produced for landholders in the western division of nsw...

July – August 2009 1

Jul – Aug 09

Produced for landholders in the Western Division of NSW

Number 128 www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/newsletters/wdn

ISSN 0314 - 5352

In this issue ...

Background

The Gates family have been woolgrowers in the Wilcannia area since the 1920s. In 1988, Rick and Joanne bought Burndoo Station which is situated between Wilcannia and Ivanhoe. They have moved from struggling woolgrowers to major goat producers, buyers and exporters in the last eight years. The station’s trucking yards are the talk of the outback in western NSW. The last sheep was sold from Burndoo in 2001. In 2008, over 100,000 goats passed through the yards and onto a truck from Burndoo.

What were the factors that made you think about a change?

Low wool prices coupled with the dry seasons were the catalyst for us to look for alternative sources of income. We bought some rangeland goats to fill one of our spare paddocks. We were looking over the fence as the neighbours were moving into goats. As the paddocks were emptied of sheep, we re-fenced and filled them with goats. It soon became obvious to us that you could buy large numbers of goats and resell them quickly rather than breed them ourselves.

How do you start to make the change?

We sold sheep from each paddock and re-fenced the paddock. In 1998 we started trading and stopped breeding. We called our business ‘Gates Goats’. We started establishing market links and networking

with landholders. We had to learn the system. In 1999 we started our goat depot yards – our main trucking yards at the house are steel yards that can hold 3000 goats. These yards also contain a weighing pen for weighing drafted goats off the truck and a Holland stocklift race. We have five sets of steel yards with water in three sets. We water our yards before handling the goats. We put a roof on at the house yards and we wished we had done that earlier as less sun and flies. I recommend covered yards and sprinklers.

We use our own trucks to pick up goats and bring them back to the depot. We started with a Toyota ute and trailer and using truck contractors. Than we bought a single drive tray top truck which we sold and

Goat trading ‘big time’

Continued on page 3

As told to Sally Ware, (NSW DPI, Hay) by Rick and Joanne Gates, Burndoo, Wilcannia ph: (08) 8091 9464

Goat trading ‘big time’

Rangelands to recover in the Lachlan Catchment

Worm control for sheep in the west

Lower Murray Darling farmers tour

Pooncarie Field Day Wrap-up 2009

Yanga National Park yours to explore

30 year anniversary of Nocoleche Nature Reserve

Western residents support RFDS

Join the invasion of Junee

Western CMA Board welcomes Matthew Nicholson

Starry starry night – Kinchega

How would you like to receive your newsletter in 2010?

Rick and Joanne Gates drafting a consignment of goats purchased from a landholder.

2 Western Division Newsletter

In passing...by Sally Ware Rangelands Officer NSW DPI, Hay

Western Division Newsletter© State of New South Wales through NSW Department of Primary Industries 2008This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in an unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your own personal use or for non-commercial use in your organisation. To copy, adapt, publish, distribute, or commercialise any of this publication you will need to to seek permission from the Editor of the Western Division Newsletter.

The Western Division Newsletter is produced by NSW Department of Primary Industries with funding assistance from the Department of Environment and Climate Change, the Department of Lands and the following Catchment Management Authorities.

Editor and Advertising: Sally Ware, NSW DPI Haysally.ware@dpi. nsw.gov.auTel (02) 6993 1608Layout and Distribution:Bill Noad, NSW DPI [email protected] (02) 6881 1213

Participants in a program called ‘Enterprise Based Conservation’ meet each year to review their on-property projects and to hear from relevant guest speakers. The program was developed under the WEST 2000 PLUS scheme and is now administered by the Western Catchment Management Authority (CMA). It was initially started as a pilot scheme to see if a payment based conservation scheme could work on private properties. The pilot was successful and as a result, a new Enterprise Based Conservation program, which sees


landholders managing part or all of their property to meet agreed conservation goals for 15 years was offered to landholders in the Western Division. Six properties: three in the Western Catchment and three in the Lower Murray Darling Catchment, with another three soon to join, are taking part in the program, which is also being administered by the Western CMA. Staff from NSW DPI are contracted to organise the meetings each year and the 2009 meeting has just been held at the NSW DPI Research station at Trangie.

Over the next few issues of the Newsletter, some of the landholders in the Enterprise Based Conservation scheme have agreed to tell their story about the program. It certainly is a story worth telling.

Back L–R: Trudi Atkinson NSW DPI, Peter and Mary Beven, Andy and Fiona McLeod, Graham Finlayson, Paul Connellan, Richard Meyer, Duncan Ferguson, Garry HanniganFront L–R: Erlina Compton WCMA; Christine Ferguson, Kathy Finlayson, Bev Meyer, Tracy Madden, Sally Ware NSW DPI


Goat trading ‘big time’ continued from page 1

bought a bogie drive tray truck and two three deck semi trucks.

What happened next?

