There are a few pockets that have benefited from storms but by and large the Central Tablelands has reached crisis point and decisions for livestock management must be made within weeks.

Former district producers who have retired or left the rural industry often tell me “thank God we got out and didn’t once look back”.

Off and on really dry conditions have not let up since the late 1970s and even the most positive producers are tired of the battle.

THE pundits of global warming and climate change are regarded as nutters by the majority of the farming community and it’s a great shame that the issue has been politicised.

Most discussions turn to argument quickly and opinions from government departments are usually drilled down to “they know where the public dollars come from”.

Meanwhile, the actual business of farming has become a much higher risk as costs spiral upwards and terribly dry seasons keep coming.

A REMINDER that the annual general meeting of the Turon Wild Dog Association will be held at the Box Hill Bunkhouse, 1947 Turondale Road this Sunday at 2pm.

All landholders in the Turondale, Crudine, Sofala and Palmers Oakey area are urged to attend as fox and dog baiting plans will be made on the day and pick-up times and dates for baits will be available to all group members.

The central group has worked hard in gaining support and participation from many landholders across the high country as they join the battle to contain losses from wild dogs in their grazing animals.

DON’T forget the 150th Royal Bathurst Show is about to step into the spotlight from April 13-15.

Please note that entries in the wool section need to be dropped at the show office early for judging.

Phone Brian Seaman for details on 0428 373 828.

A VISIT to the office of Watson Tractors in Kircaldy Street, Bathurst showed me a great new range of promotional gear for the business with Kubota and Krone caps, hats, pens, etc all available.

Millie Watson assures me that a full range of this trendy gear will be for sale on the stand at the Royal Bathurst Show.

If I were a brace of generations younger, I’m sure that I’d buy a pretty girl a pink Kubota cap at our show and hope that she’d love me for the day.

THE death of Mrs Myrtle Naylor of Perthville has caused sadness across the district as she was renowned for her untiring efforts of presenting her home-made jams and condiments to a discerning public at a range of markets in Bathurst and surrounds.

Her friendship and sense of humour were hallmarks of Mrs Naylor’s life.

HAPPY birthday to one of Bathurst’s very best lady tennis players, June Murphy, who is celebrating a milestone birthday.

It’s a few years since she competed with Dunlop Volley shoes, timber framed racquets and white tennis balls, and made us work for every point.

June and her late husband Stan conducted the “Athlone” property at Georges Plains and she still lives on a portion of the subdivided property.

THREE cheers for the Bathurst Harness Racing Club for presenting its Gold Crown Carnival in the face of serious lighting problems on Saturday night.

Once again it was a top quality carnival with a great result as College Chapel saluted the judge in record time.

It was a well-deserved win for Bernie and Cathy Hewitt who have gone close several times and thoroughly deserved an excellent Group 1 win on their home track.

HE wool market lost ground this week after last week’s rises.

Merino wools were cheaper as the fine and superfine merinos lost around 15c/kg and the medium and broad merinos lost around 35c/kg.

Crossbred wools bucked the trend, however, selling for 20-25c/kg dearer.

The northern market indicator finished the week on 1837c/kg, down 15/kg.

There is now a one-week recess after the Easter break with sales resuming on the week beginning April 8.

A big offering of 48,809 bales nationwide will test the strength of the market.

THE squad car collected George from the park and delivered him the three kilometres back home.

His beloved was glaring at him at the front gate.

“How could you be lost? You’ve walked to the park by yourself for years,” she said.

George muttered: “This time I was just too buggered to walk home so I got lost.”

***

HE woke at 8am on a Saturday and sensed something was wrong.

When he found the missus unconscious on the kitchen floor with shallow breathing, he naturally panicked.

But then he remembered that all was well. The local cafe serves brekky till 11.

***

ANGELA Merkel was going through passport control at Athens Airport.

“Nationality?” she was asked. “German,” she replied.

“Occupation?”

“No. Just here for a few days.”