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The Guardian
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- The Guardian
Crossing the city-country divide: how do Australian farmers advocate for their industry in an urbanised world?
The view from my front lawn is paddocks and trees. From here, almost all I see is farmland and native bushland. A couple of years ago, I stood in this spot with a good friend, an immigrant from the UK. A smart, interested and interesting friend, and also a vegetarian. Which wouldn't be relevant except I'm a beef farmer, so for our friendship to prosper, this particular difference of opinion needs to be accommodated. Jess asked me what we would grow on our farm if we weren't growing livestock. The question initially confused me. Were we looking at the same landscape? Could she not see the steep hills, the prolific rocks, the lack of water? Assuming you still needed or wanted to use this land to produce food (which I do), to my mind, it is grazing land. Anything else would be extremely challenging. Not only are rocks and hills awkward to navigate, and our lack of irrigation problematic, the terrain is in places frankly a nightmare for the machinery and equipment essential to cropping. I think of a contractor who informed us he would not be working our paddocks any longer after his spreader truck got not one or two, but four flat tyres. We typically apply fertiliser by air now. I explained this to Jess, and she listened with interest. Sign up to receive Guardian Australia's fortnightly Rural Network email newsletter That's stuck with me, because it reminded me how many people have strong views about agriculture. And so they should. Farmers manage more than half of Australia's landmass. We are arguably custodians of one of the country's greatest assets: its ability to feed and clothe its own people, and the wider world. But knowledge about and personal experience of agriculture is dwindling. Perceptions of agriculture from outside of the industry – particularly in the cities where most Australians live – are often negative. Stories showcasing great custodianship and care don't make the front page – it's only news when something goes wrong. This isn't unique to our industry. I know the old newsroom adage: 'If it bleeds, it leads.' The difference in agriculture is that our work is increasingly foreign to the very people who rely on our produce every day. It's the challenge of our industry, and one I've personally taken on: to advocate in an environment where the divide between rural and urban communities is greater than ever before. In 2021, 66.9% of Australia's population lived in its greater capital cities. Many have little or no connection to the people who grow the products they eat, wear or use every day. Research by CQUniversity makes this gap even clearer. In 2021 they surveyed more than 5,000 primary and secondary school students to evaluate their knowledge of agriculture. The results were, to my mind, alarming. They found secondary students who believe Australian cattle are raised exclusively in sheds. (To clarify, only 4% of Australia's beef herd is in a feedlot at any given time and are generally raised on pasture. Only 20% of Australia's milk production comes from intensive or housed dairy systems.) They also found primary school students who believe cotton is an animal product not a plant; and who believe chickens are routinely fed hormones (a practice banned more than 60 years ago). I believe the work of an advocate, unlike that of an activist or influencer, is to build connection and knowledge. To start with a desire to understand: what do you think of agriculture? What would you like to know? I ask these questions not because I expect to change your mind, but I hope to engage with you. I hope you might share with me, so I might better understand perceptions of agriculture. I don't believe the future of agricultural advocacy lies simply in an exchange of facts, though I wholeheartedly agree all conversations should be underpinned by credible research and evidence. But it's the stories from agriculture that I believe truly show the deeply complex industry of which I'm a part. That shows you the heart of it, and what it has to offer. Sometimes those stories are dark. Death, not often part of everyday urban life, is a normal part of agriculture, especially livestock farming. That can be confronting, even for farmers with decades of experience. But it's part of our life. When my eldest daughter was two, we had a terrible calving season, with cows struck down by a condition called grass tetany. It resulted in the death of many cows straight after birthing. One morning my daughter asked me to play with her. 'Be a cow, Mummy!' I obliged and tried to look suitably bovine. 'Moo, Mummy!' I mooed. 