Tasmania’s peak farming body has appointed a full-time drought coordinator to assist producers struggling with the challenging dry conditions.
TasFarmers chief executive officer Nathan Calman said drought continues to be challenging as dry conditions persist across Tasmania and King Island and the organisation is actively taking steps to support the community.
Mr Calman said they have secured funding from the State Government and the TAS Farm Innovation Hub to appoint a community drought support coordinator. In addition to this TasFarmers has organised for a doubling in sailings by Bass Island Lines from this week to assist producers.
Mr Calman said TasFarmers has also been advocating to government and Tasmanian Irrigation for the need of an extension to irrigation water beyond the typical end of irrigation season at the end of March.
“The 12 irrigation schemes extended by Tas Irrigation will provide additional water, aiding livestock health during the mating season and addressing drought challenges,” he said.
TasFarmers are also appointing Jacqueline Shipton as the full-time contact point for the drought. “So, if you are a farmer on King Island, Flinders Island or mainland Tasmania and you need assistance, we encourage you to contact Jacqueline who has a wealth of knowledge and experience,” he said.
“TasFarmers will support a coordinated response and Jac will be able to provide valuable assistance to landholders.
“In the coming weeks we will also have a full-time person on King Island.
“We all know farming has challenges and the current dry season is no exception. As each person navigates situational stress differently, we encourage farmers to look out for each other and ask for help if you need it.”
TasFarmers strongly encourages people who need support to contact Rural Alive & Well.
Either call directly on 1800 729 827 or contact them via their website at http://www.rawtas.com.au
Golf Journeys was formed in 2021 to reconnect golfers with their love of the game, and travel, following the pandemic and travel shutdowns.
The company is managed by Mark Hawley, a golf tournament director with over 10 years of experience, and Rueben Scheckler, who has a digital and tech-oriented background.
The pair promote golf tours and tournaments that are designed for travellers’ fun and include social interaction and benefits. The tour company has calendared golf trips around Australia and overseas. They have developed an online community platform that allows golfers to meet other golf enthusiasts, access golf destination guides, win golf holidays and receive travel rewards.
First coming to King Island in 2022, the year the company launched, Golf Journeys aims to give golfers an unforgettable trip, to create memories and to have a unique travel experience.
Links Whisky, created as a collaboration between Golf Journeys and King Island Distillery, to spread the word of fabulous Island gof tours, one bottle at a time.
The groups not only enjoy the King Island links courses but also incorporate island local experiences into their golfing journey, whether that be dining at various venues, seeing the sites, enjoying island calendared events and activities or simply meeting the locals.
A Golf Journeys tour group at Cape Wickham Links.
Over the past couple of years, with repeat visits, Golf Journeys participants have consolidated local relationships and friendships. The relationship between the tour company and island businesses led Golf Journeys and Heidi Weitjens’s King Island Distillery to develop The Links Whisky.
“This special edition honours the resilience and camaraderie of our community and will journey across the globe,” Mr Hawley said.
“Each bottle is paired with a flyer showcasing the community.”
In tandem with the launch of The Links Whisky, Golf Journeys continues its commitment to bringing golf tours to King Island and they estimate that each tour injects over $40,000 into the island’s economy.
THE Moonbird Festival, launched in April 2023, again celebrates King Island in 2024 with music, art, food and wine. Founded by the Bowerbird Collective in collaboration with King Island Landcare, the festival features some of Australia’s finest musicians in on-island concerts.
One island, eight concerts, seven world-class musicians and five venues. The festival is named after the Short-tailed Shearwater, or Moonbird, an iconic species of great cultural and ecological significance to the Bass Strait islands.
These birds, which mate for life, are known for their annual 30,000km migration, departing from King Island at the end of April. The festival, from April 13 – 21, will include guided nature walks, local culinary delights, and world-class performances.
The Bowerbird Collective, founded by Anthony Albrecht and Simone Slattery, aims to connect audiences with nature through their award-winning, nature-themed performances.
