, white wine vinegar, or even plain vinegar, but the combination of caramelized balsamic vinegar and red wine R A N D O M T E D H E D B S E C vinegar is my favourite.

H A A V E I M E A V E O R T S O Ketchup usually requires a lot of sugar, but by using U F D D R I M X F V I C E I T P caramelized balsamic vineO N A T T O S P R E A D S F U I gar, you can greatly reduce I L P N O S D E I U E U E F D E the amount of sugar you add. Balsamic vinegar will B D T R S E S R C E V N A O Y D work well too, but the caraE N G A P B Z T A A F I R Z O O melized version is thick, syrP U R P O S E A T H M Q C E R J upy, and divine.

Sugar D G A T R E N D M A I U H U L I You can use pretty much I N F E W A S N O B M E E O W N any sweetener for ketchup V L O U N G E R A I I R R O U N including honey, maple syrup, molasses, and sugar.

A D O R N I N G D T C A S W H Y This recipe was made with a Chimp Diva 1. Extra hair on head lovely brown sugar that Wordfind: 2. Grass shorter gives a hint of molasses Hidden Phrase: “The behaviour con- 3. Beauty spot moved richness without being overtinued even after Julie was no longer 4. Missing belly button powering. around.”

5. Toe missing Spot the Five Differences: Copyright: Auspac Media.

Seasoning Worcestershire

Bees Wanted

Plant - Yard Sale

15

sauce is an essential component of a good spiced ketchup recipe. A generous tablespoon of the heavenly liquid will add dimension and flavour that complements the tomatoes nicely.

Salt and pepper are next.

If possible, use freshly ground black pepper since it imparts the most flavour and fragrance.

Now come the spices. I like to use a couple of cloves, a piece of star anise, a few fennel seeds, a stick of cinnamon, and either fresh or ground ginger. Don’t worry about wrapping them in a spice bundle. Just toss them in the sauce. You’ll be pushing the sauce through a sieve near the end, and that will remove any spice pieces and ensure your ketchup is smooth and lump free.

Cooking As with any sauce, regular stirring is the key to making sure your ketchup cooks down into a thick, glossy concoction without sticking to the bottom and turning the whole lot into a burnt mess. It doesn’t take too long to simmer down, especially if you use a wide, shallow pan with a lot of surface area for the liquid to cook off. The narrower your pot, the longer your ketchup will need to cook.

Also, cook at a low temperature so the ketchup simmers but doesn’t erupt into bubbles that spew hot tomatoes all over you and your kitchen.

Straining Once your sauce is nice and thick, remove it from the heat and push it through a fine mesh strainer. This will remove all seeds, skin, and spice pieces.

Then discard the solids and return the sauce to the stove top, stirring in a few tablespoons of tomato paste. Now is a good time to taste your ketchup and add more vinegar, brown sugar, or seasonings to suit your taste.

Return to a simmer and cook, stirring often, until it reaches your desired consistency.

Remove from heat, pour into sterilized bottles and either store in the fridge or process with hot water method then store in pantry until ready to use.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Gyrations in wool market

Contributed by Bruce McLeish, Elders

The Australian wool market continued its gyrations either side last week, with a fall, as expected on the first day, followed by somewhat of a recovery in price on the second day. This culminated with an overall movement of nine cents down in local currency terms. European buyers saw a negative adjustment of 10 Euro cents, although for the type of wool which most of them are chasing, quotes were probably higher across the week.

Buyers in the Chinese currency saw a similar decline, and USD prices slipped by 15 cents or 1.5% as well. As has been the case for the past few months, the better style merino fleece was well supported, the poorer styles attracting the usual discounts commensurate with the degree of difficulty in processing, and skirtings and cardings following a similar path depending on processing capability. Crossbred wools continue to meander along, just keeping their heads above water, in terms of profitability, but still desperately searching for that elusive new demand driver.

As expected the 21 MPG in Melbourne came back into line, after being pushed up too high the previous week, by a disproportionate volume of RWS accredited wool selling in Melbourne. The industry will no doubt be discussing how to handle the reporting and quoting of these wools, which are achieving a consistent premium of 10% or more above the traditionally prepared and grown clips.

Whilst there are several accreditation schemes currently being promoted and used across the globe, RWS and GOTS are the 2 schemes which have managed to gain the street-appeal with retailers to date,

and are therefore generating the premium in auction – due to scarcity of supply. Having a lump of these wools in the indicator – or not – does have flow on effects to other parts of the industry, and is something which needs to be managed.

Many traders went to great lengths to explain the price movements last week to their clients in China about the market in South Africa.

The overall market there increased on Day 1, with a lot of sustainable wools in the catalogue. On the second day, most traditional wools were still dearer, but the headline market numbers fell due to a lesser volume of sustainable wools on offer. In Australia, with a larger catalogue, and a lower percentage – at this stage – of sustainable certified wools the effect is usually less noticeable. Unless you happen to be settling a futures contract against the 21-micron indicator when it spikes as it did a week ago.

Small issues, caused by a small industry no doubt. If it were possible to increase the size of the wool industry maybe some of these finicky things would not be a consideration – however that would give us a lot more fibre to find demand for, and present a greater challenge than it currently does.

Many people ask how small can the merino industry become, before it becomes unsustainable, or inconsequential.

Breeding flock economics aside, as a textile fibre arguably size doesn’t matter.

Other noble fibres roll along quite happily with a far

smaller production base than merino.

Current merino wool (less than 24 micron) production is around 380,000T clean according to the latest IWTO figures. By comparison cashmere production is estimated to be 25,000T across the globe.

Breaking it down further to what IWTO call Luxury Animal Fibres, and superfine merino currently makes up 72% of the total fibre consumption of 172,000T, with Cashmere a clear number two at 15%.

Clearly in the case of superfine merino, we still dominate the class, and given that wool now accounts for less than 1% of total world apparel usage, it is probably time we ignored the bulk market and focus on where our strengths lie - in the luxury segment. You don’t see the Cashmere or Silk industry spending their marketing funds in the “Dollar Discount stores”.

So, finding more immediate demand for the luxury fibre, as well as that elusive new product to stimulate crossbred demand hinges largely on China. European demand is rollicking along nicely with Italy leading the way, followed by Germany – once they decide who will replace Angela Merkel on Monday, which is a big ask. China which still consumes more than 50% of the final product is experiencing a few issues which are giving consumers a reason to pause.

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