'Now lie down dead!' I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. I probably did both. Stories can also share joy. I took a couple of orphan lambs we were hand-rearing into my daughter's childcare and gave a group of very excited three-year-olds the opportunity to interact with them. We bottle-fed the lambs and passed around handfuls of unprocessed wool, and some yarn, to compare textures and smell. The kids delighted in the experience, and our much-loved lambs fought over the milk bottle. All went well, with some added entertainment from my daughter casually taking a swig from the lambs' milk bottle. Raising livestock is complex. Together with my husband, we're dedicated to raising our children to appreciate the joy of caring for animals and providing them with an environment to thrive, alongside the understanding that we are growing animals for food and fibre. Farmers often say city people don't understand agriculture. But the gap goes both ways. Most farmers I know own the land they work. It's easy to forget what it's like to bid for a rental, move every 12 months, or raise kids in high-rise apartments with no green space. We complain about potholes and distances between towns, but we're not stuck on highways for hours each day, or wrangling toddlers and groceries on public transport. Bridging that divide isn't about proving who has it tougher. It's about recognising the difference and respecting what each life involves. I love the saying: 'No one in the history of calming down has ever calmed down because they were told to calm down.' I don't see a future for agricultural advocacy in telling people stuff. I see a future in listening and in sharing, openly. Does my friend Jess want me to grow plants, not animals, for food on our property? Maybe. Just because we have the same information doesn't mean we're going to have the same opinion. But I think she also understands why we grow beef. And while she won't be having steak on the barbecue with us any time soon, I'm grateful she gave me the chance to explain why we do what we do. Felicity Richards is the chairperson of Farmsafe Australia and the Tasmanian Biosecurity Advisory Committee. She runs a beef grazing operation in northern Tasmania with her husband, Mark. You can contact her here. Sign up for the Rural Network email newsletter
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sad find in dam sparks warning about daily problem in Aussie bush
Scratched, tired and frustrated, after an hour chasing an animal with a busted leg through the bush, Manfred Zabinskas believes something needs to change. Like clockwork, he'll get a call every day that roaming pet dogs have attacked a kangaroo, inflicting serious wounds that need to be treated. When the veteran wildlife rescuer spoke with Yahoo News on Wednesday, he had an orphaned joey in his hands that he was trying to keep warm as cool evening air set in. 'The dog ripped the joey out of her pouch. He leg was hanging off by a thread of skin. And I lost her in an ocean of blackberries and lamandra,' he said. 'I just had to give up and leave her to the foxes. It's sh**.' Just yesterday, he took in a juvenile kangaroo that had been chased into a dam by two dogs. 'They were from a neighbouring property and were allowed to roam by their irresponsible owners,' he wrote on social media last night. Related: Sad but 'truly incredible' detail in kangaroo photos shows hidden bonds among mob The youngster was brought into their care after it was pulled from the mud. 'The little kangaroo joey was exhausted, cold, caked in mud, and terrified. His eyes bulged with fear, but he was too weak to fight or to resist yet another plunge into water,' Zabinskas wrote. 'But this time, the water was warm and soothing, and there was no barking from predators. As we washed the little boy, filthy water flowed from his body, and the fear gradually flowed from his eyes.' Related: Today show slammed for joking about kangaroo attacked by dog Speaking later with Yahoo, Zabinskas confessed that 'things are tough'. If the joey he was holding survives, it'll need regular feeding for a year, something that's hard for most busy people to commit to. While many pet owners do the right thing. Sadly there are many who think it's natural for their dogs to roam in the Australian bush, where they attack and chase marsupials that evolved without the skills to avoid these introduced predators. He's issued a plea for dog owners who visit or live in the bush to do the right thing and keep their pets under supervision. 🐟 Hunt for rare Aussie fish not seen since 1990s 📸 Rare Aussie creatures photographed coming to surface for 'super cool' battle 🌸 Bid to end centuries of 'confusion' around plants at centre of $5 billion industry With his Five Freedoms Animal Rescue shelter already full, he's unsure how he's going to find the time to care for his latest arrivals. Everyone else who volunteers their time to care for the animals around Trentham, northwest of Melbourne is in the same situation. 'We've run out of homes for the joeys,' Zabinskas said. 'I don't know what we're going to do. But it is what it is.' Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? 🐊🦘😳 Get our new newsletter showcasing the week's best stories.