We sold 10,000 goats in our first year of trading and 20,000 in our second year. In 2001 and 2002 we bought and sold next to zero goats due to the drought. We put our weighing pen into the yards in 2002 and started buying goats on liveweight once we started trading again. We sold over 100,000 goats last year. We have also completed 160 km of goat fencing on Burndoo using fencing contractors.

Eight years later

Our aim is to source rangeland goats from landholders located within a 250 km radius of our property. At this stage our supply comes from about 135 landholders. We pick up the goats and bring them back to the depot. The goats are off loaded and drafted into sex and size i.e. billies over 25 kg, nannies over 25 kg and the smalls which are under 25 kg. The mobs are weighed in our weighing pen and the weights are returned to the landholder within 12 hours. Payment is sent to the landholders no later than 10 days minus the freight charge per kilometre to collect the

goats. We pay competitive prices for our goats. The average mob size we buy ranges from 120 to 1400 goats. We request that the goats are off water for 18 hours. Once the goats are weighed in their draft at the depot, they are released into our large goat paddocks that range in size from 1600 ha to 3200 ha. Each week we book in loads into the main abattoirs. About 2000 goats are trucked out of our yards each week using contract trucks. The majority of goats are sold over the hooks to the export market and about 10% are killed for the domestic market. Billies over 25 kg are also exported live by aircraft out of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. These goats need

Top left: Rick Gates and the Holland stocklift race which is used for ear tagging and ear marking goats. The bars lift the goats off the ground making tagging and marking easier and safer for the operators.Top right: Side view of the Holland stock lift raceBottom right: Weighing a consignment of goats. The weighing system enables a large number of goats to be weighed at one time.


Goat trading ‘big time’ , continued from page 3

to be of correct weight, horn type and conformation. Goats below 25 kg are sold to re-stockers.

What are the benefits of being a goat trader?

We now have a profitable enterprise that works for our property and in our area. We can source goats from our area all year around. We employ four adults in our business – two husband and wife teams and also a few casuals. We need three people on hand at all times. The stocking rates are low in our paddocks because we are turning over stock all the time. The country looks good with good ground cover. It is spear grass and copper burr country. The goats have eaten out the hop bush and we are controlling the turpentine with goats and velpar. I can see the change from the air – it has taken five to six years from when the sheep were gone to see the change. There is dry spear grass in the paddocks as the goats prefer to browse the woody weeds.

Another benefit is we buy directly from the landholders and sell directly to the abattoirs so there is no middleman that needs to be paid.

What are some of the disadvantages?

We have had to spend a large amount of money on extra infrastructure to become a goat trader. This includes upgrading fencing, extra yards and yard cover, trucks and sheds and extra watering facilities. Also we bought a plane and built a hangar – as well as checking the property and mustering, the plane is used to visit clients and to meet new clients.

During extreme drought conditions, it becomes hard to source goats in good condition above 25 kg. In 2001 and 2002 we ended up with no supply. We also have little control over the quality of the goats that are supplied as most goats are just rangeland goats mustered out of the paddocks.

The overseas goat market can be fickle as we have witnessed in the last few months. Once the price of goat meat starts to drop, the landholders stop selling their goats to us and we run into a supply problem.

The cost of tagging goats is another issue that concerns us. At the moment we put a pink tag on the small goats that are sold to re-stockers. If we have to tag every single goat that is sold out of our depot, we are going to be faced with some serious costs that could challenge our business.

Finally, we do not get a lot of time to participate in our personal activities as we are on call 7 days a week. We employ staff so we can get away at times.

Can you offer some advice to landholders that want to sell goats to depots?

Yes, we have listed some points below:

• If possible, source your market before you muster, so buyers can arrange transport.

• Supply feed and water, especially in hot weather to yarded goats.

• Have goats off feed and water 18 hours before trucking (dry hay is ok).

• Have good access for trucks that are collecting the animals e.g. no low overhanging timber or sandy tracks.

• Have good yards for operator safety i.e. gates that swing with quick latches; loading ramp.

• If possible keep nannies separate from billies.

• It is important that the NVD is supplied when the truck is loaded.

To contact Rick and Joanne Gates, Burndoo, Wilcannia phone (08) 8091 9464.

BUNNERUNGIE WHITE DORPERS

Phil & Chris LarwoodBunnerungie Station

Wentworth NSW 2648Phone/Fax: (03) 5027 0220

Email: [email protected]

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Landholders around the Mossgiel and Booligal districts have been enthused by a variety of experts to evaluate options when aiming for rangeland recovery. The Lachlan Catchment Management Authority (CMA) in conjunction with the Mossgiel Community Hall committee and Booligal landholders recently hosted field days to identify options for pasture regeneration in the rangelands by utilising drought tolerant species such as saltbush.

