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CountryJournal Week commencing July 19th 2021

Low kms the key

It’s just the principal!

Six years ago, Brad and Donna Bull fulfilled a longtime dream of farming their own property. They found their ideal spot south of Stanthorpe, named it Rising Sun Farm, and began implementing the regenerative farming practices they value. See Krista Bjorn’s story on P. 12 including a couple of Krista’s brilliant recipes.

Joy Craig, principal of Warwick State High School, recalls her first horse, Nikki, when she was a little girl in the Blue Mountains. Joy’s love of riding has continued as has her keen commitment to education. P. 10

One ‘ACCO’ of a journey

Orchardist Dennis Angelino bought a red butterbox truck 50 years ago and with half a million miles on the clock, the Thulimbah farmer’s devotion to the vehicle proves that you tend to get out of something what you put in...even if that ‘something’ is a basic, hard-working truck... P. 16 C

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Country briefs

Big Ag problem in USA

Siding with farm activists, American president Biden has announced that "Big Ag is putting a squeeze on farmers" and signed an executive order telling the USDA to rejuvenate the livestock, seed, fertilizer and retail food markets. The executive order on competition, reaching from the Food and Drug Admnistration to the Pentagon, called on the Fair Trade Commission to enact right-to-repair rules so farmers can fix their own tractors.

Want to export berries?

ed with a decline in imports of Australian fruit and vegetables this year. One importer who usually brought 60 shipping containers of table grapes into China annually has cut volume to 20 containers, according to one peak body report. Australia is not alone, however, and China imported 60 percent less bananas from South America this year.

$7.5 billion please A new report identifies $7.5 billion per year in capital will be needed to meet agriculture's $100 billion farm gate output vision by 2030. Strategies to meet demand will include things like precision technologies, sensor-based applications, more diverse forms of investment and a hard look at the fuel sector. Currently, agriculture attracts around $1.2 billion investment per year, with the farm gate output valued at $63 billion, as reported by Natural Capital Economics.

A newly formed Berries Australia export group has been developed, as announced by Berries Australia. The project, "MT20004: Joint Berry Export Trade Development" has been designed to manage market access and trade Watch out pineapples...there’s a development. Members will new crop in town....According to Steve Henry, the Mr Mice Guy of the CSIRO, receive useful market intellithe Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030 report will appear at a GDRC event at Millmerran gence, technical guidance, from the Organization for Economic next month. Photo supplied. notification from governCooperation and Development (OECD) ment agencies, information about and the Food and Agriculture Organization offshore trade networks and access to trade data. of the United Nations (FAO), avocado will become the most For more information, contact Jenny Van de Meeberg on commercialized tropical fruit by 2030, the year in which proexport@berries.net.au duction is projected to reach 12 Mt, up to 3.9 Mt of which will be exported, exceeding both pineapples and mangoes in volume. The Grains Research and Development Corporation (GDRC) is hosting a research update at Millmerran in August. The workshop will present the latest farm-ready information to improve profit, with researchers, agronomists and leading growers on hand.

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Millmerran grain workshop

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Topics include managing mice, the fall armyworm, FAW management, high competition sorghum, grain storage news, weed recognition technologies, optical sprayers and robotic platforms. Bookings are essential for the 10 August event. It will be held at the Millmerran Community and Cultural Centre, 45 Walpole Street, from 8:30 am to 2:45 pm with lunch included. Cost $30 pp. To register, visit the GDRC website or email erica@icanrural.com.au.

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Productive regeneration

Charley Massey, author, will present a workshop on regenerative agriculture on the Granite Belt in September

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Kirra Pines. The purpose of the symposium is to explore regenerative agriculture and land management and taking an ecological approach to farming, increasing productivity and improving resilience to drought and other natural disasters and reducing carbon emissions. Regenerative agriculture is most commonly practiced in small, family-run operations but have the potential to make a huge impact, possibly making it possible to keep farming families on the land. The philosophy encompasses a wide range of farming and land management practices including permaculture, agroforestry, biodynamic farming, food forestry, holistic/ecological grazing, cropping with biological inputs and cropping into native landscaptes. Other variations, according to GBSAN, include nature sequence farming and natural intelligence farming. The costs of implementing and cost effectiveness of regenerative farming will be discussed, as will the opportunity to share ideas, build networks and share strategies. The symposium, which is scheduled for the Stanthorpe Civic Centre on Saturday 4 September, welcomes horticulturalists, viticulturalists, graziers and orchardists from the region as well as managers of public and private land in the area. Registrations are now open through gbsan.org. au/events/symposium2021.

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ELIZABETH VONEIFF, EDITOR GROWERS keen on getting expert advice on maintaining or improving productivity in the face of climate change will have an excellent opportunity in Stanthorpe in September. The Granite Belt Sustainable Action Network (GBSAN) has invited a range of expert speakers including Charles Massey, author of Breaking the Sheeps Back (2011) and Call of the Reed Warbler: a new agriculture - a new earth (2012). Dr Massey has a PhD in Human Econology and was awared an order of Australia for his work in agriculture research. Also in the line-up of experts speaking on the day is Robin McConchi, a well-known personality of the ABC Country Hour who has reported on agripolitics for many years from Canberra. John Bennet, professor of soil science and agrimetrics for USQ's Centre for Sustainable Agriculture Systems will also be speaking as will Paul McDonald, CEO of Southern Queensland Landscapes. ON a local level, the symposium will host Rowan Berecry, manager of The Good Rich Fruit Company in Warroo, Michelle Coelli, co-owner of Twisted Gum Wines, Donna Gabbot of Rising Sun Farm and Jeff McMahon of McMahon Bros Orchards, Angus Ferrier of the Granite Belt Growers Association and Tim Carnell of

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

A load of pull...

