eNews - May 2009

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Poem of the Month: Mary's Merinos

By Fran Brownhalls, Lower Nebine Bestprac Group, Queensland

Mary has a little lamb, its fleece as white as snow (no good)
Mary has a little lamb, its fleece as black as charcoal (try again).
Mary has a ewe lamb, its fleece with pearly lustre (top stuff)
Puts its fleece in the AAAAM bin and gets her up the duff.
Joins her to a Merino ram with fleece so soft and bold -
Sells the wool and sells the lamb - her income is two fold.
Now Mary is a smart girl, in fact she's pretty bright.
She's come to realise that the best wool is pearly white.
She makes the move to do it - to really sort things out.
She gets rid of all the fat tails, the crossbreds and the like,
She gets her house in order then hops on her Merino bike
To spreak the word in Australia and in fact to the whole world.
She rides that bike around with her Merino flag unfulred -
"C'mon you silly buggers - you know Merinos are good stuff!
You can turn the wool into insulation if it gets too rough,
Use the dags and pieces to fill the potholes in your roads.
Manure for your gardens - why, you'll get many loads.
You can even eat the meat you know - really tastes quite good.
As for all the tough bits? They make pretty good dog food.
The wool is soft and cuddly though it tends to shrink,
Breed the prickle factor out to make good bras and knickers -
No joke boys, good for jocks too, so enough of your snickers!!
Jumpers, leather, jocks and soap - the list just goes on and on,
But were you listening to remember where it all comes from?
I may be rather longwinded as about these sheep I bleat
But for multi purposeness the Merino just can't be beat!"
 

Newsletter Content

• Australian Pastoral Property Innovation Manual
• Weather Watch - May 2009
• Attracting and Retaining Staff in the Australian Pastoral Industry
• RabbitScan
• Terra Madre 2008 - Turin, Italy
• Coming Event - National Wool Market Outlook Webinar

From the Coordination Team

By Carlyn Mellors, Rural Directions Pty Ltd

Welcome to the 8th edition of the Bestprac e-newsletter. In this month's edition you will find two articles discussing the results from the recent study into Attracting and Retaining Staff in the Australian Pastoral Industry, our regular weather feature from Susan Carn and an interesting report from Stuart Mitchell's study tour to Turin, Italy. The joke of the month has been replaced by the "poem of the month" for this edition, with Fran Brownhalls kindly contributing a great poem she has written.
 

Bestprac PAP Needs You.
 

We currently have 2 vacant positions for Bestprac members to represent SA and WA on the Project Advisory Panel (PAP). Please note: There is one position available for each state.

This is an opportunity to play a role in the project management and advisory process for the Bestprac program. It is also a personal development opportunity to gain skills in working with an advisory committee, working in a team and in communication.

PAP members receive a sitting fee for the face to face sessions that they attend and their travel and accommodation is also paid for. Our next meeting is scheduled for 18 May in Adelaide.

If you would like to become a PAP member, please contact me for further details (cmellors@ruraldirections.com).
 

Innovation Manual Project
 

The Australian Pastoral Property Innovation Manual project is progressing well. This project has been a great catalyst for existing groups to meet and for new producers to join the network. We have a growing pile of innovations ready for compilation into the manual. Active groups are located at:

1. Blackall, Qld
2. Blinman, SA
3. Carrieton, SA
4. Coonamble, NSW
5. Cunnamulla, Qld
6. Forbes, NSW
7. Gascoyne, WA
8. Hawker, SA
9. Lower Nebine, Qld
10. Muttaburra, Qld
11. NEED group, (North East of Burra) SA
12. Tambo, Qld
13. West Wyalong, NSW
14. Wunkar, SA
15. Yunta, SA

There has also been a Road Trip in SA held, with more planned for May and June. Mick Alexander also held a very successful Innovation Forum in Queensland with over 100 attending the event. We hope to have reports on these events for you in coming e-news editions.
Remember, we welcome e-news contributions at anytime and we'd love to hear your story.