tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11225108678563578432024-02-08T06:35:12.829+08:00Farmers Way of LifeAn attempt to spread the word of Agriculture through my own experiences. Inspired by Advocates for Agriculture and their story on ABC's Landline on the 14th August 2011. Might take me a while to get this page up to scratch, but it should be fun trying.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-29246158740441524192017-06-22T12:37:00.000+08:002017-06-22T12:37:48.677+08:00All Good Things... It's been an interesting two years to say the least.<br />
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For those that don't know, I'm no longer involved with Gabyon. Gemma and I separated almost two years ago, and while it's never easy, we remain amicable and I wish nothing but success and happiness for her and her family. We did some great things together, despite droughts, floods, fires and government ineptitude. They are still out at Gabyon and I highly recommend a visit to their Station Stay. Check out their <a href="http://www.gabyon.com.au/" target="_blank">website</a> to see why. It is a beautiful place.<br />
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The other major event is I managed to get a publishing contract with Allen & Unwin. After two years of back and forth, edits and proofs, I am very proud (and a little bit stunned) to announce Ridgeview Station is to be released in stores on the 28th June 2017. It's an amazing feeling to hold a real book in your hand with your own name across the cover. It all started from people reading this very blog and the positive feedback which came from that. The Kickstarter campaign was a success and that allowed me to engage professional advice, leading me to submit it for publishing once more.<br />
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So in short, I want to say thank you to everyone who read this blog. I never expected it to go as far as it did, but all good things must end, as they say. I hope to make something of this new writing venture. There's a second manuscript under consideration and I've began a third. You can follow my website which will take you to a Facebook page, Twitter page and and online store where you can buy a signed copy of Ridgeview Station. Once I get the page up to scratch there will be a new blog, probably mostly about city life from a country boys perspective, as I am now living in Perth. It's a bit different, I'll tell you that right now.<br />
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No matter what happens in the future, I am eternally grateful for the support and goodwill we received from people reading my musings on here. It meant a lot, thank you.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.michaeltrant.com.au/">www.michaeltrant.com.au</a></span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-52359375209665785062015-01-06T23:24:00.000+08:002015-01-19T01:15:12.870+08:00Kickstart a Pen's Worth. Almost twelve months to the day I announced on here I'd finished a manuscript. Now I've said some silly things in my time, but that'd be up there with the best of them. Since then, it's been drafted and redrafted more times than a dodgy mob of crossy lambs facing a fussy buyer. Now I'm finished as far as I can go, and it's time to bring the professionals in, but they cost money and if you've been reading for a while, you know that something we don't have at the minute.<br />
<br />
So, I've created a Kickstarter page, which is <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel" target="_blank">here</a>, and this post is to provide a sample of the book. Namely, the first bit of Chapter One, Wydjawanna Station. If you like it and want more, well, you'll have to pledge a few bucks so I can afford to get it edited, and then printed. All I can say is the dozen or so people who've read it loved it, and the reason I chose them to is because I knew they wouldn't blow smoke up my nether regions. Even my Mum (she never <i>let</i> us win board games, ever). So without further waffle, please enjoy the first bit of Wydjawanna Station.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;">Wydjawanna Station</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">by</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Michael Trant </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-transform: uppercase;"> Chapter One</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jack Simmonds leaned against the bonnet of his Landcruiser
as he smoked, and waited. Grey hairs poked out from under his cap, and his
trousers were stained with a mixture of red dust and black grease, a result of
sliding around the workshop floor earlier that morning.<span style="color: blue;">
</span>He stared silently into the horizon beyond the dirt airstrip, his gaze
only interrupted by the bush flies seeking refuge in the corners of his eyes,
and a wave of his well-worn hand to clear them. His neighbour, John Harris from
Nanoo, a sheep station some fifty kilometres away, was due here shortly with
their new backpacker working man. John could’ve driven, but he never missed a
chance to fly, a man much after Jack’s own heart.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">He took his eyes off the skyline long
enough to admire the landscape around him. A kangaroo stared back at him,
grazing on the edge of the strip. Jack would have to watch him as the plane
came in, otherwise things could get messy. It wasn’t like the roo couldn’t
graze elsewhere, they’d just come off the best winter seen since moving to Wydjawanna
Station eight years ago, and from talking to the previous owners it was the
best in over fifty. The result was spectacular. Wildflower season was finished,
the sea of white and purple everlastings gone, and the lush green mulla-mulla
bush and wanderrie grass dried off, but to Jack the resultant feed it created
was money in the bank. Not only did it provide for this years’ livestock, but
should the following winter be a dry one, the earlier soaking meant the
saltbush, cottonbush and other shrubbery and perennials could still feed their
animals well into another season. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It was one less thing they had to worry
about, and their livestock was in magnificent condition. Soon they would begin
the trapping and mustering program, harvesting off any saleable stock and
marking the young lambs that were abundant in every mob they saw. Now was a
good time to be in the sheep game, so much so that his daughter Nola and her
husband Roy had decided to put on two extra casual staff to help.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jack grinned to himself, recalling how
earlier that week Roy had consulted with him about the staffing requirements as
Jack toiled away in the workshop, servicing their mustering bikes. Aside from
flying, Jack was always happiest when swinging a spanner or driving his beloved
road grader. He was crouched beside one of the five motorbikes parked in a line
on the concrete floor when Roy had entered, wheeling in his latest flat tyre.
Tall and lean, Roy stooped to keep his hand on the wheel as he rolled it along.
Jack looked up from his work, a half smoked cigarette hanging from his mouth. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘How’d you go?’ </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Another flat, but the waters are
fine,’ said Roy cheerfully. ‘How about you, are the old girls going to make
another year?’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jack had cast his eye over the
motorbikes. They were all the same model, Suzuki 250 Ag bikes, but it was easy
to see some were more senior than others. Beside the first three bikes were a
small pile of sprockets, spark plugs, guards and bolts. Jack was working on the
fourth and hadn’t yet started on the fifth, the newest one in the line up.
Around him there was a scattering of spanners, screwdrivers and the ever
present can of CRC, the magic aerosol lubricant relied on so often to loosen
rusted nuts.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jack sighed as he answered. ‘Number
three and one are tired, Roy. Three’s burning oil and blowing smoke when she
gets hot, and one’s starter has seized. But the kicker works, so just don’t
give it to any little riders you get this year.’ He pointed at the other bike.
‘Five will be fine and the other two just need a service. I’ll get the parts
ordered and Lisa can pick them up when she gets the food stores.’ Lisa was his
wife, Roy’s Mother-in-Law. ‘That just leaves the truck to service, a few welds
on the stock crate and Nola’s ute. Then we’re good to go.’ </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roy nodded, pleased. Nola worked
alongside them doing most things, but mechanics were not her strong point. “I
drive it, you fix it,” she would say. No, Nola was much happier working with
four legs over four wheels, but on two wheels she was almost unbeatable. The
only person who had been able to match her was Kev, their old stockman, but he
had retired in the last year, much to his reluctance.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘If we can get a couple of good mobs
sold we can replace number three. It’ll just have to hang in there. Depending
on who we end up with, we can put a slow rider on it,’ Roy started working on
the tyre. ‘Young Bobby and Gav went alright last year, didn’t they?’ Jack shook
his head, passing Roy a tyre lever.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘You’d have to ask Bethany, I think
their mobs are blueing at the moment. But either of the boys are good if they
can’t work together.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bobby and Gav were two local aboriginal
teenagers who’d both been out to work for them more than once, and Bethany was
one of the local elders, the go-to lady for any station looking for temporary
workers. She always knew who was where, when so-and-so would be back and who
couldn’t work with whom for reasons known only to themselves. She could
organise staff at a drop of the hat and Roy and Nola liked using the local
lads. A lot of the boys’ families had grown up on Wydjawanna and surrounding
sheep stations, and they seemed to enjoy being able to return, albeit only for
a few weeks. They’d tell stories of antics their fathers got up to, proudly
showing off fence lines and troughs their relatives helped construct.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘I’ll get Nola to give her a ring
tonight. What about you, you up to riding this year?’ Roy knew Jack would
resent the question, but he had to ask. While Jack’s skill on the bikes as a
musterer was not in question, Roy noticed he had been starting to slow down a
little. The decades of toil were catching up with him, and it was beginning to
show.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jack stood up, puffing his chest out.
‘You just tell whatever young kids you get to follow my dust,’ he growled. ‘I
ain’t completely useless yet.’ </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roy back-peddled quickly. ‘Course not,
just thought you might prefer flying this year, I can ride if you want.’ He
started working at the tyre with the levers, not wanting to look at Jack.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Jack mellowed a little. ‘Well, I would,
but…’ he paused, placing a boot on the tyre for Roy. ‘Me eyes aren’t what they
used to be. I’d probably miss a few. I ain’t completely useless.’ He repeated.
‘But I ain’t a hundred per cent either.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Roy could see this hurt Jack to say. He
was a proud man, and the thought of losing his ability to do the things he
loved scared him. Jack looked at his son-in-law, and his eyes started to
twinkle as he spoke with a sudden grin.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Besides, you on a bike would slow us
down too much.’ He was hinting to Roy’s
well-known preference to four wheels over two. Roy gave a snort as he pried
away at the rubber. He didn’t mind the good-natured ribbing, it was a sign Jack
hadn’t taken offence to his poorly veiled suggestion he was showing his age.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That
same night Jack had listened in as Nola rang Bethany. ‘‘ello?’ she answered.
‘Who dat?’ Nola could hear people chattering in the background.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Bethany,
it’s Nola here from Wydjawanna,’ Nola started, but before she could say any
more Bethany interrupted.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Nola,
‘ow are ya love, I knew you was gunna ring soon, you mob been quiet aye, wid
all dis rain.’ Bethany spoke fast, and her thick guttural accent could be
difficult to understand, especially for Roy and Jack, whose slight deafness
didn’t help, so as a result Nola did most the talking. ‘Not good for chasing dem goat-sheep aye?
But I bet dey fat liddle goat-sheep now aye.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nola
always smiled at Bethany’s goat-sheep comment. Goat-sheep was the name she’d
given to the damaras that ran on Wydjawanna, who had a coat of hair instead of
wool, and the multitude of colours they came in did make it hard for people
unfamiliar with them to tell the difference from the wild goats sometimes.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Yes,
Bethany, the sheep are very fat. We need some good fellas to give us a hand
next week. Are Bobby and Gav able to come? They are good boys those two.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Bobby,
‘e can come Nola,’ Bethany paused. ‘But
Gav, ‘e got ‘im a traineeship wid da mine mob. ‘e home next week, but, ‘is mob
not real ‘appy wid Bobby’s mob just now aye. Maybe you just take Bobby, till
dey all cool down some, y’know?’ Bethany spoke of the discontent as if it were
nothing strange. And to her, it probably wasn’t.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Bobby
will be great thanks Bethany,’ Nola replied, giving the thumbs up to Jack and
Roy. ‘He can come out anytime in the next few days. He just needs his work
clothes, we’ll have the rest.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Okay
den, we gotta go to town on T’ursday, so we drop ‘im off on da way, okay?’
Before Nola could answer, a screech came through the phone from Bethany’s end.
Nola winced as she held the phone off her ear.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Shut
up you mob, I’m on da bloody phone!’ Then calmly, ‘Sorry Nola, I got dem bloody
grandkids ‘ere.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘That’s
okay Bethany,’ laughed Nola. ‘Thank you for your help, we will see you on
Thursday.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nola
had relayed the news about only one of the boys being able to come, which put
them a man down on the muster crew. Lisa piped up from the kitchen, where she
was tidying the night’s dinner dishes away.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Didn’t
John say he had a guy there who was finishing up?’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Nola
thought about it. They’d last seen John and his wife Joy at on Nanoo a few
weeks ago, where all the neighbouring stations gathered to prepare wild dog
baits. She was fairly sure she had heard him mention a backpacker to someone.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Yeah,’
she said. ‘Alex I think he said his name was. From Estonia. Give him a ring Roy,
see if he’s free.’ She passed the phone to her husband. Roy rang the number.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">John answered. ‘Hello?’ He drawled out
the first syllable, and snapped off the last.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘John. Roy here mate, how’s things?’
Roy got along well with John, as did Nola with Joy, and the two couples were
good friends. They made small talk for a while, catching up on the local
gossip, discussing the weather and general affairs, till Roy brought up the
backpacker.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Nola tells me you’ve got a backpacker
there.’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Yeah mate, Alexi. Not a bad sort. From
Estonia. Why do you ask?’ John queried.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘We’re a man short for a muster next
week. Reckon you could swing them our way for a bit?’ Roy could hear John give
a little chuckle under his breath as he answered.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Hang on, I’ll ask. Alexi was a little
unsure as where to go next. Very handy on the motorbike.’ Roy heard muffled
voices, and then came back on the line. ‘Yep, I’ll drop them off on Thursday,
how’s that?’</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Thursday’s perfect John, Bethany is
dropping off Bobby then too.’ Roy had sworn he’d heard John choke back a laugh.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Really? Young Bobby, hey? And you’ve
still got Ash there too?’ Ash was the young jackeroo they’d been employing for
just over a year now, originally from the city, but he had taken to rural life
very easily.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Yeah, why’s that, you think they won’t
get along with Alexi?’ asked Roy, wondering what John was obviously not telling
him.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Oh no, I think they’ll like Alexi just
fine,’ assured John. ‘I’ll see you Thursday,’ and with that, the line went
dead.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Still waiting for John, Jack lit
another smoke as he remembered Roy’s puzzled explanation to them about the
backpacker. There was something John wasn’t telling them and Jack wondered what
it could be. Could Alexi not speak English very well? Was he some sort of vegan
animal loving hippy on a crusade to save the poor persecuted sheep from the
nasty farmer? He’d come across one like that years ago, and it had taken all
his self-control not to lock the kid in a pen with twenty wild rams, and then
ask him if still thought they were defenceless.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The familiar buzzing of a light
aircraft interrupted his thoughts. John’s blue Cessna grew larger as he came in
low, passing over the sheds and homestead as he circled the airstrip, no doubt
one eye on the lifeless windsock. Jack
watched as the plane lined up the runway and landed with only a few small
bounces.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The plane taxied down towards him and
Jack could see two people inside, heads peering over the plane’s engine bay.
