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CountryJournal Week commencing June 28th 2021

Krista’s home coming

Cottoning on... Keep on ‘coaching’

The glamour of being a travel writer doesn’t compare to life down on the farm, for Krista Bjorn. This grower-foodie-historian-cookbook author explores making cheese, brewing and baking using locally sourced goods. Krista will be writing for the Country Journal on farm and food issues.

The force behind Crisps Coaches was once a major player in local athletics and rugby league. Russell Crisp talks to Gerard Walsh about a colourful career that took in a close brush with Queensland representative football, and a business empire that is a familiar sight on the roads around our region. He also reveals the greatest hurdle his business has faced came not in the early days of 20% interest rates...but much more recently.

Sam Coulson and his grandson Harry are part of a bold experiment to take cotton back to where it belongs: on the cotton country, back to the land. The cotton recycling scheme is a ‘full circle project’, looking at restoring nutrients taken from the soil by cotton, with cotton itself. The result is a soil that is richer in microbes more workable... and a compelling solution.

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2 COUNTRYJOURNAL 68 million sheep Meat and Livestock Australia predict that due to favourable conditions and positive sentiments, the national flock rebuild will grow by 6.3 % to 68.1 million head. Saleyard prices in 2021 are expected to remain high, though slightly lower than the records set in 2020 and 2019.

Major drought reform for Qld producers

tion from late 2021 through the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA). The Drought Relief Assistance Scheme (DRAS) will continue for this current drought. Drought-declared producers can continue accessing DRAS support or move to the new measures. DRAS will be phased out as local government areas come out of drought. Keep an eye out for regional forums explaining

All primary producers including those involved in DCAP projects will be able to apply for new tailored training, grants and loans as part of a major reform to Queensland’s drought assistance. New measures will help Queensland primary producers improve their management of future droughts without needing a drought declaration across a broad range of agricultural industries. The new drought assistance will be available for applica-

the new drought assistance later this year. Some of the new drought assistance measures are jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

locations near you in July. Make an appointment to discuss cervical screening, parenting advice, contraception, sexual health testing, continence and general well-being.

Travelling health clinic coming to near you

7 July, Warwick Hospital, 4660 3900 8 July, Stanthorpe Hospital, 4683 3460 13 July, Clifton Medical Centre, 4697 3097 Photo shows mobile women’s health nurses Kathy Anning, Barbara Milne and Marcia Hunt.

The Darling Downs Health mobile clinic will be travelling to

In Queensland, harvested rangeland goats do not need to be tagged with an NLIS-accredited tag or device if they are being transported directly from the property on which they were captured to a registered goat depot or processing plant. A harvested rangeland goat is one that has been captured from a wild state, not been born as a result of managed breeding and has not been subject to animal husbandry procedure or treatment.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

An experiment written in dust The grower, who has been planting cotton since the 1970s, is part of one of the original cotton families in the Macintyre Valley. Despite a long history, Sam is fiercely focused on the future and participating in an agri-science experiment involving returning shredded cotton garments back to the soil as improver. The Country Journal spoke with three of the stakeholders in the project including Mr Coulton, Brooke Summers, the supply team manager from Cotton Australia, and Dr Oliver Knox, senior lecturer in the School of Environmental and Rural Science at UNE. Ms Summers explained how the project came about, its size, scope and commitment to good outcomes for cotton, farmers and local councils dealing with mountains of waste.

The experiment, which involves the Goondiwindi cotton farmer, Cotton Australia, the Queensland government, Coreo and Sheridan, is now in phase 2 of the project. Sam and his colleagues collected, shredded and

In the early stages of the Industrial Revolution, Dr. Oliver Knox told The Country Journal, clothing was not easily washed and was normally worn until it resembled rags. The rags were then carted back into the countryside and buried in farmland. This ended when the practise of using rags to make paper arose with the uptake of universal education. Even as late as the 1920s in the UK, the government ordered textiles to be returned to the land. “So, it’s not a completely novel concept” said Dr Knox, the chief scientist of the project. Indeed, Sam in Goondiwindi has been ploughing unpicked cotton back into fields for decades and has witnessed how the soil improves in texture, worms and the amount of microbial activity.

the door” and it has worked well. “We know for sure there’s no magic bul-

let, but we have to work together,” said Ms Summers. Cotton, at a molecular level is

Elizabeth Voneiff Editor

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

“really sugar”, Brooke explained, thus shredding and returning it to the ground provides all the fff continued on page 6

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Mr Coulton said that in the last two decades he has grown increasingly alarmed with the sheer vastness of the waste problem and feels strongly that industry should try to find a solution.

ploughed in about two tonnes of cotton textiles that were formerly SES coveralls. Now the fields will lay fallow for six months before a cotton crop is planted. Following this a range of tests and evaluations will establish the microbial activity and chemical balance of the earth and the reaction of cotton growing in beds of cotton.

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Cotton grower Sam Coulton has a world-class experiment happening on his land at Goondiwindi Cotton.

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The project began as a very general idea of creating, in real time, a “circular business model” in Goondiwindi. This bio-cycling process is a model of returning end products back into the system, thus creating a complete circle from creation to end-life. Sam Coulson “owned a brand and he’d wanted to do something like this for a long time,” explained Ms Summers of the collaboration. Although there are half a dozen stakeholders in the project, from the Queensland government to Sheridan Australia, “everyone left their egos at

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

A 500 POUND HALL...