Over 40 people attended the Mossgiel Producers Day held 22 April at the Mossgiel Hall. The day started with a morning session on carbon and the emissions trading scheme. Alan Lauder, author of ‘Carbon Grazing’ raised the principle of ‘time not timing’ and there was vigorous discussion about when and for how long pastures should be spelled. Gary Allan, NSW DPI Project Leader in Climate Risk Management followed with an interesting presentation on the proposed emissions trading scheme and its implications for agriculture.

The afternoon session and the Booligal Rangelands Recovery Day held 23 April focussed on alternative systems and techniques to regenerate pastures degraded by management decisions and prolonged drought. Martin Driver from PlainSense Vegetation Management talked about the history and ecology of the rangelands as well as examining and demonstrating direct seeding techniques and equipment for native bushes. Andrew Sippel from Grazing Management Systems in Narromine offered a different option through seedling plantations of old man saltbush.

San Jolly from Productive Nutrition travelled from South Australia to enlighten landholders on the different nutritive values of different shrubs found in the rangelands, and the feed qualities that are important

Rangelands to recover in the Lachlan Catchment

relative to the management goal i.e. lactating ewes or fattening lambs. Tactical grazing techniques for improving grazing management, groundcover and delivery of nutritional requirements were covered by Peter Jessop from NSW Department of Primary Industries.

Earthmoving techniques such as contour furrowing and water ponding were also canvassed with an interesting presentation from Chris Higgins, the Rangelands Rehabilitation Officer with the Western CMA. The ability of landholders to capture water and invigorate the natural seed bed inspired landholders to identify areas on which they could trial different techniques.

The day ended with presentations from the staff of the Western Lands Commission and the Property Vegetation Plans department of the Lachlan CMA about roles and regulations with respect to landholder obligations when undertaking any sort of regeneration activity in the Western Division and Lachlan Catchment.

As a result of the days, the Lachlan CMA is offering landholders the opportunity to undertake further training with Holistic Management Workshops being held in Lake Cargelligo and Booligal starting mid-June. For more information contact the Hillston Office of the Lachlan CMA on (02) 6967 2897.

Martin Driver explains the workings of the direct seeder to local landholders.

Perennial bladder saltbush seeds

By Anna Cochrane, Natural Resource Officer, Lachlan CMA, Hillston


Worm control for sheep in the westBy Stephen Love Veterinarian/State Coordinator -Internal Parasites, NSW DPI Armidale

NSW DPI has developed ‘FarWestWorm’, a worm management program for sheep in the Western Division of NSW.

The current version of the program can be obtained through DPI offices or down-loaded from the DPI website:

http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/sheep/health/internal/westworm-and-farwestworm

Useful information is also available from the website of the national sheep worm management program, WormBoss: www.wormboss.com.au

Current worm situation

Dr Greg Curran, Regional Veterinary Officer at Broken Hill, advises that this season there has been a good early break in some southern areas, and good summer rains in northern areas. Sheep down south may be poor and more open to risk of worms, especially those grazing relatively small areas or limited feed. Sheep have also been brought north on agistment. So, up north, people might see barber’s pole worm or cool climate worm syndromes (scour worms).

Down south, the patchy feed and concentrated grazing on limited areas of feed might bring a risk of scour worms (black scour and small brown stomach worms). Keep an eye on young sheep in particular, which can also run into problems – ill-thrift and scours – due to thin-necked intestinal worm.

In northern areas, barber’s pole start to show up as the quality and availability of feed tails off.

If at all in doubt, do a WormTest – worm egg count – especially if you are about to muster sheep and might consider drenching. Get clean, freshly dropped dung samples (still warm and moist) from the paddock. Use a WormTest kit and send samples off to the laboratory. WormTest kits are available through NSW DPI and LPHA offices, and better rural suppliers.

If you do end up drenching – hopefully on the basis of worm egg counts rather than guess work – consider checking drench effectiveness by doing a worm egg count 10–14 days after the drench. Drench resistance is more common than you think: it is better to know that a drench has been effective rather than ‘taking a punt’. And remember the most expensive drench is the one that doesn’t work.


Lower Murray Darling farmers tour–

Farmers on tour – Brian Dixon and Lindsay Morrow digging in the dirt to see how deep the seed was buried.

Farmers in the Lower Murray Darling catchment recently toured farms in the hope to learn better methods and practices from other cropping enterprises. The Lower Murray Darling CMA provided the opportunity and subsidy from Federal funding provided by ‘Caring for Our Country’.

On 22 and 23 April 2009, 19 farmers (cereal growers), representing three generations of farmers from the Lower Murray Darling, headed off on a bus tour of cropping enterprises in the Euston, Kyalite and Wood Wood areas. They were accompanied on the tour by Noel Hayward (LMD CMA Team Leader PVP & Projects), Graeme McIntosh (NSW DPI Agronomist) and Nicole Dimos (Mallee Sustainable Farming Extension Coordinator).