From this distance and with his eyes, Jack couldn’t quite make out who was who,
but he knew John would be on the left side of the plane. John killed the engine
and the propeller came to a stop. Both removed their headsets and clambered
out, John first, who then ran round to help his passenger. Jack started over towards them and then
stopped dead in his tracks as he watched Alexi alight from the plane.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
‘Holy
shit,’ he breathed.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<br />
<em><br />
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<br />
</span> </em>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-54823016079938707792014-12-21T15:10:00.001+08:002015-01-19T00:50:11.876+08:00Dry Heat It's getting to that time of year again, and now with our added venture of tourism, this little poem written for a competition I never entered seems apt.<br />
<br />
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<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Dry Heat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They came from
the burbs, this family of Perth</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Seeking holiday
fun, amongst the red earth</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘We’ll go
prospecting all day,’ grinned Dad with delight</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But at the
mention of camping, they all turned quite white.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mum was concerned
at Dad’s plans for a break</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">She talked to her
friends, who all said ‘Mistake!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">No phones, no
service, or toilet with seat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It’s the middle
of Feb, what about all the heat?’</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad just laughed
as he packed up the gear</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘Don’t worry
love, can’t be much hotter than here</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">It’s the coastal
humidity we struggle to beat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And luckily out
there, it’s a sort of dry heat.’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So off they all
trundled, to a town called Yalgoo</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">What they were in
for, they hadn’t a clue</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">“Here we are
kids, this is gonna be sweet!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The car says it’s forty, but at least its dry
heat.’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Car doors flew
open, and they stepped into the oven</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mother near
fainted, she’d never left the Great Southern</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Thongs began
melting, and stuck to their feet.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Bitumen tends to
get hot, even in the dry heat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span><br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They raced to the
shade, their skin starting to blister</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A local yelled
out ‘Bit hot is it Mister?’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mum glared at her
hubby, who had gone very meek</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘No worries, you
said, it’s only dry heat!’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘The kids faces
are burning, and it’s not even noon</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Find me an air
con, and find me one soon!</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">No way are we
searching for the gold that you seek</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Only mad dogs and
Englishmen go out in dry heat’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Dad flew into the
shop like a madman possessed</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Hoping against
hope he could buy an ice vest</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But the owner
just laughed ‘Those things we don’t keep</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Don’t need them
out here, when it’s only dry heat’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Back to car, and
in they all piled</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When Mum saw the
temp, she began to get riled</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘Forty six? Oh
for the love of Saint Pete</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Who’s flaming
idea was it to brave the dry heat?’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Not a word Dad
said, but he let out a gasp</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As the red-hot
car seat took hairs off his arse</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">He started the
engine and pulled onto the street</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">while the air con
struggled to tame the dry heat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘We’ll go to the
station where I’ve got a room booked.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They’d have AC
there or their guests would be cooked.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The rooms are old
quarters, and they looked really neat.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The locals must
know how to beat this dry heat.’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">By the time they
arrived it was just after noon</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Again once
outside mother started to swoon</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The owner came
over to meet and to greet</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">This family who
dared and brave the dry heat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘Your room is all
ready, but like I said on the phone</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">She’s a bit warm
out here, much hotter than home</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">There’s a pool
you can use, but again I repeat,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I’m not sure how
you’ll cope with all this dry heat’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At the mention of
pool, the kids were a blur</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But when Mother
dove in, it damn nearly froze her</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘This water’s
like ice, it’s colder than sleet</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But at least I’m
out of that blasted dry heat.’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So that’s where
they stayed for the rest of the day</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mum and Dad
paddling while the kids splashed and played</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But unknown to
them all their car would soon reek</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">For Dad’s beer
had exploded in all the dry heat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They finished their swim and were shown to the room.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mother looked
round and started to fume</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘I don’t see an
air-con,’ she said, tapping her feet</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘How do they live
here in this cursed dry heat?’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">After dinner that
night the owners gave them a fan</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘It’s a bit warm
here at times, so here you go Ma’am</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Put that near
your beds, it’ll help you all sleep</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Can be hard to
nod off, if you’re not used to dry heat’</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They lay there at
night in a puddle of sweat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">As Dad tossed and
turned he was filled with regret.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The kids had fled
to the car to sleep on the seat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The engine idling
away to cool the dry heat</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They awoke at
first light and repacked all their gear</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The kids emerged
from the car, smelling of stale beer</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They paid up the
bill, the short-lived holiday complete</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">No way were they
staying amongst the dry heat.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The owner
chuckled as he watched them drive off</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">He’d seen it
before, but didn’t consider them soft.</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They lived in a
world full of steel and concrete</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Which to him would be tougher than any dry heat.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-21580827432593610522014-11-03T10:38:00.000+08:002015-01-19T00:52:58.377+08:00Doof Doof In Ze Shed<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Last year we had the pleasure of hosting Thibuat (Teebo) and Thierry for three months. These two French boys embraced station life like no other and have become firm friends. The last time they visited was to be Thierry's last, as his Visa was due to expire and he was unable to stay. Just a few of the fun times we had with them follow.... </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Two Frenchmen arrived,
outback adventures they seek </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Fresh from a viewing of the
infamous Wolf Creek</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Greeted by a lady with her
rifle on shoulder slung</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">At that point they wondered
what they had done</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The boys considered if they
should not have just fled</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But instead made their way
up to the massive steel shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They stopped at the house
and there met all of us</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Of their encounter with our
guest they made quite a fuss</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘’We did not know if we
should stay or should go!’’</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And that was our first laugh
with Thierry and Thibaut</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">We showed them around, and
they both shook their head</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">In awe at the scale of
things, especially our new shed</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"></span></span><br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">They decided to stay and we
set them to work</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">World Wars aside it can’t be
said the French shirk</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">First job was faecal tests,
not the best for a newb</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">All I can say it involves
gloves and a fair amount of lube</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘No more joke at the Kiwis,
I think that is misled,’</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">grinned Thierry that night
as we drank beers in the shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Mustering and fencing,
marking and drafting</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The boys did it all, and all
with much laughing</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Here for three months, both
had a visa to renew</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So both got stuck in, there
was so much to do</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But it soon became obvious
and not needed to be said</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">That what both enjoyed most
was tinkering in the big shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The shed is impressive, but
I have to confess</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When they first saw it the
place was a mess</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So first task was to tidy
tools back where they go</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And to make it more
pleasant, I brought in a stereo</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Thierry eyes lit up, as
though his thoughts I had read</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">‘Now we can ‘ave some doof
doof in ze shed.’</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The I.T. man he is we soon
had that thing wired</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Plugged in his Iphone and up
the old girl fired</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Cranked the dial to ten and
the music was loaded</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">When the first note hit the
rafters the swallows exploded</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And as the cobwebs shook to
the sound of Led Zep,</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I could see Thierry was
pleased with his doof doof in the shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">From then on the boys
weren’t hard to be found</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">All you had to do was just
follow the sound.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The maestro selected his
choice for the day</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And away they would work as
his music would play</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">From French pop to punk to
the bloody Grateful Dead</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Anything goes when it comes
to doof doof in the shed.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">A challenge I set them, to
get an old bike going</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And not a second later the
tunes started flowing</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So many French curses I
learnt that afternoon</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">With the bikes refusal to go
the boys started to fume</span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Thierry jumped on that
kicker until his cheeks were flushed red</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But the bike only coughed in
time to the doof doof in the shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The bike was abandoned and a
new task decided</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">To build us a pizza oven,
the type was woodfired</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A month of welding and grinding and my scrap heap depleted</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Until finally one day the
masterpiece was completed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">The inaugural cook up
certainly left us well fed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">All to the sound of the doof
doof in the shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Time goes too fast and those
three months flew by</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Farewells were said, all
with some dust in our eye</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But they stayed down in
Perth and would make their own way</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Back to Gabyon for Christmas
and even a birthday</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And each time Thierry would
eventually be led</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Back into the workshop for
another doof doof in the shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">But last time they called
in, they gave us the bad news</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Thierry’s Visa was up and
attempts to stay had fell through</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Not to far from now he’ll be
back home in France</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">So he wasn’t missing this
Gabyon run, not even a chance</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And after a big night, when
guests had gone to bed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Quietly Thierry snuck up and
put on his doof doof in the shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">I followed him up and we
talked for a long time</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Of women and work and music
over much beer and wine</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">All the while played the
greats, as well as the rest</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Echoing through the night
down to our guests</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Eventually I left him there
and started to head</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Leaving Thierry alone with
his doof doof in the shed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">And I’m not ashamed to say
tears welled as I lay in my bed</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;">Listening to what would be
Thierry’s last doof doof in our shed</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span> </div>
<br />
<em> </em><br />
<em>If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.</em><br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank"><em>Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</em></a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-36276857526137410392014-08-03T17:01:00.001+08:002015-01-19T00:53:18.171+08:00Where is everybody?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So since April I’ve been working off farm as a relief utility for ESS, the company that provides catering and cleaning to a lot of the mines. Up until today I’m on my fourth site. I’ve been to Karratha, near Onslow at Wheatstone, way out whoop-whoop at Telfer playing with dingos (that’s a WHOLE new post in itself) and now I’m at Mooka, near Port Hedland.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Being relief means you get dropped in to help out the permanents at each site, either covering someone who’s sick, on holidays, or providing a temporary boost in numbers during busy times like shutdowns. As a result you meet so many people, all from different backgrounds, cultures, ages and religions. It’s great. And being new, the general first conversations go something like this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Them: ‘So, where you from?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me: ‘Yalgoo.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Them ‘What goo?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me: ‘Yalgoo. Couple hundred clicks in from Geraldton. Out in the scrub, in sheep station country.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Them: ‘Oh. You live out there?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me: ‘Yeah, on our sheep station, Gabyon with my wife Gemma and her parents.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Them: ‘You own a sheep station? How big? How many sheep do you have?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Me: ‘Well, the bank owns it at the moment, but it’s 670 000 acres. It’s a big place. And about eight to ten thousand sheep.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s at this point they usually take a minute to recover, especially the people of Asian background. To many of them, any one who owns land is extremely wealthy, so to own that much means I’m obviously a squillionare who is slumming it, bank mortgage or not. Then the inevitable question follows.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘What are you doing here?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyone who’s been reading this blog for a while knows very well why I’m ‘here.’ But in case not, here’s what I told the former (thankfully) Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig a while back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2013/01/slow-hand-clap-please.html</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I give them the short version. Rules changed, we had the rug ripped from under us and you can’t go two years owing a few mill with little income. Then I warn them I can go on about it for hours so feel free to stop me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Most don’t. In fact pretty much everyone I’ve worked with want to know more. Not just about the whole live ex thing, but about what we do, how we do it. They are fascinated by the idea of five people (four, now I’m away) running a property that big with only a few backpackers to help.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Which brings me to my point. So often we hear how 99%, or 83% or ‘the vast majority’ (SPOTTO) or whatever 'figure plucked from nether regions' of Australians are against live export.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I call bullshit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">99% of Australians are against the mistreatment of animals we send. As it should be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the last four months I’ve met and worked with just over a hundred individuals. Some it’s side by side for twelve hours, others we see each other in the crib (smoko) room and at the Pre Start meetings. Everybody I worked with eventually knew my story, what we do and how we do it. They ranged from young women to older men, Kiwi’s, Cook Islanders, Thai’s, Kiwi’s, Philippino’s, Indigenous, Caucasian and even more Kiwi’s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There was only one lady who hated the idea of live export. Why? Because we should be doing it here to create jobs. Now my first reaction was to point out the irony, seeing as we worked for a large Company who facilitated the export of the raw materials to make steel overseas, then buy the steel back in, however the lady happened to be the Site Supervisor and at only week two into my first swing I wisely kept my trap shut, a rare thing indeed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My point is, a survey of inner North Melbourne probably will get you that figure so often quoted. But to apply it across the country is wrong, misleading and illogical. Which pretty much sums up most of the activists arguments. Stupid thing is, we all want the same thing, cut out the cruelty. But their solution is akin to taking cars off the road to stop road kill, both animals and people. Sure, it’d work. But have they thought it though? Because we are the perfect example of what happens when policy is whacked in with little or no thought given to the consequences.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> As a sidenote, a dozen or more fellow workers remembered the Hadagutful Rally of 2012. Which makes me very proud.</span><br />
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If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
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Goats are bastards. Mad as cut snakes, they can make the most experienced mustering team look like a mob of amatuers. One minute they'll be trotting along happily, then the next second it's like someone's lobbed a hand grenade at them and fifty race off in fifty different directions, leaving the five motorbike and two dogs to try and halt the flood.<br />
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On Gabyon sits Courin Hill, a large granite outcrop that a mob of around two hundred call home. Each morning driving past we see them trotting down for a drink and a feed, and each evening driving back we see them again, trotting up once more for the night.<br />
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They are cunning sods. As soons as they hear the bikes or plane they refuse to come down of the hill. The following is based on a few attempts to muster them, with mixed results.<br />
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Apologies to Slim.<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Rounding up goats is much harder than sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the feral little buggers need to pay for their keep,</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Cos the bank’s back on the phone and a callin’ me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">A few new hands are astride the two wheels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Racing through the sand as the plane above peels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But the goats on top o’ the hill are avoiding me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The planes diving hard trying to push them to the South.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Pilots muttering things I’ve never heard from his mouth.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And the crews on the motor bikes are grumpy at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Putting down all my fears I ride up that bloody hill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The dog on the back has a-frozen dead still.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And the goats on top o’ the hill are a’ laughing at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The dog got sent to cast,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">and they began at last,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">start a-shifting, in a prance<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The pilot begins to gloat,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">counting all his goats<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">with a glance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Motorbike engines start a gunnin’ in time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">That’s one thing that I’d forgotten to remind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And the goats turn back up the hill still laughin’ at me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Theres some colorful sledge thrown down the mountain side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The bikes will remember next time that they ride.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Don’t send goats on top o’ the hill back over on me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">The dog’s bolted home,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">and now I’m all alone, in a trance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Again I see the goats,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">but we haven’t got a ghost of a chance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Not a word is spoken heading back to the yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Surely chasing goats can’t be all that hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And the pilots not really a-talking much to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">And going past each day they’re still on that hilly side.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN;">But never do we speak of the time that we tried.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">To catch the wild goats on the hill that were a laughing at me.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I’m sure the bloody goats on the hill are still a laughing at me.</span></div>
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<br />Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-1852385795209953312014-06-28T19:58:00.000+08:002015-01-19T00:54:20.242+08:00Fee For Fi Fo Fun<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Okay, that’s pre-start finished, now everyone outside to do our warm-up stretches.’</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’m sorry, our what?!? I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore Toto…..</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Definitely not Kansas. Karratha to be more correct, at the Karratha Gas Plant (KGP) on my first day as a utility for ESS, the company that does the cleaning and catering on this site, and many many others. It’s a whole new world for me, one that we’ve had to explore in order to stay doing what we love at Gabyon.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwh-n8FzdOE2HALBS-c0gOkhvrR7WUo0qrjFxqTnan6a3CtJ8lrPqf_H3DW_hGN00Bq1wTcJqftOTNvb4GSH5aM9Itae9wYrV4HlxVJsGIYoAdsAmDEicmTBHt4GClEuzZGP2FreDSylE/s1600/IMAG2318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_lm_908288="null" closure_uid_745295303="6" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwh-n8FzdOE2HALBS-c0gOkhvrR7WUo0qrjFxqTnan6a3CtJ8lrPqf_H3DW_hGN00Bq1wTcJqftOTNvb4GSH5aM9Itae9wYrV4HlxVJsGIYoAdsAmDEicmTBHt4GClEuzZGP2FreDSylE/s1600/IMAG2318.jpg" height="180" oua="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gap Ridge Camp</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back in December I started looking for FIFO work. A casual tweet saying I was joining the Hi-Vis crowd led to attending an information and signup session for ESS in Perth, where they basically spent half an hour telling the crowd of forty or so how shit FIFO life is. I guess they get sick of people thinking they can work in these remote sites and then realising it’s not for them. The presenter lady was saying its hot, dry, dusty, there’s flies, snakes, big lizards, there’s no phone service sometimes, the internet’s shit, the work’s repetitive, it’s long days and little breaks. All I could think was that it sounded just like home. Only with a pay cheque at the end of it.</span></div>