AROUND THE HALLS WITH GERARD WALSH

BROADWATER HALL A loan of $1000 (500 pounds) from QCWA head office was used to construct the new Broadwater Hall in 1954. The QCWA branch at Broadwater was opened by Mrs Les Atkins on October 31, 1947, at a meeting underneath the Broadwater State School. The Broadwater branch raised funds to acquire land from the then Stanthorpe Shire Council for $96 in 1954 which was next door to the school. Branch president Sue Boyce said the QCWA then borrowed $1000 from head office to build the hall. “The branch had a dance for the opening of the hall on March 31, 1955, the loan was paid back at $200 a year,” Mrs Boyce said. “The only break from regular meetings was due to COVID-19 last year.” A supper room and kitchen were added around 1955-1956, the hall was lined and sealed

Broadwater QCWA president Sue Boyce (centre) with Southern Downs Regional Councillors (from left) Marco Gliori, Sheryl Windle, Stephen Tancred and Mayor Vic Pennisi at a Devonshire Morning Tea last week.

and electricity was connected and in 1991, a septic system was installed to replace the thunderboxes behind the hall.

out with Meals on Wheels in Stanthorpe,” she said.

The outside of the hall was painted in 1996, a ramp was built in 1999 and heaters were installed on the walls in 2005.

In the past three years, two grants from Southern Downs Regional Council paid for a new tank, pump and electrical work as well as re-stumping and re-guttering the hall.

The hall was re-stumped in 2007 and fans were put in five years later.

Last year, a grant from the gaming community fund was used to add a deck to the hall.

Border division president Margaret Grayson from Killarney was one of many guests at 70th year celebrations for the branch in 2017.

Students from the Broadwater and Amiens state schools are invited to international days put on by the QCWA branch.

The branch meets on the fourth Monday each month at the hall. A lot of money has been raised down the years from dances, concerts and street stalls. Mrs Boyce said one of the most successful fundraisers was a cent sale. “Members of the branch help

“We have had line dancing down the years and the word is it might start up again,” she said. The hall is at 626 Texas Rd so is 6km west of the edge of Stanthorpe and ideally situated to attract hirers from town and country. Last week, the QCWA welcomed four councillors from SDRC to a Devonshire Morning

Tea at the hall. After the festivities, Mayor Vic Pennisi asked those present to question him on anything to do with the SDRC. “There were a number of questions to council which was appreciated by the people at the function,” she said. Anyone keen to join the QCWA or hire the hall is welcome to call Mrs Boyce on 0417 836 225.

Would you like YOUR local hall featured in the Country Journal? Get in touch at the

editor@thedailyjournal.ink

COUNTRYJOURNAL TWO weeks ago, I wrote about starting a fitness program in the lead-up to Father’s Day in September. We started the Country Journal Father’s Day Weight Loss program with the four Ps, politician Mayor Vic Pennisi, Daily Journal printer Deb Wheeler, club president (gymnastics) Cody Walker and yours truly as the primary producer.

We cleared some country 15 years ago which has never been ploughed. Roos are a problem with oats but if you plant 20 hectares they will eat two hectares but if you only planted five hectares, they would still eat two hectares.

The Long Paddock with Gerard Walsh

I bought offsets and a combine after putting in paper advertisements in the 1970s and 1980s but our 10foot scarifier has seen better days.

Last week, councillor Stephen Tancred and Andrew Gale joined in and more are welcome by emailing editor@thedailyjournal.ink

Suspect it would make $300 to $400 as scrap but we would have to multiply those figures by 10 if we were looking for a more modern scarifier with remotes.

As a former shire councillor from Rosenthal Shire Council from 1979 to 1991 which is two amalgamations ago, I know it is easy to have too many sweets at morning and afternoon tea in your role on the council. Last week, four councillors visited the Broadwater QCWA and their hall and I would bet $100 they would have been invited to partake of a slice, cake or biscuits from the good cooks in the QCWA. I am happy to welcome more people to join our group,even though the program relates to Father’s Day, it is definitely for women as well as men. The four Ps weighed in at 484kg and now with the addition of the two councillor, the total is 713km. That means we lose 30kg minimum.

Most of the time, I come up with ideas for this column when I am driving. My tally is now six primary producers who have opened up new cultivation in the past six months. That is without doubt due to the wet season and a belief with good rain predicted it will be worth planting crops. We had a problem with our tractor clutch this year and it

was out of action around oats planting time but I have some enthusiastic tractor drivers who would love to work some cultivation. I better put a time book in the machinery shed. At our farm at Greymare, we may need a few extra contour banks but down the years, I have always had a grader or dozer driver putting in the contour banks that are needed to lessen erosion of our soil.

In fact, Cr Tancred has said he would donate another $10 for every kilogram he loses more than 5kg. Cr Gale has already lost weight since the election and is aiming for the 5kg.

So who is coming along for the ride, any incentive to lose weight is worth it. Cultivation

Our tractor, a Chamberlain 4090, spent the busiest part of its life at Elbow Valley and has been predominately been a slasher tractor at Greymare. Greymare has some good creek loam but it doesn’t have the depth of black soil on the Condamine River plain so we can’t lose soil to erosion. Our cultivation goes from creek loam to a bit of gravelly traprock and to sandy granite soil. Photo shows Cr Tancred holding the judge and jury, and Cr Gale.

