The Country Caller

Granite Belt wine finds its identity in innovation

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

GRANITE Belt wineries are embracing their unique identity as the home of alternative varieties, shrugging off outdated stereotypes and finding a niche which may just help future-proof the sector from climate change.

Peter O’Reilly from the Queensland College of Wine Tourism said he could remember coming to the region in the 1990s and leaving less than impressed with the wine on offer.

“I think we were trying to make other people’s wine,” he said.

“We were trying to make Shiraz like the Barossa. As a wine drinker I would come up here knowing Shiraz from the Barossa – big fruit bombs, high alcohol – come up here and it was medium-bodied and peppery.

“Actually far more like Shiraz from the Rhone Valley in France but nothing like my expectations and I’d go away thinking – what was that? Whereas now, people come up and they go into a cellar door and get introduced to Albariño or Tinto Cao.

“There’s a journey of discovery and you start to hear about the district and why it’s so different.

“By the time you get to Shiraz, you’re expecting something different to the Barossa and it’s a real learning experience for people.”

Peter O’Reilly at the Queensland College of Wine Tourism in Stanthorpe

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Bent Road Winery’s Glen Robert (main picture) said because the Granite Belt was such a small player in the Australian wine industry, it could make its own rules.

“The Granite Belt only represents 0.2-0.3 percent of the national crush so we are minuscule compared to other wine making areas in Australia,” he said.

“If we were in the Coonawarra we would have to make Cabernet Sauvignon. If we were in the Barossa we would have to make Shiraz.

“Here in the Granite Belt – because we are on the outer edges of the Australian wine industry – there are no rules and so we can make up our own rules.”

Bent Road is perhaps the most experimental of the region’s wineries right now, using an ancient Georgian technique where wine is fermented underground in large terracotta vessels, called qveries.

Georgian qvevries buried at Bent Road Winery

“We took the initiative to import 14 Georgian qvevries direct from Georgia and we’ve buried them in the ground outside, in a horseshoe shape in between two vineyards,” Robert said.

“The only thing we’re doing differently today compared to the Georgians 8000 years ago is we’re constantly monitoring the microbiological stability of the wine to make sure we’re not going to make vinegar, we’re going to make wine and make wine that is delicious.

“That’s a whacky thing to do and we can do that sort of whacky thing because we have no rules in the Granite Belt.

“We’re able to experiment, we’re able to come up with crazy ideas and go for them.”

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Back at the College of Wine Tourism, 94 different varieties of grapes are being grown in its ‘Vineyard of the Future’.

“Most of them, we only have 4 vines of each,” Peter O’Reilly said.

“What we do is monitor how they grow, when they ripen, so we get an idea of their growth characteristics.

“We can do a harvest and a vintage and produce just two bottles – so we do a harvest from four vines and end up with 1.5 litres of wine but that’s enough to go and sit down with local winemakers and say, what do you think of this?”

Not only are they looking for varieties that are easier and cheaper to grow, the experimentation ensures the local industry stays ahead of the climate change curve.

One of the 94 wine varieties grown in the ‘Vineyard of the Future’

It’s what drew Bent Road winemaker and distiller Andrew Scott to the industry after working as a sommelier.

“When you’re lucky enough to work in a good restaurant you get to taste a lot of wine and after a while it’s like- that’s a good Shiraz, that’s another good Shiraz, and then something interesting comes along – something different, something with a story behind it,” he said.

“Things are changing, the climate is changing and a lot of that work they’re doing at the college is about future-proofing the industry.

“That, tied in with the fact we’re not pigeon-holed like so many Australian wine regions are, we don’t have a particular thing that we’re associated with, other than we do lots of things.”

Including experimenting with gin; Bent Road is producing its first batch in recent weeks with the second being planned now.

The Winery has also just opened a cellar door at Ballandean and expanded its vineyard by 18 hectares on the back of the region’s tourism boom through the pandemic.

“We see how the area is growing and booming and we feel confident to expand,” Glen Robert said.

“I feel that innovation is important – to grow we need to experiment, we need to think of new things and we need to stay in front of the curve.”