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A week later I was sent off for a medical. Which essentially was a two-hour drive to Geraldton to pee in a cup, though not before I signed the consent form saying they could take a sample. First time I’ve ever given written permission to have the piss taken. Little did I know it was the first of many, many, many forms to sign. The sample was given, but if I could make any request, they should make that observation mirror in the ceiling corner a magnifying one. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fast forward to mid April and I’m sitting on a plane full of blokes bound for Karratha. Every other plane I’ve been on has been full of families heading on holiday, so this felt a little weird. Least there were no screaming babies or kiddies kicking seats. We land and I buddy up with the other new starter, Deb, who was easily recognisable as she had the same bewildered look I was no doubt sporting. Eventually we found our ride and were shown about the campsite by a lovely young couple Melissa and Chris. Gap Ridge Camp is huge. Or so I thought. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next morning began the death by induction. We were here as temps to help with the shutdown about to begin at the plant. I found the whole day quite interesting, but for guys who do this all the time I can see why many had the glazed stunned mullet look on their face for most the day. We finished up and at dinner that night Pete told us we’d be leaving for the plant at 5.15am next morning. Every morning. For the next two weeks. Don’t believe everything you hear about farmers getting up before dawn. I’m not one of them and the idea of 4.30am alarms had me wondering if this was a good idea or not.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3XWxNnZIUsvOTf1AFVUPNnzkoa2fTz0Jja_mdVNMEK9ugoxPSQL0mH472CMBuCtlrFVsXU1MUmwqTa7m_QpMXts9dVCXL2vQdqAq716RKBy-XK33QDp2OoMN0cECqHa1dEh8mXYeaGE/s1600/IMAG2315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" closure_lm_908288="null" closure_uid_745295303="5" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3XWxNnZIUsvOTf1AFVUPNnzkoa2fTz0Jja_mdVNMEK9ugoxPSQL0mH472CMBuCtlrFVsXU1MUmwqTa7m_QpMXts9dVCXL2vQdqAq716RKBy-XK33QDp2OoMN0cECqHa1dEh8mXYeaGE/s1600/IMAG2315.jpg" height="180" oua="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of KGP</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next morning, bleary eyed and after ‘forcing’ a plateful of every conceivable breakfast option you can imagine down, five of us are in the van heading to work. It’s still dark for Christ sake! One thing about the dark is when you come over the rise the gas plant is lit up like Sydney harbour. The sheer size of the thing is astounding. <i>We have to clean all that??<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not the first week I didn’t. After the safety stretches (in which I damn near pulled a quad and almost fell over) and after the ESS site induction I was placed in the kitchen. Here they do a canteen service for smoko and lunch, plus deliver food to the Control Room, the much smaller Pluto Gas Plant down the road, and other places all connected to Woodside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not everyone likes kitchen. It’s very busy, and you’re in the same place. I didn’t mind it. The ladies in there were lovely, and I likened it to working in a shearing team, where everyone works in together to keep the process rolling along. If one slows up it buggers it up for the rest. The chefs are the shearers and the kitchen hands the roustabouts, keeping everything tidy and out the chefs way. Plus a busy day is a quick day. I went from pot wash to dish wash to slice and dice to cleaning. When Ana, the supervisor was showing myself and Deb how to skin melons, she commented I was quite good with the knife. All I said was I’ve done quite a bit of knife work, just not on fruit, forgetting that Deb was a vegetarian. Lucky she has a good sense of humour. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A week later I was back home for a week of R & R. Rest and relaxation. Or in my case Repairs and Rounding up. First day back we mustered, and by the time I left again for work we had managed to actually sell some, and the flat tyre pile was back to a respectable level. So that was well worth it. However the first morning old Dash, our stockman and the last of the true bushies, took one look at my new shiny Woodside issued gloves clipped to my belt by my new shiny Woodside issued glove clip. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">'F*#k me, one week on a mine and comes back a f%@kin' softcock.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Second swing starts and this time I was on the cleaning crew. Shutdown meant a huge influx of contractors and fourteen something crib rooms to clean, along with the admin buildings, toilet blocks, warehouses, training rooms, permit offices, the Control Room and everything else in between. It’s a huge job and the people doing it are amazing. On this site most people are quite nice to you as you work around them. Everyone apologises as they walk over your freshly mopped floor, but that’s the nature of site cleaning. It isn’t after hours, when the place is empty. A few times I was tempted to stand in front of the hallway, mop and broom held high and roar ‘YOU SHALL NOT PASS!’ but I’m not sure the riggers and diesel fitters would get the Gandalf reference.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cribs were the worst though. Smoko rooms where everyone sits while they wait for permits to be signed off on. A team of four have to do four ablution blocks, a full clean on the cribs, second clean on the ablutions, then a half clean on the cribs in the arvo. They have the technique down pat, which I called the Blitzcrib. Rush in, a flurry of chairs, chucks, mops and brooms, restock the tea and coffee bits, and then rush out before the occupants arrive or return. Sometimes we wondered how some of these guys lived at home, such was the state a few cribs were regularly left in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The best job was the toilet run. In amongst the actual workings of the plant were ablutions, and we had to clean them. This meant I got to drive around with Adrianne, gawking at all the masses of pipes, vents, pumps, compressors and God knows what else. In the end she took me to clean the training room, where they had big displays of all the parts, just so I’d stop asking questions like a bored five year old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A few times I was asked how I was handling the toilets and the odd ‘surprise’ we would get. Trying not to sound too cocky (in which I no doubt failed) I explained best I could the odd crocodile is nothing compared to things I’ve done and seen at home. The few crew who wanted more of an elaboration probably now wished they hadn’t asked. Sorry Terry, but least you know how we get faecal samples from rams now. And guys. Please. Stand closer to the urinals, chances are it’s shorter than you think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The hardest thing I found was getting used to all the safety protocols. I knew it would be a world apart from home, and many times I had to catch myself. So often a minor maintenance issue which meant a job couldn't be done I could've fived with a screwdriver, or just a bloody butter knife, but protocols are there and must be followed. One R & R break while dangling from a windmill it occured to me maybe some of them are a good idea. However I've said before if farms followed the safety OH&S procedures mines do you'd all starve. But when in Rome, do as the Romans do.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While all this was going on, hanging over everybody’s head was ‘The Contract.’ ESS’s contract was up for renewal, and they’d made a big play to take over the Gap Ridge Camp as well, which was run by their opposition. ESS had been at KGP for a very long time, and by all accounts were confident of retaining it. It dominated smoko and hallway chats, and had done so for some time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">During my last week there, I had the displeasure of sitting in a room of new friends as their big bosses informed them ESS was unsuccessful. It was a huge shock, one nobody except the usual pessimists saw coming. After working so closely with these people, realising they are the hardest working on site and also the lowest paid, it was a hard thing to watch, and something I won’t forget. So by mid July everyone either moves sites, or changes shirts. Worst part is most are locals, with only a handful of FIFO’s to top up the numbers, so it’s not like they can just change a few flights about. Part of me would’ve liked to stay on to help with the de-mob, but part of me is glad I’m not. Some people have worked there for over twenty years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I did five weeks in total at KGP, or two and a half swings. I learnt so much from so many, all who were more than willing to take a complete noob under their wing and show them the ropes. And also make them carry the radio, but hey, that’s what yellow hats are for, right? Now I’m at Wheatstone, near Onslow, in a massive camp working in a massive dining room washing a massive amount of dishes from a massive amount of people. When I got the info pack for the Wheatstone camp I got a little excited. We get a laundry service, serviced rooms and...... wait, thats going to be my bloody job! From here who knows where I’ll be, but I doubt anywhere will be like KPG. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So to Mary, Pete, Peter, Julie, Ana, Samia, Eric, Sharif, Lang, Sherrie, Vanessa, Yasmin, Yudo, Sue, Deb, Adrainne, Bianca, Mata, Kimberly, Moanna, Kelly and Kelly, Jaydee, Nathan, Chris and Melissa, Linda, Terry, Bobby, Steve, Jacob, Louis, Tina, Katlyn, Juliet, Caitlyn, Kart, Denise, Correena, Peta, Supanee, even bloody Jason and anyone else I’ve missed, thankyou for making my first job in a very long time a good one. Everyone taught me something, from cleaning to learning to not be the boss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And last of all and most importantly Mike, Helen and Gemma, who are holding the fort while I’m away, and doing a bloody good job of it. I've got the easy part of the deal. But as good as camp life is and as good as the money might be, it doesn’t hold a candle to Gabyon.</span><br />
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If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a><br />
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-48113112651757478822014-01-19T19:28:00.000+08:002014-01-19T19:28:13.503+08:00Good Mob of Words<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> This blog has been neglected of late, and for that I apologise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The second Hadagutful rally was a great success. It’s very rare the sequel tops the original and this was no exception, but we did ourselves proud and once I finish downloading the emails with some footage from others I’ll get another video together. With Gabyon’s net speed it should only a few more months.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> I’m sad to say the sale of our Geraldton farms hasn’t made much difference to our business position except the numbers are just are little smaller. Hopefully we can get out of the hole we find ourselves in, but it’s going to be very hard from here. So I find it difficult to write something cheery and funny while worrying what lays ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, this is not the only reason I’ve written very little for this page in the last few months. </span></div>
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Eighteen months ago, inspired by all of your wonderful feedback, I put pen to paper. Well, fingers to keys, but it doesn’t have the same ring to it, does it? I was mucking around, trying to work out how I could put the Golden Rules of Farming into a book of some sort. </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 6pt 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> A lot has happened since then, and after many hours, a few whiskeys, long long loooong periods of neglect, late nights and help from friends made on this wonderful thing we refer to as social media, it seems I have wrote me a book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first plan is to convince a publisher to take a punt. My second plan was to bribe a publisher to take a punt, but things are tight, so if Plan A falls through, Plan C will be to get this out there on my own.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> So, without too much more waffling, I’d like to give you all a glimpse. No matter what happens with this tale, it would never have been written without the support given to the crazy musings of this blog. So thank you. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wydjawanna Station</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All five riders stopped, their legs planted either side of the rumbling bikes. Mork whined quietly from the back of Nola’s bike, sure he could move them in if given half a chance. Still the goats circled, unsure of the new surroundings, but wise enough to know going near them wasn’t a good option.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ash sat on his bike, not far from where Alexi was sitting on hers. He found himself admiring her legs, which though covered by her jeans, were quite shapely. She was staring intently at the mob, taking in everything, and his eyes moved higher up. The long sleeve shirt she was wearing didn’t leave much exposed, but it was quite a tight fit, and despite himself, his eyes were drawn to her chest. They lingered, then continued to her face which glowed with excitement. She was certainly enjoying herself.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without thinking, and more out of habit than anything, he pressed on the horn of his bike. The second he did so he knew he shouldn’t have; the effective was explosive. The goats, already tense and wound up scattered. They spread in ten different directions past the bikes and bolted for freedom.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Nola was just about to repeat her warning to steady when the horn sounded. Stunned, she turned to see Ash staring blankly at her, his eyes already an apology as goats streamed past him. She felt the bike give a lurch to the side as Mork catapulted himself off after them. Command or not be damned, these goats were his.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Fuck!’ Nola yelled furiously. She stomped her foot down hard to the ground and gunned the throttle. Her bike roared as it turned about in an arc, spraying Ash and Bobby with dirt from the back wheel. Slow and careful was over, now it was full throttle and full noise. Alexi quickly assessed the situation and did the same, following Nola. Jack, also startled by the horn, tore off in the other direction, running down a small mob that broke away past him. Mindy laid low behind him, clinging onto her board as the bike screamed after the panicked animals.</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The afternoon of the sheep sale Ash and Bobby set off in a ute to find a few roo’s for the dogs. They returned with five butts, and set about boning them out for Lisa in the meat room. Bobby also grabbed the fattest and largest tail, and with Lisa’s blessing cooked a roo tail stew that night to much acclaim from the others, including Nola. That acclaim was short lived the next day as everybody’s stomach adjusted to the strange meat, and nobody was game to light a match lest the whole place exploded, such was the build-up of natural gas.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">‘Jesus, those greenies reckon we should eat more roo ‘cos they fart less,’ exclaimed Jack, as he cleared the room once again. ‘Bloody dickheads, what’s the point of eating an animal with half the farts of a sheep or cow when the person who’s doing the eating triples theirs?’ </span></em></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alexi had to admit he had a point.</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>*</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That evening after the sun lowered they all sat out on the front veranda watching the light show. The storm was far enough away that they could only hear the loudest of the thunder rolls, but the lightning was spectacular. It was if someone had set up a fireworks display, and decided to use all their crackers at once. Light littered the horizon, and even in the dark the huge clouds could be seen as clear as day as a dozen red flashes lit up the night sky in the space of a second, like a pack of paparazzi who’d spied a movie star. But the stars themselves took second fiddle that night, and despite the crystal clear sky ahead of the storm giving a perfect view of their own brilliance, they were merely spectators to Mother Nature’s fiery display of power.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Alexi sat on the edge of the concrete slab, her arms wrapped around her tucked up knees as she watched. She’d seen storms before, but not of this scale, and constantly let out gasps of awe as each flash erupted, bigger and brighter than the last. Ash sat next to her, watching both the storm and the girl watching the storm, while Bobby sat on the other side, his eyes transfixed on the horizon. He’d grown up in the region, and had never seen a display like it. None of them had. Roy and Nola were sitting at the small round table by the front door, their chairs next to each other and turned out to the show, while Jack and Lisa stood side-by-side, leaning on the wall. Jack had his arm around Lisa’s waist, in a rare public display of affection; such was the effect of the night. Lisa was trying to capture it on her camera, but after a few minutes of videoing, gave up and enjoyed the moment instead. They were all silent save for an odd exclamation when a particularly large flash exploded, briefly bathing the entire horizon in an orange glow like an instant sunrise.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally Jack spoke. ‘Hate to be under all that.’</span></em></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><em>Nola said what everyone was thinking. ‘We just bloody might be yet.’</em></span><br />
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-42334006345837531442013-11-27T22:14:00.003+08:002015-01-19T00:54:54.985+08:00Ronnie<div style="text-align: center;">
This is a tale of Ronnie, a kelpie pure bred<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the tale of Ronnie, who wasn’t quite right in the head<o:p></o:p></div>
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His siblings became sheepdogs, their regard always held high<o:p></o:p></div>
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But this is the tale of Ronnie, who seemed to have far too much eye.<o:p></o:p></div>
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While the litter scrapped and ran, Ronnie would stop and stand<o:p></o:p></div>
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Watching the cat snooze on a garden seat<o:p></o:p></div>
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He’d sit there all day while the other pups played<o:p></o:p></div>
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Edging closer to that cats out stretched <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>feet.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Learn he never did, what secrets those feet hid<o:p></o:p></div>
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But he still bears the scar that shows<o:p></o:p></div>
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Just one little lick, make a cats feet strike quick<o:p></o:p></div>
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He’s lucky to have kept his nose<o:p></o:p></div>
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Chooks were up next, to my Mothers great vex<o:p></o:p></div>
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He’d sit by the yard all day<o:p></o:p></div>
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Staring straight in, with a big dopey grin<o:p></o:p></div>
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The poor girls went right off the lay<o:p></o:p></div>
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The problem was solved, when a rooster got involved<o:p></o:p></div>
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While Ronnie was still a small tacker<o:p></o:p></div>
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Mum was most pleased, as poor Ronnie flee’d<o:p></o:p></div>
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With the rooster fair up his young clacker<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p> </o:p></div>
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Now some of those reading, might think I’m misleading<o:p></o:p></div>
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When I say a sheepdog he was not<o:p></o:p></div>
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For despite the good signs, we were surprised to find<o:p></o:p></div>
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With sheep he was rooted to the spot<o:p></o:p></div>
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His brothers would yap, his sisters would snap<o:p></o:p></div>
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Chasing the sheep around<o:p></o:p></div>
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But Ronnie stood still, like some half-witted dill<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not even making a sound<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No matter our actions, he moved not a fraction<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His eyes fixed on the old ewe<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His top lip just trembled, and drooled till he resembled<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One whose nest was short of a cuckoo<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We persevered for months, despite having a hunch<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A sheepdog he could never be called<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We took him out on a bike, but he refused to alight<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cos sheep are easy to see from the board<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We kept him for years, for despite what you might hear<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not all farmers are heartless and cruel<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Never worked a day in his life, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a
bullet would’ve saved us much strife<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But it’s not his fault he’s a bloody tool<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then came the day, when there arrived a big Bay<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A wild mare brought in from the rough<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Flighty as hell, scared you could tell</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This one was going to be tough<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Try as we might, she would always take fright<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bolting at the slightest touch<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We left her to roam, in the paddock near home<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thinking she’d never amount to that much<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But this is the tale of Ronnie, a kelpie pure bred<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the tale of Ronnie, who wasn’t quite right in the head<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Other dogs stayed clear, knowing the risk of a quick kick<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But this is the tale of Ronnie, the dog thick as two bricks<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ronnie saw the new Bay, and he sat there all day<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not even entering the yard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She saw him sit there, that wild young mare<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And she instantly went onto her guard<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But move he did not, and soon she forgot<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The motionless dog on the fence<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The days went past, and Ronnie’s patience did last<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Till the mare became less and less tense<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
After a week went by, he decided to try<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And get a bit nearer to that horse<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He ducked under the rope, but despite his best hopes<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Bay fled down the paddock of course<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But chase he did not, and she slowed to a trot<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tossing her head in the air<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Still Ronnie stood fast, and as time went on past<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Bay forgot that dog with the stare<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So imagine our shock, as to the paddock we rocked<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To find Ronnie inside of the fence<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He nuzzled the mare, who it seemed didn’t care<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That the dog was short a few cents<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He’d made her quite tame, with his little game<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Of sneaking up to her back hoof<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Personally I wouldn’t dare, to put my head there<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But Ronnie was a bit of a goof<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
With the mare quite settled we mustered our mettle<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And she became our very best ride<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nothing could spook her, she would never deter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And took it all in her stride<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So this was the tale of Ronnie, a kelpie pure bred<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is the tale of Ronnie, who wasn’t quite right in the head<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But we kept him for years, no matter how odd he did seem<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
For this is the tale of Ronnie, best horse whisperer I’ve ever seen<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<o:p> </o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now this tale is ending, but at the risk of offending<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I think it needs to be said<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To deal with a horse, as a matter of course<o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You need to be not right in the head<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a><br />
<o:p></o:p> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-39364603718094801002013-11-26T08:30:00.001+08:002013-11-26T08:43:14.592+08:00Hadagutful 2013 - Now with more guts<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s on again, the Stop Live Exports Human Chain across the
Stirling Bridge in Fremantle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">They’re a persistent bunch, but then so are we. Last year we
gate crashed their little party and it was BRILLIANT!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you weren’t there, words can’t describe how the day felt.