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This program will not include raffles or functions, every participant is asked to donate $50 for charity in Warwick and Stanthorpe to help an organisation like Safe Haven which helps those women who suffer from domestic violence. As I said in my first story about the program, anyone who loses 5kg will save more than that amount of money buying less sweets and soft drinks.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Table grapes earning millions in Korea By Elizabeth Voneiff editor@thedailyjournal.ink It has been about a century since table grapes were grown for market in the Granite Belt, but it may be time to reconsider: Korea is set to import more than $40 million of Australian table grapes this year. While exports of the commodity to the Republic of Korea have grown exponentially since 2017, in mid-April the ROK advised that Australia’s high compliance rates means that exporting to that country will become even less complicated. In other words, the requirement of pre-clearance inspections has been replaced with on-site verification, which give much greater flexibility to grape growers. “This will support the ability of Australian growers to trade throughout the full seasonal tariff window under the Korea-Australia Free Trade Agreement,” according to a report from

Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Unfortunately, the Granite Belt may miss out on this opportunity since table grapes are a thing of the past, Peter O’Reilly, CEO of the Queensland College of Wine Tourism told The Country Journal.

table grape exports to Korea have increased from $520,800 in 2017 to $43.8 million in 2020. Last year, Korea was Australia’s third-largest table grape destination behind China and Indonesia and slightly above Japan. Between 2015 and 2019, the ROK imported US$174 million of table grapes. What exporters should do: Growers interested in exporting table grapes to the ROK should contact Emma.Hatcher@dfat.gov.au, the Counsellor (Agriculture) Seoul. Import requirements are available through https:// micor.agriculture.gov.au/Plants/Pages/Republic_of_Korea_KR/Grapes.aspx

“Originally they were all table grapes and only the secondaries went into wine production,” he explains. Now, most table grapes in Queensland are grown in hot dry areas with adequate irrigation such as St George, Emerald and North Burnett.

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The table grape market: Australian

An experiment written in dust continued from page 3 of the Country Journal... microbes in the soil a delicious feast, enriching the soil, or so they hope. There are some hurdles to cross in order to make this a viable option in the future including producing 100% cotton clothes with no synthetic tags or content, creating collection centres at waste sites, education the public and shredding and distributing the organic material. However, one step at a time. If it’s good for pasture, horticulture and soil biology, it’s “a good solution for Australia” concludes Dr Knox. The future of cotton shredding in the Downs: Sam Coulson (pictured) hopes that when phase two indicates the value of returning used cotton materials to the land that he will be part of establishing a shredding business in Goondiwindi and employing locals in a new industry. “There’s 200,000 tonnes of pure cotton waste right now,” the grower said. “If we got 100,000 tonnes of that we could set up another business, rather than relying on water.” The real advantage, he says, will be putting the material into grazing country, retaining more moisture, more microbes, and more productivity. “There’s a long way to go, but it’s something we’ve been looking at for a long, long time.”

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Crisps keeps on coaching After purchasing Skennars coach company in 1990, Russell Crisp remembers that it was a defining moment in his life. Interest rates at 20% meant working seven days a week to keep on top of things. Russell went to school at Stanthorpe State School and Stanthorpe State High School before heading to Toowoomba to study business at the then Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (now USQ). “I majored in rugby league,” he said with a smile after the course took four years instead of three. It was at college that he met his wife Lois who moved from Dalby to study to be a teacher. Lois was from a sporting family and she was a pitcher who played representative softball. At the time, he played rugby league for Souths in Toowoomba and the Toowoomba Clydesdales and in 1976 was selected in a Queensland squad. Russell tore his hamstring playing in an Amco Cup game and could hardly walk at the time. He was ruled out due to an injury which ended his hopes to debut for Queensland on the wing. Harry Cameron from Wests Brisbane, who also played for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney, replaced him in the Queensland squad. Later in the same season, he suffered a severe knee injury which ended his rugby league representative career. “The operation wasn’t successful and I lost some of my speed and manoeuvrability,” he said. “The surgeons can do a lot more with knee injuries now.” He did play for the Stanthorpe Gremlins again and won one Warwick and District St George Cup premiership after moving back to Stanthorpe. Russell was part of the Stanthorpe move to the Toowoomba Rugby League competition in 1986 but due to the cost, the club has mainly been involved in Border competitions in the past 25 years. He was named on the wing in the Stanthorpe Team of the Century. After finishing at DDIAE, Russell worked in marketing for Carlton United Breweries and managed hotels in Brisbane. Russell and

‘I MAJORED IN RUGBY LEAGUE...’

FACE TO FACE with gerard walsh Lois moved to Stanthorpe in 1978 and started up a menswear store. They then bought the Shell Service Station in Stanthorpe before taking the plunge into debt to purchase Skennars. For the past 31 years, he has lived in Stanthorpe and travelled to Warwick each day to work at the Warwick Transit Centre “Warwick is the hub for the bus services to Brisbane, Moree, Stanthorpe and Toowoomba,” he said. His father Tony Crisp and grandfather Norm Crisp had a transport company and also operated school buses in Stanthorpe. The Stanthorpe operation is now owned by his brothers Dale and Trevor. Russell and Lois have two daughters Katie (Brisbane) and Brodie (Gold Coast) and two grandchildren, soon to be three. He has two regrets in life. “It was a real struggle with interest rates at 20% to pay off the business loans so I worked seven days a week,” he said. “I regret not spending more time with my wife and daughters when they were growing up. Lois was there for the girls.” His second regret was selling a sailing boat. Russell was building a 44-feet sailing boat with an old rugby league mate at his fibre-

glass factory in Toowoomba. The boat was only partly finished ,but had to go to help finance the bus business “I now go sailing with good mate Chris Reeves in his boat, it is a lot cheaper than owning one,” he said.

Question and Answer Gerard Walsh: What has been the toughest time in business? Russell Crisp: Definitely the last year with COVID-19. At our peak we had about 23 buses and coaches. When COVID-19 hit we had to mothball 13 coaches, de-register and de-insure them We had 13 coaches sitting idle in our workshop at Churchill Drive for a year. GW: What was the cost of coach registration during that time? RC: The cost of registering a large three axle coach is more than $6,000 per year. We had to de-register and de-insure many of the coaches as we had no money coming in. Unfortunately we are not supported by the Queensland Government regarding subsidies for the service runs to Brisbane, Moree, Stanthorpe and Toowoomba, so these were severely reduced. GW: Do you have school buses?