News.com.au
15-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Once-exclusive NSW lodge collapses after reopening
An exclusive adults-only eco-lodge on the Hawkesbury River has quietly shut its doors after months of internal chaos, with former staff alleging unpaid wages, while frustrated guests report cancelled bookings and lost deposits. Marramarra Lodge, promoted as a high-end retreat only accessible by boat and nestled in bushland north of Sydney, reopened in December with rooms priced at up to $2200 a night. But the reopening quickly unravelled into what one former worker described as a 'shocking mess'. Belgian traveller Alysson Mossay, who was hired for front-of-house duties, said when she started at the lodge, it felt 'like a dream job'. 'We were on an island, we had food … it seemed like the perfect plan to save money,' Ms Mossay told NewsWire. She began working at Marramarra Lodge on January 31. Her partner, Matthieu Arthuis, started a week later. However, it wasn't long before she claimed issues started to arise. 'I got paid for my first three weeks and my partner got paid his first two weeks,' Ms Mossay said. Over the following two weeks, she claimed their wages were delayed both times. '(A manager) said it would be next week and he said 'I'm going to give you a $500 bonus, thank you for waiting, we like you guys so much, you do such a great job',' Ms Mossay claimed. 'I know that running a business is not always very easy at the beginning … so I didn't worry too much and this was my mistake. 'We kind of closed our eyes, we didn't want to see the truth.' Ms Mossay said they weren't aware at the time that a group of previous employees had already left after not being paid. She found online comments from former staffers, including private chef Gerald Touchard, who also alleged non-payment. In March, Mr Touchard shared a detailed account of his experience at Marramarra Lodge via his business Instagram account. 'I was hired to lead its reopening from November 2024,' he wrote. 'What was meant to be a world class hospitality experience has turned into a shocking mess for myself, for staff, for suppliers and even for guests.' Mr Touchard claimed he had not been paid for most of his work and alleged that 'dozens' of contractors, employees and suppliers remain unpaid despite repeated promises from management. 'The property may be stunning, but behind the scenes, it's a different story,' he said. When Ms Mossay confronted a manager about the former staff members, she said he would deny the claims and offer excuses. 'He would say sorry that their pay was going to be late but would promise a bonus when they were paid 'as a thanks for waiting',' she said. 'He would say 'we're very happy with you guys' and I have proof of that because I have the messages.' But after four weeks without pay, things escalated. Ms Mossay claimed the manager began acting 'very rude' to a new group of backpackers who started working on the island. 'So I was like, OK, this is starting to get very weird and we decided to pack our stuff,' she said. Ms Mossay and her partner took a break off the island and told the manager they would not return unless they were paid. When they refused to come back without payment, new staff were hired. 'We realised they were probably not planning to pay us,' she said. Messages seen by NewsWire show a series of exchanges in which the manager apologises for delayed payments and blames the issue on legal problems involving a stalled 'settlement'. As time went on and no payments were received, Ms Mossay, frustrated and out of money, told him that as an employer, 'you have to pay us on time'. The manager responded, 'We understand our responsibilities. Thanks for that.' Ms Mossay then questioned why they couldn't use income from paying guests to pay their staff. In a later message, the manager claimed a $500 payment had been made, along with two other payments, but when Ms Mossay followed up days later to say the money had not come through, he appeared to avoid answering. She said the manager blocked her shortly after their final exchange and claimed the lodge still owed her and her partner about $9000 in gross pay. Some employees, she said, chose to stay on the island in protest, a strategy that worked for a few who were eventually paid. She and her partner weren't so lucky. 'How I see things is that we were very manipulated,' she said. Ms Mossay then contacted another man involved with the lodge who told her that he was trying to find a way to pay. 'I texted him about three days ago when he said that it was planned to pay them. When asking when, he replied: 'It is planned but don't badger me',' she said. 'If you continue to badger me then things won't go as planned.' She has since lodged a complaint with the Fair Work Ombudsman and filed a claim in the small claims division of the Local Court. The Fair Work Ombudsman has been contacted for comment.