LAST weekend saw a rare opportunity for locals to take a step back in time and watch a working bullock team in action at Maryvale. Gleneden Family Farm hosted a Walk in the Woodland with a Working Bullock Team at North Branch Road, giving farmers who curse at their Landcruiser, Hilux or John Deere a moment of reflection. Gleneden's bullock team is one of the few remaining bullock teams in Australia and offers a unique window into Australia's pioneering and transport history...when things were a lot slower, and in many senses, harder. This was an era when development outstripped the capacity of convict labour it

Australia's youngest bullocky Jethro with his steers Mickey, Snowy, Kev and Pat. Photo, Gleneden Family Farm was working bullocks that provided the muscle needed to further Australia'a infant colony. Bullock teams were renowned for their steady, patient and determined pull in difficult situations where horses were prone to jerkiness and panic leading to expensive injuries and breakages. Bullocks didn't often need shoeing and could live and work on rough herbage rather than the expensive feed required by working horses.It wasn't until improved road surfaces meant that the greater strength and speed of draught horses could be

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put to advantage, that bullock teams began to be displaced on the road. Australia's last full-time professional bullockies retired from the forest in the early 2000's, but there are still a few hardy individuals who train and yoke bullock teams as hobbies, for demonstrations or for parttime work in forests and on farms. In the case of Gleneden Family Farm owner Rohan Morris, his bullock team began as a hobby, developed into a genuine working team and is now available on and off his farm for displays. "Bullock teams are almost a lost art and forgotten trade," Mr Morris said.

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Look out for Ag census The Census is coming to farmers, and the latest survey will ask questions about of agricultural production, land and water use in 2020-21. The purpose is to paint a clearer picture of agriculture and its contribution to life in Australia. The statistics gathered will provide information about recovery from natural disasters, the benefits from investments to improve profitability, sustainability, production, infrastructure and service. The ABS has promised it has listened to feedback from farmers and made changes to the Agriculture Census, making it easier to complete either online or on paper.

The Gleneden bullock team heading for the bush (see story previous page) Photo, Gleneden Family Farm

Big Dairy accused of whiteanting The QDO is claiming that big dairy processors are deliberately white-anting their Fair Go label campaign. The peak body says that the ACCC auhorised the scheme inMarch this year but that the Australian Dairy Products Federation has lodged and application to set that determination aside. QDO calls the move “very disappointing”. According to the Fair Go scheme, dairy products must contain at least 80 percent of Queensland-sourced milk bought at a sustainable and fair price.

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!

The 2021 Census, will be the eighteenth national Census of Population and Housing in Australia. The 2021 Census will occur on 10 August 2021, and will contain two new questions this year, one about past or current Defence force participation, and one about long-term health conditions.

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6 COUNTRYJOURNAL LifeFlight missions The top five missions for the Toowoomba LifeFlight chopper in 2020/21 were a reminder to take care on country roads: 1. Motor vehicle accidents (68) 2. Serious illness/infection (44) 3. Cardiac (42) 4. Medical (unspecified) (34) 5. Falls (32)

Rich Aussie gets red diamond

the $800,000, .47 carat sparkler, was a three-month global process.

“It was part of our client’s superannuation strategy,” the jeweller explained. “The Some very well-heeled Australian has client approached other jewellers in purchased on of the rarest diamonds in Australia, but we were the most proactive existence - a red diamond. It is one of to move on it and make it happen.” “It was the world’s last known Certified Natural part of our client’s superannuation strateRed Argyle Diamonds, usually only seen gy,” the jeweller explained. “The client at jewelry exhibitions. From the initial approached other jewellers in Australia, approach from the Australian investor but we were the most proactive to move on who was looking to buy one, to receiving it and make it happen.”

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

For the third week in a row, we had the perfect rain, 39mm, at our place at Greymare. When you have grazing country, you never claim to have too much rain, we are only a few months from what could be the next dry spell. The 29mm, 30mm and 39mm on successive Fridays is some of the best follow up rain I can remember. Sounds like the 1980s when we ran 400 cattle all year round at Greymare on 840 hectares (2068 acres). At times, our carrying capacity in recent years has been closer to one beast to 10 acres. Perfect rain at our place is when you don’t have a lot of damage to creek fence crossings and there has not been much erosion on the sides of the hills and in cultivation paddocks. There was a minor flood on July 9 but no great damage to crossings. We haven’t planted oats for two years and let some granite country go back to grass so no erosion this time. I can usually tell if there has been some inflow to Leslie Dam. If Rodgers Creek and Greymare Creek run well to the north, it usually means there will be some inflow from Sandy Creek to Leslie Dam as the top of the catchments are only one kilometre apart. This time, I was right, Leslie Dam was up 9% to more than 46% so needs another run like that from what I call perfect rain to go past half full. I recognise the wet weather is stopping some farmers from planting winter crops but from my one planting of a barley grain crop I can say there is still time. The rain last Friday was great to fill many of the farm dams on the Granite Belt. With some small crops, irrigation water is needed at some part of the growing season even if it is a good season.

90 minutes. One walks on the footpath and the other on the street for social distancing. Deb has started at the gym doing weight bearing exercises twice a week to improve bone density. She is the journal printer in the four Ps along with me as the primary producer, Cr Vic Pennisi as the politician and Coby Walker as the president. We have been joined by two councillors, Andrew Gale who has bought an alarm clock to start early morning fitness and Stephen Tancred who has been inspirited by Deb’s training regime and knows going off KFC isn’t enough. Coby admits he has changed his food and drink intake a bit. It is diet coke instead of full strength, Burleigh Big Heads instead of Great Northern and fresh dates and cashews instead of KitKats and Cherry Ripes. Each of us will donate $50 to an organisation in Warwick and Stanthorpe which deals with domestic violence.