RC: We bought five school bus runs which was a good decision. Our school services started with Scots PGC College and since then we have added five school runs to our business We are very grateful for the support of all the schools in the district GW: How tough has it been with Cunningham’s Gap closed due to landslides? RC: Extremely tough. We have often been at Aratula when the gap has closed and had to go back through Toowoomba to Warwick. We have also had to turn around at Fisher Park but most of the time we have been stopped by signs at the Eight Mile. GW: How much longer through Toowoomba to Brisbane? RC: It adds 45 minutes to the trip. We run to a strict timetable including hospital drop offs, connections with trains and airport connections. Everyone gets upset, it is no fault of ours but we tend to get blamed. GW: What is the solution to the gap closures? RC: We would love a tunnel through the top bit, there is

COUNTRYJOURNAL nothing wrong with the rest of the gap, a one-kilometre tunnel would be all that was needed. GW : What have been the best years for the business? RC: The years 2014 to 2019. I was going to drop my work back to a couple of days a week last year before COVID-19 hit. My plan was for Chris Wilson to keep managing the business but those plans have been disrupted by the pandemic. We have great staff in the office, great mechanics and very capable and obliging drivers. By having great staff all around me makes my job a lot easier. GW: What is the toughest thing about business? RC: Every business I have been involved in operated seven days a week except the menswear store. You are on call seven days. GW: Was it a long term plan to buy Skennars? RC: No, I thought I would end up in marketing and hotel management. GW: What are some of your best memories of rugby league? RC: Winning a Warwick and District St George Cup grand final with the Gremlins was special, Running out against England for Toowoomba at Athletic Oval and playing at Lang Park. I made some good friends in footy and they are still after all these years some of my closest friends. John McDonald was our coach at the Clydesdales and first State of Origin coach and he was also my athletics coach . I still keep in contact through the Men of League functions, the stories get better every year. GW: What about returning to Stanthorpe and playing for the Gremlins like you did as a junior? RC: It was always a tough game against Collegians. There were great rivalries between players and spectators. Players wouldn’t get away with what they did then now. Greg Appleton was our coach when we won the premiership in 1978. I scored under the posts and a Collegians player came through and tackled me after I scored in our winning grand

final. The referee then awarded a penalty under the posts so we had a seven point try, three for the try, two for the conversion and two for the penalty which was enough to put Collegians out of the game. GW: Were you involved in the Stanthorpe promotion to the Toowoomba Rugby League? RC: Yes, I ran the water and did the strapping for the first three years in Toowoomba and also drove the bus. GW: How tough was it in Toowoomba? RC: We knew it would be a big challenge. You needed a key group of players, we had to buy players and coaches to stay in the competition and it got too expensive. GW: What were some of the international games you played? RC: I played twice against Great Britain and recall marking wingers such as John Gray and John Bevan. John Gray was the first around the corner kicker I saw, the rest kicked the ball with their toe at the time. We only lost that game by about 10 points to Great Britain. GW: Being a winger how fast were you? RC: I competed in professional running and was clocked at 12 seconds into second place in the Gold Coast Gift over 120 metres. I was the backmarker off 3.5m and the winner was off seven metres and I would have caught him in another quarter of a metre. GW: Did you compete in the Stawell Gift? RC: No, I didn’t but competed in other gifts like Windsor Zillmere, Albury Wodonga, Toowoomba and Clifton. Back in the late 1970’s, pro-running was very popular. They now win the Stawell Gift with a time around 12.1 seconds.

Mouse plague funds

Rural Aid has announced a $1 million fund to assist mouse plague affected farmers across the country. The organisation has opened applications for a $1000 emergency support payment for farmers to help recover from the plague. The Southern Downs has not been impacted to the extent that New South Wales has, where Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said “mice have crept into every crevice of every cupboard. There isn’t a corner of the house they can’t be found.” For more information contact www.ruralaid.org.au/ mouseplague

Local governments leading recovery

The Australian Local Government Association is holding a forum this week to look at how regional councils, like the Southern Downs, can take an economic leadership role to “ensure the COVID-inspired bush renaissance of 2021 is enduring and widespread”. An example

the ALGA report how many regional councils, for instance, have “responded quickly to the rental crisis by opening up new residential lots, selling land, and contributing to community housing projects via loans.”

Victorian Grape Co answers to ACCC

The ACCC this week reported a fine of $34,920 against Victoria’s Grape Co Australia Pty Ltd on three infringement notices alleging the company made “false or misleading representations about grape origins and failed to comply with the Horticulture Code of Conduct.” The ACCC said that Grape Co published a claim on its website that “every single one of our grapes is personally hand-selected from the finest fruit on our family’s estate in Sunraysia, Australia” when, in fact, some Grape Co branded grapes are grown on third-party properties. Australian consumer law prohibits traders from making false or misleading representation concerning the place of origin of goods.

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GW: What about your school running? RC: I set a 200m open record at Stanthorpe State High School in 1972. The record stood for many years and probably still stands. I enjoyed sprinting as you had to do a fraction of the training compared to 400m, 800m, and 1500mrunners.