Bowerbird Collective co-founder and internationally renowned violinist Simone Slattery will be performing on King Island during the second Moonbird Festival in April.
Featured musicians include Slattery and Emily Sheppard on violin, Albrecht on cello, and Andrew Blanch on guitar.
Joining the Bowerbird Collective to perform on the island are Katie Yap (viola) and Yyan Ng (shakuhachi) along with Van Diemen’s Band Artistic Director Julia Fredersdorff and the Van Diemen’s Fiddles, Emily Sheppard, and Rachel Meyers, who will be on King Island for their artist residency.
The Moonbird Festival concerts coincide with the King Island Gallery Birds exhibition and the Australian Geographic’s Nature Photographer of the Year Exhibition at the gallery.
The Festival opening is at Marilyn and Ken Chapman’s Waterwings Gallery on April 13 from 5pm. The exhibition features local and international artists and includes a short performance by the Bowerbird Collective, whose albums have reached high rankings on the ARIA Album Charts and their work has been featured in various media outlets.
They have close relationships with major conservation organisations and aim to communicate conservation objectives through their performances. The festival schedule includes various free and ticketed concerts and events, such as the Festival & Exhibition Opening, solo performances, string quartet concerts, and more.
A free (by reservation) school holiday session will be held on April 18 with Georgina Adamson (aka Noisy Nanna) at the King Island Gallery. This is a storytelling event about care for nature – using a traditional Japanese Kamishibai or paper theatre and – is suitable for families.
Festival tickets prices vary according to the venue and catering, with festival pass avaiable that includes all concerts.
An online raffle will be run throughout the festival and will close and be drawn on April 28, supporting King Island Landcare. Prizes include two nights luxury one-bedroom accommodation at Ettrick Rocks, as well as a limited edition print by Katherine Cooper’s Ocean Dancer IV – Southern Fairy Prion, which can be viewed at King Island Gallery and concert events.
Other prizes include Sharp Airlines return airfare voucher for one and King Island Distillery selection valued at $100.
Raffle tickets can be purchased at Landcare at KIRDO 5 George St Currie, King Island Gallery at events and online at raffletix.com.au/moonbird24. Insert MOONBIRD to receive a 25 per cent discount on selected ticket types.
For more information go to moonbirdfestival.com and follow the links to book tickets.
The Town Hall at Currie buzzed with activity on Easter Saturday during the Products of King Island (POKI) Market.
Stallholders and shoppers were impressed by the market’s size, the diverse range of goods available and the bustling atmosphere within the packed hall.
The high turnout was likely as it has been quite a few months since the last Town Hall market; Summer season calendared major events have been run in the first quarter; football and netball are yet to start, and possibly fewer residents left the island for the long Easter break due to travel costs.
Easter visitors who seek out activities found the market particularly appealing. Small groups of golfers picked up their Worcestershire sauce and relishes from Sally Cole, and Trish Doherty’s delicious jams walked out the door.
If you missed out at POKI, Sally’s products can be purchased at the King Island Meat Providore and Trish’s jams and relishes are available from the CWA in Edward Street on Fridays.
Organiser and coordinator Mandy Potter said that it was a great market and stallholders agreed. The Easter POKI Market attracted both new and long-standing stallholders, significantly increasing the number of sellers and the variety of products available.
Home-grown and homemade were sought after by customers. The Garden’s Paul and Cynthia Daniel sold out of carrots and there were only a few tomatoes, chillies and garlic left by the end at 12.30pm.
Ange Dalton’s lemon went early. Last year the POKI organisers said they wanted to encourage even the smallest fruit and vegetable producer, bread maker, crafter, and hobbyist to sell at POKI.
“We know people want fresh produce and it would be great to expand the farmer’s market side of POKI,” Sharelle Hassing said last year.
“We know that not everyone wants to stand by a stall or there may not be enough product to fill a table. We can accommodate that,” she said.
The market included specialty stalls- metalworks, jewellery, winter woollies, scents, soaps and sewing among other handmade and artisan goods.