The Long Paddock with Gerard Walsh

Paralympic hopes THE Australian team for the Tokyo Paralympics will be named on Monday and the odds are Emily Tapp will be in the team to compete in paratriathlon. At the time of the last Paralympics and for the last Commonwealth Games, her mother Traci McHours lived in the Massie area. Emily had trained on some of the roads in the Warwick area. She won silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games at the Gold Coast and since then has won two world championships. Emily has been battling with arm and shoulder injuries but it would seem she has done enough in recent times to be in the team for Tokyo.

Weight loss program

Deb Wheeler is leading the way in the Country Journal Weight Loss Program in the lead up to Father’s Day. She is walking at 4.30am five mornings a week, with a walking buddy for

Water was still running at the front entrance to Coolesha a day after 39mm rain at Greymare.

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FACE TO FACE

School principal, Joy Craig

with gerard walsh JOY Craig often takes her horse for a ride at 5am before heading to work in her role as principal at Warwick State High School. When she was aged seven and living at the foot of the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Joy’s parents bought her a horse Nikki. “Nikki cost $300 and came with a saddle,” she said. “The horse was about 30 years of age and I would wander around the backyard on Nikki and occasionally get wiped out under a tree.” She was the eldest of three children and started her education at Emu Heights Public School before the family moved to the Southern Highlands and she went to Moss Vale High School. Joy played many sports in her teenage years, especially tennis and football (soccer). “I was a student of the 1980s when the buzz words were “feel the burn” as aerobics and exer-

University of Technology. She met her husband Ian Craig at teacher’s college and they married while at Kelvin Grove. They both then spent 20 years in and around Logan City schools. Ian started teaching at Shailer Park High School and Joy at Mabel Park High School. She was head of department for physical education and sport at Windaroo Valley State High School and then deputy principal of Beaudesert State High School. Joy and Ian wanted to bring up their four children, Samuel, Emily, Joseph and Anastasia in rural surrounds and she was appointed principal of Clifton State High School which coincided with their oldest child starting high school. “I was educated at a country school and wanted the same for our children in an area where there was a sense of community,” Joy said.

being split between the Mt Lofty Campus and Wilsonton State High School campus. Joy was then appointed principal of Warwick State High School in term 4, 2016, and is now in her fifth year in the role. Ian is teaching at Clifton State High School. Gerard Walsh: What is it like as principal at Warwick High? Joy Craig: It is a privilege to be principal and watch the students grow in their education. I particularly enjoy watching the leadership journey of our student leaders and seeing them representing the school at events such as the community Anzac Day Parade, participating in Youth Council and leading school events such as assemblies, Spirit Week activities and on carnival days. GW: What are the student numbers? JC: Our enrolment is 852 and stable. GW: There is a lot of scaffolding around the school, what is

Warwick State High School principal Joy Craig. Photo Gerard Walsh cise was the rage,” she said. The next move for her family was to Queensland and Joy went to Kelvin Grove Teachers College, now the Kelvin Grove Campus of the Queensland

She was principal at Clifton from 2010 to 2016. At the start of 2016, she was appointed acting principal of Toowoomba State High School (Mt Lofty) when the school was

it? JC: Painting and maintenance has been going on as well as solar power installation and a wireless network upgrade. GW: What about major proj-

ects? JC: There is work going on towards building a multi-purpose hall (in addition to the current great hall) which is going to be a useful facility and this is a good time for it to happen. GW: How do you compare teaching in Logan City to Clifton and Warwick? JC: People in the city seems to be more transient, a rural school has a more stable student population. It is often said it takes a village to raise a child and we have Warwick students in Year 12 who have had the same friends since pre school. There were many challenges and opportunities in Logan City, you had to accept the differences in the story of each child, it was a very diverse area. GW: What are some of your fondest memories of teaching? JC: I remember the camps, excursions and sporting teams. At Mabel Park, there was no one to coach the boys rugby union team when the sport was first introduced so I went and did a coaching course, received my coaching qualification and we participated in the interschool sporting competition in our district. We proudly wore our school colours and came about the middle of the field. I am a motto person, I want students to “have a go”, I am also a huge believer that state schools are great schools. GW: What about the proud history of Warwick High? JC: The school had the same principal Mr Robert C Hamilton for both the First World War and Second World War (19141948). Hamilton Oval and Hamilton House are named after Mr Hamilton, I am in Hamilton House and wore my red scarf for the first day of the athletics carnival last week. There is a proud sporting and academic tradition associated with Warwick High. GW: How did you manage through COVID-19. JC: We had to be flexible and adapt quickly. We provided one note options online and then paper-based copies for families which didn’t have the internet. We adapted well during the pandemic but there is nothing like face to face

COUNTRYJOURNAL contact GW: What about your horse riding? JC: I had a big gap in riding horses from my days in primary school in the Blue Mountains to our time in the Logan City area. A neighbour had a six-month-old colt who I purchased and some years later as a gelding his education under saddle was started at Beenleigh State High School as part of their Agriculture animal husbandry program. I like to say that even my horse Sunset Rider Jupiter is a proud State school advocate. After Jupiter was started under saddle a neighbour introduced us to the sport of tent pegging and both Jupiter and I had a go. I stayed on Jupiter during the tent pegging but I don’t think either

in 2022 which I believe will be held near the Warrumbungle’s in New South Wales, next year. GW: What about training Rafiq? JC: I get up at 4.30amand go riding at 5am two or three mornings a week. I ride nine to 10kms a morning with my headlights on. It is scariest when a grain train is driving past. I love endurance riding as its motto is “to compete is to win”. Success is not about first placings, it is finding your own pathway, valuing the journey and going at your own pace. GW: Are you involved with the Warwick Endurance Club? JC: Yes in terms of ride participation, I have gone in local rides at Maryvale, Bony Mountain and Killarney and am in awe of the volunteers from all the clubs which put on rides. I hope to put more back in the sport when I retire from work. GW: How far have you ridden this year? JC: I have only done 40km rides this year but will need to compete in some 80km rides next year in preparation for the Quilty. As well as 9/10km training rides in the morning, I will need to do 20 to 30km rides at the weekend. I have discovered the joy of riding for pleasure, I enjoy time on the horse and enjoy the countryside. Our son Joseph is 21 and in his final year of teaching at USQ in Toowoomba and he comes with me for some rides which is great family time. GW: What about travel? JC: Ian and I have a camper trailer and plan to get a caravan so we can travel within Australia. I love the Snowy Mountains.