The huge BBQ in the morning. The inspirational speakers (we have a bigger PA
system this year, so you can actually hear them this time), the mass of people
pouring down the hill to line the foreshore, and then the trucks. God bless
those trucks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So this year we’d like a repeat, maybe even one better. East
Fremantle Council have been kind enough to grant us the use of Merv Cowan Park
again. The CWA will be doing coffees and morning tea. The BBQ’s are being
dusted off and a few other things organised.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Twelve months ago we owned a sheep feedlot, a farm and a
pastoral station. Today we are left with just the station. The new regulations
placed on the live export industry crippled us. Our export depot ceased, our
stock sales stopped overnight and those that we could sell went for a song. All
of this can be put down to one thing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pressure. And not even real pressure. It’s a perceived
pressure which spooked a weak government. Thankfully today we have an Ag
Minister who has dust on his boots and who can tell a sheep from a cow from a
horses arse, unlike his predecessor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
it may not be enough alone. We need to turn that perceived pressure on its
head. Nothing makes a statement like two thousand<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cheering farmers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And it’s not just us it’s affecting. Since last year I don’t
know how many calls and emails we’ve had from people in the same situation.
Sadly it’s gotten too much for some and I worry about others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you came last year, please, come again. If you didn’t
come last year, please do. If you haven’t seen it already, this video is from
last year. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM5KvyaKpDo"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM5KvyaKpDo</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still gives me goosebumps.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last year the rally was organised with a mobile phone and
high speed internet. Sadly, they went the way of our farms so please forgive me
if details are a bit sparse this time round. Following are the details. If you
can, print them out and stick them everywhere you can think of. Pubs, shops,
CBH bins. Thank you all for your support this last year and together we can
show them all we’ve still had a bloody gutfull.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael Trant and Gemma Cripps<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Impact","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">#Hadagutful
2013<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Impact","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">Support
Live Export Rally<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Impact","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">Sunday
8<sup>th</sup> December – 9.00am <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Impact","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">At
Merv Cowan Park, Fremantle<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Impact","sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;">Be
there early, parking is limited.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The anti export movement is holding a
human chain along Stirling Bridge against Live Export.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To show them for the minority they
are, we need as many live export supporters we can muster to rally in the
parkland below. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bring banners, placards and plenty of
passion.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dress in your stock agents colours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Get a group together and bring a
busload.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bring water, supply is limited<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We hope to
have speakers present. Flyers will be available to take and hand out to the
general public. A sausage sizzle will be on for the early birds. Let’s make a
day of it and show our support for our own industry.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 24pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last year was a huge
success. Let’s do it again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Visit the Save Live Export Facebook
Group for more info.</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveLiveExport/"><span style="font-size: large;">https://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveLiveExport/</span></a></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-43632240402688627972013-10-26T15:23:00.000+08:002015-01-19T00:55:27.974+08:00Sterner Stuff<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br />
<br />
Work can be bloody hard out here, in amongst the dust<br />
Heat is high, the days are long and strong fortitude’s a must.<br />
But when things are going wrong and you’ve almost had enough<br />
Something reminds you that those before had been made from sterner stuff.<br />
<br />
As we drill away at the dirt, to replace some ancient yard<br />
The air powered rock drill jams, and the bit is stuck in hard<br />
We swear and curse and heave and strain, till finally it comes free<br />
But blokes who dug those holes without one, are from sterner stuff than me<br />
<br />
Steel pipe cut to length with an electric powered saw<br />
Replaces the wooden strainer posts that once were there before<br />
One old jam log still stands, hand cut with nothing ‘cept an axe<br />
Made from sterner stuff were those guys, and also, their backs<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
We drop out our steel pickets, pre drilled for easy tying<br />
The air hammer used to knock them in was a brilliant bit of buying<br />
And when we spied the hand drilled jam posts we gave a little laugh<br />
Whoever manned the brace ‘n’ bit was made from sterner stuff<br />
<br />
A nice new plastic water tank, to replace the one that leaks.<br />
Built from many granite stones, gathered from nearby creeks<br />
Inside was lined with mortar, a smooth finish of lime and sand<br />
You’d have to be from sterner stuff, to trowel that on by hand<br />
<br />
Paddocks mustered by planes and motor bike, that’s how we do it now<br />
Before it was horses, and they even used bloody pedal power!<br />
Trainer sheep wore bells, and pushbikes would copy the sound<br />
But you’d have to be of sterner stuff, to pedal the things around<br />
<br />
A simple solar powered subby pumps water at each trough<br />
Best of all you can fix them, without needing to climb aloft<br />
Tales of dangling from windmill towers, fill me full of dread<br />
You have to be of sterner stuff, to fix a buggered head<br />
<br />
Coolrooms replace meat safes, solar panels to power the lot<br />
We’ve got internet and phones, and air con when it’s hot<br />
And I made a comment to Grandpa, who ran the place before<br />
“You were from sterner stuff,” I said, as he leant on the office door<br />
<br />
He smiled and looked at paper piles scattered across my desk<br />
Reams of bills and forms and records that never got any less<br />
“It was a lot simpler in my day son, even when things were tough.<br />
To put up with the bullshit these days, you must be of sterner stuff.”<br />
<br />
“You’re getting the same for sheep as I was, but costs are ten times higher.<br />
And paperwork, I can’t believe what it takes these days to prove that you’re no liar.<br />
Audits and forms and surveys so they can track what you are doing<br />
If you weren’t from sterner stuff it’d send you bloody loony.”<br />
<br />
“You’ve got the hippies, greenies, do-gooders and others with concern<br />
Who all want a say in your business, but the buggers never learn<br />
Where’s there’s livestock there’s dead stock, despite our best attempt.<br />
Sterner stuff is required, to cope with what they misrepresent.”<br />
<br />
“So don’t despair young fella, I reckon you’re doing alright<br />
And things will get better, even if now they’re tight<br />
Things are beyond your control, that’s how it is in this game,<br />
But that stuff you reckon I’m made of, well, you’ve got just the same.”<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></o:p> </div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This was a conversation I never had with Pa. He died when I
was fifteen at age eighty something. By some weird co-incidence his first job
off the boat from England as a fresh young twentyish year old, was as a
water-man on Gabyon Station, Yalgoo, which essentially meant he would’ve built
some the stone troughs and tanks that still stand here today. It’s a nice
thought, and also explains why he was the best damn grano worker I’ve ever seen
to this day. This is a conversation I like to think I would’ve had with Pa if
he were still around today.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
<br />
If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a><br />
<br />
<o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-89009110080267263502013-08-06T23:58:00.002+08:002015-01-19T00:55:56.620+08:00Mustered, Pickles and Jams<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So a fair bit has happened
in the last few months. We got to meet the (former) Minister for Agriculture.
We saw the (former) Prime Minister in the flesh. And it looks like we might be
the former owners of a once thriving export depot, which while is not what we
had planned, it is what it is and we move on.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meanwhile, some serious
work has been done to get our type of sheep in to local processors. Now I could
write a thousand words on this, but here is the short version. Yes, the ones
that make the grade are worthwhile, but the eighty per cent that don’t still
need a home to go to. It is a lot of work for less return overall and no matter
what we are still stuck with the older sheep. So this is where this particular
story starts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After an initial trial
into processors, much discussion and more to the point, no ship orders for
damaras, we arranged a booking for light ram lambs to an abattoir for mid-August.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be frank, the price was shit, as a light
lamb weighs not much (the clue is in the name) and when you’re paid by the
kilo, there is not much you can do about it. But cashflow is king in any
business, and things need to keep ticking along. So three weeks ago we started
to muster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I haven’t yet explained
how the muster process works out here at Gabyon. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a tale for another day, but it involves
an aeroplane, four motorbikes, two sheep dogs, portable sheep yards, a semi-trailer
and some (cough) swearing. It’s not easy, but if you’re working towards
something, its good fun. We see the mob of sheep in a paddock we haven’t seen
since last muster, we see the lambs, and we see the weaners. It makes a nice
change from driving around not seeing a bloody thing for six months or more.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we mustered. Then we
get a phone call a week into it. There’s a ship order out. They’re taking all
the things, including damara’s. AND they can take the older rams. Hallelujah,
about bloody time, pull out all the stops people we need to get some sheep
rounded up and get them gone NOW. Needless to say we felt heartened, after 18
months of nearly nothing we had a good order to work towards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, this put us in a
pickle. We’d arranged a delivery of light lambs to an abattoir, which coincidently
was roughly the same delivery date as the ship order. There wasn’t much to think
about though. The ship would take all ram lambs, and all rams up to white tag,
whereas the abattoir would only take light lambs. Bugger the meatworks, we need
to move sheep off the place and money into the account ASAP.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A week and a half later, which
was yesterday, with some five hundred rams lambs and rams in the yards, on VERY
expensive feed, we get a call. “Job’s off. They’ve cancelled the order. My
guess is they can’t get ESCAS approval.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now it’s probably a good thing we live so far from Perth, otherwise one
or two of us would be up on murder charges and I’d be writing this from a
holding cell somewhere. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So now we are in a jam.
We have a holding paddock full of sheep too old for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the domestic processors, with no idea if any
ship order is going to be forthcoming for them, and last I heard the next available
kill space is Christmas, with this year’s new drop of lambs about to be ready
for sale. Sheep need to eat, and either we let them go again into the main
paddocks, after three weeks of work and expense, and hope they stay away from the
ewes which we don’t want mated to them, or we try to find some way of feeding
them, which will be nigh on impossible with the dry season in the Northern Ag
zone all but exhausting any spare hay supplies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You all may or may not be
aware we’ve started a station stay. Perhaps a few of the do gooding brigade who
so adamantly campaigned against our trade would like to come visit and witness
firsthand the mess they have made. Hell, they can even take a ram home with
them. Strangely, that’s only not allowed if you’re an Arab in the Middle East. Try
explaining that one to the two French backpackers helping. They think we’re
nuts enough with vegemite, giant jumping rats and running birds who don’t fly.