Noel Hayward said ‘The idea of the bus trip was to show farmers a range of farming systems and technologies which would allow them to better manage groundcover and/or surface aggregation to help reduce erosion, which is very important in times of drought as experienced over the past few years’.

Graeme McIntosh NSW DPI Agronomist based at Dareton said ‘By talking to other farmers who have already implemented these systems and technologies they would be able to pick up ways to reduce input costs, increase yields and improve margins, making them more sustainable, both environmentally and economically’.

The first stop was Luke Follett’s property at Euston where he discussed his transition into no-till farming, including the purchase of new machinery. At this stage Luke has one paddock being continuously cropped and a couple more on a two-year rotation. All paddocks were being grazed on a rotational basis.

Comparisons of the cover in the adjacent paddocks was a great kick off to the trip and got the discussions started early.

Inspection of Luke’s AusSeeder with its parallelograms, multipoint fertiliser systems and variable rate systems further fuelled the discussion. When Graeme Macintosh convinced Luke to ‘back the machine up and dig it in for a few metres’ everyone knew they were in for a great trip with lots of real possibilities to consider on their our own farms.

The next stop was Kyalite where the farmers saw what could be considered the ‘next generation of farming’. Both farms visited are at the forefront of precision agriculture technology using GPS guidance with base stations allowing them to sow crops with 2cm accuracy. One of the farmers had been no-till continuously cropping since about 2000, whilst the other had been continuously cropping for over 30 years but had only converted to no-till three years ago, both had removed stock from their systems.

Nicole Dimos from MSF said the farmers were rapidly taking notes as the host

high-tech cropping enterprises!

LMD CMA 32 Enterprise Way PO Box 363 Buronga NSW 2739 Ph (03) 5021 9460 Fax (03) 5021 1308 www.lmd.cma.nsw.gov.au

continued next page


farmers explained their systems and answered questions on spray mixes, rotations, why they de-stocked, how the base station works, how do you control your variable rate, can we see the computer in the tractor with the paddock plan that controls the rates and so on.

By the time the accommodation in Tooleybuc had been reached, everyone was motivated and enthusiastic about what they had seen and heard and just how realistically they could utilise this new-found technology.

Next morning the group visited a further two farms in the Wood Wood area, that of Mr Peter Hayward, who is a conventional farmer with stock in the system and his neighbour Frank Curran who is fully no-till continuous cropping without stock.

At the Hayward property an interesting discussion was held on how conventional farming using a combination of chemical and mechanical fallow could still run stock and prevent wind and water erosion from occurring. Mr Hayward explained how his system could be done with good environmental outcomes. He said ‘Careful management is the key and the use of the blade plough and maintaining groundcover as late into year as possible was the way to go’.

Following the visit Mr Hayward said ‘That he thoroughly enjoyed the visit and the opportunity to discuss his system with the visiting farmers and wished he had been on the bus for the whole tour’.

The farmers then moved to Mr Hayward’s neighbour’s property, where the host Mr Frank Curran spent about 40 minutes explaining his system in detail. The group then climbed back onto the bus and followed Frank and Peter out to a paddock where Frank’s son, Brendan, was dry sowing.

Whilst waiting for the tractor and seeder to return from the far end of the paddock, many of the farmers including Brian Dixon and Lindsay Morrow (see photo) were digging in the dirt to see how deep the seed was buried, how much the press wheels had compacted the soil over the seed and how effective the water harvesting would be.

As members of the group ‘scratched’ about and discussed the merits of what we saw, a Cat Tractor appeared over the hill at 18 to 20 km/h towing a Gason HydraTILL Seeder.

For those who had not seen precision agriculture before, this was eye-catching as the group walked out to where the machine had just sown into last years standing stubble to see the press wheeled lines of the new seed neatly dissecting the rows of standing straw from last year’s crop.

For those farmers who were not sure if they were doing the right thing going to no-till or no-till continuous, this was confirmation that they were on the right track as was highlighted by some of their comments recorded on the trip.

‘Great – should be more. Best way to interest farmers is to create discussion on the ground and away from their work’

‘Interesting, a lot to try and take in’

‘Well worthwhile’

‘Have more confidence in direct drilling as I get more information’

For others it confirmed that with careful management they could continue with their conventional mixed farming with good environmental outcomes.

Mark King, LMD CMA Chair said ‘These types of tours support NRM change on the ground and LMD CMA is proud to support them.’

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Lambert third. Dareton’s Michael Remmet had a good win in the Learners’ machine Shearing over local pair Jack Lambert and Emily Crozier.

The Lambert family had further success on the day, with parents James and Jane of Lelma Station taking 1st and 2nd in the Pen of Four Lambs competition. They won with their Merinos and were runners up in the British Breeds to South Australia’s Geoff Thomas. Kevin and Robyn Ingram of Aston Station were runners up with their Merino pen and third in the British Breeds section.