GW: Is It the skiing? JC: No, I like the Joy Craig on Zameel Rafiq in the 2020 Bony Mountain Endurance Ride. Photo: Sarah Sullivan horse connection with the Photography Snowy Mountains. I plan of us on attending an organised showed a great deal of promise though we did have fun! Later Snowy Mountains Trek with a friend who hasn’t ridden for 20 another friend introduced me to endurance riding. years. The pioneering spirit of the horse in the cattle country is GW: How did you go? very inspiring. I also enjoy Tasmania. JC: Some of my greatest personal achievements have been in We had an amazing trip this year to Mission Beach in Far endurance riding. Jupiter and I completed the 50th anniversary North Queensland. Tom Quilty Ride in 2015 for our first Quilty buckle. We travelled to Victoria the next year and received another buckle for completing GW: What about Jumpers and Jazz? the Quilty Ride. JC: It is an amazing event each year. I love the old cars, enjoy GW: I know the Quilty is the Melbourne Cup of endurance riding, the music and can see the community pride up the street in the what is the distance? street jumpers. JC: One hundred and sixty kilometres (100 miles). We had earlier I enjoy watching the students from Warwick High playing received championship buckles for completing the 160km music in front of the town hall. Queensland State Championships rides in 2013 and 2014. One of GW: What about sport on television? my proudest achievements was when Jupiter and I received a 1500km completion award for finishing 1500km in endurance rides JC: I used to be an avid tennis watcher getting up with my without a vet out. father in the early hours of the morning to watch Wimbledon GW: What about the last few years and your sport? and the French Open. If the third State of Origin game is a JC: One of the challenges of a big school is you don’t have as decider, I will put my blue shirt on (originally from NSW) in a much spare time. house where everyone else is a Queensland supporter. I have retired Jupiter after riding him from 2007 to 2017 and I am now training on Zameel Rafiq. We hope to go in the Tom Quilty Ride

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Krista’s Country

with Krista Bjorn

Sun shining on Rising Sun Farm

SIX years ago, Brad and Donna Bull fulfilled a longtime dream of farming their own property. They found their ideal spot south of Stanthorpe, named it Rising Sun Farm, and began implementing the regenerative farming practices they value. "Our practices ensure we look after the animals, the land, and the farmer so we can provide for future generations," Brad said. "We want to have this farm here for our great, great grand kids." "We do this for love," Donna said with a grin at her husband. "The love of nature, the wildlife, birdlife, and native plants that we have here. We just think that you can farm in harmony with nature. It doesn't have to harm the environment, but it does take more effort." Their 1300 acres are now home to 450 breeding ewes, 140 alpacas, about 60 English Large Black Pigs, and two dogs, Willy and Abby, who make sure everyone is safe and sound. They sell grass-fed, chemical-free lamb, free-range, heritage breed pork, and pasture-raised eggs at the Granite Belt Farmers Market in Stanthorpe every Friday, make a fortnightly delivery to Brisbane, and sell through REKO, an online farmer's market through Facebook. In additional to grazing, their animals are fed a sustainable feed by local people who are in the process of getting organic certified. They also source local spent brewers grain from the Granite Belt Brewery, crushed apples from juice pressings, organic vegetable scraps, and beet pellets, and their pigs snooze contentedly on ironbark sawdust delivered by a local

woodcutter.

"It's all about food miles," Brad said. "Everything I feed It’s all about food the animals comes miles...everything from this area or is I feeed to the grown on the animals comes Darling Downs." from this area, or is grown on the Regenerating their Darling Downs... land is the driving passion behind every decision Brad Vic Pennisi and Donna make. Brad Bull 350 acres of their property is under the Environmental Stewardship Program

to protect yellowbox gum trees, and they're in the process of creating wildlife corridors with another ¼ of the property. “We'd like to extend our wildlife corridors so that we are encouraging more koalas and quolls and all of the local wildlife,” Donna said. “They will have a safe pathway through our property.” They also practice rotation grazing so the land has ample time to rest, and create their own compost to spread lavishly over bare patches of land to renew the soil and support the growth of native plants, trees, and grasses. continued next page...

White Dorper sheep coming in for a cuddle

COUNTRYJOURNAL

In only six years, they're already seeing Bulls open it up to the Brad and Donna Bull of the Rising Sun Farm returns on their efforts. community for events such as Art in the “The Queensland Herbarium comes to woolshed, email at risingsunfarm4380@ do a survey every year,” Brad said. “In the Woolshed. For more information on gmail.com or ring 0439 984 797. Rising Sun Farm products or to rent the beginning, they only found 18 specimens in their survey area. The last time, they found over 70 species, including 17 native grasses.” A local bird-watching group comes up regularly and have recorded over 50 different bird species on the property. Brad and Donna are thrilled with these improvements and look forward to many more in the years to come. Open 7 Days In the meantime, they work Members’ Price - $10 hard to build a loyal customer base they can serve with quality Permanent Membership food at a reasonable price. Available - $5 “As that base grows, we can then reward those customers by Nightly Specials offering access to our farm,” Sunday to Thursday Donna said. “We want to be transparent. Farming doesn't have to be at arm's length.” When they aren't using the 133 Palmerin St, Warwick - 4661 1922 original Bendee Woolshed that sits on their property for shearwww.condaminesportsclub.com.au Follow us ing their sheep and alpacas, the