When we explain we now have to control what another country does with an animal
we’ve sold them, they think we’re mad. Strangely enough, so did the two German
girls, the Taiwanese girl, the German guy and the Austrian girl who have all
graced us with their presence. There’s a lesson there somewhere. I hope whoever
is in charge in the near future wakes up to this, or it’s going to be a bloody
mess.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
<br />
If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a><br />
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<o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-88079221561540536012013-06-26T21:08:00.001+08:002015-01-19T00:56:29.549+08:00Ding Dong.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Mr Ludwig, former Agricultural Minister for Australia<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Congratulations on your early retirement. We trust you found
your time as Agricultural Minister an enlightening one, and that after a few
years in the job, you are now able to tell a sheep from a cow from a horse’s
arse. We also hope you have learnt that livestock are not like iron ore, and
that they cannot sit idle at wharf side while you attempt to appease some 18
million voters on the Eastern seaboard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Did anything you heard at any of your meetings with any
producers actually sink in at any point? We would hope so. We are sure any
future employers would expect the ability to listen and learn to be a
prerequisite, and to this we hope it has improved should you get bored of tax
payer funded pension benefits, benefits which those left decimated by your few
years at the reins (reins are the things which steer horses, at the opposite
end of the horse’s arse) would greatly appreciate. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Of course, those feeling the financial strain from your
earlier work would stand to benefit from your generous offer some two months
ago of farm finance, finance that would be very handy for funding this year’s
seeding program. It is somewhat a shame therefore that four weeks after most
seeding programs have finished no one seems any the wiser as to how to apply
for any of this imaginary funding. Timing is everything, and with this you
missed the boat. And you managed to actually stop the boats during peak muster
two years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And since your new
regulations came in you have slowed the boats. Perhaps you grabbed the
Immigration Portfolio by mistake in the Parliament smoko room? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">How is your Mandarin? The language, not the citrus. We would
suggest you possibly brush up on it a little, as we see food plants closing
left, right and centre, and farms being snapped up for a song as each region
gets its own version of Chinatown. Thankfully there is at least one country
that values agriculture, which is lucky, because at the rate it’s going, that’s
where your meals will be coming from soon enough.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">On a brighter note, let us forward a hearty thanks on behalf
of Somalia, Romania, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Sudan. Never has one man done so
much for their thriving livestock industry. Your new “welfare” regulations on
Australian livestock have been a Godsend to their own producers. In fairness to
them, once we actually explained what animal welfare meant, they did do their
best to stop laughing while asking us to convey their appreciation to you for
getting Australia out of their way. You’re always welcome in the other one
hundred and eight animal exporting nations. Just maybe not so much here
anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, should you find yourself needing a reference for
any prospective employers, please feel free to put us down as a contact. We
will be sure to tell them exactly what we think of you and your time as
Agricultural Minister.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Regards<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Every Person Involved In Agriculture I’ve Talked To In The
Last Two Years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
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</div>
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</div>
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If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p> </span><br />
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-73611442396358818152013-05-18T12:09:00.000+08:002013-05-18T12:35:08.528+08:00Blatant Self Promotion.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJK8j0NgX-ZahNbc04Y9txhur_pEY2jcCPHaiPsjXX-WhayRSEmCGcsAK49InL6a5CoGeT-fYRRSI8z3g6_ELdCmReeFLjXeH1fIXrsjkpmKPQPTcUECsFfADhgXZugbIpk6icaqJyJE/s1600/Flyer+pg+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDJK8j0NgX-ZahNbc04Y9txhur_pEY2jcCPHaiPsjXX-WhayRSEmCGcsAK49InL6a5CoGeT-fYRRSI8z3g6_ELdCmReeFLjXeH1fIXrsjkpmKPQPTcUECsFfADhgXZugbIpk6icaqJyJE/s200/Flyer+pg+1.jpg" width="200" /></a>If you've been reading for a while and ever wondered what it be like to be on a station, here's your chance. Welcome to Gabyon Station Stay, our new little sideline that we hope people will enjoy.<br />
<br />
We've got some basic rooms and amenities, and with 670 000 acres, there's plenty of space to pitch the tent or park the caravan, but if you like your toilet to flush and your showers hot, you'll probably want to stay close to the compound, and you won't find stars clearer than out here.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBL0CyTQMP59ZQGlekXmg_ODQ1AsCmnyKhAn6FjeBEuNG1htAZ84JRdFO2wzwwblpeL5isNRcD2Rer89NDik5ihAT6QCGbbEcwzn0_f5xBRXM6DsUWgRnaztoobwtuOzqQX2HMPtDCgk/s1600/Accomdation+top.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBL0CyTQMP59ZQGlekXmg_ODQ1AsCmnyKhAn6FjeBEuNG1htAZ84JRdFO2wzwwblpeL5isNRcD2Rer89NDik5ihAT6QCGbbEcwzn0_f5xBRXM6DsUWgRnaztoobwtuOzqQX2HMPtDCgk/s200/Accomdation+top.JPG" width="200" /></a>The quarters are ones used by the shearing teams right up until 2009, when Gabyon shore the last of their merinos before we took over. The white washed stone walls and iron sheeted roof are the same as they were eighty odd years ago, and are just across the road from the hundred year old shearing shed. Some rooms have skylights, so you can sleep under the stars, without being under the stars.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_kOp-FJXK_BTuxySkYGKIPqsQVLaQqHmHYByC0hdnzZ-YGQZkxYQHxtBglPhYtzeWJCna8pfVxoopRIjcVZBUtXgBrQuxGp6Brin4xZ3UQulfonRHPAEK3LezN6AyOlHMLhT_2vWP-o/s1600/GOPR0479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd_kOp-FJXK_BTuxySkYGKIPqsQVLaQqHmHYByC0hdnzZ-YGQZkxYQHxtBglPhYtzeWJCna8pfVxoopRIjcVZBUtXgBrQuxGp6Brin4xZ3UQulfonRHPAEK3LezN6AyOlHMLhT_2vWP-o/s200/GOPR0479.JPG" width="200" /></a>You can do as little or as much as you like at Gabyon. The mobiles won't work out here, so they won't bother you. Days don't mean much. All you need to know it is today, was yesterday and will be tomorrow. If you're into horses, you can bring your own, or use one of ours. Exploring on horseback is a great way to see the wildlife and scenery. Or if you want something a little faster, there's always a motorbike handy.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEDzKdthMVvgNFLL3899Y38_k-XwKFFzzCOubo6lQNXnkCWwO5VpIqXXsLDMxXMPcaeVOxwR29NM9sKX-zBS77LDO0E-NILuhJ-Kg5geX7QTvMevKiKThhmYaYi-izz1ai9mp8tXiaIs/s1600/IMG_3929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEDzKdthMVvgNFLL3899Y38_k-XwKFFzzCOubo6lQNXnkCWwO5VpIqXXsLDMxXMPcaeVOxwR29NM9sKX-zBS77LDO0E-NILuhJ-Kg5geX7QTvMevKiKThhmYaYi-izz1ai9mp8tXiaIs/s200/IMG_3929.JPG" width="200" /></a>Bring a camera. If the rains have been kind, the display of wildflowers is astounding, and even if it's been a bit lean in the rain gauge, the stock waters are still a magnet for all sorts of birdlife, bungarra lizards, emus and kangaroos. The sunrises on cool crisp still mornings make for great photos, or, if you'd prefer, the sunsets through the clouds are just as spectacular, with the added bonus of a beer in the hand.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjppIH0clnY1CFubI8s590svPRebZGyaklMB-G738ct3dz60SzcjNzcpKD2As9hUyDQAj4LislaQ2fSvWG3SSkpVFYEfuNZCzGCIJVUSaWqADRclwBGwu0yxdP_x8hNSwIyEBRx6n88CU/s1600/IMAG1485.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjppIH0clnY1CFubI8s590svPRebZGyaklMB-G738ct3dz60SzcjNzcpKD2As9hUyDQAj4LislaQ2fSvWG3SSkpVFYEfuNZCzGCIJVUSaWqADRclwBGwu0yxdP_x8hNSwIyEBRx6n88CU/s200/IMAG1485.jpg" width="200" /></a>So that's it for now. Chances are we'll do a stand alone blog for the Stay. We've got the Facebook page up and going, a Youtube vid and probably a Twitter account soon (what's one more when you've got three already?). As we get more and more organised we'll keep on adding things and improving hopefully. So if you'd like to come and have a gander, please, feel free. It's a two hour drive from Geraldton on bitumen save for the last 17 kilometres. Hope to see you soon.<br />
<br />
Email: <a href="mailto:gabyonstationstay@gmail.com">gabyonstationstay@gmail.com</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/GabyonStationStay">www.facebook.com/GabyonStationStay</a><br />
<br />
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-76928257115835435022013-05-10T21:00:00.001+08:002015-01-19T00:56:47.752+08:00Don't Mention the War.....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have a friend who used to help us in the feedlot from
time to time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lovely girl, whose pride
and joy to this day are her two dogs, a blue heeler called Millie and the
biggest German Shepherd I have ever seen called Rex (obviously). She taught
these two all manner of commands and tricks, but for various reasons, one being
her father of German descent, and the other, well, she didn’t want just anybody
being able to tell her dogs what to do, so they only understand German.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is great, until you walk around the
corner into your shed, with her car parked under it with a blue heeler and what
can only be described as the Godzilla of the canine world inside, heads poking
out the windows and giving a bark that says “I dare you to come closer.” It’s
at this point I wish I’d taken German instead of Japanese in high school, and
after racking my brains and a few failed “Shuddups” and “Siddowns” I yell
“Nein!” And both dogs cease and desist and I manage to get in and back out the
tractor without losing any limbs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That is about the extent of my experience with Germans.
Until three weeks ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Co-incidentally, it also involved woofing. Or as they spell
it , WWOOFing. If you are not familiar with the Willing Workers On Organic
Farms program, put simply, a farm registers, says where they are and what they
do, and waits. Backpackers who have also registered browse the site, and if
they see something they like, make the contact and if both parties are happy,
the back packers come and work for a few hours a day in return for room and
board and the experience of Aussie farming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I must admit to being a bit dubious when Gemma floated the
idea. The thought of guiding some in experienced foreigner with worse English
than a Telstra call centre operator did have me worried, but when she said the
first respondents were two twenty two year old German girls my interest
suddenly picked up. Purely because they would be very helpful to Gemma and her
flock of new horses. Truly. I was only thinking of her, honest, and besides,
how much help could I expect from two dainty young things? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fenna and Reike (pronounced Ree kee, but with a rolling of
the R and a clearing of the throat at the same time) arrived the day after the
community cabinet rally, which again, was a great success.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gemma’s parents drove them out to Gabyon from
Perth, about a six hour drive through the Central Wheatbelt and into pastoral
country. As the roads grew wider and dustier and the cars fewer the girl’s eyes
grew larger, and at some point I’m sure they questioned whether they hadn’t
been abducted into some faraway desert camp. Fortunately for everyone, they
haven’t seen Wolf Creek, so trusted Mike and Helen faithfully.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next day Gemma and I arrived to start preparations for her
inaugural horse trail ride over the Easter weekend. After several attempts,
Reike suggested maybe we should just call her Ricky before someone strains a
larynx, which we somewhat shamefully accepted. They had been home a day and had
already helped Helen clean out the shearers quarters, which is where the Easter
guests would be staying. Mike and Helen had a wedding to attend, so it had been
arranged that I would feed the guests, while Gemma catered to their horsey
needs. The plan was people would arrive Saturday at the Yalgoo Gymkhana, then
proceed to Gabyon for Sunday and Monday trail rides. No worries. Feeding a
dozen people. How hard could it be?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday arrived and I started getting tea ready. Nothing special,
just some tacos, BBQ chicken wings and a nice apple and cashew salad. It was
about now that it occurred to me that dicing up enough tomatoes, lettuce,
cheese, onion, apple and celery would have been made a lot easier if I’d
remembered to bring Gemma’s you beaut slice & dice kitchen machine with
Japanese blade technology (made in China of course) like I’d planned. My face
must have showed some concern, as Fenna and Reike offered their assistance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me tell you, Japanese blade technology has nothing on
German efficiency, Chinese made or otherwise. They were a pair of fruit ninjas,
carving away faster than I could throw food at them from the cool room. This
chef business is easy, provided you have suitable underlings. Underlings, who
not only sliced and diced like the Bride from Kill Bill, but within minutes,
had the kitchen sparkling again. Awesome.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After me taking full credit for the weekends meals, we moved
onto the next task. Gemma wanted a new horse yard, so the girls helped her
setup the electric fence. Seems Germans are an observant lot, and they both
decided there was far too much rubbish lying about the paddock, so asked if
they could use a ute for a little while. Twenty two loads to the tip later,
they declared the paddock clean. And it bloody was too.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A boundary fence need pulling down. Now all that the many
previous owners seemed to do was merely grade a new line some twenty metres out
(never in) and erect the new one, leaving the old fence to slowly rust away and
lay over. Which is great, until an unsuspecting motorbike rider crosses it at
full tilt and the foot pegs snag, making the bike resemble a fighter jet
landing on the aircraft carriers, with the wire acting as the snag cable. Of
course, our riders don’t wear harness and G-suits, so inevitably end up over
the handlebars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The solution is to roll the old fence up with a motorised
wire reclaimer (Worksafe people, skip ahead a few paragraphs). You hook the old
wire to the reel, fire up the motor and drop the clutch lever. Then keep one
eye closed and the other wide open looking for snagged posts and branches
spearing in towards you. This is where the girls came in, unclipping the old
posts and droppers, a bugger of a job, walking along, stopping, untying,
walking, stopping, untying, while I started reeling in the previously done
section, thinking that when was I was finished I could scoot ahead, and help
out till they caught me, then repeat the process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I never caught them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, half a day later they radioed back to say they’d finished, two
specks on the horizon. By now reinforcements arrived, so Mike drove the loader
lifting out the old posts, while the girls walked alongside again, clipping the
post puller on, and throwing the posts on the ute. They must have walked ten
kilometres, which would explain the dumbfounded look on their faces that night
as we showed them the thumbs width length of fence line they’d covered, on the
A1 sized map which resides under the clear kitchen table cloth. I’m sure they
thought they’d crossed a state border somewhere that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another morning, as we were waiting for Mike to return from
some far flung windmill, I decided to clean his workshop, again with the girls
help. It was like the kitchen job all over again. Fast as I could point where
everything lived, gear was stacked, roped coiled, floors swept and tools
cleaned. So much so that no one has been game to enter the workshop since for
fear of wrecking it. That and the fact we don’t have a clue where anything is
anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">While they were here, they announced Wednesday was their
halfway mark of their Australian holiday, so we would need to celebrate, also
pointing out is took three days to arrive, so it would require a three night
celebration. Bloody Hell, they don’t do anything by half. It was on the second
night that as I opened the esky Fenna came over to grab a drink. We’d run out
of the pear ciders she and Reike had been knocking back, so she grabbed a beer.
Without thinking, I ask “Oh, do you like beer?” The look she gave me was a
cross between pity and bemusement, which said without words, “Mate, please. We
invented the shit.” It was about now I remembered Öktoberfest, which funnily
enough, neither girl had been too, but decided they should because it was about
the only thing the bloody Australians asked about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In between all this they helped Gemma with the horses,
learnt to ride the motorbikes, helped muster on the motorbikes, went for a fly
with Mike (where Reike learned she is not a flyer), fed pet lambs, played with
dogs, swam, ran, shot at clay targets, saw tortoise and yabbies, and did all
the things we take for granted out here. Yet for all our differences, things
between the two countries seem remarkably similar. Reike was from a small
diary, and I can assure you they have it no better than ours. They also told
stories of country BBQ’s, volunteer fire fighters gathering to raise funds,
government getting in the way, and dozens of other tales where we all nodded in
agreement. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It was with a heavy heart we waved them goodbye, as Gemma
drove them to Perth to seek a ride up to Darwin. As much as they wanted to
stay, WA has a big coast and understandably they want to see it. Their words in
our guest book brought a tear to the eye, and with the promise they would come
back when they could, and the offer of a room should we ever find ourselves in
Germany, they were gone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Three days later, they were back. Proud as punch in their
little ute they’d bought in Perth, complete with camper unit on the tray. It
was a pleasant surprise, soon tempered by concern as we took a closer look at
the ute. But after a quick going over, Gemma’s brother declared it good to go,
and two days later they left us again, bound for Shark Bay. Our first
backpacker experience was a good one. By now we also have Jenny, a young
Taiwanese lady who has become chief sheep spotter from the plane and orphan lamb
feeder, and promises to show us her cooking skills, just as soon as we can get
the right ingredients from Geraldton. Meanwhile, Gemma is scouring the website,
hoping for a strapping young lad to help break in the horses. Me, I’m learning
Swedish. Just in case.</span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-47925838281483741342013-03-19T21:47:00.002+08:002013-03-19T21:51:26.434+08:00#Hadagutful 2.0 - This time it's personal.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKKTWh2JZSGkcFBOZQlGJc7ElzDbMivcxSOSXocw-7h-AGgHZLX44nT4qmevU7CfqutlReoGxIR9YcdXVaGs3mh1rJ4K11LRZf6cXdfhCgJ5kqDRgpeS2xu2Z6Qz35tRwI7Oz5gvTZ2o/s1600/530871_10151527696714062_1142167850_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSKKTWh2JZSGkcFBOZQlGJc7ElzDbMivcxSOSXocw-7h-AGgHZLX44nT4qmevU7CfqutlReoGxIR9YcdXVaGs3mh1rJ4K11LRZf6cXdfhCgJ5kqDRgpeS2xu2Z6Qz35tRwI7Oz5gvTZ2o/s320/530871_10151527696714062_1142167850_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In November
2012, we showed everyone we’ve had a bloody gutful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had a gutful
of the criticism, the insults, the assumptions, the simplistic solutions
offered, the ideological claims and counter claims against our trade. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had a gutful
of some bright spark in an office somewhere claiming that he’d worked out on a
piece of paper that should the live trade cease, sheep prices will only drop by
$5-10, while at the same time we watch them plummet from $90 to $35 in the
space of twelve months with a restricted trade. And that’s if you can actually sell them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had a gutful
of being told we should send all our animals to local processors while the
local processor tells us they either a.) don’t want them b.) can’t take them
for eight weeks or c.) can only take some until the new season lambs come
online.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had a gutful
of being told how much of a difference our new regulations are making a huge to
overseas markets, while reading that Romania has lifted sheep exports from zero
to a million head, and how Somaliland is gearing up their new 55 000 head
holding facility for Saudi. Only difference has been we aren’t there.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Had a gutful
of being told how our new regulations are an improvement in animal welfare,
while we castrate ram hoggets and lop their horns off to the ear because we can’t
sell them anymore, but <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might</i> be able
to as wethers, once they heal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So last
year, we had a gutful. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, we’ve
just got the shits on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Letters,
emails and phone calls don’t seem to have worked. Senator Bob Carr said two
weeks ago he knew of no problems in foreign relations with importing countries.
The Chief Vet said what a wonderful job the regulations were doing. Senator Joe
Ludwig heralds the changes a success, despite many letters from affected
producers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So we need
to make it personal.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On Wednesday 27th March, the Prime
Minister and her Cabinet will be attending a Community Cabinet at the Thornlie
Senior High School, Ovens Road, Thornlie, W.A, from 4.30 pm onwards. Details of
the event are here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<u><span style="color: blue; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.dpmc.gov.au/community_cabinet/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://www.dpmc.gov.au/community_cabinet/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I would urge as many of you as possible
to attend. Registration has closed for attendance to the public forums, though
a few of us have managed to get accepted, but a large presence outside the
venue would certainly draw attention to our cause. We all know the effects this
Government has had on export markets, and the subsequent flow on effects to the
entire sheep and cattle industry. Newspaper articles, letters and phone calls
don’t seem to be getting anyone’s attention, Senator Bob Carr himself said only
a few weeks ago he had no knowledge of any problems.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please be aware the the Stop Live
Exports movement is also planning to attend, though they would rather we
weren’t there, and in an email sent to their subscribers they commented “</span></span><i><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">We do not want a
repeat of the pro-live export counter-presence that occurred at the Human Chain
event in November, so would like to keep it off social media (Twitter, Facebook
etc.) until then.”</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The November Rally was all about
countering theirs. This time, it’s all about the Politicians who will be there.
