These details are important when we discuss the present drought conditions and previous climate emergencies in our lovely country.

Some of my parents' generation thought it may never rain again in the late 1940s.

THE Australian Wool Innovations annual general meeting in Sydney last Friday saw Michelle Humphries and Noel Henderson elected as new directors.

Former chairman Wally Merriman and farm adviser Phil Holmes were not successful and the newly elected board will face interesting times.

The much smaller wool clip nationwide, board governance decisions, sheep genomics and the mulesing debate will each need some wise, cool heads at the decision-making table.

The wool industry needs to be settled down to avoid the risk of tearing itself apart.

Wal Merriman has given 10 years' service to our industry and deserves genuine thanks.

BLINK Bonnie Merino studmaster advises that interested breeders can have the pick of 100 hogget rams at his Tarana Stud.

These are big boned, heavy woolcutters that have established an enviable record.

Details from Peter Moore on 0419 011 398 or Elders Bathurst.

CHRISTMAS is a time for families to be together, to put a line under 2019 and to be prepared for 2020 and all it will bring.

It's also an ideal time to remember who has tried hard to help their community.

For the farming sector we think of both state and federal government assistance, churches, charities and lots of people in towns and cities who have donated cash that they probably couldn't afford.

Bushfire volunteers have done what real Aussies do, help their mates as best as they can when the chips are really down.

PLEASE raise your hat to Dave Crawford and the crew at Mitchell Batteries in Havannah Street as they celebrate the business achieving 50 years of excellent service to our Central Tablelands community.

John and Marie McGrath established the business in 1969 and the Crawfords have continued the excellent service.

Thank you to Mitchell Batteries for solving so many problems for half a century.

REPORTS from special store sheep sales from central Victoria and the South Australian mallee tell of first cross ewes breaking the $400 barrier and the best of merino ewes selling above $300.

These quotes show us what the new year may hold for our state's farmers and restocker cattle and sheep will be hard to source.

Agents tell of the disappearance of many of the breeding ewes from areas such as Brewarrina, Coonamble and Weilmoringle where many thousands of restocker wether hoggets were bought for our Tablelands.

Already we've seen restockers buying breeding age ewes on Auctions Plus at around the $150-$200 mark and hand-feeding them in containment areas until the seasons turn.

National cattle and sheep populations are believed to be less than half the pre-drought totals and stock dealers with unstocked country must wonder when to make their first move.

THE recently announced $10 million grant from the NSW Government to Bathurst Regional Council must be music to the ears of the mayor and his councillors.

This assistance is earmarked for a new pipeline from the Winburndale Dam at Napoleon Reef to the water filtration plant at Gormans Hill and for new ponding works on local rivers and streams.

Talk of buying water from Oberon's supply dam on the Fish River show us just how serious the water supply situation has become for towns and cities across our state.

The current $10 million grant to council shows us how fortunate we are in Bathurst to have a senior state government minister as our local member.

KEEPSAKES that are sometimes given away at stud stock sales are valued by recipients.

Hats, caps or pens are branded with the stud names and all are used daily until worn out.

A recent photo in Stock and Land showed Diana Harley-Steed wearing a Millah Murrah cap at a Pakenham store cattle sale and Bella Lana and Winyar merino stud caps are often seen as well.

Pomanara stud biros are prized by several young lady school students who rely on Pop to find promotional pens.

ANOTHER week of price volatility has seen the wool market lose ground for all micron categories.

All merinos types lost around 20 to 30c/kg and the crossbreds lost around 10c/kg.

The Northern Market Indicator finished the week on 1591c/kg, down 19c/kg.

Over the last four weeks the market has gone up and down on a weekly basis, gaining and then losing all the gain the following week.

Just when this volatility will stabilise is hard to say but with only four more weeks of sales until the Christmas break, it is hard to see much change before then.

Mark Horsburgh, TWG Landmark

TWO old mates were discussing the faith healers meeting in their town.

"Was the meetin' any good?" one asked.

" No good at all," said the other. "Even the old shearer in the wheelchair got up and walked out."

***

GEORGE was being tested for his 85-year-old driving test.

He shot through a red light in Stewart Street and told the tester: "My brother don't stop at red lights."

Then they zoomed through another red in Durham Street and said again: "My brother don't stop for red lights."

When they screeched to a halt at a green light at the next intersection, George quietly said: "My silly brother might be coming."