WE'VE all seen the first weeks of 2022 and have wished lots of Happy New Years to our friends, so now we settle into the business of doing our very best as we get on with our lives.
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Firstly, we note the passing of two well-respected residents of Georges Plains.
Len McGrath lived and worked close to Bathurst all his life and was a quality sportsman. He played on the SCG as an under 18 rugby league player.
Hughie Pearce was a former mayor of Evans Shire and worked as a weeds inspector with Upper Macquarie County Council.
A quick word
SEVERAL comments during the Christmas break:
- In the times of the COVID pandemic, never forget the nurses, paramedics, doctors and pharmacists. They are the angels who walk among us.
- Price results for real estate keep on rising: $8000 per acre for 250 acre blocks with few improvements are on the money. Be sure to buy and sell on the same market.
- There are 80,000 weaner calves currently being auctioned across Victoria, with top steers returning $2800 at early sales.
- The mighty Darling River is almost in full flood as it rolls past Louth and heavy rains in central Queensland will keep the fresh water coming.
- I must raise my cap to Arthur and Carmel Clancy following a solid win to their mare Rose of Juliana at Dubbo trots just after Christmas. Sometimes good prayers are answered son.
Topping it up
ANOTHER 50 to 80 millimetres of storm rain has kept an understorey of fresh green underneath maturing summer grasses that are a metre tall in some cases.
Many hundreds of tonnes of silage has gone into underground pits and haysheds and silos are starting to overflow.
Improved grain prices have largely compensated for downgraded cereal crops and the weeks around Christmas and new year were well suited to harvesting operations.
The medal man
CONGRATULATIONS to Bathurst resident John Gray who was recently awarded a wool industry medal for his long career with Schute Bell wool brokers and with the Sydney Show Association.
His excellent services to company clients have been well-recognised throughout our Western districts.
Looking back
A SPECIAL tribute to one of my most patient readers, Mrs Clare Stait, who I believe has followed this column for most of its 30 years.
In another time, our contract team marked thousands of Merino lambs for Jack and Clare Stait in sheep yards that are now covered by new houses on the hills above Trinity Heights.
Happy New Year, Mrs Stait, and thank you for the memories.
Marking a milestone
THIS week marks 30 years since Rural Notebook first appeared in the Western Advocate in 1992 and just after the formation of Bathurst Merino Association.
Mitchell McRae was the Western Advocate's editor at the time and I think this column has survived four editors.
My good friend Col Ferguson filled in and wrote our column for several years when our industry was in upheaval.
I hope our weekly articles are of interest to readers and I thank the editorial staff of the Western Advocate for inviting the Little Bride and I to continue to provide our column each Thursday.
And on this note, I must add our good wishes to former Western Advocate editor Murray Nicholls as he takes on a new challenge.
Murray has been a valued friend for his 17-year career at the local paper and his absolute reliability has been his greatest asset.
Thank you, Murray; Rosemary and I wish you good health and good luck for the future.
Wort thoughts
ON a property close to Burrendong Dam, a herd of Belted Galloway cows and calves are grazing in a heavily infested St John's Wort paddock that is in full flower.
Several of the younger cows are showing severe skin damage on their distinctive white belts.
The owner assures me that his vet has diagnosed photosensitisation of the white skin caused by the ingesting of St John's Wort plants.
Local leaders
NEWLY elected councils are starting to feel their feet and Bathurst's mayor and deputy are new to council but both are very well-known citizens.
A lot of country people tell me that former councillors Bobby Bourke and Alex Christian were their go-to men when they needed council assistance.
These two men will be missed for their willingness to help and Ian North and Andrew Smith may carry on their work.
Cowra Council has six ladies in a team of nine, with Bill West being the veteran mayor.
From my corner, the new councils in Blayney, Oberon, Cabonne, Orange and Lithgow seem settled and ready to assist our region to be a great place to work, live and raise families.
One more thing
REMEMBER when this column used to urge us all to surround ourselves with positive people?
Just this once, please surround yourself with negative people and stay as safe as possible.
Laugh lines
THE cab driver knocked on the door of a house in a quiet village.
"I'm terribly sorry, lady, but I ran over your black rooster and I'd like to replace him," he said.
"Please yourself, old mate," the lady said, "all the hens are in a pen out the back."
***
THE census lady was puzzled as she helped a retiree fill in his form.
"You write that the village population is 807 and hasn't varied in years. Surely there must be a death or birth sometimes," she said.
"Not much changes, love," our man replied. "We're mostly young people, so no deaths, and whenever there's a new baby, a bloke leaves town in a hurry."
Diary dates
- Saturday, January 22: Mirrabooka Park clearing sale, 275 Paling Yards Loop, Orange. Details: Ben Redfern, Molong, on 0457 770 062.
- Saturday, February 5: Rydal Show. Lots of details on Facebook - Rydal Show.