Shoppers eagerly ate Easter themed biscuits and cupcakes and Monica Harper provided sweet and savoury nibbles. POKI stalwarts Val Chivers and Erika Buhck both found that their plants moved very quickly.
Many market regulars expect Erika to have a stall and at each POKI do their soap stock up. “I’m running my stock down,” she said pointing at her empty trays, “as we plan to leave the island.”
The Easter POKI Market also held a fundraising raffle, with winners including Max Burley and Norma Russell winning the crayfish, and Tanya Cook and Chris Hill winning the meat trays.
King Island hasn’t had rain since October 2023 other than 10 mls one day during March. The nostalgic patter of rain on a tin roof gave hope for a good drenching and the breaking of the island’s drought, but it was a bit of a joke and disappointing for most of the island.
The rain followed the same radar pattern of the past six months. The promise of good falls shifting down from the mainland and then on approach to King Island splitting and bypassing the island and then a rain band reforming and continuing onto Tasmania where they had solid rainfall.
The post-Easter rain did appear to be heavier in the north of the island. “Robbie Payne tipped 12 mls out of his gauge at Reekara – that was 24 hours April 1 to 2,” his daughter Steph Ellis said.
Moving around the island, the island’s high rainfall catchment area of Pegarah was disappointing and according to farmers “any rain is good rain” the falls made a negligible difference to the dry conditions.
The Lancaster’s dairy farm on Pegarah Road, despite the night rain only recorded 8ml.
The Conleys beef farm had just under 9ml, Nicole Conley said.
Jan van Ruiswyk’s property is more central in North Pegarah, and the sheep farmer was more upbeat than others. “We had a steady slow rain totaling 7.6mls,” he said.
The bone dry weather station on Jan van Ruiswyk’s farm at North Pegarah.
Moving south, the Poulsen’s cattle property recorded 5ml for the same period and some in Grassy reported that they didn’t receive any.
The East Coast caught the edge of the band and some properties found puddles, but not enough to fill the muddy and cracked dams or to say the dry has broken.
The BoM weather observations at Currie and the King Island Airport in Loorana statistics show that 5.2ml of rain fell during the night.
Farmers are hopeful that the intermittent showers that have continued this week will be more widely spread and will be steady enough to soak into the soil’s parched crusts and will continue through autumn.
Well known Tasman identity and former mayor Kelly Spaulding will stand as an independent at next month’s Upper House election for Prosser.
Kelly Spaulding
The businessman and farmer will be one of at least five candidates contesting the seat, vacated by former Liberal MLC Jane Howlett.
Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent will run as a Liberal candidate, along with former Labor leader Bryan Green, farmer Gregory Brown and retired Utas Professor Pam Sharpe.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Bryan Green, Gregory Brown and UTAS Professor Pam Sharpe.
Mr Spaulding stood for Prosser six years ago and later was elected Tasman mayor. He said his priorities were improving road maintenance, increased funding for hospitals and education, and transport, including the expansion of the Derwent ferry service to Nubeena.
Mr Spaulding, who with his partner owns Lucky Ducks restaurant at Nubeena said he understood the demands of small business, farming and the tourism and aquaculture sectors. He supported the Upper House being independent.
“I think it’s important to keep the House independent, the Lower Houe is for party politics,’’ Mr Spaulding said.
“An independent can represent constituents fully.’’
He fully supported the establishment of a Tasmanian AFL team and a new stadium.
“People often say why are our young people leaving, well a stadium will help give young people a reason to stay.’’
Meanwhile, Mr Vincent said he chose to run as a Liberal to continue “the strong track record of delivery for Southern Tasmania under Jane Howlett and the Liberals’’.
He has been mayor for the past 12 years. “If given the opportunity to represent the people of Prosser in the Legislative Council, I will get on with delivering the investment, services and infrastructure rural and regional Tasmanians need and deserve,’’ he said.
“I have always been driven by my passion and vision for regional areas of Southern Tasmania. My involvement with the development of the highly accepted Regional Jobs Hubs and the benefits they bring to both our youth and re-skilling mature aged residents is certainly a vision I wish to continue to expand on.