We want a show of numbers to let them know just how many peoples lives they
have affected. And it is because of this and the large National media presence
that will be there it is imperative that any one attending keeps firmly in
line. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">As a visual representation, we are
asking that you bring along a sheep or cattle tag. We hope to be able to
present these to someone as a display of our unhappiness with their handling of
live exports.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Also, feel free to bring banners and
signs, but again, please remember to keep them respectful and relevant. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">We have no real idea how the
afternoon will go. Security will be tight as the Prime Minister will be there.
All we can hope is we get some coverage and those inside the meeting get a
chance to pose some questions or make some points.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The following is being circulated
around, please feel free to spread further.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Hadagutful 2... <br />
<br />
Livestock Producers from all over the state will be making the trip to Perth to
pose questions and voice their concerns regarding the Live Export Industry to
the Prime Minister at the Community Cabinet next Wednesday, March 27th 2013. <br />
<br />
Producers Australia wide can contribute by emailing an A4 or A5 summary of
their name, property location, an outline of their current situation as a
result of the last ban on live export and the potential effect an immediate ban
would have. Livestock eartags are also being collected to illustrate the sheer
volume of businesses that have been and will be affected by a ban on live
export. Included in this submission producers can submit the key questions they
would like to put to the PM. <br />
</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><br /><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">For those who would like to show their personal support, they are
encouraged to do so and can meet at Thornlie Senior High School at 4.00pm,
Wednesday March 27th where they can take part in a peaceful and respectful show
of support for the Live Export producers and industry. Please bring along signs
similar to the ones used at the rally in Fremantle - which simply said
“#hadagutful” or “I am a ............. and I support Live Export”. <br />
<br />
To submit a tag from your property, post to Boyup Brook Co-op, Bridge St, Boyup
Brook 6244 WA. Alternatively, your stockbrand can be typed and emailed through
in a word document.<br />
Please email your personal story to cgleesteere@gmail.com<br />
<br />
Further info Felicity Taylor pineviewfarm@live.com.au</span></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">I would also like it to be known this
has all come about from a wide range of people, not just us. </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you for the support, and
hopefully with the upcoming election we can put some pressure on for some
action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Regards</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Michael Trant and Gemma Cripps.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-79294941271028486982013-02-12T09:09:00.000+08:002013-02-12T09:09:18.966+08:00Good Head for Radio....Yesterday the ABC came out to talk about how the new export laws (ESCAS) is affecting us.<br />
<br />
If you want to hear our thoughts, have a listen. No wise cracks in this post, it's just not funny anymore.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201302/s3688158.htm#.URmH87Pndk8.twitter">http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/201302/s3688158.htm#.URmH87Pndk8.twitter</a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-5707900408612282672013-01-31T19:50:00.001+08:002015-01-19T00:57:14.070+08:00Slow Hand Clap Please....<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Open Letter to Federal Minister for Agriculture, Senator Joe
Ludwig</strong>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In May 2012 I wrote to you, Senator Joe Ludwig, regarding
the implementation of the Exporters Supply Chain Assurance System and the
effect it has had on our operation. In short, it had completely shut off the
markets which exporters delivered our sheep to. We, along with many other
growers, changed breeds to either <a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/not-geep.html" target="_blank">Damara, Awassi, or Van Rooy</a>, all an easy
care, non shearing type sheep which does not require many of the husbandry
practises the traditional Merino does, ie mulesing, tail docking, castration,
shearing, crutching or chemicals to prevent flystrike.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">These breeds, known as fat tail sheep, originate in the
Middle East, and compete with the domestically bred animals, and also with
other countries imported livestock. They were traditionally sold via third parties,
ie small local agents or through saleyards, much the same as our own domestic
saleyards. Of course, none of this complies with ESCAS, as the final point of
slaughter cannot be determined.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your Department replied with a nicely worded letter saying
how good ESCAS was for the industry and if I have any concerns to take them up
with the exporters. It may surprise you to know that having diversified our
business into an <a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/welcome-to-hotel-de-feedlote.html" target="_blank">AQIS registered pre-export sheep depot</a>, we were already in constant
contact with exporters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Your Department was also kind enough to provide the Rural
Financial Counselling Services phone number. Up until ESCAS, our Rural Finances
have been quite manageable on our own, thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since ESCAS’s implementation, we have witnessed an almost
complete halt to our cash flow. I cannot convey just how detrimental this had
been to our family business. We have two farms listed for sale, both sheep
grazing properties, whose value has dropped significantly since the uncertainty
in the sheep industry. We employed two full time staff. Yesterday I gave our 21
year old employee of two years his four week Notice, as we simply do not have
the funds to keep paying him. He has two small daughters. When he asked if he
could have first dibs at the job if things get better I could have cried. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We used to employ up to six casual staff. Not anymore. The
feedlot has effectively been made redundant as exporters try to save costs by
trucking sheep from our area to their own depots, and also as we predominantly
held the fat tail breeds that have become common on the surrounding pastoral
properties, which are now unsaleable. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our two farms at Geraldton are currently heavily
overstocked. We cannot sell the ram lambs anywhere. Ship orders have dried up,
and despite claims from activists, the domestic market simply does not want ram
lambs. Our station, Gabyon, at Yalgoo, is also under huge pressure. Rangeland
management is a delicate balance, with over grazing easily degrading the
landscape. Since March, ESCAS’s start date, we have done very little mustering
as there is nowhere to send the stock. We have trucked lambs to the two farms
in the hope they would sell. That was six months ago. In that time, the holding
paddocks on Gabyon are again full, and in danger of being badly eaten out. We
are faced with the choice of trying to fence off another large holding area, at
considerable cost which we have no funds to pay for, or turning the ram lambs
back out. This, coupled with the un mustered ram lambs, creates a huge welfare
issue, as the rams literally rape the ewes to death. Mobs are supposed to have
2-3% rams, not 50%. Two days ago I saw three rams of varying ages chasing down a
single ewe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ironic thing about all this is shortly we are going to
be forced to do something. We can’t leave the sheep to fend for themselves. So
most likely we will muster and mark the young lambs, and for the first time in
a decade, castrate and tail them. We are also contemplating castrating the
older rams lambs, which is neither a pleasant or painless job. I cannot see how
that is an improvement in animal welfare. It was unnecessary before, and one of
many reasons we got out of Merinos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have spoken to numerous people inside the industry.
Originally I thought, well, if ESCAS is what we need to keep live export alive,
so be it. But it goes too far. One person told me nothing will improve unless
the Middle East come grovelling to us, which is highly unlikely, or the
regulations change. One exporter is talking of getting their own facility in
Saudi, but that is months away, and still with no guarantee of taking fat tail
sheep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What really gets me is the fact I can send sheep to Muchea
saleyards with absolutely no clue as to who will buy them. No idea as to what
conditions they will be kept. For all I know they could starve to death on a
hobby block. Yet I can’t sell them in an overseas saleyard, even though we have
done so for the last fifty years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And the really frustrating part is that nothing has changed
overseas. Sheep still get their throats cut in little abs. People still take
them home in the boot of their car. Only they aren’t Australian sheep, they are
Somalian, or Nigerian, or Sudanese or local sheep. Romania’s export of sheep
has lifted from almost zero to over a million in the last year. And to top it
off, I can guarantee you no one is there now in the market places from
Livecorp, MLA, Wellards or anyone else trying to improve anything anymore. The
ute, don’t boot campaign would have ceased. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Indonesia we see pictures of local cattle being craned
out of ships by their heads. Since the cattle shortage the Indonesian Defence
Force has been shipping in cattle from outlaying islands and Provinces. You
think Australia is bad? How well do you think the IDF carts cows? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The people you have tried to placate with this system will
never be placated. Animals Australia believes eating meat is cruelty in itself.
I can show you hundreds of examples where people against this trade have said
as much. The very idea of farming animals to them is abhorrent. They see blood
and immediately demand an end to it. They cry foul when a sheep is caught from
a yard by it’s back leg. How do they think we do it here? Call them by name? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our business had a good system. Breed at the station, finish
on the farm. Diversify with a contract feedlotting business. Even dabble in the
local farmers markets, and the boutique capretto (young goat) trade. But the
system cannot cope with no markets. It is not even a case of sending everything
to a saleyard, as they would simply be walked by, or sold at a price that would
not cover the freight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">People may wonder why we would limit our production to an
animal that is solely reliant on one market. Quite simply, because at the time,
it was a better option for us than continuing to grow wool at a loss. And we
realised the risk, and as other breeds came on, we experimented, trying to find
a breed suitable for both markets. Eighteen months ago we found one we liked,
and are in the middle of breeding them through our flock. But it takes a long
time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are dozens of other producers in the same boat as us.
After being encouraged by exporters and the WA Agricultural Department, with good
reason, that these breeds are a good option, we have been left stranded
effectively overnight by you. The demand for them has not changed, only the
inability to track consignments through various sales points to meet your
requirements. Other exporting countries must be rubbing their hands in glee
while shaking their heads in amazement at us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In <a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2011/08/sometimes-even-no-clouds-have-silver.html" target="_blank">2006</a> and <a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/sometimes-even-no-clouds-has-silver.html" target="_blank">2007</a> Geraldton had its driest years on record.
That nearly broke us. But we got through it. In 2011, <a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2011/09/just-add-water.html" target="_blank">Gabyon station flooded</a>.
That took out most the fences along creeks, and severely limited our cash flow
as it was too wet to muster. But we got through it, and the abundant feed the
rains created was supposed to be money in the bank. In December 2011, the
<a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/fire-on-our-hold-fire-on-our-hold-hey.html" target="_blank">abundant feed caught alight</a>, and over ten days burnt an unprecedented 80 000
ha, or one third of Gabyon. We lost more fences and some stock. But we got
through it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The ESCAS regulations have done more damage to us in the
last eleven months than anything Nature has been able to throw at us in the
last decade. And if something does not change very soon, we will be through. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">At what point does animal welfare over-ride people welfare?</span></div>
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If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.</div>
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<o:p></o:p> </span><br />
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-44829255705975357772012-12-09T17:02:00.000+08:002015-01-19T00:57:37.190+08:00You're gonna need a bigger park....<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sunday, the 18<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> of November, 2012 started as any
other Sunday in Fremantle. Hipsters gathered at Cafes, each claiming they’d put
their woollen cardigans on that morning, before they were cool. They were joined
by old Italian gentlemen trying to outdo each other with gesticulations as they
sipped coffee you could stand spoons in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Parents herded their children into cars headed for the nearest
sportsground, revellers from the night before did the barefooted walk of shame
from strangers houses, and the latest bunch of nutters to board a sheep ship
rattled tins at the Markets to raise bail money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But something was different. Something was in the air,
something electric, like the moment before the lightning hits and the thunder
rolls, when your hair stands up on end and your arm raises goose bumps with
corrugations a trainee Shire grader driver would be proud of. You could smell
it, rain on the horizon, or far off smoke from a distant fire. Or the dust of a
thousand country cars as they weaved their way through the unfamiliar
bituminised roads of Perth. If you build it, they will come, and come they did,
in a display of pride that made more than one old cockie’s eyes moisten and
voice falter before the day was out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The residents can’t have been too sure what to make of the Landcruiser
that pulled up alongside Merv Cowan Park at 7.30am. It must’ve looked as though
the Clampets had arrived to Beverley Hills, with two barbeques, tables, chairs,
countless eskies, a couple of tents and a suitcase stacked on the tray like a
campers game of Jenga. Nor would they be sure what to make of the diminutive,
boot clad, jean wearing young lady who jumped from the driver seat with a
cigarette in one hand and the other instinctively cupped to the shape of a rum
can. The reflex grip of the can was not surprising, considering Nicole’s
steadfast refusal to let the lead car out of her sight during the trip from
last night’s camp site, no matter how much green or otherwise was left in any
orange traffic light. Nicole, along with her Mum Evy, were the roadies for the
weekend, hauling the gear down the mighty Brand from Geraldton. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By 8.00am the sounds of sizzling snaggers echoed across the
pristine morning, and the smell was wafting over the Stirling Bridge. Banners
were raised as we staked our claim on the hill, the LIVE EXPORT SUPPORTERS sign
clearly visible from the river. Already a crowd was forming, lured by a snagger,
and more importantly, the chance to stare down the people trying to ruin them.
You see, this is why we were all here, why, in the middle of harvests, of
musters, of shearing, stock carting, fencing and any other number of jobs, we’d
downed tools and trekked to suburbia. Because in a couple of hours’ time, the
Stirling Bridge would be lined with activists wishing to shut down what we do.
And after the last eighteen months and more, sitting back and doing nothing
just wasn’t going to cut it. Not today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By 9.00am, the designated start time, we began to worry.
We’re gonna need a bigger park. And the piddly little PA system we’d bought
just wasn’t going to cut it. The one thousand placards were being handed out
like cards at the poker table, the pile of signs for folk to wear was
disappearing like my chips at the poker table, and the roll of hay string we’d
bought to tie them on was positively starting to smoke as lengths were peeled
off. Poor Mike and Mick worked like slaves over the two hot plates, as kilo
after kilo of snags were laid on then whipped off soon as they’d stopped kicking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day officially started after a tall gangly looking
fellow managed to escape the hordes of media long enough to say a few hellos
and thankyous. From there the microphone was passed to Catherine Marriott,
whose words of wisdom, advice and assurance were not lost on the two hundred
people there listening. Unfortunately the other thousand or more further back
couldn’t hear a bloody word, so instead politely nodded and clapped along with
the others. Up next was Blythe Canlon, whose experience in the Middle East over
the Eid festival was very interesting, again, if you could hear it. Plans were
already being made for next year to bring a speaker stack that AC/DC would balk
at.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meg Migdley took to the stage next, giving her perspective
as a horse trainer, and about the shocking revelation that slow race horses
become dog food. Obviously who ever thought that was a worthwhile story on the
7.30 report never followed the short career of Sir Lap-o-Nac (read it
backwards), or heard a race caller proclaim if a horse doesn’t hurry up it’ll
be doing laps at the greyhound track next week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Finally, came a surprise packet. A young lad by the name of
Spencer, whose inspiring proclamation that he’d just finished school and was
heading into a career in agriculture despite the negativity around the place
gave heart to many. In short, his message from the next generation to the
current was “Don’t worry. We got this.” At this point a sudden wind must’ve
blown some dust into a few people’s eyes, as in unison a hundred hands were
raised to wipe away a tear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then came the cry we’d been waiting for. “They’re on the
bridge!” Sure enough, a seething black mass was stretching out over the
concrete walkway, having torn themselves away from their soy Frappuccino’s and
general hand wringing activities for the morning. They seemed to move slowly,
probably since every available parking bay within a square kilometre was taken
up by country plated cars, and walking more than eight hundred metres may well
have been the hardest work any have done for a while. We could see the enemy.
