THE shine of Bathurst’s green Christmas has dried off quickly and a series of hot, dry days revives memories of lots of sunburnt arms and faces on cricket grounds and stock yards and on market gardeners when the world was 50 years younger.
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A lot of hay has been made from lucerne flats and late fodder crops, and some oat crops are being stripped with handy results.
Producers who intend to sow an oat crop for early stock fodder would be well advised to make their seed orders now as supply may be limited.
While hot, dry days continue, we leave slashers, angle grinders and welders in the shed as most realise that we are financially liable for bushfire damage to neighbours if our negligence causes a fire.
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Help at hand
DROUGHT assistance from the Federal Government has recently been added to if primary producers can demonstrate hardship as a result of drought.
The current top-up of funding may be of real assistance to people who can:
- Demonstrate that farming or farm-related income is their primary livelihood;
- Are unable to pay overdue or pending household bills;
- Are prepared to be interviewed by a counsellor from a registered charitable organisation.
The contact phone is 6862 5758.
All discussions will be strictly private and this matter may be of real value to the farm families who are hardest hit by the current drought.
All the best
CONGRATULATIONS to Blake James and Kathryn Wood who married at St Joseph’s Chapel, Perthville just before Christmas.
Our family wish them all the very best as they set off on their life together. Kathryn is very special as she is the first grandchild of Rosemary and myself.
Will be missed
A MEMBER of one of our district’s most respected country families passed away just before Christmas.
Stan Meek, formerly of Hobbys Yards, worked for the McKenzie brothers at “Craiglee” for 27 years and with his wife Nancy they raised their family at Hobbys.
After leaving “Craiglee”, Stan worked at Nixons Blayney and then he spent 15 years at Devro Bathurst.
He will be missed by his many friends and for his always sunny disposition.
Farewell, Noel
THE recent passing of retired Bathurst doctor Noel Lucas took away a highly regarded family doctor to generations of Central Tablelands residents.
Noel was noted for the genuine trust that so many showed in his advice and for his friendship.
Heading home
FIREARMS owners should take careful note of the changes to NSW Firearms Regulation 2017.
Licence holders who have firearms stored at holiday homes/weekenders/farm dwellings that are not their principal place of residence are advised to move them to their primary residence as a matter of urgency.
Even if you have a registered gun safe at that property for storage, the firearms are now illegally stored.
We must also advise the NSW Firearms Registry of our new storage address.
Details: www.police.nsw.gov.au/onlineservices/firearms or 1300 362 562.
Please be careful to comply with these changes as I believe that it is a criminal offence to do otherwise.
A fine mess
THIS is a practical reminder for those who use public roads when driving or riding unregistered vehicles that need a conditional road permit.
Vehicles without permits attract severe fines as they carry no third party insurance as well as no registration.
One source tells me that the Roads and Maritime Services fine for this offence is almost equal to 30 years of the annual permit fee of around $75.
Take care
SEVERAL district landholders used a vaccine to protect their breeding ewes from Campylobacter disease during recent winters.
My reading tells me that this disease is infectious between sheep and zoonotic, from animals to humans.
Please be extra careful if you notice signs of abortion in breeding ewes, wear rubber gloves if you are concerned and use extra personal hygiene methods.
My concern is for human health as these are really serious stomach and bowel wogs and many sheep flocks may be infected.
Please talk to your vet if you are in any doubt.
Going down?
THE Day Trader column in the city media paints a solemn picture for sharemarket traders in the new year.
“I would be very surprised if the All Ords finds any support now until it falls to 5000,” Darryl Morley writes. “There is support between 4800 and 5000 and if that does not hold, then 4000 is very likely. I believe it will require some incredible world event to reverse this trend.”
Our country urgently needs some years of stable government with genuine leadership and a tight hold on government spending.
There has been little stability since Tony Abbott knighted the Duke of Edinburgh and raised Malcolm Turnbull’s hopes of being a capable prime minister.
Money talks
SPORTSBET odds for the 2019 elections are of interest:
Federal: Labor $1.14; Coalition $5. NSW: Labor $1.90, Coalition $2.05. Bathurst: Labor $4.25, Coalition $1.18. New England: Labor $8, Barnaby $1.04. Warringah: Ind. $2.40, Tony Abbott $1.55.
Laugh lines
TWO old mates were attracted to the servo that advertised “free romance with every 50 litres of fuel”.
The first tankful gave them a marble draw of no. 37 and “sorry, no luck sir”.
The second week gave a No. 16 and again no luck.
Pat suggested that it was a crooked offer, but Mick said: “No, definitely not. My missus won twice last week.”
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MUM’S advice to buxom daughter on her first date with a friend from work: “Whatever he suggests, you just say no.”
After the movie, he asked: “Mind if we fool around in the back seat of dad’s car?”