“Education and traffic issues are of major interest to me and I believe solutions can be developed in the short and long term to resolve these concerns.
“Prosser covers large areas of farming land as well as expanding regional population centres so it is vital we have more investment to secure, reliable and affordable water for residential and irrigational purposes.
“My business background covers most of the Prosser electorate and has provided me with the understanding of how vital regional businesses are in supporting jobs and economic growth across our great State.
“I look forward to taking the next step in my public life and talking to the people of Prosser about how I plan to represent them.”
Farmer and East Coast hotelier Gregory Brown who previously stood as a Liberal in Lyons, said he had quit the party.
“As an independent politician, I am committed to giving my all to make a difference,’’ Mr Brown said.
“I want to listen and work hard to address the issues at hand. To improve cost of living, we also need to plan infrastructure for the future and provide more housing for the future by freeing up land outside cities.
“We must also address anti-social behavior and hooning by fostering respect between police and young people.’’
Former Utas Professor Pam Sharpe, who was a vocal opponent of the university moving into the city, said she had the skills to analyse complex material and come to evidence-based solutions.
“People are obviously concerned about cost of living, homelessness, lack of doctors and ambulance ramping,’’ Prof Sharpe said.
“Many join me in being really concerned about low educational attainment in Tasmania. Like many, while supportive of the Tasmania Devils, I feel an AFL Stadium is a luxury we cannot afford at this time.
“Fish farming and old growth logging threaten our environmental future and create Tasmanian dependency on global and mainland corporates.’’
Former Tasmanian deputy premier Mr Green said he was motivated to put his hand because he wanted to make a difference on the key issues of cost of living, health and housing. The election will be on Saturday May 4.
Sorell Mayor Kerry Vincent will stand for the Liberal Party at next month’s Upper House election for Prosser.
Kerry Vincent
The long-standing and popular mayor will be one of at least five candidates contesting the seat, vacated by former Liberal MLC Jane Howlett.
Well known Tasman identity and former mayor Kelly Spaulding will also run, along with former Labor leader Bryan Green, farmer Gregory Brown and retired UTAS Professor Pam Sharpe.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Kelly Spaulding, Bryan Green, Gregory Brown and Professor Pam Sharpe.
Mr Vincent said he chose to run as a Liberal to continue “the strong track record of delivery for Southern Tasmania under Jane Howlett and the Liberals’’.
“Jane Howlett proved how a strong local member in Government can deliver real outcomes for the electorate. By contrast, an independent can only talk about problems and wait for someone else to solve them.’’
Mr Vincent has been mayor for the past 12 years. “If given the opportunity to represent the people of Prosser in the Legislative Council, I will get on with delivering the investment, services and infrastructure rural and regional Tasmanians need and deserve,’’ he said.
“I have always been driven by my passion and vision for regional areas of Southern Tasmania. My involvement with the development of the highly accepted Regional Jobs Hubs and the benefits they bring to both our youth and reskilling mature aged residents is certainly a vision I wish to continue to expand on.
“Education and traffic issues are of major interest to me and I believe solutions can be developed in the short and long term to resolve these concerns.
“Prosser covers large areas of farming land as well as expanding regional population centres so it is vital we have more investment to secure, reliable and affordable water for residential and irrigational purposes.
“My business background covers most of the Prosser electorate and has provided me with the understanding of how vital regional businesses are in supporting jobs and economic growth across our great State.
“I look forward to taking the next step in my public life and talking to the people of Prosser about how I plan to represent them.”
Mr Spaulding stood for Prosser six years ago and later was elected Tasman mayor. He said his priorities were improving road maintenance, increased funding for hospitals and education, and transport, including the expansion of the Derwent ferry service to Nubeena.
Mr Spaulding, who with his partner owns Lucky Ducks restaurant at Nubeena said he understood the demands of small business, farming and the tourism and aquaculture sectors. He supported the Upper House being independent.