This was why we were here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many years ago a famous poet wrote of a horse rider’s decent
down a mountain side. I sincerely hope he was watching from somewhere that
morning. The sight of hundreds upon hundreds of people from the landscape he
wrote so intimately about pouring down the steep steps of Merv Cowan Park
would’ve given him goose bumps. Now, I knew we had a crowd in the Park. What I
didn’t know was there was another crowd waiting at the base for us. A stock
agent at the base later told me he’d counted fifteen hundred and forty five
people coming down those steps. Even taking in the usual ten percent error
margin of stock agents, that’s bloody impressive. The two crowds merged and as
one swarmed along the foreshore like a horde of angry Scots, though thankfully,
minus the bagpipes. The police officer stationed under the bridge took one look
at us coming and stood aside, radioing back to base with the now immortal words
of “We’ve got a thousand angry farmers here, we may have a situation.” Not ten
minutes later across the bridge screamed the Police Mounted Unit’s truck, in an
obvious a public relations move designed to win the horse loving country folks
approval. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The wannabe Occupy movement on the bridge were stunned. This
wasn’t supposed to happen. They are the “majority,” they have the WSPA
commissioned survey of inner North Melbourne suburbs to prove it. As General
Custer once (and only once) said “Where’d all these F%$king Indians come from?”
They knew we were coming, but isn’t live export only supplied by a handful of
graziers and rich pastoralists? Why the Hell were farmers here? And vet
students? Aren’t vet students also Uni students? Uni students should be on the
bridge. This slap in the face to their pre conceived conceptions was doing
their heads in. So they did what they normal do when confronted with the truth.
Stuck their heads in the sand and turned their backs to us. And came face to
face with seventeen massive stock trucks. They were the meat in a farmer and
truck sandwich, an ironic phrase in itself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stories will be told of the day Leedsy stuck it to the
nutters on the bridge. How he downed tools Saturday to prepare, rallied the
drivers and led the Convoy of Courage into the enemies territory. The chatter
over the airwaves was deafening as passing fellow truckers saw a glimpse of the
banner emblazoned rolling mass of steel, thundering down the highway like
cavalry pouring from the hills in a surprise attack. “Stick it to the Greenies
mate,” “Good on ya’s!” and “If I could turn this truck around I’d be with ya
mate,” came the cry over channel 40.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The police had closed down the left hand lane in
preparation, fearing the smell of empty cattle crates may prove to be too much
for the delicate inner city palates of the protesters. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The line of trucks rolled over the bridge
slowly, very slowly. Clearly Leedsy had put some thought into this, and wanted
to make sure any<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>iron deficient brains
of the bystanders had time the read the banners. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As well as possible reading difficulties, some of the bridge
folk seemed to have trouble grasping the concept of physics, thinking that a
thirty something tonne truck and trailer moving<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>at twenty kilometres per hour has less kinetic energy than one lady
standing still. Fortunately for them, Leedys had foreseen this also, and had
adjusted his brakes to a hair trigger. As protesters flung themselves in front
of trucks like lemmings, this gave the guys at the rear a perfect chance to
test their new air horns. You can now add hearing to the list of possible
protester deficiencies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The trucks finished their first lap and circled back
preparing for another pass. Things were getting heated on the bridge. Someone,
obviously concerned that the protesters considered all farmers to be heartless
and cruel, took the opportunity to display some of his free range eggs to the
line up. In hindsight, he probably should’ve stopped the car before handing out
his free samples, but given the mood of the freshly frazzled crowd, it’s not
surprising he didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, on the
foreshore below, farmers were beginning to worry for their opposites above. It
was a hot day, most of these folk had a vampire like complexion and all were
wearing black. Any good farmer knows hydration is important, so decided to
encourage the people above that a swim in the river would do them good. Not
surprisingly, this was taken the wrong way by the mob, except for one charming
young lady who had clearly been so swayed by our presence that she offered by
way of placard to have intercourse with farmers, their families and indeed the
entire live export industry. We are a pretty free thinking bunch, but not that
free, and to avoid her taking offence at our polite refusal, Police moved in to
remove her generous offer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Faced with the knowledge that there simply were not enough
Police on ground to prevent another lemming mass suicide attempt, the second
pass of the trucks was aborted. Leedsy was probably slightly relieved. Cleaning
greenie off the radiator grill is so time consuming and the paperwork is a
nightmare. They rumbled off, heartened in the knowledge they’d backed their
people and done their selves proud.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The protesters were beat. Even with the advantage of a city
to draw on, public transport, living within walking distance and the full
knowledge we were coming, they managed a crowd of a thousand. As yet we are yet
to receive thanks from their organiser for the free publicity and incentive to
their otherwise little known gathering. They moved off, a ragtag disbanded
group, as down below backs were slapped, hands shaken and eyes dried. Then,
like a summer storm that sprang up from nowhere, we too were gone, back to our
lands and homes, leaving no trace of our ever being there, save for memories
and stories that will be told to Grandchildren. “I was there when we said
‘We’ve had a gutful.’”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Video link to the rally - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM5KvyaKpDo">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UM5KvyaKpDo</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
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If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span> </div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-52893682949232673212012-11-29T20:20:00.004+08:002015-01-19T00:58:17.012+08:00Golden Rules of Farming Part 9These ones took a while, until I stumbled upon the idea of asking Twitter for help. Why it took so long to ask I have no idea, but judging by the replies, the next 25 should be up in about twnety minutes. Maybe.<br />
<br />
<br />
201. By the time you yell "COME BEHIIIIIIIIIINNNNND!!!!!" the damage is already done. <br />
<br />
202. By the time you can taste the dead goat in the house well, it's too late.<br />
<br />
203. It's a good idea to test the lifting capacity of the ute winch before being lowered down the well on a bosuns chair.<br />
<br />
204. Never underestimate the gripping power of clenched buttocks on the bosuns chair.<br />
<br />
205. The less expensive the guard that you fail to notice has worn away, the more expensive the part it was protecting.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
206. The mechanics of the square bale knotters are voodoo. Evil dark magic which only 70 year old farmers understand.<br />
<br />
207. When parking the hay mower next to the house in the crop, it pays to check for sleeping pets before starting again.<br />
<br />
208. Solar panels, during the day, have no off switch. Remember this when wiring in the pump.<br />
<br />
209. When auguring grain or sheep pellets, no matter where you stand, the resulting itchy, sneezey dust will always blow towards you.<br />
<br />
210. Nothing is more annoying than an intermittent fault.<br />
<br />
211. After a full day of working over a thousand sheep, somewhere in the last ten is the one that will injure you.<br />
<br />
212. The person helping hold the sheep while you vaccinate is surprisingly unappreciative when they get a free protection against 5 different cloistral diseases plus B12 and selenium boosters. Ungrateful sods.<br />
<br />
213. The person helping hold the sheep while you vaccinate is even more ungrateful about their second free protection against 5 different cloistral diseases plus B12 and selenium boosters.<br />
<br />
214. It's hard to vaccinate sheep without someone helping to hold.<br />
<br />
215. Stud stock, pets and horses only require veterinary assistance on Sundays, and then only at night.<br />
<br />
216. Dorpers were not introduced to Australia, they merely escaped South Africa.<br />
<br />
217. Dorper, when translated from Afrikaans, means "Fence, what fence?"<br />
<br />
218. The best way to contain a Dorper is a freezer.<br />
<br />
219. If you have never done a days dry seeding or stock work in dusty yards, then blown your nose, looked, and said "Looks like a feed of raw oysters," you're not a real farmer.<br />
<br />
220. Jobs where extra hands are required like lamb marking, crutching or shearing must always be done on school holidays.<br />
<br />
221. Kids born on farm are exempt from child labour laws.<br />
<br />
222. Always assume the electric fence is on.<br />
<br />
223. Always know where your hammer / crowbar / adjustable spanner is. (Thank you @andanin)<br />
<br />
224. Petrol cars and wheat stubble should never ever meet. (Thank you @crystalmudford)<br />
<br />
225. The strength required to undo/do up any given nut or bolt will be inversely proportional to the quality of the tool available
(Thank you @gimmeahandle) <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a><br />
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<br />Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-6177315760126253002012-11-11T20:54:00.000+08:002013-11-29T09:24:42.773+08:00Stand up for Live Exports<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">LINK TO HADAGUTFUL RALLY 8th Dec 2013 - <a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com/2013/11/hadagutful-2013-now-with-more-guts.html">http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com/2013/11/hadagutful-2013-now-with-more-guts.html</a></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;"></span></em></strong><br />
<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">This post is now redundant. The day was a great success, and you can read about it </span></em></strong><a href="http://farmerswayoflife.blogspot.com.au/2012/12/youre-gonna-need-bigger-park.html" target="_blank"><em><span style="font-size: large;">HERE</span></em></a><br />
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Not quite two
weeks ago I sent out a simple email calling for a counter rally to one being
planned against live exports on the Stirling Bridge, Fremantle on the 18<sup>th</sup>
November. I expected maybe 50 people to turn up with us to stir things up a
bit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But apparently,
everyone has had a gutful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The response
has knocked me for six. So while I originally intended to do this on the quiet,
it’s gone past that now. This post is purely to serve as an information point
for our little gathering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If anything I’ve
written here, on Facebook, or on Twitter since I started this little adventure
back in 2011 has made you laugh, nod, smile or just think a little differently,
please, join with us on Sunday, 18<sup>th</sup> November.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everyone is
welcome to come and show your support for the farmers, the truckies, the stock
agents, the yardmen, the jackaroos, jillaroos, feed mills, hay and grain
growers, feed lotters, vets, AQIS officials, shearers and all the other support
industries involved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thank you.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Michael Trant<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
Below are the details emailed to everyone. This post will be updated as required, with most recent info at the top, just below this introduction.<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>14-11-12 UPDATE - </strong></span>Last week some rubbish was posted on the Stop Live
Exports page, threatening their protesters, by our some of our supposed
supporters. I was only made aware of this yesterday. The Stop Live Exports
organiser has taken those threat to Police, and has my support in doing so. Some
of the comments were downright
disgusting.</span></span></span></span></span><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
will be doing everything we can to prevent any problems, and having spoken to
their organiser, they are doing the same. Both parties will be filming, with
theirs setting cameras up both ends of the bridge to capture vehicle plates
should anyone try a drive by egging or similar, which was one of the threats.
Police will have a presence.</span></span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If
you know of anyone, heard anything, even a whisper, planning something like
this, tell them not to come. I dont care how much these people annoy you, or
what they say or do to provoke you. If someone causes trouble or reacts to
provocation, I and others will do everything we can to assist
Police</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">If
you think you can’t control yourself, don’t come. We don’t need any bad press,
God knows we see enough of that already, and </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">i</span><span style="font-weight: normal;">t’s my
bloody name on everything.</span></span></span></span></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}">
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;">Link to a slighty less polite warning
on Save Live export page. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveLiveExport/permalink/512796115405300/" title="http://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveLiveExport/permalink/512796115405300/">http://www.facebook.com/groups/SaveLiveExport/permalink/512796115405300/</a></span></span></span></h5>
<span style="font-size: large;">Accomodation has been finalised. $25 per person. Owen Dorm, 10 x 10 bed dorms, no linen or towels provided. Entry from 6.00pm Saturday, must be clear by 2.00pm Sunday. Ring numbers below to book.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong></strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>12-11-12 UPDATE - </strong>Parking map uploaded with other documents, most is paid parking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> - Once Rally on foreshore is finished, we will move back up to the Park for a while, to avoid paths crossing with other protesters leaving the area.</span> <br />
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Support
Live Exports Rally – </span></b><b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">18th
November</span></u></b><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> – Merv
Cowan Park, East Fremantle - 9.00am start.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">LINK TO
ALL MAPS, FLYERS AND PLACARDS - </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6yb29gegz60y393/x_ayeLjMPq" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(184, 234, 184); color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6yb29gegz60y393/x_ayeLjMPq</span></a></span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Copies of
the 4 flyers – FACT SHEET 1 & 2 and MYTH SHEET 1 & 2 have been provided
in 4 formats – jpeg, Word 2010, Word 97-2000 and PDF. </span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Google map
photos are JPEG.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Pub flyer
is Word 2010</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Placards
are Word 2010</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Firstly, thank you to everyone who has
run with this idea. I am overwhelmed with the support and feedback. I had
originally expected about 50 of us to turn up to fly the flag.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">That looks like being blown out the
water, we have over 100 confirmed by email, I’ve heard of buses being organised
from Northampton, Morawa, Three Springs and Bunbury, plus everyone seems to
know someone who is coming. So to keep things on track, plans have changed
slightly.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The main concern for everyone is a
confrontation between the opposing groups. The last thing we need is for
someone to lose their cool and do something silly. The Police have been in
contact and are concerned of this, and while they have no problem with us
exercising our right to protest, they will be very quick to act should things
turn ugly. If you are planning on turning up looking for a stoush, don’t
bother. The last thing we want to do is turn off the general public, so under
no circumstance do we block the bridge, traffic or anything like that. Aside
from a bit of jeers, I’m not expecting any trouble, but it pays to remember
some of these people have no problems with breaking the law in the name of
their cause.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For this reason we will <b><i><u>not</u></i></b>
be on the Bridge. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Merv Cowan Park is the muster point. <b>BE
THERE BY 9.00 am AT THE LATEST.</b> A sausage sizzle is being organised for
early birds, and the Left Bank does breakfast too. From 9.00 to 9.30 we plan to
have a few speakers, then by 9.45am we need to assembled along the river
foreshore in front of the Left Bank Cafe, ready to attract the medias and
traffics attention away from the protesters on the bridge. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We will be bringing flyers and placards
for people to wear and hand out to the public. After the mornings gathering, we
may head down to the Esplanade and hand out more flyers and info and basically
engage the general public a bit more. We’ve made the effort to get down there,
may as well make the most of it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">What can
you do?</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Spread the
word. – </span></span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Download
the flyer from here: </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6yb29gegz60y393/x_ayeLjMPq" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(184, 234, 184); color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6yb29gegz60y393/x_ayeLjMPq</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
to print out and pin in your local pub, shop, sporting ground – anywhere people
will see it. Originally I asked for this to be kept off the social media sites,
and best to my knowledge, you have, so thank you. But now tweet and share the
hell out of this on Facebook and Twitter. 6PR got hold of it on Wednesday, so
the cats out of the bag now. I will be talking to as many media as I can in the
upcoming week. Be careful <b><i><u>not to exaggerate</u></i></b> the expected
numbers. If people expect a thousand and only a few hundred turn up, we’ll look
silly. If a thousand do turn up, great! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As many non farming supporters we can
get, the better. Reach out to the wider community.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you think you are too busy with harvest,
consider that the export depots and ships take thousands of tonnes of feed
grain out of the market, none of which would be required should the industry be
halted.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Organise a
bus. – </span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Get a
group together, find a bus and head down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Accommodation</span></u></b><u><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> </span></u><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">- We are in the process of booking a
100 bed dormitory at Woodland Point, with another 60 bed available if numbers
require. These are basic 10 bed to a dorm, with two unisex amenities blocks.
There is a BBQ area, but no kitchen facilities in the rooms. The address is
below. If you would like to make use of this facility, please contact Kristie
on 99430649, or if no answer, Raelene on 99812969.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">This coastal recreation camp is located at the end of O'Kane Court,
Munster, on Woodman Pt. in Cockburn Sound, just eight kilometres South of
Fremantle - a 35-minute drive from the centre of Perth and a 45-minute drive
from the domestic airport. </span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Woodman Point Recreation Camp is located south of Fremantle in the south
metropolitan region of Perth, Western Australia. It is accessible by car and
bus along Cockburn Road.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Link to Woodman point website - </span><a href="http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/woodmanpoint" title="http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/woodmanpoint"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au/woodmanpoint</span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There has been a very generous offer of
camping space available in Oldbury, east of Rockingham. Pill and Stan Lewis
have 5 acres at 27 JillyJilly Close. The turnoff is on the south side of Orton
Road, just West of the Orton and King Road intersection. This is only a new
road, and isn’t on the map. Please ring them on </span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">9525 1317. Thankyou to Pill and Stan.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">What to bring</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Signs / banners – </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">More the better. We pinched the idea from the Stop
live exports movement for A4 cards to wear stating who we are and that we
support live export. Download these <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6yb29gegz60y393/x_ayeLjMPq" target="_blank"><span style="background: rgb(184, 234, 184); color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6yb29gegz60y393/x_ayeLjMPq</span></a>
and print them out and bring them along. If you can make a big banner, do so.