While other Aussie wine regions stick to what they know, Peter O’Reilly believes the Granite Belt’s greatest strength is its focus on alternative varieties.

“It’s never ever found its own hero variety and now, we’re ok with that. In fact we like the idea of being an exciting wine journey for people.

“We’ve got to now just convince the wine drinking public that hey – we actually have now got our act together. We know what we can grow, we grow it well, we make great wine.

“I think that reputation from last century was possibly deserved but it’s certainly something of the past now.”

Gather & Graze gang back in black tie

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

FOUR Toowoomba mates are combining their skills in business, project management and events to deliver the black tie sequel to last year’s hugely successful Gather & Graze charity lunch.

Aaron Bourne, Michael Valdal, Lachlan Hogan and new committee member Alexander Johnson are the team behind Gather & Graze 2022, which will be an evening celebration at Toowoomba’s Goods Shed this November, raising funds for local cancer wellness centre, Hope Horizons.

Aaron Bourne said having four men in their early 30s working together to make a difference felt very special.

“It’s a lovely way to use our friendship,” Bourne said.

“We know each other’s strengths. We’re friends first and we’re like each person’s hype person.”

Michael Valdal said he felt the same way.

“I look forward to working with these three men each year and on top of that we are raising money for a worthy cause,” Valdal said.

“We all have our important roles as the committee members and each one of us takes our roles very seriously to create an event like no other.”

The Gather & Graze concept was developed in late 2019 when the group wanted to do something to support the region’s farmers, struggling through drought.

While the pandemic saw their initial plans postponed, the team hosted two, sold-out long lunches at Ravensbourne in February last year, raising just over $66,000 for Chinchilla-based charity, Drought Angels.

Gather & Graze at Ravensbourne last year. IMAGES: Tess Cox Photography

“Last year’s event was a true test to see if we can pull off an event like this and we can,” Michael Valdal said.

“This year’s event is very different to last year’s long lunch. We are going for a black tie theme this year and Aaron and I have teamed up with some amazing vendors to create an unforgettable event.”

Aaron Bourne, who owns boutique homewares store Harold’s Finishing Touches, said guests could expect luxurious styling.

“We want to just spoil everyone, that’s kind of the feeling,” he said.

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The group first experimented with hosting a large function when one of their close friends was fighting breast cancer.

“That really kicked off into thinking, we could do this every year for any cause,” Aaron Bourne said.

After supporting Drought Angels in 2021, the team put a call out on social media for a local cause they could get behind this time around.

“We were looking for something local – and Hope Horizons, we would have had 60 – 70 people message straight away about the good that Hope Horizons does,” Bourne said.

“It’s so local, it’s all Toowoomba people and there’s no other funding other than fundraising and generous supporters, so I think it’s a really lovely pairing.”

Hope Horizons offers allied health services free of charge to improve the quality of life of people with a cancer diagnosis, addressing physical, psychological and social needs in a holistic environment, outside a clinical setting.

Aside from fundraising, the group is also passionate about creating unique events that raise the standard of what’s on offer in Toowoomba, engaging local businesses Poppies for Willow, Impressions on Scott and The Royal Hotel as key suppliers.

“Each year we will strive to create an event that is different from the previous year,” Michael Valdal said.

“We are trying to create that urgency to get a ticket each year and make attendees fear they are missing out on one of Toowoomba’s best events.”

For more information and to book tickets, head to the Gather & Graze Facebook page.

Bold vision for Crows Nest icon’s next chapter

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

FINE dining championing local produce has a new home on the Darling Downs thanks to an ambitious renovation project, driven by three entrepreneurial couples and their vision for what’s possible in country Queensland.

The group has transformed the historic Nolan’s Block building in Crows Nest into a vibrant tourism destination, complete with a variety of boutique food and retail offerings which are already attracting visitors from across the state and beyond.

For more than a century the grand building has stood proudly on the New England Highway on the northern side of town; first a collection of stores then, for the last several decades, the home of Salt’s Antiques.

When the property came up for sale almost two years ago, restauranteur Amanda Hinds could see beyond the white ants and water damage to its incredible potential.

