Opinion

Opinion

End of Water for Fodder program ‘disappointing’

The announcement that Round 2 of the Federal Government’s Water For Fodder program will not proceed is disappointing. The program was a response to ongoing drought and made 100 Gl of water available for farmers to buy at a reduced rate...

Country News
Opinion

Streamlined G-MW workforce consolidates at fit-for-purpose office

When I started at Goulburn-Murray Water (G-MW) in early 2019, I set transformation of the business as my priority. The first step towards achieving this goal was to declare all executive leadership positions vacant and adopt a new structure. Since...

Country News
Opinion

Those good old days, when you could be a kid

Holiday childcare, when we were children, was pretty routine. Your mother would shoo you out the back door, handing you a sandwich or similar, with the same farewell every day: “Be home before dark.” And you were pitched into the street...

Country News
Opinion

Border responsibility needs to be accepted

Farmers must be shaking their heads in disbelief at the pontificating by NSW ministers over the border closure. This week we were treated to the bizarre spectacle of coalition ministers declaring their belief in easing restrictions so agricultural...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

No water knowledge for basin appointees

In the past 10 months we have seen the appointment by the Federal Government of the Interim Inspector-General of Murray-Darling Basin Water Resources, a new Water Minister and a new chair of the MDBA. So, what do Mick Keelty, Keith Pitt and Sir...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

Murray-Darling Basin Plan continues to hurt Aussie farmers

I have just opened my Goulburn-Murray Water (GMW) bill and sit in sheer amazement I am expected to pay $2469.36 per delivery share, regardless of how much water I receive. This portion of my bill is to contribute to the maintenance of the water...

Country News
Opinion

Let’s have a serious talk about a deadly problem

The Curmudgeon would like to have a slightly serious word with all you blokes out there. It means all you sheilas hanging out each week for my magic prose and insights must briefly find something else to do with your time. So move away from the...

Country News
Opinion

Farmer wants a love interest

As far as successful matches go, it seems Farmer Wants a Wife may have dropped its batting average. The final episode broadcast on Monday night could muster only two matches, and one of those was a stray. The show has boasted a high percentage of...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

Are we one country?

A crisis will bring shortcomings into hyper focus, as the care of our elderly has done with the advent of COVID-19. The extra pressure created by the virus has pushed the management of supported accommodation over the edge, bringing to light...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

Farmers make their choices

Nick, Neil and Harry have made their choices, but in a neat twist, Alex had his choice taken out of his hands. But did Alex really end up with the last woman standing - Jess? Last night’s penultimate Farmer Wants a Wife show gave us the final...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

National Party must stop alienating farmers

It was extremely disappointing to see our region’s National Party MLC Wes Fang following the lead of his party and colleagues in refusing to support farmers in the Murray and Murrumbidgee. He spoke in NSW Parliament earlier this month about...

Country News
Opinion

The year ahead not cut and dried for the Murray River

The one thing I’m hearing most from people about the Murray River is the great expectation of more water in the year ahead. More water for growing crops, for town supply, for fish and bird breeding. It’s something we all hope for and one...

Country News
Opinion

Embracing opportunity for further modernisation

As managing director of Australia’s largest rural water corporation, I am reminded every day that reliability and efficiency of the irrigation delivery system underpin the future prosperity of our region. Continuous improvement of our business...

Country News
Opinion

Simmering indecision breaks out in Farmer Wants a Wife

(By Jacko, son of Col Curmudgeon) Simmering frustration spills over, like water from an artesian bore, as another woman decides she can’t wait for the indecisive farmers to choose a wife. With the next series beginning to look like it will be...

Geoff Adams
Opinion

The halfwit, the moron, the farmer and their story of spam

When the Curmudgeon was just a nipper the word ‘spam’ seemed connected with this mysterious tinned food consumed exclusively by the Yanks during the war. Now hold on there, I am not that old. I mean World War II. And I only heard about...

Country News
Opinion

Sam pulls out of the Farmer race

There was shock and awe as farmer Sam pulled out of the competition and cast adrift his three ladies on Farmer Wants a Wife

Geoff Adams
Opinion

There’s successors and then there’s suckers

Never mind that my body’s not yet cold in the grave. I don’t even have a cold. In fact, I’ve never felt better. Yet some of the kids keep hammering me about a succession plan. “Bloody hell,” I cried, throwing my hands in the air at...

Country News
Opinion

Too many friends, not enough wives

By Jacko, son of Col Curmudgeon Making new friends can be dangerous. Especially when you are on Farmer Wants a Wife and the object is to create five matches out of 40 contenders. As the Channel 7 series goes on, something mysterious is developing...

Country News

Trending stories

News

Police investigating theft and slaughter of a steer in Arcadia

Alternatively a confidential report can be made at www. crimestoppers. com. au

Liz Mellino
News

Save Gunbower Creek before it disappears, says couple

FED up with water authorities, a couple who live on Gunbower Creek say its banks are rapidly eroding before their eyes because of environmental flooding. Malcolm and Vicki Johnson are custodians of Gunbower Estate, the site of the first farm in the...

Daneka Hill
Horticulture

Shepparton orchard set to go organic

After 50 years in the fruit game, Shepparton’s Kalafatis Fresh Produce is making a leap into the organic market. The Kalafatis family currently produces conventional plums and pears from its 500,000-tree orchard and is set to invest in new...

Spencer Fowler Steen
Water

NSW water register one step closer

A NSW water register is one step closer to becoming legislation after a Water Rights Transparency Bill passed in the state’s Upper House. NSW Member for Murray Helen Dalton introduced the bill in October last year in an attempt to get politicians to...

Jamie Salter