Be clever with your message. We need to show this affects families. The anti
movement is very careful to use the term “industry,” as if it’s only big
business being hurt. “Live export educated my children” “Live export supports
my family,” that sort of thing. Avoid activist bashing and the “without us you
starve” line, it is confrontational and puts people offside.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Water – </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">It may be hot and we’re not sure what is available. Later on the Left
Bank, Trade Winds is close by and so is Little Creatures Brewery.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Flyers – </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Download the fact sheets about Live export, some from industry bodies,
some made up by volunteers. There is an online team across the country behind
us, and they are doing a lot of the homework.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Cameras – </span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">We want as much of this recorded as we can, to saturate the web space
after the event. We’ve all seen the photos of previous ban rallies, lets get
ours out there.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Where and When?</span></u></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Merv Cowan Park, on top of the hill above the Left Bank Cafe. Be there
by <b>9am at the latest</b>, the Anti export movements bridge rally is 9.45 for
a 10.00am start. They are only there long enough for some good photos. We
suggest you get there as early as you can, as parking is limited. PLEASE DO NOT
PARK IN THE LEFT BANKS CARPARK, as they serve breakfast.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">A HUGE thankyou to all who have helped us put this together.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Please RSVP to gladwyn@node1.com.au </span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">See you there!!</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-17038043121588417862012-11-01T20:52:00.000+08:002015-01-19T00:58:37.144+08:00So Sue Me.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvNdBDl2uXRVoZyslk3SZ3bNgkXoHltLcpgpjzpFPt3-cQ2Snf3GXU5hJtZ0Jexjf3s2NlC7kcsXMqnV5eZmudD6pB8ERDPOKIoAEfm6uMGXIk11DIYlXj4oBrcMi6TAO5KSDTnyyJdc/s1600/Sue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvNdBDl2uXRVoZyslk3SZ3bNgkXoHltLcpgpjzpFPt3-cQ2Snf3GXU5hJtZ0Jexjf3s2NlC7kcsXMqnV5eZmudD6pB8ERDPOKIoAEfm6uMGXIk11DIYlXj4oBrcMi6TAO5KSDTnyyJdc/s400/Sue.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All tough and brave while the other blokes not looking.<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
One of our last litters of puppies was all female except for a single boy. It was Gemma's idea to name him Sue, and much to our worker mans disgust, he even has a bright pink collar. The plan being of course, as per the song, he would grow up to be big and tough and strong. Instead, he's a big dopey oaf, but not to worry. So for fun, and with much apologies to the late, great Mr Cash, the following is in honour of our Dog named Sue.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sold to my boss soon
as I could see<br />
Cos my parents owners couldn’t handle me<br />
Had too many dogs and not enough cattle to do<br />
Now I don’t blame him cos he took the bid<br />
But the meanest thing that he ever did<br />
Was day I got born, he went and named me Sue.<br />
<br />
Well he must o thought that was quite a joke<br />
And it got a lot of laughs from the country folk<br />
As my Boss and I worked the district through.<br />
Farmers would laugh and I’d see red<br />
And when they did I’d piss on their leg <br />
I tell ya, life aint easy for a dog named Sue<br />
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br />
Well , I learned real quick and made a good team<br />
With my Boss we worked the mustering scene<br />
We soon came known as the best in the game.<br />
But I made a vow, to my Boss’s alarm<br />
That I’d search the stations and the farms<br />
And find that man who gave me that awful name.<br />
<br />
Well in the Kimberly in mid July<br />
Running in cattle while the place was dry<br />
Chased them up and did what we had to do<br />
As the dust settled in the yard<br />
There on the rail, blowing hard<br />
Sat the dirty, mangy man that named me Sue<br />
<br />
Well, I knew that he was the first boss I had<br />
Cos sitting in his ute was my retired Dad<br />
And I heard him brag as he looked right into my eye <br />
"That dog is the best one I’ve ever sold,"<br />
And hearing this made my blood run cold<br />
And I thought “You named me Sue! Just how could you?<br />
I just want to know why!!<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
<br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" />
</span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So I spooked a
bullock with wild eyes<br />
Who charged at him, but to my surprise <br />
He leapt of the rail and grabbed me by the tip of my ear<br />
But I twisted free and with a loud yap<br />
Sent of mob of weaners running over his lap<br />
Barking and a yapping at him till his boot swung past my rear<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
I know I’ve annoyed the Boss before<br />
But ever this much, I can’t recall<br />
Made him look a fool and he chained me up for a while<br />
Later that night as he slept in the swag<br />
I found the guys boots and my tail wagged<br />
I crapped in them so I’d smell him coming a mile <br />
<br />
Next day we was out in the bush<br />
Two old bulls were fighting and I gave them a push<br />
They trampled his bike and he swore black and blue<br />
But he knelt down and called to me<br />
I went over, leg ready to pee<br />
And he looked at me with a smile that grew <br />
<br />
He said<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now you’re a bloody good
working mutt<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And I know why you’re trying
ta kill me but<br />
There’s something important you need to know. <br />
You was the only boy in a litter of eight<br />
And I’d have called ya Rex if not for fate<br />
When this song came over the radio."
<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then he sang the
song which made me grin<br />
I forgave him as he scratched under my chin<br />
And we left that day to work with another crew<br />
And I think about all the other pets<br />
With boring names like Boof and Rex<br />
And if I ever have a pup, I think I’m gonna name him <br />
Fido, or Rover! Anything but Sue! I still hate that name!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<br />
<br />
If you enjoyed this please support my Kickstarter publishing project.<br />
<a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/579614921/wydjawanna-station-a-novel?utm_content=buffer1609d&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer" target="_blank">Wydjawanna Station Kickstarter</a><br />
<br />
</div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-16277786727283510412012-10-17T21:28:00.001+08:002012-10-17T21:30:26.642+08:00Hell? No.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I was asked the other day by an opponent of the live
trade how I justified sending our animals overseas. They’d read this blog and
formed the opinion we look after our stock, but couldn’t understand why we
continue to send them in light of all the bad news stories airing about lately.
This was my reply.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Glad
you liked it. That site is my hobby. The way I see it is this. I've been on a farm
since I was born. I'm 32. In that time I've seen sheep burned alive by
bushfire, washed away and drowned by downpours, I've come across ewes with
their entrails hanging out after being mauled by wild dogs. I've seen a weaner
lamb still alive after having his back leg eaten by a fox. I've seen lambs
picked up and dropped from heights by wedge tailed eagles, then get up and try
to flee with their backs broken. I've seen sheep literally shit themselves to
death from salmonella or coccidious, despite our best efforts to treat them.
I've seen the fattest, most healthiest looking sheep choke on their own kidneys
as their bubble up through their throats from pulpy kidney disease, caused
simply by being too greedy and getting a gutsful of feed. I've seen a nanny
goat being rooted to death by ten or more billy goats in the wild. Kangaroos
blind from disease slowly starving as they bash themselves to bits on trees and
shrubs as they try to make their way to water. I've seen hordes of emus breed
up in good years, only to starve to death in bad. And I'm only relatively
young, so imagine what my parents and their parents have seen. If my sheep pass
out in 5 - 10 seconds or worst case a minute from a poorly executed cull or
slaughter, they may not be as lucky as those killed here, but tell you what,
their fate would be my 2nd choice. Just cos you die naturally, doesn't mean you
die well.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">And that’s it in a
nutshell. Knowing what I know about sheep, if the ships were the crammed Hell holes
they are claimed to be, by the time the three week journey was over, the sheep
would all be dead. And no customer is going to buy dead, or half starved,
stressed and sick animals, especially at the price they’d be charged for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Yes, I would like all
stock to be stunned. But having cut a few throats myself, and witnessed more
than one Muslim family kill their own animals, I don’t have a problem with it.
Other may disagree, as is their right, but that’s where I stand. We raise
animals knowing full well they will end up on somebodies dinner plate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">In the last 16 months of banging away at the keyboard, not one person has been able to name me one other country that spends money on trying to improve welfare practises in overseas countries. 109 countries export live animals.But it seems more and more likely that the only one actively doing anything to better things over there is going to be the one not allowed to send anymore. Out of sight, out of mind I guess.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 5;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;">Give me half a day with
some football footage and I could make you a video claiming that football (or
any sport) is a brutal, horrific game that results in countless injuries and
even the occasional death. None of the footage would be fake, and Michael
Barlows broken leg last year would be the </span><em><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Pièce de</span></em><span class="st"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> résistance. Add in some
sad, scary music, a few disgruntled ex-footballers and whammo. Who knows, I
might even win a Walkley.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-AU;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-351670282275396372012-10-13T19:06:00.000+08:002012-10-13T19:10:59.472+08:00Bless you.<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 1</b> - Place is
looking pretty good right now, the winter has been okay, and looks like it’s
not going to cut out too early. Next time I’m in town I’d better stock up on antihistamines,
there’s a faint itch in the air already.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 3</b> - Doing a
paddock tour while inspecting sheep. The wild radish is flowering nicely. Never
did get to town. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny how the radish
flowers block the radiator but not my nose. That’s running freely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Day 4</b> - Going to
town. Last night in bed elbowed Gemma’s head as I scratched my nose while asleep.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Need drugs and need them now. And an
icepack. And flowers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Through a haze of tears and snot explain to the young
counter girl at the pharmacy that while the packet does say 24 hour relief,
past years have proven that to be a furphy. Mildly annoyed when she refuses to
sell me three different types of antihistamines at once.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After doing three separate runs into three separate chemists
now know what it feels to be a meth maker seeking <em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">pseudoephedrine. </span></em></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></em></span><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em></em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><a name='more'></a><o:p></o:p></em></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
5</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - As usual, takes a few days for the drugs to kick in. While waiting,
spend most the days walking around saying “Ghnnnng hnggghh ghhnnng” as I try to
make the inside of my skull vibrate to stop the itch that is living there.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
7</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Have formulated the routine. One twenty four hour tablet with breakfast
coffee. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If brain not required after
lunch, one six hour-do-not-operate-machinery tablet at lunchtime, then one twenty
four hour tablet at dinner, while snorting nasal spray like a certain WA based
footy team snorts white powder. If brain is required, suffer, but whinge, bitch
and moan about it until sent home in disgust. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
8</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Gone around the house with roll of duct tape. Only one door now
opens and this place is sealed up like a NASA airlock. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
10</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Getting mower ready for hay cutting. If there is one thing more
irritating than freshly mown radish, ryegrass and Patterson’s Curse flowers, it’s
twelve month old, dusty, powdery mown radish, ryegrass and Patterson’s Curse flowers.
Taken wire brush to back of throat. Didn’t work.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
13</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Checking sheep again. Have
had to carry packet of wet towel wipes in ute to clean the inside of windscreen
after each explosive sneeze. Must look like a heavy metal fan head-banging to a
silent tune to anyone watching.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
15</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Mowing. It’s not too bad in the tractor cab. Sealed, filtered air-conditioning
and I’ve got the throat lozenges and nasal spray, and so long as I don’t have
to get out its all good. This should be fairly………. why did the mower just make
loud bang and is now rattling? Turn radio up. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can still hear the rattle, which is actually
more of a heavy clunking. Probably should get out and look.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
16</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Pulling the mower to bits, which is now covered in freshly cut chaff
and midgies. Mechanic comes out to help, and upon seeing my tears he assures me
it’s not that bad, and I’ll be mowing by the next day. Try to explain its only <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>allergies, but I think us blokes cry wolf too
often with that one. He doesn’t believe me.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
17</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Mowers fixed and back operating again. Drugs staring to slow me down
a bit. Decide that the inspiration for slow moving drooling zombies in movies
came from a dosed up hayfever patient.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
20</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Getting hay baler ready. Refer to getting mower ready entry, but
with added hay chaff.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
25</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Baling. Trying to thread the twine through the baler’s bowels while
holding my breath and keeping eyes closed. May have failed miserably, as seemed
to have threaded it through the PTO shaft by mistake.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
27</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - While baling seriously brainstorming ways of eliminating the
requirements for pollen. Things start to get a bit freaky and decide to leave
it alone. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Blame combination of drugs and
freaky Twitter mates.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Midnight, most nights <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>- <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gemma wakes me for fear that I am driving my
index finger so far up my nose while sleeping I am in real danger of literally
being in touch with my sub conscious. <o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">
<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
28</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - Baling again, this time onto small squares. Less said the better, as
the one of the knotters develops dementia and refuses to tie off properly.
These things are called idiot cubes for good reason. Have also fitted a bottlebrush
to cordless drill for the ear itch.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
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<em><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Day
30</span></b></em><em><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-style: normal; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> - 11.30pm. Last bale rolls out of the machine. Am going into self imposed
lockdown until the winds settle and the pollens dry out. Index finger has
become alarmingly muscled and nostril slightly more flared. While in quarantine
will start drawing up legal proceedings against the large pharmaceutical
companies who claim 24 hour relief. But need to make until the zombie drugs are
out of the system. Bless you.<o:p></o:p></span></em></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1122510867856357843.post-9528921882942355112012-10-03T19:08:00.001+08:002012-10-03T19:22:35.572+08:00Drink!Well bugger me, we got a response. The PR team was working overtime (at your expense, dear taxpayer) and managed to punch out a neat reply for most of Jo's first questions. I will give credit to where credit is due, Lee Rhiannon is on a hiding to nothing from us, and could've quite easily ignored it. We struggle to make as much noise as the activists, and getting our side in mainstream media had proved to be very difficult. <br />
<br />
So. Below is the link to Lee's reply. But before you read it, I'd like you to get a drink. A few actually, we're going to play a little game I like to call Spotto. Each time you read the word cruel, horrible, horrendous, or the phrase "called for / call for," we yell "Spotto!"and drink. Ready? See you on the other side....<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/content/blog/responses-questions-about-greens-call-ban-live-animal-exports">http://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/content/blog/responses-questions-about-greens-call-ban-live-animal-exports</a><br />
<br />
Sho...you shtill uprightsh?<br />
<br />
Seriously though. I'm not surprised at it to be honest, pretty much every argument for bannng the trade is there, and while it looks good, the substance is lacking in alot of areas. I'm not going to bore you all to tears with an in depth analysis, but I can sum it up in two words. Bull. And shit.<br />
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Yes, many meatworks have closed down over the years. As have many small family farms been combined into larger operations. The area I grew up in used to have seven families running seven farms. Now that land has been combined into three farms with three families. The school that had 120 kids when I was Year one has now about twenty. It's called consolidation, and it's a bitch. Get big or get out. So as trucks got bigger and could transport more stock further, as wages went up, as costs rose (don't even start me on the latest debacle of having to upgrade refrigeration gas with the carbon tax legislation) all the little works closed down. We lost Geraldton Meat Exporters earlier this year. THEY DON"T EVEN COMPETE WITH LIVE EXPORT. They had an almost monopoly hold on the goat market and did old mutton into Mexico and elsewhere. Lack of stock from dogs and drought did them in, along with the dollar hovering above $1.05 for the last year or so.<br />
<br />
Of course, the Union won't admit any of that. We know an old fella who used to work in a meatworks. Claims he used to be on a per carcass rate, with a bonus if he hit a quota. Until unions made the abs pay by the hour. All of the sudden he was earning the same as the man next door doing half his tally. So he slowed down, took it steady. It's that sort of thing that kills a business.<br />
<br />
But that's only one aspect of Lee's reply. The beauty of the Greens is they will never have to actually develop a sound policy, merely call for (DRINK!) action in the hope they are listened to. In the last close election they hold some sway. But if it took them three days to come up with those answers asked by a simple cattle producer, God help us if they ever govern in their own right. It'd be horrible (DRINK!!).<br />
<br />Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09954010479636900859noreply@blogger.com0