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Krista’s Country

Slow cooked Dorper Lamb Shanks or Neck Chops Serves 4 large portions

Ingredients: 1 red onion finely diced 1 large carrot finely diced 1 stick celery finely diced 4 cloves garlic crushed 3 tablespoons of olive oil 1 cup of your favourite red wine 1 jar of tomato passata or 2 tins of Italian tomatoes 1/2l approx. of stock (chicken or lamb) 4 lamb shanks or 1.5kgs of neck chops 2 stems of fresh rosemary or 5/6 of fresh thyme (or both) leaves removed & chopped finely Salt and black pepper to taste Handful Chopped fresh Italian parsley (optional)

Directions:

Heat oven to 160°C Moderately heat a large casserole dish or oven proof pan, on a medium heat setting on stove. (Use a dish or pan that has a close-fitting lid). When hot enough brown the lamb shanks or chops without oil. Do not worry if the pan gets browned – this is flavour. Remove the meat when all sides are brown. Add to pan olive oil, onion, carrot, celery and gently fry until soft. Now add the garlic and cook gently

with Krista Bjorn

without browning for Full dam at the Rising Sun Farm brings security 1min. Add back in the ed, 1 cm cubed shanks or chops. Pour wine over the meat 1 large golden sweet potato peeled & and bring to simmer for 1 min. 1cm diced Add tomato passata or tinned tomatoes. 3l stock or water (needs to cover hocks) At this stage add enough stock to comSalt & Black pepper pletely cover the Crushed chilli flakes to your taste meat and bring back to the simmer. Add (optional) chopped fresh rosemary and thyme. Add salt and pepper to taste. Put lid on and Directions: place in the oven. Finely dice the onion and crush the garCook at 160°C for minimum 2hrs. Check lic. Gently fry the onion and garlic in meat should be tender enough to come of olive oil, without browning, in a large the bones with a fork. Continue to cook if pan big enough for 5l of ingredients. not quite tender, checking every 15mins. Once the onion is softened, add the Once meat is falling off the bone, bacon hocks and stock or water. Bring to remove from the oven. If the sauce is not the boil and then gently simmer for thick enough at this stage, remove meat approx. 2hrs. with lid on. to stop it disintegrating and then reduce Remove the hocks and allow to cool the sauce on the stove top until right conslightly. Keep the stock. Add the cubed sistency achieved. Stir in fresh parsley at pumpkin and sweet potato. Add chilli end. Adjust seasoning if required. flakes, if this is your preference now, for Serve on mashed potatoes, polenta, some extra winter warmth. Simmer until couscous or whatever to you choose to soft. soak up the sauce plus your favourite seaHock meat should be soft enough to pull sonal vegetables and the rest of your off the skin & bones. Discard skin and favourite red wine. bones. Finely chop the meat before adding half of meat back to the cooked Pumpkin, Sweet Potato & pumpkin and sweet potato in the pan. Bacon Hock Soup Using a stick blender, blend the soup until no lumps. If soup is too thick, add Leftovers freeze beautifully. more stock or water to get the consistenIngredients cy right. Should coat the back of the spoon. Add salt & black pepper to taste. 1 brown onion Add the remainder of the meat to the 2 cloves garlic soup. This gives the soup texture. 3 tablespoons oil olive Serve with fresh crusty bread with lash2 smoked bacon hocks ings of butter. Delicious. ½ pumpkin approx. 1kg peeled, de-seed-

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Country briefs

US heatwave triggers reform Heat waves, like the one that has held the Northwest United States and Canada in its grip in recent weeks, are more deadly than previously thought, according to new research. A recent study published in Nature Climate Change adds additional detail by assessing the human cost of that extra heat: In June, a team of some 70 researchers reported that for the 732 sites on the 6 continents they studied showed that on average, 37% of all heat-related deaths could be linked to temperature changes associated with climate change. The heat is having an impact in the courtroom and in the union organising scene. In the wake of a heat wave blamed for the death of a farmworker, Oregon adopted an emergency rule on Thursday that guarantees workers rest breaks in the shade and plenty of cool water to drink during hot weather. Farmworker advocates called for the passage of federal protections against heat stress on the job. Currently, only Oregon, California, Washington State and Minnesota have heat illness standards.

Senior cannabis grower required In Switzerland, an outfit called PhytoVitality is advertising for a senior cannabis grower for their “hightech/automated greenhouse” 20 minutes from Zurich. The company is seeking a grower able to manage production from motherplants to harvesting, recogtnize plant stresses, pests and disease, and comply with various regulations. Greenhouse experience required. Interested? Contact hr@eurovitality.ch