“It was a beacon, sitting out on its own on this major highway that runs through Queensland,” Hinds said.

“For me, it (Crows Nest) was a raw area – it was semi-untouched.”

She had recently closed her hugely popular Hampton restaurant Emeraude and had seen hundreds of visitors making the trip to nearby farm and events space Bunnyconellen, where she was now serving up her signature treats on weekends.

That’s when she started thinking Crows Nest could be an ideal home for her next foodie venture.

“There’s not a lot of restaurants in country Queensland – they’re pretty few and far between,” Hinds said.

“I thought there was this possibility of having this country restaurant – I knew this building had so much potential because it was on a highway.”

Together with her husband Larry, she started talking about what Nolan’s Block could become with friends and soon-to-be business partners Andrew and Sandra Jenner, and Daryl and Sally Boardman.

“Our vision back then was all about attracting people from all over the place,” Sally Boardman said.

“Not to be taking away from Crows Nest itself – other businesses – but enhancing them.”

The group purchased the property in the first half of last year and embarked on the major renovation, confronting all the challenges you’d expect a 105-year-old building to present.

However Sally and Amanda agree, the group’s strong background in agriculture meant they had the skills and resourcefulness needed to tackle any obstacle.

“All of us, the three couples, are all farm/agricultural based in some way,” Sally said.

“People like us, we know how to get things done.”

“We all filtered out into different roles within that. Sandra and Andrew became pretty much the project managers. I was and still am, more administrative and financial.

“Amanda is a visionary, Amanda and Larry. Amanda can walk in anywhere and just place it all out in her head.

“It’s been a very very interesting, long, challenging and satisfying experience.”

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Amanda Hinds said it was important to her and the group, to return Nolan’s Block to its original concept of an emporium of different stores.

“I’m guessing a building like this, you’re only really a caretaker for it for a period of time,” Hinds said.

“The wonderful thing about it is, a lot of the things we did – we hoped it would still be here in 100 years.

“The whole dynamic has always been very complementary and being country people as well – creating something that would belong to country people.”

Amanda and Larry Hinds (centre) with the Myrtille crew outside the new bistro

By Easter this year, Nolan’s Block was ready to start its next chapter, beginning with the Hinds’ new dining destination Myrtille bistro and the My Little Blueberry bakery next door.

Myrtille (pronounced Mer-tee) is French for blueberry – paying homage to the year-round supply of fresh berries the restaurant can source from its network of local farmers.

“Coming from that farming background, it was always somewhat easier to source and speak to farmers,” Amanda Hinds said.

“Blueberries are always going to be a focus, we have amazing growers in the area. If you’re eating a raspberry here, you’re eating our area.

“This week’s really important because the first Stanthorpe truffle is arriving here – it’s so important for us to be using Stanthorpe truffle rather than Western Australian.”

Next door you’ll find Sally Boardman’s fresh produce and homewares store, The Potager at Nolan’s.

Ingredients featured on Myrtille’s menu can be found here, including the Boardman’s own Sunnyspot Farm avocados, along with all kinds of packaged produce such as relishes, jams and sauces from nearby producers.

Boutique retail offerings include the High Country Collective, Blackbird Antiques and Collectables and fashion destination Humphrey & Lulu Boutique, which opened just a few weeks ago.

“We’re really hearing fabulous stuff, a very positive vibe,” Sally Boardman said.

“What we’re seeing is people from all over south east Queensland and Northern New South Wales, Sydney, Melbourne, Charleville, Julia Creek!

“We’ve been open 8 weeks and I’ve had so many people from so many different areas. It’s just word of mouth – it’s going nuts.”

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The transformational effect of the project is exactly what Amanda Hinds had hoped for after seeing how a destination restaurant had injected new life into a tiny town in New South Wales.

“I based a lot of this on this amazing little town outside Orange, Milthorpe, probably smaller than Crows Nest – it was a bit dead,” Hinds said.

“Then a restaurant called Tonic opened and Millthorpe was reborn.”