Daily Telegraph
10-05-2025
- Daily Telegraph
Dear Rachelle podcast: Anne Childs' message to her daughter's killer
Don't miss out on the headlines from Dear Rachelle. Followed categories will be added to My News. I have been robbed of 24 years of amazing memories. My daughter Rachelle (Chelle) never got to be a bridesmaid for her sister Kristy's wedding. She never got to be Auntie Chelle to her niece. I always wonder what Chelle would look like and what she would be doing. She was such a presence. She'd be the coolest auntie, I'm sure, stirring up all sorts of mischief on Kristy's farm. Murdered woman Rachelle Childs' sister Kristy and mother Anne. Picture: Adam Yip Kristy and Anne Childs look at photos of Rachelle Childs when she was younger. Picture: Adam Yip The trauma of losing her in such a horrific way has never dimmed, even after the years without answers rolled into decades. The other day I opened a diary which I started in 2001, after Chelle's funeral. How does a life so vibrant just not be there anymore? She was just so there, and now she's not. I don't think I'll ever be able to come to terms with this. I miss her soooo much … half my future is gone. A young Rachelle Childs. At 23, she was murdered. Rachelle Childs. Her burning body was found in bushland on the side of the road in June 2001. LISTEN TO THE LATEST DEAR RACHELLE PODCAST EPISODES BELOW: I have had a long time to find the right words to describe you, Chelle's killer. Nasty, senseless, cruel, narcissistic, irrational, insane, inhumane and warped are among the first which come to mind. I naturally prefer to focus on happier things. There are so many photos, so many memories of Chelle. We were a feel good family. A young Rachelle Childs, who at aged 23 was brutally murdered. Rachelle Childs with her father Graham nursing Kristy Graham Childs with Rachelle (back) and her sister Kristy Childs (front). Chelle's father Graham adored his girls. He hated amusement rides, but climbed into a dodgem car with Chelle, aged about 10, at a time when she loved horses more than cars. Rachelle Childs with Missy the Horse Rachelle Childs loved horses. A young Rachelle Childs, right, with friend Lisa. There was cake for Chelle's Holy Communion at about the same age. Chelle and Kristy were close siblings, even allowing for the four year age difference and the sharp distinctions of their personality. Chelle roared about. Kristy was quieter. They were always very tight, especially after the stage that Kristy had grown taller. Rachelle Childs with her sister Kristy. Rachelle Childs with younger sister Kristy at Revesby Worker's Club. Sisters Kristy and Rachelle Childs. Occasionally, I'd dress them in the same outfits, such as one time when we ate at the Revesby Workers' Club (in Sydney) not far from home. Christmas was always special, once Chelle (not a morning person) had gotten up and allowed the rest of us to start to celebrate. I will always remember Chelle's 21st birthday. She was Shirley Temple and Kristy was a cowgirl. I was a maitre d and Graham was a judge. Graham, Kristy, Rachelle and Anne Childs. Graham always believed that he would see you, the killer, caught. He never got that day. He died of a brain tumour during Covid. And so half my family is gone now. On Chelle's birthday (and other family occasions) Kristy and I do a sync-a-drink/sink-a-drink by sending photos of our drink of choice to one another at 8pm. We never miss. Anne Childs has penned a letter to her daughter Rachelle's killer, saying she's been robbed of 24 years of memories. I'm also convinced that Chelle and Gra are looking down from above, yelling 'get the mongrel'. That mongrel is you. You must be held accountable. Rachelle Childs. I don't know how you can sleep at night. Make my Mother's Day. Own up and set your conscience free. A young Rachelle Childs. At age 23, she was brutally murdered. Rachelle Childs as a young girl. LISTEN TO EARLIER EPISODES OF THE PODCAST BELOW: ANNE CHILDS' POEM ABOUT DAUGHTER RACHELLE My Girl (2007) Like many others out there who's lost someone I need a reason why … who was the one? This is not the way life's supposed to be This was not the plan … she should be here with me! I feel her there sometimes … I know that she's around I hear her voice even though there's no sound Sometimes in my dreams I find her there But then I wake and look around … it just isn't fair In my heart she will always be From before she was born to eternity There's not a day in my life that goes by That I don't think of her and see that smile But I put on a show and the feelings I hide No one really knows the mess I am inside Things will get better I guess as each day goes by It's been six years now … I'm still wondering why! She's still a big part of my life … that's the way it'll always be I miss my girl so very much … she meant the world to me The memories I have are precious and will never fade away I transfer my thoughts into poetry … writing words that I can't say. For more information about our investigation, If you have any tips or confidential information, please contact investigative journalist Ashlea Hansen atdearrachelle@ You can also join ourDear Rachelle podcast Facebook group.
