The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party was well represented and Nationals members weren't seen on camera.

Alan Jones takes a sympathetic position for the farming community as they battle one of our nation's most severe droughts and farmers and town businesses really appreciate his support.

Producers and their rural workforce are affected differently in our Tablelands as they can find work in the country cities or bigger towns.

But the further west we live, the less chance there is of finding alternative jobs.

I'm surprised that no one in the TV audience in Dubbo claimed to have received any federal financial support.

COUNTRY radio reports tell of the current federal government's drought allocation to charity institutions of 5000 separate cash grants to struggling farmers, small businesses and contractors.

Each grant is for "up to $3000" and is essentially for food on the table and payment of urgent bills.

These grants were supposed to cover the period until June 2020 but it seems they will be fully utilised within this week.

These details show how serious the problems are that are caused by years of drought.

READ ALSO:

Rural Notebook | In the 40s, they thought it might never rain again, but it did

Rural Notebook | With summer coming, we're still waiting for Tablelands to turn

Rural Notebook | Showing support for the region's young ram sales

AWARD for quote of the week goes to Phil Donato for his throwaway line to Paul Toole in state parliament: "The wrong Toole for the job."

These two hard working state members are probably good friends and they each enjoy strong majorities in their seats of Bathurst and Orange.

A journalist from the city media suggests that former leader Bill Shorten turns up at some party events like the Labor Party's mad uncle and no doubt Malcolm Turnbull has the same effect on Liberal doings.

Some local government councils also have their own resident Mad Uncle to contend with.

For mine, it was always a pleasure to work with a council, board, school P&F or a sporting team where people got along with each other.

We should all learn about democracy from our first school days and try to still act like adults as we book into a retirement village.

THERE is a nice green pick for hungry sheep in the areas where useful storms have fallen in recent weeks.

Most parts of our district failed to measure more than a few millimetres but others received up to 60mm over two days.

There is some wash from bare paddocks but farm dams in some places picked up about six weeks' water supply.

It means most of us are left to wait for the next change, listen to the people that we always listen to and hope that the forecasters are wrong.

SALE reports from weekly sheep and lamb sales show us that phenomenal amounts are being spent by processors and a Ballarat agent averaged $157.95 per head for lambs and $172.44 for sheep at last week's auction.

The best wethers at Bendigo sale brought $240 and top price for heavy export lambs was $220.

Much of the demand is apparently coming from China and its serious shortfall of red meat due to huge losses of pigs from the swine fever outbreak and its ramifications.

The mutton sheep that are returning record prices are extra heavy weights with the $240 wethers dressing out at 52kg.

Not forgotten

TO add to my recent Landmark/Nutrien story, a friend added some more agencies that have been amalgamated during the late 1990s.

They included Commonwealth Wool, Country Producers, Pitt Son and Badgery, Goldsbrough Mort and AML&F (all to Elders) while Australia Estates and New Zealand Loan went to Dalgety.

Each of these company names will revive memories and first on the list is the late Russell Carrig, Co-Wool, who came from the wool store to purchase the property "Illawong" at O'Connell where he ran a good merino flock.

Thanks to Alan for providing these details.

FOR family members who are thinking of a great Christmas gift for a special person, a coffee table book named Tales of the Bridle Track, Bathurst to Hill End may be an excellent choice.

Some lovely photos of the rolling river hills, the Turon and Macquarie rivers and lots of stories from Bridle Track families make this book a must-read.

But perhaps you should act quickly; Books Plus Bathurst has some copies on hand at $60. You won't be disappointed with Sharon Shelton's book.

FORall the readers of this column who tell me that they notice less silly jokes each week, please be aware that editorial staff at the Western Advocate often don't have the room for two harmless laughs each week.

If readers of the Advocate, Oberon Review or Blayney Chronicle have rural news items they would like included, please SMS to 0429 372471.

Members of local families send copies of some of these columns to far away friends and we appreciate their interest.

GEORGE told Mick: "There's not as much monkey business going on in Bathurst now as there was in the 1960s."

Mick thought a while and answered: "Oh yes there is, just a different mob doing it."

***

THEY were in mischief when the phone rang.

"Don't tell me your hubby's coming home," he whispered.

She breathed: "He won't be home for hours. He's playing cards with you and two blokes from the shop."