WARWICK SALEYARDS

George & Fuhrmann, Warwick

VENDOR DESCRIPTION - Cents/KG - WEIGHT - $TOTAL BULLS Ved Cast Pty Ltd, Maryland, Braford Bull, 296.2/780/2.310 Imperial Sapphire Pty Ltd, Goomburra, Angus Bull, 301.2/980/2,592 COWS BR & ME Hardacre, Tannymorel, Santa x Cows, 323.2/810/2,618 RA & CA Shannon, Clifton, Hereford Cow, 319.2/680/2,170 Smith Farms, Killarney, Hereford Cows, 296.2/574/1,700 BULLOCKS M Bignell, Felton, Greyman Bullock, (0t), 369.2/575/2,123 G Dachs, Ballandean, Charolais x Bullocks, (6t), 351.2/645/2.265 EXPORT HEIFERS BR & ME Hardacre, Tannymorel, Santa x Heifers, 370.0/630/2.331 Imperial Sapphire, Goomburra, Brahman Heifer, 347.2/545/1,892 HEAVY FEEDER STEERS G & M Schelback, Warwick, Angus (0t), 495.2/495/2.451 P & D Crossman, Liston, Charolais x Steers, 456.2/501/2,285 K & K Jones, Pittsworth, Limousin/Simmental, 454.2/445/2,021 DOMESTIC FEEDER STEERS M Comerford, Nobby, Angus Steers, 544.2/407/2,215 A & R O’Dea, Elbow Valley, Angus x Steers, 528.2/366/1,933 AG & WG Keats, Clifton, Angus x Steers, 506.2/425/2,151 FEEDER HEIFERS L & M Strohfeldt, Mt Molar, Charolais x Heifers, 498.2/330/1,644 AG & WG Keats, Clifton, Angus x Heifers, 488.2/375/1,830 GH & HM Miler, Clifton, Santa x Heifers, 476.2/402/1,914 YEARLINGS ID & VG Weier, Clifton, Santa x Heifer, 501.2/345/1,729 R & C Hughes, Freestone, Greyman Heifer, 488.2/310/1,513 WEANER STEERS McDonald, Rodgers Creek, Angus x Steers, 650.2/232/1,514 Mrs M O’Keefe, Dalveen, Angus Steers, 630.2/242/1,523 BJ & D Unold, Dalcouth, Angus x Steers, 608.2/252/1,535 WEANER HEIFERS McDonald, Rodgers Creek, Charolais x Heifers, 580.2/215/1,247 Mrs M O’Keefe, Dalveen, Angus Heifers, 557.2/238/1,328 Brolga Downs, Karara, Angus x Heifers, 556.2/238/1.321 BP Kelly Warwick, Angus Heifers, 534.2/255/1,362

Around the halls Pikedale: a community looking for a hall THE Pikedale Community Gerard Walsh Inc group is working hard to Columnist have a hall 35 to 40 kilometres west of Stanthorpe as a meeting place for their community. PCI president Chris Bauman said the push to secure a hall for the area was the brainchild of district resident and inaugural chairman, the late John Pratt. “John started the push four to five years ago and we are inspired by his memory to obtain some land and put a hall on it as quickly as possible” Chris said. The ideal area for the hall is within five kilometers of the telephone exchange which is near the Stanthorpe Texas Road intersection where the roads head right to Inglewood and left to Texas, the exchange is two kilometres west of the Maryland Bridge. PCI has an annual general meeting at which office bearers are elected followed by a barbecue, drinks and fellowship, the committee meets four times a year. Chris is joined on the committee by vice president Angela Davey, secretary Stacey Colthup, treasurer Michael Bauman and committee members, Michael Debnam, Michael McMeniman, Pete Reimers, Donna Gabbot and Mark Davey. Currently, the group organises around six functions a year by hosting in each other’s shearing sheds. Everyone brings their own meat and a plate to share and their own drinks, the host provides the barbecues. There is no RSVP and you are encouraged to bring other family and friends if they are visiting you. These functions can attract up to 80 people from around the Pikedale area. During the drought, the gatherings in the area focused on mental health and community morale. PCI has raised some money for the project but the first challenge is to secure some land to erect or transfer a hall. “There is a lot of government land, reserves and the like in the area but the community group has hit brick walls converting land into a hall site,” he said. “John Pratt and his wife Julie had spoken with Southern Downs Regional Council which suggested moving an unused hall from around the Southern Downs region to the area but we had nowhere to put a hall at that stage.” Once land is available 3,000+ rural houseand owned or leased by the PCI, the group will holds AND inserted in start fund raising and applying for grants, to start the process of the Daily Journal AND either building or shifting a building onto that the Stanthorpe Record site. Southern Downs Regional Council has Gordon Bratby on 0437 417 offered their support 736 where they can.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

One ‘ACCO’ of a journey LUCIAN & DEANNA GILES-DUFFY Much to their surprise, the gearbox fell out flawless knowledge of his truck. Despite the many challenges of farming, one reliable constant in orchardist Dennis Angelino’s life has been his well-loved ACCO truck. This July marks 50 years since Dennis acquired his red butterbox truck, and with over one and a half million miles on the clock, the intrepid Thulimbah farmer’s dedication to its service and operation prove that there are many more to go. Bought from Bellingham’s of Warwick in late 1970 for a substantial sum of $8000, the International C1800 Series ACCO truck was a welcome addition to the orchard operations at the time. Warwick local Bev Matheson created its van compartment which was more suited to transporting fruit long distances, and it’s served its purpose well. When Dennis set out on 19th July 1971, it was just the beginning of 21 years distributing apples and pears to the far reaches of north Queensland. Twice each month, he would travel the Queensland coast north to Townsville, stopping at major centres along the way. From 1991 to 2006, Dennis broadened his delivery area to include the western Queensland towns of Roma, Dysart, Moranbah, and Emerald. Meanwhile continuing his ‘milk run’ along the coast as far as Bowen, with regular customers to supply at Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Mackay, and numerous smaller towns in between. Dennis recalls travelling north on the horror Rockhampton to Marlborough stretch one Saturday evening when half the oil leaked out of the gearbox back to the diff. He realised something was amiss when he couldn’t easily change gears, but unaware of the extent of the issue at the time, he persevered true to usual form, and took 7 hours to travel 170 miles. Taking extra care to change gears, and keep the revs consistent, he navigated the Sarina Range and made it to Mackay the following morning. Here his friend Ross Torrisi directed him to the local garage where he’s sons Mario and Ross could help.