Mark and Julie Cullinan of Kelleen Station took 1st and 3rd in the Exotic Breeds with their Dorpers and produced the overall Best Lamb with an outstanding Dorper. Judging was based on age, size, frame, weight, wool and carcass value.

There were plenty of ‘experts’ rising to the challenge of guessing the weight of South Australian Charlie Edson’s excellent Dorper ram. Wentworth ‘dog man’, Alan Travers was correct with 119.5 kg.

Pooncarie Field Day President Angus Whyte said it all with his thoughts on the success of this year’s event.

‘Everyone went away happy, with a smile on their face,’ he enthused, with a beam to match.

The bi-annual event lived up to expectations with about 1200 attending, including exhibitors, competitors and visitors, the majority making it a family day out.

Mr Whyte confirmed that major sponsors, BR & C Agents and Deacon Property & Livestock, were ‘exceptionally happy with the day’.

He said the Field Day committee was already looking forward to further improving on an even better event in 2011.

The day was packed with action for both young and old, with events, exhibitions, competitions, food and entertainment.

One of the main attractions was the much-anticipated clash in the Tri-State Blade Shearing Title between 20-year-old rising international competitor John Dalla from South Australia’s Yorke Peninsular and former Pooncarie kangaroo shooter and shearer John ‘Roo’ Nichols, now based in New Zealand.

Dalla, the current Australian titleholder, who competed in last year’s World Championships in Norway, was hot favourite to win in the absence of three-time winner Dave Newman. But he was pushed to the max. in the run-off for the $1000 winner’s prize, edging Nichols out of the title by a tic under just two penalty points.

Western District shearer Richie Foster took out third.

Dalla later proved his class with the modern shearing piece, recording a comfortable win over fellow South Australian Dayne West in the Intermediate Shearing Event with local shearer Matt

Pooncarie Field Day Wrap-up 2009

Matt Lambert, third placegetter in the Intermediate Shearing event

By Eve Syme


Travers had a busy day with his kelpies Booma and Pippa. Booma took a third in the Locals’ Sheep Dog Trial and Pippa a second in the Novice event. Testing Broken Hill judge Ricky Jones, Pooncarie’s Darren Decaux squeaked in by one point with his black and tan kelpie Rebel over Scott Lockhead’s Matilda in the Local Trial while Dustin Old came over from Balranald with Juke to take the Novice event.

A run-off for first was held to determine the outcome of the Open Trial. Vin Joyce’s Sadie was a clear winner after the first pen, over Dave Kellock’s Mac, while his other dog Squirt filled third slot. Kellock made the whole show interesting with his commentaries when not competing.

Some 20 dogs competed in the Sheep Trials and just as many turned their paws to the Goat Dog Trials. Rebel proved he was just as handy with goats as sheep but was just edged out of first by Mark Wilkinson’s red kelpie Rusty. Wilkinson, from Camborn Station, had Scootch pick up third.

The stock exhibits were again well-supported by South Australians, with eight of the 15, including Wonnara and Jefferies’

Prime SAMM sheep brought across by Geoff Thomas from Hallett and Peter and Mandy Lintern’s Seymourvale Santa Getrudis cattle from Tungkillo. Lintern plans to trial them soon in the Pooncarie District once he sets up good cattle yards upriver at Chalky Well Station.

Andrea van NieKerk came across from Moama with her Dell Dorper and Dumisa White Dorper sheep and was happy to be declared winner of the Best Livestock Display with her Dells.

South Australia’s Diener Industries from Truro, with an impressive stand of solar pumps and wind generators, was nominated the best Outdoor Exhibitor and local carpenter-craftsman John Neri’s classy, red gum knurl furniture and clocks won Best Indoor Exhibit.

There were more than 75 exhibitors, aside from the livestock, displaying everything from beads to bags, hats to halters, plants to pumps, tools to toys and wine to wonder. The majority came from Sunraysia such as Mildura’s Elders and Landmark and boutique businesses, including Merbein’s Lorraine Lee Linen and Buronga’s Varapodio Estate.

But others were from as far south as John Conlan’s Shearwool in Kyneton, Victoria, Kalleske Meats, with their metre long salamis, from Smithfield, SA, Australian Aircraft Kits who flew in from NSW’s Taree and Wills Mills from Gulgong, NSW.

Windmill mechanic Will Lewis enjoyed his visit and also picked up first prize, awarded by State MP, Member for Murray, John Williams, for his outstanding Well-Worn Akubra hat. Kimberly Barnes, 13, from Limby Hut Station, won the Junior event.

Exhibitors donated items for an auction conducted by Marty Deacon. The 18 items, mainly baskets of goodies, averaged $100. Funds raised, including a later sale of shorn wool donated by the entrants in the Fleece and Pastoral Wool Show, will be shared between local and district charities and running expenses for the next Field Day in 2011.

