Grazier shot 400 head of cattle, then himself

[the_hawk*]

Why is no one supporting our farmer

Why is Tony ignoring the issue

Lifeline has confirmed a shocking report of a grazier who committed suicide after he ran out of feed for his 400 head of cattle.

He tried to have them moved elsewhere but was told they were too weak to travel so he shot the animals before shooting himself.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/21426470/farmers-desperate-for-federal-help-as-towns-run-dry-in-outback-d...

[sandypas]

I think he should have sold off half his herd while they were still strong as soon as it was obvious he wouldn't have enough food for them.  Very sad though.

[bright.ton42]

How heartachingly sad.  

[freakiness]

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

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@freakiness wrote:

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@*mrgrizz* wrote:

why the need to make everything about politics?

the report said no rain since march 2012, wasn't that Julia's watch?

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Did Julia stop the rain?

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did Tony?

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Nobody said he did.  

[green.fields]

What Lind says should be implemented, we keep hearing stories of drought and no feed.

The chap should have sold off part of his herd before it got that bad.

This bit from the story seems silly to me,

With no pasture left on the ground at Werrina Station, south of Charleville, Brock and Katrina Hindmarch began bulldozing mulga scrub last year to feed their cattle.

Mr Hindmarch says they eventually cleared the entire property of the trees and were forced to purchase another block of land with vast mulga reserves.

Why spend money on buying more property, would have been better spent of buying feed, once the mulga is gone then what?

We can't keep expecting the govt of the day to rescue everyone and everything.

[icyfroth]

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@the_hawk* wrote:

Why is no one supporting our farmer

Why is Tony ignoring the issue

Lifeline has confirmed a shocking report of a grazier who committed suicide after he ran out of feed for his 400 head of cattle.

He tried to have them moved elsewhere but was told they were too weak to travel so he shot the animals before shooting himself.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/21426470/farmers-desperate-for-federal-help-as-towns-run-dry-in-outback-d...

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What would you have Mr Abbott do, Hawk?

I don't think even he could make it rain.

I don't know the area this occured in. Can the government perhaps build dams? Divert rivers for irrigation. Truck in water?

What do you suggest, instead of heaping blame?

[bluecat*dancing]

That is very sad. We do need to take better care of our farmers because without them, we'd be in dire.

We need more businesses like Pheasant Creek Stockfeed and Supplies who have asked for people to pay $6 per bale of hay which willthen be delivered to those who have been affected by the recent fires. They have over 1,000 bales paid for and have been busy doing deliveries.

The current Government has shown no interest in helping those who need assistance.

[freakiness]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@the_hawk* wrote:

Why is no one supporting our farmer

Why is Tony ignoring the issue

Lifeline has confirmed a shocking report of a grazier who committed suicide after he ran out of feed for his 400 head of cattle.

He tried to have them moved elsewhere but was told they were too weak to travel so he shot the animals before shooting himself.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/21426470/farmers-desperate-for-federal-help-as-towns-run-dry-in-outback-d...

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What would you have Mr Abbott do, Hawk?

I don't think even he could make it rain.

I don't know the area this occured in. Can the government perhaps build dams? Divert rivers for irrigation. Truck in water?

What do you suggest, instead of heaping blame?

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That's a question, not heaping blame.

He could assist by contributing to the delivery of feed, perhaps. Or perhaps by offering transport of stock to areas not affected.

And no, diverting rivers doesn't help and dams evaporate plus need rain to fill them.  

Replacing some vegetation might help prevent such bad droughts in the future.

[icyfroth]

so why aren't we out lobbying?

[*mrgrizz*]

OK so our climate is changing(not to debate man made VS nature) that means we can expect our desert to get bigger?

cattle stations are dry arid land to start with. it's not like they are waiting for huge amounts of rain, and when it does rain is usually huge downpours during the wet season. so rainfall is known to be erratic at best

[icyfroth]

I suppose being squeezed from all sides by retailers and exporters doesn't help.

so has anyone donated to the Buy A Bale Fund yet?

Just google Buy A Bale.