Latest news with #Thommo
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Outrage after Aussie farmer cops $398 fine for helping drought-stricken neighbour
Aussies are fuming after a farmer recently copped a $398 fine for moving two bales of hay across a road to a help out his drought-stricken neighbour. Graham Thomson, a hay contractor based in Condah, in Victoria's extremely dry southwest, was lugging the sheep feed on his tractor forks when a National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) officer's flashing lights brought him to a halt. The long-time local said he had checked there were no other vehicles in sight before he travelled the 600 metres down the road, and across the Henty Highway. However, Mr Thomson said the officer informed him he wasn't allowed to haul anything on the front-end loader on a public road, and issued him the hefty fine for 'not restraining' the hay. 'I'm meant to have a load binder over them. I've been farming for about 50 years and I didn't know that,' he told Sheep Central, adding the officer said he would need to place the hay on a truck to transport it on the road. 'I didn't say anything, but one minute he says I can't carry anything on the road and then he books me for carrying something on it that's not restrained. So that didn't make sense to me.' The incident — which reportedly occurred the same day a mental health event for farmers was held at the Condah Hotel — has infuriated others, with another local farmer Andy Satchell slamming the decision online. A video uploaded to his Facebook shows the unsecured load in question. 'To say Thommo was upset would be an understatement,' he wrote. 'Surely farmers have a right to keep their livestock fed.' The clip has since gone viral, with thousands of Aussie sharing their frustration over the 'ridiculous' fine. 'Every farmer is breaking the law as soon as they put a round roll or a square bale on those forks to go across a road,' Mr Thomson told Sheep Central. 'The fine was worth more than the value of the hay.' A GoFundMe page set up on Mr Thomson's behalf is raising money to help him fight the fine in court. 'Thommo is choosing to contest the fine in court because he believes that, after 60+ years in the industry, helping a neighbour feed their livestock shouldn't be penalised,' the fundraiser reads. Another aim of the fight is to make sure the voices of famers are heard, the page says. Mr Thomson has requested all excess funds be donated to the National Centre for Farmer Health. 'Due to farmers experiencing environmental factors, such as drought and floods, I'd like any excess funds to go to farmer mental health, as we need to keep the food chain going,' Mr Thomson said. 🚘 Major road rule changes coming into effect on July 1 across Australia 👮 New laws with up to $80,000 fine that many don't know is illegal 🐑 Incredible rural scene brings 'glimmer of hope' to struggling Aussies A NHVR spokesperson told Yahoo News safety on Australian roads is a "top priority" and it's their job to prevent road accidents. 'On 8 June, SCOs intercepted a tractor carrying two double stacked large hay bales on the Henty Highway in Condah, with one of the bales not restrained. The SCOs applied both an engagement and enforcement method, by providing education to the driver on his registration conditions in regard to carrying a load on the highway, and the driver was also issued a minor load restraint infringement for the unrestrained bale,' the spokesperson said. 'Though the NHVR is committed to its 'inform and educate' approach, road safety is always the highest priority and enforcement action may be taken when necessary to help ensure all road users, including both the heavy vehicle driver and other motorists, make it to their destination safely.' According to the state's Heavy Vehicle National Law schedule of penalties, Mr Thomson was hit with the minimum fine for breaching mass, dimension or loading requirements. The maximum penalty is an eye-watering $13,310. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Watch: Lt Gen Rajiv Ghai's cricket analogy to explain India's air defence system, says "Virat Kohli is..."
Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai , Director General of Military Operations , on Monday gave a cricket analogy to explain how India's air defence systems worked against the Pakistani offensive , adding that Virat Kohli, who retired from Test cricket today, is one of his favourites. #Operation Sindoor The damage done at Pak bases as India strikes to avenge Pahalgam Why Pakistan pleaded to end hostilities Kashmir's Pahalgam sparks Karachi's nightmare The DGMO, who is scheduled to talk with his Pakistani counterpart, compared India's air defence system to the old Australian saying "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must", implying that India had layers of defence systems. If one system missed foiling an enemy attack, another system will intercept it. Ghai said, "Targeting our airfields and logistics is way too tough... I saw that Virat Kohli has just retired from test cricket; he is one of my favourites. In the 1970s, during the Ashes between Australia and England, two Australian bowlers destroyed the batting lineup of England, and then Australia gave a proverb - "Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, if Thommo don't get ya, Lillee must". If you see the layers, you'll understand what I am trying to say. Even if you crossed all the layers, one of the layers of this grid system will hit you ." — ANI (@ANI) AK Bharti, Director General Air Operations, talked about how the Indian forces blunted the Pakistan's offensive and reduced damage to both civilian and military infrastructure in the country. He added that Indian Air Defence Systems have a large range of AD sensors and weapon systems. Live Events "This brings me to the point how have Indian Forces managed to minimise the damage to both civilians and military infra in the country, in spite of unrelenting efforts by the Pakistani forces. Most of you and the majority populace within the country have had a lot of say about the layered and integrated air defence systems put in place by the Armed Forces which includes the assets of the Indian Army , Indian Navy and Indian Air Force. This robust AD system comprises a large variety of multi-layered AD sensors and weapons systems." Bharti further said that India's older and proven defence systems also stood the test of time to take the opponent's offensive head-on. "Our battle-proven systems stood the test of time and take them head on. Another highlight has been the stellar performance of the indigenous air defence system, the Akash system. Putting together and operationalising the potent AD environment has been possible only because of budgetary and policy support from the government of India in the last decade."