“I think it’s important to keep the House independent. The Lower Houe is for party politics,’’ Mr Spaulding said.
“An independent can represent constituents fully.’’
He fully supported the establishment of a Tasmanian AFL team and a new stadium.
“People often say why are our young people leaving, well a stadium will help give young people a reason to stay.’’
Farmer and hotelier Gregory Brown who previously stood for the Liberal Party in Lyons, said he had quit the party.
“As an independent politician, I am committed to giving my all to make a difference,’’ Mr Brown said.
“I want to listen and work hard to address the issues at hand. To improve cost of living, we also need to plan infrastructure for the future and provide more housing for the future by freeing up land outside cities.
“We must also address anti-social behavior and hooning by fostering respect between police and young people.’’
Former Utas Professor Pam Sharpe, who was a vocal opponent of the university moving into the city, said she had the skills to analyse complex material and come to evidence-based solutions.
“People are obviously concerned about cost of living, homelessness, lack of doctors and ambulance ramping,’’ Prof Sharpe said.
“Many join me in being really concerned about low educational attainment in Tasmania. Like many, while supportive of the Tasmania Devils, I feel an AFL Stadium is a luxury we cannot afford at this time.
“Fish farming and old growth logging threaten our environmental future and create Tasmanian dependency on global and mainland corporates.’’
Former Tasmanian deputy premier Mr Green said he was motivated to put his hand because he wanted to make a difference on the key issues of cost of living, health and housing. The election will be held on Saturday May 4.
Sorell Mayor and Swansea businessman Kerry Vincent will stand for the Liberal Party at next month’s Upper House election for Prosser.
Kerry Vincent
The long-standing and popular mayor will be one of at least five candidates contesting the seat, vacated by former Liberal MLC Jane Howlett.
Well known Tasman identity and former mayor Kelly Spaulding will also run, along with former Labor leader Bryan Green, farmer Gregory Brown and retired UTAS Professor Pam Sharpe.
LEFT TO RIGHT: Kelly Spaulding, Bryan Green, Gregory Brown and Professor Pam Sharpe.
Mr Vincent said he chose to run as a Liberal to continue “the strong track record of delivery for Southern Tasmania under Jane Howlett and the Liberals’’.
“Jane Howlett proved how a strong local member in Government can deliver real outcomes for the electorate. By contrast, an independent can only talk about problems and wait for someone else to solve them.’’
Mr Vincent has been mayor for the past 12 years. “If given the opportunity to represent the people of Prosser in the Legislative Council, I will get on with delivering the investment, services and infrastructure rural and regional Tasmanians need and deserve,’’ he said.
“I have always been driven by my passion and vision for regional areas of Southern Tasmania. My involvement with the development of the highly accepted Regional Jobs Hubs and the benefits they bring to both our youth and reskilling mature aged residents is certainly a vision I wish to continue to expand on.
“Education and traffic issues are of major interest to me and I believe solutions can be developed in the short and long term to resolve these concerns.
“Prosser covers large areas of farming land as well as expanding regional population centres so it is vital we have more investment to secure, reliable and affordable water for residential and irrigational purposes.
“My business background covers most of the Prosser electorate and has provided me with the understanding of how vital regional businesses are in supporting jobs and economic growth across our great State.
“I look forward to taking the next step in my public life and talking to the people of Prosser about how I plan to represent them.”
Mr Spaulding stood for Prosser six years ago and later was elected Tasman mayor. He said his priorities were improving road maintenance, increased funding for hospitals and education, and transport, including the expansion of the Derwent ferry service to Nubeena.
Mr Spaulding, who with his partner owns Lucky Ducks restaurant at Nubeena said he understood the demands of small business, farming and the tourism and aquaculture sectors. He supported the Upper House being independent.
“I think it’s important to keep the House independent. The Lower Houe is for party politics,’’ Mr Spaulding said.
“An independent can represent constituents fully.’’
He fully supported the establishment of a Tasmanian AFL team and a new stadium.