Now she believes Nolan’s Block can become an iconic country destination, not just for the Darling Downs but all of Queensland.

“For me, it’s always been based on destination tourism and seeing a part of the Darling Downs that’s so iconic.

“We’re still overwhelmed by the support – we feel very privileged that people take that time and come and get a dose of this country hospitality that we have on offer.

“We want people to be really proud that it’s in their town, that it’s in their area, that it’s in the Darling Downs.

“It’s a massive risk and somebody has got to be the catalyst, so I guess that’s us.”

Santos CEO calls for Narrabri gas “as soon as possible”

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By HARRY CLARKE

THE CEO of the company poised to develop a major coal seam gas deposit near Narrabri in northern New South Wales is calling on the state government to prioritise the approvals process to bring the project online and alleviate the pressures causing high gas prices.

Santos boss Kevin Gallagher said there were about 20 management plans awaiting approval by NSW regulators before full scale drilling could proceed across the company’s 95,000ha tenement, which spans the vast Pilliga State Forest south of Narrabri and some adjacent farmland.

The company has approval to drill 850 wells which have the potential to produce 150 terajoules of gas per day.

All of the gas to be extracted from Narrabri has been committed to the domestic market.

“That is more than half of the gas that goes into the NSW domestic market today,” Gallagher (pictured below) told the Caller.

“More low-cost supply is always the best way to put downward pressure on prices and the cheapest gas supply will always be the gas on your doorstep because that reduces transport, storage and other handling costs.

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“The NSW government and Santos need to carry out our respective obligations to get the project to a final investment decision as soon as possible,” he said.

“Santos is very keen to get Narrabri developed and we will try to exceed our base case of 2026 for first gas to southern domestic markets.”

As well as management plans, Santos also needs a future act determination from the Federal Court to satisfy native title obligations.

Another major hurdle is the approval of the pipelines needed to transport gas to southern markets. One is the Hunter Gas Pipeline which will run from Wallumbilla near Roma in Queensland to Newcastle.

The second is the APA Group’s Western Slopes Pipeline, which is planned to connect the Narrabri gas field to APA’s pipeline running to Sydney from Santos’s gas fields around Moomba in north eastern South Australia.

Map showing the location of the Santos Narrabri Gas Project. INSET: Map of the proposed Hunter Gas Pipeline

Mp showing the proposed Sydney Moomba Pipeline

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The Santos gas fields are already providing energy to the national grid, with 32 pilot wells having been drilled since the company acquired the asset in 2011.

Of the pilot wells, about 18 are currently operational and feeding gas to a 22MW power station outside the Narrabri township.

A water treatment plant is allowing water received during gas extraction to be used by a handful of neighbouring farmers. The salty coal seam gas water is stored in large sealed ponds before it undergoes a reverse osmosis process to make it suitable for agriculture.

Controversial fracking techniques to draw gas from underground are not used in the area and wells are drilled to between 400 metres and 1000 metres below the earth’s surface – well below the depths of aquifers used by the agricultural sector.

A 22MW power station Narrabri fed by Santos gas

One of four ponds used to store salty coal seam gas water before being treated

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But despite assurances by Santos that its coal seam gas development will have “negligible” impact on groundwater, some farmers in the region are deeply concerned their bores will be affected.

Robyn King (pictured) has a large cropping property south of Mullaley and about 50km from the Pilliga State Forest, where pilot drilling has already taken place.

There are roughly 100 landholders located inside Santos’s tenement with whom the company will seek agreements to access property for drilling, but King said she was one of many farmers further afield who were worried about how underground depressurisation of the coal seam would impact bore water across the Liverpool Plains.

King referenced a Referral of proposed action report commission by Santos in 2014 which said “an assessment of the project indicates that the duration and wider geographic extent of depressurisation of groundwater head within the coal seams and adjacent strata will cause a significant impact to the groundwater resources of the Gunnedah-Oxley Basin”.

“However, due to the depth of the target coal seams, low hydraulic conductivity of the target strata and poor hydraulic continuity with the overlying strata, the overlying groundwater features of greater sensitivity (Pilliga Sandstone, alluvium) are highly unlikely to experience significant impact”.