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Winners and placegetters in the junior whip cracking competition.

continued next page


Although entries were down in the wool competition, reflecting a decline in the district’s pure Merino population, they still represented quality presentation. The Whyte families did well, with Malcolm and Marg’s Willow Point taking 1st and 2nd in the Fine Wool category and Champion Fleece overall. Angus and Kelly’s Wyndham was third.

Medium Wool winners were Terry and Jane Smith’s Scarsdale Station, who also took honors in the Weaner Wool class and Reserve Champion Fleece.

Wentworth growers cleaned up in the Strong Wool section, with Popiltah 1st, Bellevedere 2nd and Nindethana 3rd.

The Field Day showed up plenty of artistic talent in the district in craft, colouring and photography. Marg Whyte was able to cajole even the shyest child to a smile as she read out winners to receive their awards from Federal Member for Farrar, Susan Ley MP.

The Homebush field day was held on 17 April 2009 and was once again well attended by the public and exhibitors.

One display which drew a lot of interest was the vintage tractors and engines. Ken Spinks and Howard Hillerman have put many restoration hours into the engines and it was great to see and ‘hear’ them working.

The raffle was a huge success with Craig and Sue Williams winning the 7 piece out door setting and gas fired pizza oven.

The Committee again conducted the goods and services auction with the proceeds donated to the Balranald health services to purchase much needed equipment for the hospital.

The Homebush Recreation Club Inc. Committee wish to publicly acknowledge all the exhibitors who kindly donated goods to the auction and to Country Energy for their sponsorship of the Field Day. The

continued support of Country Energy has enabled the field day to grow.

A fun evening was enjoyed at the Homebush Hotel after the field day. For further information regarding the 2010 Field Day call Secretary Alison Linnett on ph: 0427 502 019 or Committee Member Marianne O’Halloran ph: (03) 5020 6808.

Homebush Field Day 2009

Howard Hillerman from Balranald displays a restored John Deere vintage tractor.


65,000 hectare Yanga National Park yours to explore

Over 1500 local community members and visitors celebrated the opening of the magnificent Yanga National Park in May.

Yanga National Park and its visitor facilities were officially launched by the NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Carmel Tebbutt on Thursday 28 May at Yanga. The official launch was then followed by a Yanga National Park free Open Day for the public on Sunday 31 May.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Regional Manager Ross McDonnell said both the official launch and open day for the public were a huge success.

‘The Open Day included a vast range of activities including whip cracking and sheep shearing demonstrations, a reptile show and art and craft fair including art workshops for the kids.

‘Visitors were also given the opportunity to explore the national park with a guided canoe tour along the Murrumbidgee River.

‘The historic Woolshed and Homestead were a hit, with NPWS Rangers taking visitors through the historic building revealing their unique history.

‘Formerly a pastoral station, Yanga has enormous ecological importance and a strong cultural history.

‘Yanga holds a rich colonial and cultural heritage, with over 150 km of Murrumbidgee River frontage and extensive redgum forests and riverine wetlands.

‘Yanga’s wetlands are situated on the Lowbidgee Floodplain which has supported some of the largest breeding colonies of waterbirds in Australia.

Official party Back: Past owners Sally and Graham Black with Smokey Murray who did the welcome to country. Front: Deputy Director General NPWS Sally Barnes, past stockman on Yanga Bes Murray, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment Carmel Tebbutt, DECC Director General Lisa Corbyn, NPWS Regional Manager Ross McDonnell


‘The iconic Yanga wetlands received a much needed replenishment in June this year as 25,000 megalitres of environmental water was delivered to support the stressed wetland environments of the Lower Murrumbidgee floodplain.

‘The flow was delivered to help to improve the condition of stressed vegetation including the River Red Gums, Black Box and Lignum vegetation communities and to provide habitat and protection for wildlife including for the Threatened Fishing Bat, waterbirds and for frog breeding for some species.’

Mr McDonnell explained that more than 250 Aboriginal sites are registered within the park including an important Aboriginal burial site located on the southern shoreline of Yanga Lake.

‘18 research projects are currently underway in the park, including one looking at one of the state’s endangered frog species – the Southern Bell Frog which has successfully bred in Yanga in recent years following carefully managed environmental flows.

‘Since purchasing the property, the National Parks and Wildlife Service has been busy putting in 200 km of fire trails and developing extensive pest animal and weed programs, including laying more than 8500 fox baits at 1000 baiting stations and removing 2500 feral pigs.

‘Picnic and camping sites have been put in place and interpretative signage will guide visitors around some of the special features including the massive woolshed and historic homestead.

‘Yanga also boasts a close proximity to the world heritage listed Willandra Lakes area, encompassing the Mungo National Park – giving this part of the world a very special experience for visitors,’ he said.

Bes Murray past stockman on Yanga with NPWS Field Officer at Yanga Russell Hampton

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September 21 2009 marks the thirty year anniversary of Nocoleche being gazetted as a Nature Reserve into the National Parks reserve system.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Bourke Area Manager, Nerida Green said the NPWS are inviting locals and visitors to celebrate this historic occasion.