“People often say why are our young people leaving, well a stadium will help give young people a reason to stay.’’
Farmer and hotelier Gregory Brown who previously stood for the Liberal Party in Lyons, said he had quit the party.
“As an independent politician, I am committed to giving my all to make a difference,’’ Mr Brown said.
“I want to listen and work hard to address the issues at hand. To improve cost of living, we also need to plan infrastructure for the future and provide more housing for the future by freeing up land outside cities.
“We must also address anti-social behavior and hooning by fostering respect between police and young people.’’
Former Utas Professor Pam Sharpe, who was a vocal opponent of the university moving into the city, said she had the skills to analyse complex material and come to evidence-based solutions.
“People are obviously concerned about cost of living, homelessness, lack of doctors and ambulance ramping,’’ Prof Sharpe said.
“Many join me in being really concerned about low educational attainment in Tasmania. Like many, while supportive of the Tasmania Devils, I feel an AFL Stadium is a luxury we cannot afford at this time.
“Fish farming and old growth logging threaten our environmental future and create Tasmanian dependency on global and mainland corporates.’’
Former Tasmanian deputy premier Mr Green said he was motivated to put his hand because he wanted to make a difference on the key issues of cost of living, health and housing. The election will be held on Saturday May 4.
KING Island’s Matthew Archer was among some of the biggest names in shooting and Olympic qualifier hopefuls who competed in NSW for the Australian Clay Target Association’s national championships in very tough and hot conditions.
Matt Archer, second from left, represented Tasmania in the Open Team at the Nationals in Wagga.
The prestigious event in Wagga had more than 2000 people from the clay shooting community attend, including some from overseas. Archer was part of the Tasmanian Open Team and came in fifth, while the Tasmanian ladies and veteran teams both finished in sixth place.
ACTA Executive Officer Brett Somerville said the national championships was the cornerstone of Australian shooting.
“This year, the stakes are even higher, with the Paris Olympics looming on the horizon for our very best,” Mr Somerville told Region Riverina.
The three Tasmanian junior shooters took out second place in the National Teams match. Junior MacIntosh Team High Gun winner Lewis Kenny, 16, was selected for the team, which will go to the world trap championships in London representing Tasmania and Australia.
“The next goal for us as a shooting community will be to fundraise to assist Lewis on his quest to represent Australia in London and Tasmania. According to the elders in the Tasmanian veteran team, he will be only the second Tasmanian to make it to this level,” Archer said.
KING Island Multipurpose Centre Currie (Netherby Home) has been ranked number three in Tasmania for its food quality by residents.
Every aged care home in the state has been rated on its food by residents. The calculated food score for Netherby Home was 3.5 out of a possible four.
Jarred Perryman and Rachael Jordon in the hospital kitchen preparing meals for the Netherby Home residents last year.
Up to 20 per cent, or more than 37,000 aged care residents across Australia, were asked the question, ‘Do you like the food here?’ as part of an annual national survey, undertaken by an independent team on behalf of the Federal Government. The residents’ experience survey results are important because they carry a 33 per cent weighting towards the overall Star Ratings score for each home.
Food is a crucial aspect of the aged care experience, and both the Government and the regulator have made significant efforts to enhance food quality in residential aged care facilities.
The Department introduced a $10 daily supplement aimed at improving nutrition, while the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission created tools to assist providers in enhancing their food standards.
Information regarding the food provided at residential aged care services is publicly accessible through the Star Ratings published on the My Aged Care Website.
These ratings are based on four subcategories, all of which include data relevant to food and nutrition:
• Resident experience: Surveys conducted by an independent workforce, using a global best practice quantitative research methodology. Residents are asked annually if they like the food provided.
• Compliance: Regulatory activities by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, ensuring services meet legislated food and nutrition requirements.
• Staffing: Includes the care minutes of personal care workers who provide eating assistance.
• Quality measures: Includes indicators such as unplanned weight loss, falls, major injuries, and pressure injuries, where food and nutrition can significantly impact outcomes.