King said: “What part of this equation do you ignore if you think that coal seam gas extraction won’t have a negative impact?”

“People who object to this industry have been labelled as ill-informed, leftist greenies, irrespective of their political association. It’s very hard, when you dismiss someone with a strong statement like that, to come back and be a voice that’s heard.

“It’s not just agriculture, it’s lots of towns, industries and tourism that depend on groundwater, and that’s to say nothing of food security.

“As the world predicts severe food shortages, we, the people of the Liverpool Plains, will not stand by and allow this precious food producing region to be ravaged by CSG extraction.”

King’s neighbour, fourth generation crop farmer Todd Finlay (pictured) said he was also concerned about the prospect of CSG activity impacting ground water in the region.

“My biggest concern is the (potential impacts on) land values and water quality,” he said.

“If the aquifers are damaged, that can’t be reversed. That’s the scariest thing for us. We can’t get the water to produce stock. We pull water out from under there to live on. That’s what got us through four years of drought. All we had was that water.”

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In response to concerns raised by farmers, Santos CEO Kevin Gallagher pointed to findings by the Independent Planning Commission which said the project would comply with “minimal harm criteria” in the NSW Aquifer Interference Policy.

“Santos’s groundwater models were reviewed by some of Australia’s leading scientists through the independent Water Expert Panel and the Independent Expert Scientific Committee, who both found that the groundwater model was fit for purpose,” Gallagher said.

“The CSIRO reviewed the Santos model and described it as both “suited to assess the potential impacts on water in the area” and “state of the art”.

“This modelling indicates that the project will have a negligible impact on groundwater and existing water use.”

How to take part in the Disability Royal Commission

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SUPPLIED

RESIDENTS across the Darling Downs, Southern Downs and Surat Basin regions who are interested in sharing their stories with the Disability Royal Commission can find out about the free supports available at information sessions running throughout next week.

The sessions, hosted by Lotus Support Services and Your Story Disability Legal Support, will be date at the following locations:

Warwick – RSL Club Warwick, 65 Albion St, on Monday 4 July from 11am to 1pm
Stanthorpe – downstairs function room, Stanthorpe RSL Services Club, 46 Marsh St, on Monday 4 July from 3pm to 5pm
Goondiwindi – River Room, Goondiwindi Waggamba Community Cultural Centre, 26 Russell St, on Tuesday 5 July from 12pm to 2pm
St George – Wallam and Mungalalla Rooms, St George Cultural Centre, 112 Victoria Street, on Wednesday 6 July from 10am to 12pm
Roma – Ernest Brock Room, Roma Cultural Centre, corner of Bungil and Quinton Streets, on Thursday 7 July from 10am to 12pm
Dalby – function room, Dalby Leagues Club, corner of Orpen and Drayton Streets, on Friday 8 July from 10am to 12pm

Lotus Support Services spokesperson Mark Reimers said forums were a chance for local people with disability and their supporters to learn more about the Royal Commission and how to access free counselling, advocacy and legal support if required.

“The Disability Royal Commission is investigating the mistreatment of people with disability in all contexts and settings,” he said.

“It’s taking submissions until 31 December and wants to hear stories from people with disability, as well as their family members, friends, carers, advocates and supporters. These could be about your child’s experiences at school, difficulties accessing the NDIS or support services, or discrimination in the workplace.

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“The Royal Commission is also interested in hearing people’s ideas for change, which will ultimately inform its recommendations to government for making Australia safer and more inclusive.”

Mr Reimers said a counsellor from Lotus Support Services could support people through the Royal Commission process, and free legal and advocacy support was also available.

Your Story Disability Legal Support spokesperson Bradley Heilbronn (pictured) said a Your Story lawyer could give people free legal advice and support them to make a submission. He explained why someone might need legal advice before sharing their story.

“You might be worried about your safety, access to services or employment, or you might want to name a person or organisation who mistreated you,” he said.

“We can talk to people about their options for sharing their story, and how to do this safely and privately. We can also connect them with support services and help with other legal problems they might be dealing with, such as the NDIS.”