completely! With the end of the main gearbox broken off, Dennis describes their mechanical skills as ‘number one’ as they set to work installing a new gear box shaft which allowed him to get back on the road again. It’s really a wonder that in these early days traversing the busy coastal run, that this butterbox truck never met with calamity. There was however one time Dennis encountered a drug-driver while crossing

an old bridge over Gravely Creek. As it swerved into his path, he took the left wheels of the trusty ACCO onto the edge of the structure and avoided a catastrophic outcome for all involved. When the local police officer attended the incident scene, he commended Dennis’ driving ability and

To keep pace with the harvest and fruit delivery, maintaining his truck in good working order has required the assistance of several skilled mechanics over the years. One of these being the Toowoomba mechanic workshop ‘Guilfoyle Inglis’, where foreman Norm Harrold (who passed away in late 2005) became an admirer of the ACCO. On one return trip from Mt Osso, the truck travelled 800 miles with the engine running on five cylinders and arrived at the workshop to Norm’s exclamation, “You always want to do the impossible Dennis!” It was in 1980, almost ten years after its maiden voyage north that, Guilfoyle Inglis mechanic Charlie Searchfield was tasked with replacing the original Perkins engine. Completing the work to a commendable standard, the only difference with the new engine was the injector pump Norm had expertly modified at the throttle linkage. This was the last of the main repairs by Norm and his team before he retired to care for his family. When Charlie started his own Toowoomba business, Road Transport Specialists in 1989, he continued to service the ACCO. It was under his direction in 1996 that the kingpins were replaced, wheel bearings repacked; followed in 1997 with the servicing of the injectors and an in-chassis rebuild. The next year the truck’s right hand rear wheel cylinders were replaced, but it wasn’t until 2004 that a leak in the fuel tank needed attention. Charlie’s final service in 2006 saw him servicing the injectors, along with the replacement of a sliding sleeve and two speed plate on the differential. Remarkably the bearings were like new and were not replaced. Charlie is still impressed that in 38 years no work has ever been done on the transmission. Inevitably each visit to Charlie and his team included a box of apples to share around and some entertaining stories from Dennis’s travels in the ACCO. Charlie believes that to have so little repairs over such a long period is a testament to Dennis’ careful driving ability as ‘a true gentleman owner driver’. continued next page...

COUNTRYJOURNAL In recent years, Dennis has adapted his fruit run to reduce his time on the road, and he focusses his time supplying locals in the Darling Downs, and as far as Nanango and Tansy. The familiar rumble of the ACCO truck as it delivers his produce is a welcome sound for all his happy customers and it is clear to see the satisfaction he has at the wheel of this steady and reliable machine. Cattarin’s Mechanical Repairs in nearby Stanthorpe, have been servicing the truck since 2009, beginning with new hone cylinders and the fitting of replacement pistons and rings. At the next service, new con-rod bearings injector nozzles and lift pump were fitted. By 2016, a full engine rebuild was in order, along with several major works. These included the repair of the injector pump, dipper switch wiring, and replacement of the two-speed differential motor. Surprisingly, the (No.3) Eaton differential was like brand new. In addition, the fuel pipes were manufactured and fitted, and the team undertook routine repairs on the alternator, starter and glow plug wiring, brake vacuum hose, and most importantly, a new horn was fitted! While the International ACCO remains essential to his livelihood, Dennis is keen to pay tribute to the good work of each of the mechanics who have had a role in its longevity and thank them for their efforts. It’s outstanding that despite clocking up 3.8 million kilometres over the last 50 years, this Butterbox International ACCO has never had a major breakdown. Mechanics who have worked on the vehicle are consistently impressed by its excellent condition. Notably, the brake linings at the rear are 44 years old; and the 32-year-old clutch plate only had to be replaced due to cracks around the springs in the centre. Similarly, the gear box, (with original end bearings) has been described as ‘unbelievably tidy, with mechanics claiming that they can’t feel any friction in the tail shaft. The attention and care Dennis has shown to his truck is second to none, and this is confirmed in the comments of admiration that come from the mechanics who have worked on the truck over the years Current mechanic John Cattarin is confident when he says, “the truck will do another 30 years of work without any trouble.”

The three pillars of inspired agriculture There are three pillars holding up the successful orchard in the Southern Downs and Granite Belt – protection from hail, water, and efficient harvesting. While the sourcing and timeliness of water is often in the hands of the gods, there are good solutions for netting and harvesting. One new outfit operating in Australia, Inspired Ag, was started by fifth generation orchardists, the Turnbull brothers, in the Goulburn Valley. The company has now expanded to service orchards in southern Queensland and northern NSW. Corey Beecroft, Inspired Ag’s research and development officer, has contributed to reviewing and designing products that the company supplies, including platforms, steel trellis systems, hail netting, rain cover, leaf defoliators and frost fans. Now is the time, chief operating officer Corey Beecroft, R&D manager for Inspired Ag Catriona Saunders told The Country Journal, for conditions and, unlike much netting, orchardists to organise for the next harcomes in different colours to suit particuvest. The company is the exclusive distrib- lar fruit. utor of BILLO platforms, the Italian-based “We have designed the netting to be technology that the Turnbull family has self-installed, it comes with an install manused for many years. ual and draughtsman’s drawing for the “The BILLO platforms vary in style specific block design,” explained Catriona. including flat deck and conveyor belt. They The netting is installed with steel infraare very customisable for individual cusstructure and is made to measure to avoid tomers with accessories such as forklifts, wastage. self-levelling, additional decks,” said Ms Catriona points out that they are happy Saunders, adding that the platforms are to work with local growers and can assist year-round useful for pruning and other with the Queensland Netting Grant orchard maintenance. requirements. With international delays and short supInterested growers can visit inspiredag. plies in a range of technological widgets, com.au or email csaunders@inspiredag. Ms Saunders says now is the time to order com.au to get them in Australia in time for harvest. Inspired Ag’s netting systems were also designed by Mr Beecroft for Australian