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COUNTRYJOURNAL

Market reports McDougall & Sons Livestock Markets week ending 25 June

Numbers were subdued across the livestock selling sale rings this week as cattle , sheep and lamb numbers as well as pork and poultry numbers fell, if it is a sign of the seasonal change or the tax break time only time will tell. Numbers of stock have been bought across all the categories with most growers looking to up the numbers after the big dry. This of course leads to a two-fold rhythm of low numbers which generally equates to high rates for the buyers across the spectrum. Vealer steers averaged 539.6c/ kg to a top of 614.2c/kg or average $1319.91 to a top of $1922.52 Vealer heifers averaged 492.8c/ kg to a top of 596.2c/kg or average $1191.15 to a top of $1580.18 Feeder steers averaged 430.8c/ kg to a top of 520.2c/kg or average $1911.58 to a top of $2300

$2115.31 to a top of $2842 Lambs topped at $229 to average $187.39 a rise of $17/head week on week Hoggets topped at $236 to average $189.55 a rise of $1/head week on week Ewes topped at $236 to average $147.20 a fall of $4/head week on week Wethers topped at $212 to average $190.96 a fall of $9/head week on week Lamb rams topped at $192 to average $186.68 a fall of $10/ head week on week Goats averaged $156.33 across the categories with direct to works at around $4/kg liveweight range. Pork sold from $126 to $147/ head , store pigs from $50 to $161/head, boars at $126/head Hen and chicks sold to $45, Pullets sold to $13, hens sold to $37.50, roosters to $15 Ducks sold to $21/head, Drake to $40/head

Sheep & Lamb report

Agents saw a mixed run of sheep and lambs for the weekly Feeder heifers averaged 434.7c/ sale as only 668 head made kg to a top of 472.2c/kg or averthe yarding with a few runs of age $1519.56 to a top of $1776.80 good trade lambs available from Yearling steers averaged New England and the South 482.7c/kg to a top of 557.2c/kg West. Lambs topped at $229 or average $1617.06 to a top of to average $187.39($17up), $1966.44 hoggets topped at $236 to average $189.55($1up), ewes Yearling heifers averaged topped at $236 to average 469.7c/kg to a top of 478.2c/kg $147.20($4down), wethers or average $1684.67 to a top of topped at $212 to average $1829.64 $190.96($9down), lamb rams topped at $192 to average Steers averaged 401.7c/kg to $158.40($10down). The sale a top of 478.2c/kg or average yarding averaged $182.60 per $1996.25 to a top of $2210.94 head up $14 week on week. Heifers averaged 393c/kg to The break-up of sheep to lamb a top of 474.2c/kg or average ratio was 60:40 to the lamb side, $1660.33 to a top of $2394.89 hence the downturn of mutton prices. Cows averaged 274.1c/kg to a top of 312.2c/kg or average Tom & Tracie Cooper sold $1594.16 to a top of $2409.60 Dorset x lambs shorn and finished on feed 60kg to Thomas Bulls averaged 306.4c/kg to Foods for $219, 53kg to Ashtons a top of 472.2c/kg or average

Butchery for $229

44kg to Shelley F/T for $158, 40kg Merino lambs to Whites Shelley F/T sold White Suffolk Trading for $125, 25kg Xb lambs x lambs of grain 57kg to Ashtons to Clearview P/S for $112, Xb Butchery for $229, 35kg Dorper ewes to Thomas Foods for $179, lambs to restockers for $150 Merino hoggets and wethers to GR Prime for $155, Merino Chris Cameron sold Dorper ewes to restockers for $50, ewe x lambs 45kg to GR Prime for $150, 55kg hoggets to GR Prime and lamb units to restockers for $192, Merino rams to GR Prime for $144, ewes to Gr Prime for $144, and to Whites Trading for for $77 $130 Grant F/T sold Composite Tom Darlington T/Sport sold rams to Whites Trading for $102 Dorper lambs 45kg to restockers and GR Prime for $100 for $208, lamb rams and lambs Cooinda P/S sold Merino 35kg to Highchester Meats for wethers with a 6 month skin to $168, ewe hoggets 65.5kg to Thomas Foods for $198 Thomas Foods for $236 and 4tooth ewes to Thomas Foods Jim Judd sold Dorper ewes to for $236 restockers for $156 and 28.3kg lambs to restockers for $122 Kim Nielsen sold Dorset x lambs off lucerne 47.5kg to UniMick & Sabrina Benson sold plaza for $172, 53.3kg to Ashtons Damara x rams to Gr Prime for Butchery for $221 $80, 43kg ram lambs to Whites Trading for $120, wethers to Goat Central sold Xbred lambs Thomas Foods for $212

WARWICK SALEYARDS VENDOR DESCRIPTION - Cents/KG - WEIGHT - $TOTAL BULLS G & C McGahan, Warwick, Charolais Bull, 309.2/830/2,566 COWS Ascot Cattle Co, Warwick, Charolais Cows, 301.2/800/2,409 Terry Kelly, Junabee , Charolais Cow, 301.2/750/2,259 LA & TA Spragge, Tannymorel, Charolais Cow/289.2/645/1,865 HEAVY FEEDER STEERS H Wolski, Millmerran, Angus x Steers, 449.2/468/2,103 Hiscote Pty Ltd, Glen Lyon Dam, Charbray Steers, 434.2/517/2.246 McGahan Pastoral, Swanfels, Charolais x Steers, 432.2/490/2,117 DOMESTIC FEEDER STEERS D Rance, Amiens, Angus Steer, 520.2/385/2,002 A Aspinall, Amiens, Angus x Steer, 520.2/325/1,690 BR & AC Hemple, Yangan, Angus/Santa x Steer, 520.2/320/1,664 WJ & J Creedon, Maryvale, Angus Steers, 518.2/335/1,736 FEEDER HEIFERS H Wolski, Millmerran, Angus Heifers, 470.0/380/1,786 FK & MT Roche, Maryvale, Angus x Heifers, 462.2 /350/1,617 B & J Bourke, Yangan, Santa Heifers, 460.2/349/1,606 YEARLINGS H Wolski, Millmerran, Angus Heifers, 478.2/342/1,633 ML & LJ Schultz, Wellcamp, Charolais Heifers, 474.2/425/2,015 T Eastwell, Swan Creek, Speckle Park x Steer, 468.2/420/1,966 WEANER STEERS Tinagalpa Investments, Maryvale, Droughtmaster x Steers, 594.2/208/1,237 G Ruhle, Clifton, Speckle Park Steers, 586.2/210/1,231 WEANER HEIFERS Ascot Cattle Co, Warwick, Angus Heifer, 522.2/215/1,122 T Rickuss, Warwick, Angus x Heifer, 522.2/205/1,070 G Ruhle, Clifton, Speckle Park Heifer, 510.2/220/1,122

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Council to borrow $35 million to substantially contribute to serving the debt”.