To RSVP, email lotussupportservices@micahprojects.org.au or call 07 3036 4490. Please include any dietary requirements.

Battlers survive Ladies Day Bulldogs scare

COUNTRY CALLER FOOTBALL COVERAGE SPONSORED BY INTURA

By HARRY CLARKE

WITH fifteen minutes left on the clock and the scoreboard reading 12-8 in the opposition’s favour, the Taroom Wandoan Battlers’ dream run of being undefeated since before 2021 was on the brink of collapse as the club celebrated its annual Ladies Day.

Chinchilla, coming off a strong win against Miles the week before, had rallied a revamped side led by returning Bulldogs great Steve Brownhalls which, for a period, looked like causing the biggest upset this year in the Reserve-grade competition.

But the Battlers weren’t going to lose in front of what’s believed to have been the largest ever crowd gathered at Ross Bourke Oval.

Late try scorers including Braden Doherty and Tom Phipps put the home side in front at 24-12 by full time, meaning the Taroom Wandoan Battlers remain undefeated competition leaders in the south west’s Reserve-grade competition.

Battlers president and dummy half Jayden Baker looks for space

“Chinchilla came out really strong and it was pretty hard to get over the top of them. We were thankful we could get there,” said Battlers club president Jayden Baker (pictured), who played dummy half.

“Jimmy Conway (five-eighth) went exceptionally well and Clancy Stanford (second row) was strong again. Toby Bennett (prop) was great through the middle”.

Other players praised on the Battlers Facebook page were Joe Dwyer and Joel Robinson.

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Joe Dwyer meets then Chinchilla defence at Ross Bourke Oval

“Not sure what was in the cereal bowl at the Dwyer house but Joe obviously went back for seconds! Creating absolute belting runs and bone rattling tackles,” the Battlers’ match report said.

“Joel decided to participate in the game for once and came up with some really nice finishes over the try line.

“Not sure if it was the terrible hair cut or mummy watching again but Phipps again produced a nice game on home turf, crossing for another vital try to swing momentum back to our favour deep in the second half.”

Five-eighth Jimmy Conway with a quick change of direction

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In the A-grade game Chinchilla put on a dominating 60-6 win over a depleted Western Ringers outfit, which consisted of eight Battlers players who backed up for a second 80 minutes following their Reserve-grade victory.

A makeshift Under-18s team also had a run. The Battlers don’t field a regular side in the competition but in an arrangement with Chinchilla, the clubs played two games over consecutive weekends in celebration of their respective Ladies Days.

After a hiding from Chinchilla the previous week, Taroom Wandoan brought a big fight ending in a narrow loss of 28-24 to the Bulldogs.

Battlers and Bulldogs Under-18s teams celebrate the end of an enjoyable two-game competition. IMAGE: SOPHIA KELLY

Nearly 200 tickets were sold to the Battlers’ Ladies Day function, which raised just shy of $8,000 for Mater Mothers.

Most of those in attendance were based in the Taroom and Wandoan districts but several locals now living away came home to join the crowd.

“It was a very successful Ladies Day. All the girls seemed to have a great time and really enjoyed it,” Baker said.

“I believe there were 190 tickets sold to the Ladies Day function, which was twice the size of last year. It’s great to give back to all the women involved in the club – wives and girlfriends, sisters, daughters and mums who support us all season.

“They follow us around to all the games every year and we’ve got to have a day for them.”

SLIDESHOW – Images by Sophia Kelly

Populations rise across Darling Downs and west

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By HARRY CLARKE

FROM Middle Ridge in Toowoomba, to Mitchell in the west and Mount Colliery down on the New South Wales border, populations recorded in the 2021 Census have risen throughout the Darling Downs, Maranoa and Southern Downs.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics, which carries out the Census, combines the Darling Downs (excluding Toowoomba city) and Maranoa as one of its “Statistical Areas” and found the region’s population has risen by 2 percent since 2016 to a total of 128,662 residents.

And the gender percentages are exactly even – with 50 percent males and 50 percent females.