COUNTRYJOURNAL

weather snapshot The ability to forecast the weather has huge economic impacts...but not just economic. The ability to forecast the path of cyclones, for example, saves lives on the grand scale--for example, Cyclone Amphan in May last year carved a tried and true path through the Bay of Bengal, a path that had killed literally hundreds of thousands in decades before. This time, because forecasters were able to plot its likely line of destruction days in advance, less than a dozen died in the low-lying region of the delta. In the UK, forecasters are using weather forecasting data to now send signals to asthma sufferers.... weather forecasting has become asthma forecasting. And in India, the Earth Sciences Ministry’s 20212026 plan will have weather forecasting activities

1974

2019

Disease resistant canola could have implications for other grain crops

The University of Western Australia (UWA) and the UWA Institute of Agriculture have just announced what could be a break through in disease resistance in canola, with a new screening platform which identifies plant genes that are resistant to disease-causing fungi in crops. Blackleg, a disease-causing fungus with serious implications for yield (causing an average of 10% yield loss a year) is one of the targets of the research at the UWA Batley Lab. They’ve investigated the evolution of resitance genes against blackleg, with the aim of deploying the genes in breeding programs to protect future canola crops. UWA School of Biological Sciences lead author Professor Jacqueline Batley took a long view to the project, saying “we need to make sure that we have sources of resistance across all plant species so that we have enough food on our table in the future as the population grows.” She said the work done with canola could have implications for other grains--and beyond grains. “Once you can understand the DNA, identify the genes and look at what’s causing certain traits, you can apply this to other species,” she said.

built in to predict in advance alternative electricity suppiles: the ability to predict wind and sunlight means the ability to predict flows of electricity from solar and wind installations. The two maps we will focus on this week are summary maps of two sharply contrasting years. 2019, which saw much of Australia (in acreage terms) experience the driest conditions in recorded history...and 1974, which is still a byword for wet, and saw much of the same areas experience the wettest year in recorded history. 2020, by the way, is not a map worth reprinting for an interesting reason...it was for all it’s drama on the human front, one of the most ‘boring’years statistically in history, the map almost entirely white, or close to it, meaning ‘average’. At least from a weather point of view.

Pencilhead solutions D S I N G L E C T O L T

A A M O N R H O B O R N

W S E N E E T S S U S B

K P M L M A H T T O R A

I R I I E F A H C A A S

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L D I V H T N I N V A Y

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D H U S S T L D S U K T

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Y K S F A D S E B O O K

Hidden Phrase: “A dank

2. Missing worry line

7. Bottom lip moved

meme is one that has

3. Eyebrow changed

8. Earlobe changed

lost its popularity.”

4. Tie has extra fold

9. Little finger smaller

Spot The 10 Differences:

5. Missing cufflink

10. Button lower

1. Extra quaff of hair

6. Missing dimple

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Wool report: market holds nerve been demanding it for a while now, but it has reached a point that the marketers and designers have also got fully-on-board as well. The phrase “sustainable fashion” has already become so ubiquitous in the industry, that along with terms such as “recycled” and “positive impact”, or “negative waste” consumers are starting to want more than just words. Whilst many companies and brands have been proudly and loudly talking about how they are meeting certain environmental certificates, most importantly some companies have begun to quantify the impact across their full supply chains and taken strides to reduce their negative impost on the planet. Whilst this poses some dangers for the Australian wool industry to ensure the measurements are correct and not misleading. The industry is hopefully now moving faster than the European Union bureaucrats and looking to establish true traceability and verification along the supply chain. Already some of the Italian firms Sustainable fashion: opportunity and threat have moved a long way down this path and like in their concept of style, it looks By far the biggest theme at both Pitti Filati Yarn and Idea Biella Fabric was that like they will set the tone for others to also follow in methodologies of verification. of “sustainability”. Despite covid, or perFrom past experience it is also likely that haps because of it, the world of fashion is embracing the concept of treating the plan- the Germans will then take it over and et with a bit more respect. Customers have improve it in a technical sense, but then the rest of the world will wish they had Contributed by Bruce McLeish, Elders Despite the predictions of carnage as some wool brokers swamped the showfloor and auction rooms with bales of wool, the market stood up rather well. At the end of the 3-day selling week the market had eased by 11 US cents, or roughly 1%. In Aussie Dollar terms the price drop was actually less, thanks to a weaker exchange rate against the US Dollar, with only 3 cents being shaved off the market indicator locally. Superfine merino indicators fared the worst, although there was some suggestion that it was a simple re-alignment of quotes after a stellar performance the previous week courtesy of some of the traditional Saxon Merino clips coming through the system. All of the medium merino segments got through the week more or less unscathed, which was considered a big positive given the large volume of wool on offer, and the ongoing cash constraints being felt by just about every buying house.

thought of it, and so copy it. Blockchain may well be the buzz-word in future conferences and exhibitions for the fashion industry, which is not something anyone would have envisaged even 5 years ago. But, to connect the raw material producer in Australia with the processors in perhaps many different locations, as well as the logistics operations, moving slowly as they do at present, all the way to the final consumer with integrity is the missing link at present. Block-chain facilitates the transfer of data, rather than maintaining a central repository, and ensures no-one can modify or manipulate anything along the journey to suit their own requirements. In short it can provide a defence against the “greenwashing” which is taking place presently, and make processes more efficient and transparent and highlight ethical and sustainable practices. The merino industry has a real and present need to embrace such technology to make sure the right story gets told, and the fibre maintains its pre-eminent position, or even advances a rung or two up the ladder.