The Southern Downs Regional Council plans to borrow just un“These are typically but not der $35 million over four years to exclusively water and wastewater fund “critical infrastructure assets” assets,” the policy states. like water and sewerage, budget Mayor Vic Pennisi has publicly documents show. stated several times in recent Councillors on Wednesday of weeks and months that the this week will vote on the procouncil needs to find at least $30 posed 2021-2022 SDRC budget, million over the next three years which as well as rates and spendto fix the region’s ailing water and ing decisions for the new financial sewerage networks alone, without year contains an ‘Investment having specifically ruled-in borPolicy’ and ‘Debt Policy’. rowing the money. The Debt Policy sets out the “timing and amount of future loans” and the following amounts to be borrowed – through the Queensland Treasury Corporation (QTC) – from the 2022-2023 financial year onwards: 2022/23 - $3,440,00 2023/24 - $6,115,000 2024/25 - $13,960,000 2025/26 - $11,450,000 Total - $34,965,000 If taken on, the loans will be in addition to the SDRC’s current debt portfolio of $18,150,489 in similar debts to the QTC, as of the end of May this year. Those current loans are for past ‘capital’ projects as opposed to day-to-day operational needs, and the new borrowings are likewise to fund ‘physical’ assets, rather than operational activities. The policy document – to be tabled at the second of two June general meetings this Wednesday – states SDRC policy is to “strategically utilise debt to fund long-life critical infrastructure assets that have associated revenue streams

Responding to sewerage overflows into local waterways – including the Condamine River, Bracker and Rosenthal Creeks in Warwick and Quart Pot Creek in Stanthorpe – has alone cost the council hundreds of thousands over the last five years, and could also result in six-figure state government fines under environmental laws, with several overflows in 2021 still under investigation. The overflows have been caused by a myriad of problems including leaks in old and cracking sewer mains and pipes and faulty pumping station components such as electrical switchboards. Town water networks across Warwick and Stanthorpe are likewise ageing and problematic, with the council having engaged external engineering consultants Hunter H20 in 2019 to complete a full investigation into the region’s water and sewage treatment plants. That study – which The Daily Journal is attempting to access under Right To Information (RTI) - is understood by to

recent weeks told The Daily Journal of years of neglect of water and sewerage assets contributing to the current financial drain on Cr Pennisi has refused to pin the these assets. blame for failing water and sewerage networks on previous SDRC “Ever since the first amalgaadministrations – but has repeatmation that formed Warwick edly referred to the “suffocating” Shire there has been a complete nature of the expense associated mismanagement of water and with such critical upgrades. sewerage infrastructure,” one said. form a crucial piece of evidence informing the $35m borrowing plan.

The draft Capital Projects list to go before this Wednesday’s meeting for the 2021-2022 budget includes $3.6 million next financial year alone for upgrades and repairs on water and sewerage systems in Warwick and Stanthorpe, including ‘remote control’ systems such as telemetry.

“The council used to generate a profit in excess of $1 million per year from the water and sewerage services in Warwick town, but instead of placing those monies into a reserve to fund upgrade/ replacement of equipment it was syphoned off to prop up the general rate.

That spending is in on top of approximately $11.3 million for similar projects from the current 2020-2021 financial year which are incomplete and will be carried forward into 2021-2022.

“This course of action meant that the general rate rises were always less than they needed to be, but this kept the rural sector, and especially rural councillors, quiet (or quieter than they would have been). Now the hens have come home to roost ...”

‘YEARS OF NEGLECT’… Former councillors have in

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Jeremy Sollars, Daily Journal

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Krista’s story By Krista Bjorn

It’s here I learned how to garden, manage orchards, and take care of The sun is setting on our Allora animals. I’ve become a cheese-makfarm casting an amber glow through er, home-brewer, bread-baker, and wild grasses that dance and sway in creator of sausages, prosciutto, the wind. This is my favourite time of smoked ham, and bacon. I’ve day when the animals are all tucked learned through the kind encourin for the night, gardens are watered, agement of lovely friends, mounchores done, and the whole world tains of self-sufficiency books, and feels peaceful and companionable. more than my share of burnt food, dead plants, and failed recipes. Allora has been my home for nearly 10 years now and I love it Every day is a bit madcap as we more every year. My work as a food juggle jobs and gardens and orand travel writer and photographer chards and our bustling menagerie has taken me all over the world, but of Kalahari Red goats, Dorper sheep, it’s our 40-acre farm and beautiful a flock of chickens, some very noisy southern Queensland that delights geese, and three beautiful dogs, me every day. Fezzik, Apollo, and Freja. We get up

early and go to bed early and are always tired and covered in scratches and bruises and sometimes look at each other and think, “What are we doing??!!” But we wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s our crazy dream and even when things go wonky, and they always do, we still love it. Starting next week I’ll be writing a weekly page for The Country Journal featuring all things rural, handmade, and homemade in our wonderful community.

Farm 2 Fork Collective Forms A new social initiative enterprise is opening in the South Burnett region in July. Called the Farm 2 Fork Collective, it is designed to connect small food producers, food manufacturers and consumers, and was formed as a response to the devastating impact on Queensland of seven years of drought, diminishing markets for growers, and a strong national trend of agritourism. Although based in the South Burnett, the Farm 2 Fork Collective embraces a locavore structure that will include food producers within a 165-mile radius. This extends well into the Southern Downs region. “The Farm 2 Fork Collective will increase the accessibility of local produce for everybody,” President Roberta Schablon said. “It’ll be a one-stop shop with jams, spreads, olives, honey, meats, dairy, everything that’s available in our beautiful South Burnett region and neighbouring regions.” The shop will be in Wooroolin, Queensland and will feature memberships for both producers and customers. They will also collaborate with the community through festivals, events, and Meet the Producer events. For more information or to apply to join the Farm 2 Fork Collective, visit their website at www.f2fcollective.org.au

Solutions page 15

COUNTRYJOURNAL

1876 and all that...