In the Darling Downs capital of Toowoomba, the number of residents in the local government area has risen by nearly 8 percent since 2016 to 173,204.

Map showing the Census Statistical Area of Darling Downs and Maranoa

TOOWOOMBA

Other centres which have grown notably since 2016 include the Western Downs towns of Chinchilla and Miles, which have both increased in population by 7 percent since 2016. The populations of those towns are now 7,068 and 1,874 respectively.

In nearby Wandoan the population has gone up a staggering 18 percent to 666 residents, as the town swells to accommodate an influx of resource industry workers.

Growth in the Western Downs local government area as a whole has been more modest – up 1 percent. The region’s most populous town of Dalby has increased by only 39 residents to 12,758 since 2016.

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WESTERN DOWNS

In the Maranoa local government area, encompassing Roma and surrounds, the population has grown by 1 percent to 12,825.

In a sign of growing numbers in the region’s more remote, rural areas, the overall regional increase comes despite marginal decreases in population in the towns of Roma, Mitchell, Injune, Surat and Wallumbilla.

MARANOA

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There was a 3 percent population increase in the Southern Downs council area.

Like Maraona, there were slight decreases in the major centres of Warwick and Stanthorpe, suggesting the growth has come in the smaller localities and outlying areas.

Earlier this month the Caller reported on how Stanthorpe’s tourism industry is bouncing back following a major hit throughout the pandemic, with anecdotal evidence that plenty of new faces in the younger demographics were moving to the area.

The only part of the Darling Downs and Maranoa area which has had a decrease in population is around Goondiwindi, where there have been decreases in the local government area (-3 percent) and within the Goondiwindi township (-2 percent).

SOUTHERN DOWNS

$1.3m worth of cotton targeted in “malicious” act

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By HARRY CLARKE

THE rural crime squad in NSW is investigating what police described as a “significant and senseless act of vandalism” to hundreds of cotton bales at a property near Condobolin.

Overnight between June 22 and June 23 a cotton producer at Kiacatoo was targeted when over 370 large round bales of harvested cotton was damaged by the wrap being cut.

The “malicious” act of vandalism caused the cotton to become exposed to the elements.

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The farmer, whose property is on the Lachlan Valley Way between Condobolin and Lake Cargelligo, is currently in the process of trying to salvage as much of the produce as possible. It has a collective value of about $1.3 million.

NSW Rural Crime Investigators, assisted by forensic officers and local police, attended the scene and the investigation has been ongoing since it was reported last week.

State Rural Crime Coordinator Detective Chief Inspector Cameron Whiteside said officers were determined to catch the culprit.

“We are determined to catch those responsible and we would like anyone that knows anything about this senseless crime to come forward and speak to police. If you know or saw something, please say something,” Whiteside said.

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He said people often didn’t come forward as they believed that what they saw or heard was of no value to police, but he stressed “that could not be further from the truth”.

“Rural crimes are often committed in isolated areas which makes unusual acts, unknown visitors and vehicles standout,” he said.

Police are urging anyone who can assist the investigation to contact local police, Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or the Rural Crime Prevention Team at Parkes Police Station on 02 68629977.

Smartphone camera tech coming to Toowoomba

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By CAITLIN CROWLEY

AN AUSTRALIAN ag-tech company is allowing farmers to instantly unlock the true value of food and fibre with the click of a smartphone camera.

Zondii, whose head office is in Armidale in country New South Wales, has developed technology which picks up unique biochemical markers to detect the quality, purity and origin of products via a simple smartphone camera.

The company started with wool fibres and has expanded to fresh produce, pastures, crops and other products to save farmers time and money, while combatting food fraud, estimated to cost the Australian food industry $3 billion annually.

Zondii CEO Danielle Morton using the technology in the field

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CEO Danielle Morton said there is a growing need for realtime, sensitive and accurate authenticity testing that keeps pace with producers’ demands and the product supply chain.

“At Zondii we are passionate about increasing profitability for farmers and start our design phase on the farm to determine the real issues,” Morton said.

“We are delivering patented technology to a farmer’s smartphone that doesn’t need the internet to operate in the field.