‘We are celebrating the anniversary with a free “Back to Nocoleche” open day for the public which will include a range of fun events,’ said Nerida.

‘Nocoleche Nature Reserve, situated 20 km south of Wanaaring, contains unique natural resources and a valuable water supply in an otherwise dry landscape.

‘Almost two thirds of the nature reserve is made up of floodplains, wetland depressions or channels of the Paroo River, Cuttaburra and Kulkyne Creeks,’ said Nerida.

‘Nocoleche is listed on the Register for the National Estate, being recognised for its valuable and diverse wetlands which provide habitat for native animals and plants and waterbirds such as the Marsh Sandpiper and Painted Snipe.

‘During dry periods some water remains in permanent waterholes, and when floods arrive waterbirds breed on the many

30 year anniversary of Nocoleche Nature Reserve

wetland habitats within the nature reserve as they do up and down the Paroo River.

‘As a nature reserve Nocoleche provides a valuable area for scientific and historical research and also holds many important Aboriginal sites which reveal the importance of the river and wetlands for Aboriginal culture and livelihood.

Nerida explained that the shearers quarters at Nocoleche also reveal a glimpse of the past.

‘Once housing shearers after a long day mustering and shearing sheep, the shearers quarters now provide short-term unique accommodation for researchers, scientists, NPWS staff, contractors, consultants and other groups visiting Nocoleche.

‘Buildings from past land use are an important part of the pastoral history of national parks estate and sometimes these buildings are adaptively reused.

‘The shearers quarters was constructed with the economic boom in the 1950s when the reserve was known as Nocoleche Station.

‘The complex is made up of an overseer’s cottage, a 12 room shearers quarters, a store and cooks room and is largely unchanged from its original state.

‘In 1976, John Peken offered Nocoleche station to the National Parks and Wildlife Service for sale and the park was finally gazetted on September 21 1979.’

Nocoleche Nature Reserve 30th Anniversary Celebration

The NPWS welcomes locals and visitors to come ‘Back to Nocoleche’ on the weekend of September 19 and 20 to help us celebrate 30 years of managing Nocoleche. Please mark these dates in your calendar.

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Western Catchment residents have shown their generosity by supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

In February and March, the Western Catchment Management Authority (CMA) conducted a telephone survey of landholders and urban residents.

The survey was held to better understand landholders’ awareness, knowledge, skills in natural resource management, current land management practices, and how effectively the Western CMA is meeting residents’ needs.

To compensate survey participants for their time, landholders were offered a $25 IGA Supermarket voucher and the urban residents, whose survey was considerably shorter, were offered a $10 IGA Supermarket voucher.

It quickly became apparent that a number of survey participants preferred to donate the money value of the voucher to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and future participants were offered the choice of donating to the RFDS.

Of the 572 people interviewed, 412 or 72% of participants chose to donate their money to the RFDS. As a result, $9160 have been donated to the RFDS on behalf of Western Catchment residents.

The donation is testament to the generosity of Western Catchment people, particularly during a time of extended drought conditions and rising grocery prices and the importance of the RFDS in their lives.

Results of the survey are being compiled at present and will be made available publicly once they are finalised.

Western residents support RFDSBy Marita Pearson Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Western CMA

The NSW Women’s Gathering has been in operation for 16 years and welcomes all women from all walks of life. The Gatherings are where participants can examine ways to build health, personal development and how to care for the environment.

If previous Gatherings are anything to go by, this year’s Gathering at Junee will be packed with top calibre speakers, numerous

workshops, local tours and a celebration gala dinner.

The Lower Murray Darling CMA is intending to subsidise travel and accommodation for a group of women from this catchment to experience the Junee Gathering, 18–20 September 2009. There may be room on the coach to pick up other ladies along the way.

The Junee Women’s Gathering website will be continually updated at http://www.junee.nsw.gov.au/html/women_s_gathering.html

Catchment women who are interested in being part of the LMD CMA group are invited to fill out and fax in their initial Expression of Interest to (03) 5021 9460 by July 31 2009.

For more information contact Susan Walla on (03) 5021 9460 or visit the website at www.lmd.cma.nsw.gov.au.

Join the invasion of JuneeFor the Rural Women’s Gathering 18–20 Sept 2009LMD CMA 32 Enterprise Way PO Box 363 Buronga NSW 2739 Ph (03) 5021 9460 Fax (03) 5021 1308 www.lmd.cma.nsw.gov.au

Participants who travelled by bus to the 2008 Women’s Gathering at Cobar.


It is my great pleasure to welcome Matthew Nicholson of Nymagee to the Board of the Western Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and to congratulate him on his appointment by the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt.

Matthew (pictured) is a born and bred Nymagee local. He is married to Megan and has two daughters, three-year-old Katie and one-year-old Sarah. With his parents, Michael and Jenny, and his brother’s family they operate the family farm, Glenwood Station, which will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2010.

