U3A Benalla and District Inc.
  • Home
  • Benalla
    • Benalla
    • Benalla District
    • Who, What and Where? - Benalla Rural City
  • About
    • Our U3A
    • President's Page
    • Executive Committee
    • Convenors
    • Program Suggestions
    • Newsletter
    • Website
  • Groups
    • Groups A - Z
    • Archived Groups >
      • Booker Reading Group
      • Brain Games
      • Comparative Religion
      • Facebook for Mentors
      • Google Apps/TS Plus
      • History - An Introduction to Western Civilization
      • History - Moments in Australian History
      • Investment I (1996 -2015)
      • Legal Matters (Short Course)
      • Making the Most of the Internet >
        • + Ian's Blog
        • + Links and references
      • Opera
      • 'Over There'
      • Rail and Tourism
      • Tech Savvy Apple Devices - Intermediate
      • Tech Savvy Community Projects
      • Tech Savvy Drop In
      • Travel Group
  • A - B
    • A Different View Of German History
    • 'A Taste of Art'
    • Armchair History
    • Armchair Traveller
    • Art Appreciation
    • 'As Time Goes By' >
      • Home
      • 'Triggers'
    • 'Be Connected'
    • Birdwatching
    • Bushwalking - Easy Walks
    • Bushwalking - Mid-week Walks
  • C - F
    • Chat n' Chew
    • Coin Collectors
    • Collectors
    • Community Singing
    • Creative Writing
    • Demystifying Psychology
    • Exercises for Fun
    • Exploring the Universe
    • Family Research
    • Film as Literature
  • G- N
    • Games
    • Garden Appreciation
    • Garden Team
    • German
    • Investment
    • Let's Talk Books
    • Lifeball
    • Meditation
    • Meet and Mingle
    • Music Appreciation
    • News - Fact or Fiction?
  • P - Z
    • Page Turners
    • Play Reading
    • Patchwork
    • Politics & Current Affairs
    • Recorder Group
    • Singing for Fun
    • Stock and Land
    • Sustainability
    • Tech Savvy Beginners 2021 (Apple)
    • Tech Talks
    • Wine Appreciation
  • Join
    • Join Us
    • 2021 Membership Application/Renewal Form
    • Program Guide 2021
    • Semester 1 Timetable Overview
    • Semester 1 Timetable with Dates
    • Venues and Maps
    • Website & Facebook
  • News
    • News - General
    • January Newsletter
    • Calendar 2021
  • FB
  • Gallery
    • Gallery 2020
    • Gallery 2019
    • Gallery 2018
    • Gallery 2017
    • Gallery 2016 >
      • + Christmas Lunch 2016
    • Gallery 2015 >
      • Christmas Lunch 2015
    • Gallery 2014
    • Lifeball Video
  • Links
    • Resources and References
    • U3A Network Victoria
    • Seniors Online Victoria
    • U3A Albury Wodonga
    • U3A Beechworth (Indigo U3A)
    • U3A Bright
    • U3A Wangaratta
    • U3A Goulburn Valley
  • Contact

July - 'Sykes beyond politics'

1/8/2019

0 Comments

 
At the Stock and Land group's July session, Bill Sykes, local farmer, veterinarian and former Victorian National Party politician, talked about life after politics and some experiences as a vet.

Bill took us via PowerPoint through his and his wife Sally’s trips to Venezuela, Panama, China and Cuba, after he left parliament. Not surprisingly, animal pictures – even a featherless chook – popped up regularly in their travel pictures.

Later in reply to a question, Bill spoke about working as a visiting vet in Yorkshire, to help control foot and mouth disease during a major UK outbreak.

That involved day long slaughtering of largely cattle and sheep with the disease or those close to an infected area and likely to catch it. Vet students were co-opted for the task too and Bill said a generation of vet students were probably lost to veterinary science, because of the hundreds of lambs and calves they had to kill.

But some farmers made considerable money from the compensation they were paid. “Initially there was a modest payment from the British government, but then the EU kicked in with considerably more. Suddenly an old ewe which had been worth practically nothing alive, was worth 250 pounds when killed,” he said.

So Bill said there was considerable trade in foot and mouth infected material “and there was quite a bit of animosity aroused when that was suspected and people a considerable distance from an outbreak, were paid compensation”.

But he said in one area, he argued strongly for the preservation of about 20 rams and they survived the massive slaughter for the long term benefit of the sheep farmer and speedy genetic improvement in district flocks, after the outbreak ended.

However there was often considerable friendliness from farmers whose flocks and herds Bill had slaughtered; one couple, the day after he had killed on their farm, even invited him to their son’s wedding.

But he said the massive slaughter got to him. Every time he sees a slab sided grain truck on the road here, he thinks of similar lorries in Yorkshire, full of dead animals.
​
Our next session on Tuesday August 6, will be conducted by Dr Dennis O’Brien, who previously exercised our minds last year about being kind to animals. 
​
David Palmer
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    About 'Stock and Land'

    Are you a regular watcher of ‘Country Wide’ or reader of ‘Stock and Land’ or ‘The Weekly Times’?  Did you grow up on, run, still run, or downshift into Benalla from a farm?  Perhaps you studied/taught food and agriculture related courses or worked in an area related to agriculture?  Or perhaps, like most of us, you are interested in where food comes from.
    This group aims to provide a regular forum for members with interest and experience in agriculture to discuss agricultural issues and current developments in farming.  Monthly two-hour sessions will  feature well informed speakers from particular areas of farming who will share their story, their understanding of current issues and developments in their field.  This is followed by questions and discussions.   When time permits, the group also discusses current farming news and shares farming stories.  

    Meeting Times

    1st Tuesday of the month from 10 am to 12 midday.

    Convenor Contact Details

    Picture
    David Palmer 5762 4468

    Topics/Speakers

    All
    Alison Earp
    Animal Welfare & Ethics
    Automated Dairying
    Baddaginnie Run Winery
    Beersheba Stud
    Benalla Sale Yards
    Carole Marple
    Clover Seed Production
    Course Information
    Damian Finnegan
    David Palmer
    Devenish Silos
    Dookie Dairy
    Dr Dennis O'Brien
    Drysdale Sheep
    Farming Innovation
    Former Shadow Minister Of Agriculture
    From Paddock To Plate
    Hook And Spoon
    Hop Production In Myrhee
    Hops Production In Myrhee
    Kevin Mitchell
    Lach Lidgerwood
    Libby Price
    Margaret Nelson
    'Out Of The Blue'
    Phillip Toland
    Rabbits
    Ray O'Shannessy
    'Right Here
    Right Now'
    Rural Radio
    Sandy Leatham
    Snow Barlow
    Sue Campbell OAM
    Tallis Winery
    Toland Merino Stud
    Wendy Beer
    Wine Production

    Useful Links

    'The Weekly Times' website

    'The Weekly Times' digital version online

    Archives

    September 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017

    RSS Feed

Picture
News
​Newsletter
Facebook Page
​
Program Suggestions
U3A Benalla & District Flier 
​Membership Application/Renewal Form 
​
Program Guide 2021
Semester 1 Timetable with Dates 2021
Semester 1 Timetable Month Overview 2021

Developed and maintained by members, this website showcases U3A Benalla & District. 
​Photographs - acknowledgment to U3A members; Benalla Art Gallery website;
​Weebly 'Free' images;Travel Victoria and
State Library of Victoria