More news from near my summer home today.  Life has been tough for the orchardists and those who earn thier living from the harfvests in this district and importoing apples if just another kick in the teeth for the hard workers of Shepparton district.

My friends and neighbors in Sheppartin in the heart of the fruit growing district of Victoria are protesting today about the lowering of safety standards to allow fruit to be imported into Australia from a country with a fruit crop disease that is not in the Goulburn Valley fruit growing area.
The protesters set fire to a huge pile of hay and apple branches to protest against concerns about fire blight.

About 1,500 people gathered in Shepparton, in northern Victoria, to protest against the importation of New Zealand apples.

Fruit growers are worried the apples will bring the disease fire blight into Australia, which they say could devastate apple and pear industries across the country.

Protesters set fire to a four metre high pile of tree branches and hay to symbolise what will happen if fire blight control measures are not improved.

Fruit growers from Victoria and interstate were joined by SPC workers, local politicians and concerned residents calling on Federal Agriculture Minister Joe Ludwig to stop the planned imports of New Zealand apples.

The president of the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), Andrew Broad, says it would cost the Australian economy hundreds of millions of dollars if fire blight got into Australia.

"The most disappointing part about this is that our Prime Minister stood in the New Zealand parliament and said she's going to bring apples into Australia," he said.

"She should be the Prime Minister of Australia, not the Prime Minister of New Zealand."

The kitchen is in chaos but at least I have a good document management system.   for my novel writing.
I chased the magpie who stole 2 prime steaks that were to have been our dinner.
My steaks were saved - fir for the dog - by magpie greed.
Five magpies attacked the one magpie over my steaks which were now in the grass 100 meters from the grill they were about to be placed on.
lol
That is twice this week the dog has been served our dinner. lol.
The birds got half of it though.

The bird life here at Bjelke Petersen Dam great.


Plan B Dinner. lol a fast cooked, vegetable and chick pea casserole.

Plan A the prime steaks went 1 part to the magpie thieves and the retrieved part to Indigo. lol She is loving the accidents we are having with the steaks. :-)