The farming business incorporates a number of activities including beef cattle production, harvesting broombrush and cypress pine, transport and accommodation for hunting groups. During favourable years they also undertake some minimum-till cropping.

He completed his secondary education at Yanco Agricultural High School and he holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Sydney.

He is involved in numerous community organisations including the Nymagee Rural Fire Brigade, Nymagee Progress Association and local cricket and tennis clubs.

Matthew is an active member of the Buckwaroon Catchment Landcare Group, was a founding member of the NSW Broombush Industry Group and says he applied to join the Western CMA Board because he wanted to become involved.

‘I have been involved with the Western CMA through the Landcare Group and the incentives program as well as knowing some of the staff socially. The Western CMA is involved in shaping the future of the area and I wanted to be part of that process,’ Mr Nicholson said.

‘This is my home and I just love it. There are lots of issues that need to be dealt with such as invasive native scrub, particularly in the Nymagee area, and the ability for younger generations of farm families to be able to stay on the land.

‘They are long-term issues that will take time, effort and money and I want to contribute to that process,’ Mr Nicholson said.

Matthew is a progressive and forward-thinking young man and we are very lucky to have such a good mix of experience and members of the next generation of landholders on our board.

His appointment means the Western CMA Board has its full complement of members for the first time since it became operational in 2004. He joins Diana Hoffman, Andrew Mosely, Justin McClure, Sam Jeffries and Tony Thompson on the Board.

Board appointments are made at the Minister’s discretion and the appointment of an additional member indicates Minister Tebbutt’s acknowledgement of the variety of issues the Western CMA is managing in far-western NSW.

Western CMA Board welcomes Matthew Nicholson

By Rory Treweeke, Chair of the Western CMA.


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As residents of the Western Division would know – the starry nights in an outback sky are amazing.

What you may not know is that 2009 is the international Year of Astronomy – declared by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to celebrate 400 years since the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei turned a telescope to the heavens and 40 years since man landed on the moon.

National Parks and Wildlife Service Spokesperson Jacki Roberts said NPWS is celebrating by offering a range of events in western parks.

‘National parks offer the perfect setting for star-gazing into great expanses of dark night skies.

‘Discovery Tours are taking on a theme of Starry Starry Night, specifically tailored to the night sky – including the constellations, Aboriginal cultural stories and native critters that inhabit the darkness.

‘People will be encouraged to enjoy the wonders of the universe from within the pristine settings of national parks, with the insight of Discovery rangers.

‘With more and more of the world’s population living in cities, fewer people are able to view stars, planets and night skies in all their glory.

‘We’re hoping it will add another dimension to the visitor experience in the west’, she said.

The next Starry Starry night tour in the west:

Friday 24 July 2009 at 6:30 pm at Kinchega National Park, Menindee. Meet at the Historic Woolshed car park, no need to book.

For more information on this or other Discovery tours and activities (including costs) visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au or call the Broken Hill Area NPWS office between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm from Monday to Friday on ph: (08) 8080 3200.

Starry starry night – Kinchega

I currently receive my newsletter by mail box drop.From the beginning of 2010, I wish to receive my Newsletter by DIRECT MAIL.

Name: ............................................................................................................................

Address: ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Phone number: ..............................................

Post to Sally Ware, NSW DPI, PO Box 393, Hay NSW 2711 or fax to (02) 6993 2177

From the beginning of 2010 we are planning to change the mail out system of the Western Division Newsletter. The mail box drop method will cease at the end of 2009. Hence, please consider your options if you wish to continue to receive the Newsletter.

• If you already receive your Newsletter by direct mail, you are already on the mail list and need to do nothing.

• If you wish to receive the Newsletter by email, please go to the website* and register your email address.

• If you wish to receive the Newsletter by direct mail – please go to the website* to register your

mailing address, or if you are unable to, please fill out your contact details in the form below and mail it to Sally Ware, NSW DPI, PO Box 393, Hay NSW 2711 or fax it to her at (02) 6993 2177.

Please note that your contact details will only be used for mailing the newsletter to you.

How would you like to receive your newsletter in 2010?

* www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/aboutus/resources/periodicals/newsletters/western-division-newsletter

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To the Landholder

P O S T A G EP A I D

A U S T R A L I A

The editor of the WDN welcomes contributions

Issue No. Deadline for articles Send articles to:

129 Sep–Oct 31 July 2009 Sally Ware, NSW DPI

130 Nov–Feb 2 October 2009 PO Box 393, Hay 2711

131 Mar–Apr 6 February 2010 Fax: (02) 6993 2177

132 May–Jun 5 April 2010 Phone: (02) 6993 1608

133 Jul–Aug 31 May 2010 Email: [email protected]

Western Division Newsletter

produced for landholders in the western division of nsw...

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