Mort & Co’s Wool & Produce Circular, Sydney, June 9, 1876 The suspense in regard to the London wool sales was relieved on the 26th ultimo, by telegrams to the 21st April coming through. The prices given (in those permitted a hope that there had been a slight recovery from the decline previously notified. But we now learn from the printed reports and correspondence to same date, received by mail, that although an improvement was noticeable during the week preceding Easter, it was lost, and even worse tune evidenced on reassembling after a five days’ interval. This later declension appears to have lasted to the close of the series on the 9th

Weather focus July to September rainfall is likely to be above average for most of Australia, though areas in western Tasmania, the south-east coastal fringe, and far northern Queensland are tending towards a more neutral rainfall outlook. July rainfall shows a similar pattern, and while August rainfall shows a similar pattern to July to September, the chances of exceeding the median are not as high. Maximum temperatures for July to September are likely to be above average for the northern tropics, and across the far south-west and south-east of Australia. Maximum temperatures are likely to be below average in patchy areas in a band extending from the west coast through central Australia to the east coast. July and August maximum temperatures show a similar pattern. Minimum temperatures for July to September are very likely to be above average for most of Australia, with parts of western WA showing slightly lower chances. The pattern is similar for July and August minimum temperatures. Large parts of the eastern Indian Ocean are warmer than average, and a negative Indian Ocean Dipole event is looking increasingly likely, which can favour above average rainfall for parts of Australia. The El Niño–Southern Oscillation is currently neutral. Maps show the likely total rainfall (top) and maximum temperature (bottom) for the period 28th June to 4th July. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.

ultimo. The temporary improvement embraced the better wools rather than ordinary and lower grades; and the Continental buyers encouraged by the cheaper prices, having purchased freely throughout, the good combing wools show least percentage of decline. Sheepskins – At the present time the supply is not large and consists chiefly of skins of medium growth. As greasy wool is scarce all the lots offered meet with ready sale, scourers and fellmongers being anxious to keep their establishments at work. Tallow – A short supply here has had the effect of trade lots being eagerly competed for, and prices have exhibited an upward tendency. There are very few good parcels of shipping tallow offering, but all suitable lots meet with ready sale. Hides- The market has been fairly supplied but owing chiefly to the low figure at which the manufactured article has been selling, combined with the absence of shippers to London, prices on the whole during this month have not been equal to last.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

GENERAL KNOWLEDGE CROSSWORD 3

MINI WORD FIND

702

Y W N U P S

7 8 9

10 11

Asks Every File Here

23 24 25

6 To run away to marry, is to do what (5) 9 What are persons of unusually great size (6) 10 Which private soldier attends a superior officer (7) 12 What is an electrician known as (6) 14 Which part of speech modifies another part of speech (6)

16 What, colloquially, do we call a person who endures pain bravely (6) 18 Name one’s male relative (5) 19 What is a more common term for a thespian (5) 21 In classical mythology, across which river did Charon the ferryman transport the souls of the dead (4) 22 What is a graven image known as (4)

E-QUATIONS 7

Kill Oral Sleep Solar

CURIO

BIYWORD

E-QUATIONS

Some values are in the right hand cells.013 Create remaining values using centre cells. Letters A to Zclues haveina number value. Some

Clues: Beef cut (5) Ease (5) Excess (7) Existed (3) Golf: ground under repair (3) Have a look (coll) (3) Number (3) Presents (5) Toasted sandwiches (7) Very excited (coll) (5)

QUICK THINK

©GS

E L

R I

K A E T

W A J

BIY WORD

X I S

DOWN 1 Uncommon 2 By mouth 3 Places 4 Lessen pain

085-003

A:2, C:20, H:9, L:18, S:4, U:7, V:5

ACROSS 1 Moved upwards 5 Subject of study 6 Rodents 7 Other than

5 C

6 7 SUDOKU

L R R S S S

S T T U W X

SOLUTIONS

003

Solve the crossword. Each answer has four letters.

003

F G I I J K

A A D E E F

CROSSWORD

18 4

003

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

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

L÷H V×S S+V H×A H-V A+V C÷S

003

Tonic immobility is a natural state of paralysis in animals that is brought on by knismesis, i.e. low levels of rubbing or tickling. In 1997, a female orca was seen purposely inducing tonic immobility on a great white shark. She rubbed its snout for 15 minutes until the shark, held upside down, suffocated to death.

Letters have a number value

A C H L S U V

S S K S A O

Spun Vein Wheels

E A V E N T L A T I O N A P V I N E S N P A M B L E R R K T I T I S T D M O R O N N L

DOWN 1 What is a dam in a river (4) 2 What is a large vulture of the New World (6) 3 To agitate, is to do what (4) 4 What is a reddish orange dye (5) 5 To achieve or accomplish by continued effort, is to do what (6)

E L F I S R

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

19 20

V E I N L A

C S H P O R T E E N I N I D I R O N O R A D R O I D E A R A N D I A L V C Y S C E N T T R O X Y M B E R X

E E L R E L

003

W D E I G R I A N N T S U N A C L M E

R H E R E O

QUICK THINK ACROSS: 1 Rose, 5 Area, 6 Rats, 7 Else. DOWN: 1 Rare, 2 Oral, 3 Sets, 4 Ease.