“We are initially applying our technology to wool classing, pasture quality and provenance to contribute towards supply chain traceability.

“Zondii is replacing outdated 20 year old technology or lengthly laboratory testing processes to bring more profit to the farmers.”

Scanning a fleece with the Zondii technology. IMAGE: Zondii

Morton will be part of an expert panel discussing traceability and product sovereignty at TSBE’s 400M Agrifood Innovation Forum next month.

The forum aims to highlight how to turn innovative ideas into reality and showcase the best new technology available to solve industry challenges.

‘400M’ describes the 400 million hectares of farming land in Australia that needs to play its role in feeding the 400 million emerging middle-income earners in Asia.

Justin Heaven, TSBE Food Leaders Australia (FLA) General Manager said 400M, now in its sixth year, is one of Australia’s leading forums of its kind.

“It’s designed to highlight the future of agriculture and food supply chains innovation here within Australia,” he said.

“We’re also excited to showcase how industry adopts innovation and how they work with new entrepreneurs to get the solutions that they want to solve their biggest problems.”

The event is in partnership with Toowoomba’s Agtech and Logistics Hub, to view the full program and book tickets for the event on July 13, head to TSBE’s website.

Boy Turnbull surfs up a stunner for NAIDOC raffle

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By HARRY CLARKE

A STUNNING piece by renowned Indigenous artist Anthony “Boy” Turnbull is being raffled off as part of his home town’s NAIDOC week celebrations to raise money for a cause close to his heart.

Originally from Chinchilla but now based in Yeppoon, Turnbull’s recent hobby has been to find old surfboards on social media marketplaces and use them has canvases for his Aboriginal artwork.

“I like to dig up old boards that aren’t getting used any more, keep that age and authenticity on the back of it,” Turnbull said.

“I use paint stripper on the fibreglass to get it back to the raw material, leave it for a day or two, give it a light sand and then put a primer over it which gives it a good surface to paint on. Give it a couple of days and then a another light sand, then I can paint on it.”

This piece, titled Fishing By The Banks, tells the story two hunters trying to spear to yellow belly amongst the reeds while a woman digs for roots to put in her dili bag.

“Sometimes the painting doesn’t go quite to plan – I’ll chop and change it a bit and add things – but there’s always a story to it,” Turnbull said.

The artwork will be raffled off as part of Chinchilla’s NAIDOC Week celebrations running from July 3-10.

A full week of festivities has been organised by Turnbull’s Chinchilla-based daughter, Marion Mitchell, alongside Billie Brassington. For all the details on Chinchilla NAIDOC events visit their Facebook page.

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Turnbull’s father and Mitchell’s grandfather, the late Tony Turnbull Snr, passed away last year after a battle with prostate cancer, so the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia has been chosen as the benefactor of the surfboard artwork raffle.

Asked where the people in the painting were fishing, Turnbull said: “Because it’s in memory of Dad, it would focus around where he grew up, so it would be part of that river system out there around Turtle Bend, which is down behind Toobeah”.

“That’s about ‘two beers’ from Goondiwindi, going west, about half an hour’s drive. That’s what he used to tell me all the time – Toobeah is about two beers from Gundy.

“Dad used to live in Toobeah – they weren’t allowed to live in the town itself. There were a few mob there, maybe about 50 or so. He told me they used to live down by the creek. I can’t remember the name of the creek, but I just know it as Turtle Bend.”

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Tony Turnbull Snr was from the Bigambul tribe who are native to the Goondiwindi area.

Anthony “Boy” Turnbull said many Aboriginal folks followed their mother’s side of the family, which made him a Mithaka man whose ancestors are from the south western Birdsville, Bedourie and Windorah areas.

“I knew Dad had cancer but he didn’t tell me what sort of cancer, and I didn’t find out until after he passed away that it was prostate cancer,” Turnbull said.

“There are so many people who need support and I think Dad would be so proud and happy with the amount of people around Chinchilla who’ve got behind the cause.

“I thought, what better way to create awareness for prostate cancer and raise money for research than to donate a painting for NAIDOC Week.”