More than 730 families participated in this year’s ‘FarmDay’ which is designed to provide city families with the opportunity to visit a working property and get real hands on experience of life on the land. Held on May 30 and 31, farmer registrations were up by 33 percent this year, with total numbers increasing to 568. Victoria led the way with 203 farms, followed by NSW with 175 and Queensland with 119. Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke and his family again participated in FarmDay, this year staying with the Cargill family on their beef and lamb property near Braidwood. FarmDay aims to provide city families with a hands-on experience and also a greater understanding of the day-to-day life of the farming family.

National Field Days

The organisation of the 2009 Australian National Field Days, to be held in October at Borenore near Orange, will take on a new management look following the axing of their General Manager of eight years David Lamrock. The move by the management board was all about saving dollars as more and more field day events are held each year across Australia and the drought in southern Australia continues to place pressure on both exhibitors and the farmers who continue to attend them. The organization for this year’s event will be coordinated by the board and staff who have kept their jobs following the restructure.

Dareton’s new

veterinarian

Dermot McNerney has been appointed to the position of veterinary officer with the NSW DPI, based at Dareton. He will be working mainly in the Western Livestock Health and Pest Authority’s southern district that covers Balranald, Wentworth and Hillston. Mr McNerney will coordinate the implementation of disease control programs, such as anthrax, NLIS and general surveillance for emergency diseases, at the regional level with local farmers. His appointment at Dareton complements the NSW DPI’s veterinary team in the Western Division based at Bourke and Broken Hill.

Hurlstone Inquiry