E-QUATIONS A:2, C:20, H:9, L:18, S:4, U:7, V:5

S S K S A O

ACROSS 4 Name another term for paradise (6) 7 What do we call a person who has been exiled (8) 8 What is an aggregation of persons of the same ethnic family (6) 9 Name an American game of football (8) 11 What are long, deep, narrow valleys (7) 13 What do we call a robot made to resemble a human being (7) 15 Which word designates one who wanders about (7) 17 Name a particular outdoor clock (7) 20 Which ailment describes inflammation of the bladder (8) 23 What is a characteristic style of pronunciation (6) 24 What is a seemingly self-contradictory figure of speech (8) 25 Which term describes a parliamentarian (6)

MINI WORD FIND Y R E V E W H E E L N E L I F U R R N I P E E L S S O L A R

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Landcare causes better health...for volunteers: report

KPMG Australia in partnership with Landcare Australia released a study this week which suggests that Landcare volunteers “benefit from a significant increase in mental and physical wellbeing” with a “significant decrease to their healthcare costs.” Landcare is a non-profit which relies on local groups of volunteers to rehabilitate the natural environment, particularly agricultural land. KPMG estimates that $403 per individual is saved in healthcare each year, and for the Landcare movement, which exceeds 140,000 people, that number equates to $57 million. Interested in the research? Go to landcareaustralia.org.au/ wellbeing-report/

Will your farm pass the LPA audit? According to reports, all Livestock Production Assurance (LPA)-accredited producers in the Southern Downs may be asked to participate in a LPA audit. The Country Journal shares the four most common corrective action requests so that you can self-audit your system. 1. LPA National Vendor Declarations (NVDs) have not been completed correctly 2. Livestock movements have not been recorded in the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) database 3. Livestock treatment records are incomplete 4. A farm biosecurity plan and/ or property risk assessment is not available. For more information and access to an audit checklist, click https://www.integritysystems.

com.au/globalassets/isc/pdf-files/ lpa-documents/191122_lpa-audit-checklist.pdf.

Trade talks The Department of Agriculture, along with GrainGrowers and Wine Australia, appeared at an Australian parliamentary inquiry looking at the merits of expanding the membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. The CPTPP agreement signed in 2018 is a trade bloc of 11 countries that includes Australia and is an export market of 500 million consumers worth nearly $14 trillion. The parliamentary inquiry will examine the scope for expanding the TPP beyond the existing membership of Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Malaysia and Peru to include new L M members.

You may worry about your (sexist word inserted) relatives, but here is one worry you can avoid reads an advertisement from July 1940, in Popular Mechanics.

Pencilhead solutions

For more information click https://www.aph. gov.au/jfadt

Jacked-up prices

The ACCC reports that recent price increases by all three big telco companies mean that most Australians will be paying more for their mobile phone plans. Often, the price increase comes through pre-paid plans reducing their expiry periods, forcing customers to recharge more often. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone collectively hold 87 percent of the total retail mobile phone market. Federal MP .

T T H G C T T H R T C

I G R A T E R E M A L

O P M E S D W L A S I A

U E O B L U E R L P L W

L R O U S C I E T S S S

T S S C N N W P H T M S

L T Q I E D I R L I V E

T A U M A A S O F G F C

Lobsters Wordfind: Hidden Phrase: “Lobsters taste with their legs and chew with their stomachs.” Spot The 5 Differences:

O S I R N H N D E E R R

U X R C O O K U I N E E

C T T L S P E C I E S T

H E T A N K S T E T H A

M A T I N G E I G I M R

O W H E R Y T O G C O C

B O L D E S T N S C R H

S I T S D E H H K O E S

1. Antennae shorter 2. Segment missing from leg 3. Extra spike on back 4. Missing hair from leg 5. Missing section of tail Copyright: Auspac Media.

COUNTRYJOURNAL

Wool report

Australia’s wool market received a significant boost from the dot plot last week. The strength of the price increases surprised everyone – well almost everyone, as 4% of the sale lots were inexplicably still passed in for one reason or another. The overall market indicator rose by an impressive 55 cents in local currency terms. In USD terms the increase was much more staid with 25 cents being added to the indicator, and the Europeans sat in the middle as usual with a 36 euro cent rise. With the Fremantle centre playing catch up after a week’s rest rises over there topped out at more than 130 cents, but in the Eastern States some of the superfine merino categories managed to notch up a century increase as well. Most of the superfine and fine merino types were 80 cents higher in what was a pretty frenetic market. Medium merinos weren’t far behind with rises of 70 cents across the two selling days. Crossbred wools and cardings were solid without the extreme movements seen in the merino fleece and skirtings. Crossbred wool prices are slowly increasing as some buyers search for value or defensive stocks, but with recent lamb forwards being published at 880c/kg growers of crossbred wool will be prepared to ride it out. In a market which was expected to be firm, and at a time of year where mills have completed most of the current season’s purchasing everyone was a little perplexed at the strength of the market, especially those sitting in Europe who are more focussed in the short term on the approaching summer holidays than buying raw material ‘out of season’. Nevertheless, some commentary in China suggests there could be further upside for the market in the coming 4 weeks before the winter recess kicks in. Despite the continued uncertainties around the world the wool market has bounced back remarkably well, both in terms of price and quantities consumed, or at least shipped from Australia.

Information from Elders

It will be several months before we get any real meaningful data about garment consumption, but just in terms of exports of greasy wool the numbers are a huge improvement on those of last year. With this selling season stretching into week 53 due to one of those anomalies of the calendar, the volume shipped from our shores compared to the COVID-constrained selling and shipping 2019 season will be around 20% higher. That is not to say that we have produced 20% more wool, but a fair swag of it was not offered last year, but has found its way onto the market and into new owners hands this year by comparison.