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Pyrenees Council and Agriculture Victoria provide strategies for recovery and long term farm planning.

After the brutal and terrifying results of bushfire has left it’s indelible mark on buildings, farmland and stock, it can be difficult to know where to turn for support. No doubt there are farmers in Western Victoria concerned about their financial position and weighing up their future on the land after this summer’s fiery gift. It’s a stressful, uncertain time for any victim of bushfire disaster but there are supports out there and not just from RFCS Victoria West. Local and State Governments have sprung into action to provide practical assistance and planning strategies to help now and into the future.

Pyrenees Shire Fire Recovery Outreach Sessions – Raglan and Amphitheatre

Outreach sessions will be held every Tuesday and Thursday in Raglan and Amphitheatre up until April 4. Council officers will attend these sessions to help fire-impacted residents access the support they need. Drop in any time during the session, no appointment needed.

• Raglan Hall – from 12pm to 1.30pm every Tuesday and Thursday until April 4
• Amphitheatre Hall – 2pm to 3.30pm every Tuesday and Thursday until April 4
  
  
  

Planning your Recovery

A whole farm planning course for Beaufort district farmers

RFCS VicWest are proud to promote this fantastic free series of workshops by Agriculture Victoria.

Farmers affected by the recent Bayindeen – Rocky Road bushfire are invited to attend a 4 to 6 week whole farm planning course at Beaufort beginning Thursday 11 April.

Making farms more productive, efficient and sustainable while at the same time protecting natural assets like soil, water and the natural environment.

Workshop topics include:

• farm design and layout
• soils and land classing
• pasture and grazing/feed management
• farm water supply
• farm business planning
• adapting to a changing climate

“I did the FarmPlan 21 course following the Moyston fire. It helped me redesign paddocks and importantly got me off the farm and sharing with others for a few hours each week.”

David Coad, Moyston

Event Details:

Start Date: Thursday 11 April then every Thursday from 4 – 6 weeks

Time: 10am – 3am

Where: Beeripno Development Centre
1 Lawrence Street, Beauort

Cost: Free, lunch provided

PIC needed: Please update your PIC before registering for this workshop

For more information or to register, go to the Agriculture Victoria Website here.

To register directly click here.

For free and confidential assistance with financial problems on the farm, contact RFCS Victoria West here.

Supporting Farmers & Small Businesses throughout their Flood Recovery Journey. 

The government recently announced support measures for flood impacted business. The extent of the damage across the state means many communities are eligible for support. The flood grants are available now, with some grants continuing to be available for the next six months. 

Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) Victoria West’s rural and small business financial counsellors and wellbeing counsellors are on the ground working alongside farmers and small business owners impacted by the damaging and unpredictable nature of the floods.  

“We appreciate that it can be difficult during times of crisis to know when or how to reach out for help, or even if you qualify.  First and foremost, I encourage people to avoid  self-assessing their eligibility as you may miss out on valuable assistance – there are many communities impacted by floods right across Victoria.  Our financial counsellors are available to have the conversation no matter the level of impact.  We’re here to help farmers and small business owners understand their entitlements, access grants and funding as well as link them and their family in with additional supports to ease their recovery journey,” says Mr. David Stafford, RFCS Victoria West Executive Officer. 

During times of crisis, it’s common for mental health and wellbeing issues to also become a concern.  Feelings of stress, anxiety and loss can all make the rebuilding journey that much more difficult.  At RFCS Victoria West, we have a team of qualified wellbeing counsellors available to ensure anyone eligible or currently working with a financial counsellor is fully supported.   

Our counsellors live and work in and around the communities in which we service making them highly accessible, locally relevant, and available for long-term engagement.   The service is free, confidential and we can come to you; in your home, on your farm, in your small business, wherever you feel most comfortable. 

Reach out when you’re ready, on 1300 735 578

For additional information see the Official Government Media Release.

For many of us around here, this time of year means the return of our rural and regional agricultural shows – and not forgetting the Melbourne Royal Show opening this week.

This year we might be looking forward to the return of the shows with a little more anticipation than usual, with so many postponed or cancelled over the last couple of years – but back with a bang, especially the ones with fireworks planned.

In our region (Victoria’s regional west), the show calendar kicks off at Horsham this weekend. And while we might call it ‘the show’, it’s officially The Grand Annual 144^th Horsham Agricultural Show. We think that’s pretty special and worth a trip to Horsham from wherever you might be. But we do love an agricultural show.

At Horsham you can catch whipcracking, a miniature goat show, a shearing competition, a wool handling competition, yard dog trials and heaps more.

According to the website, this year’s show will be held this Saturday 24 (twilight to 9pm) and Sunday 25 (10am-10pm). Kids 15 and under are free and there’ll be fireworks on Sunday night at 8.30pm.

Website: horshamshow.com.au/horsham-show

Facebook: facebook.com/horshamshow

You can line up Murtoa Show and Swan Hill show for the following weekend, so pace yourself, if you can!

Murtoa’s show is on Friday 30, a part of Murtoa’s Big Weekend, which looks amazing. The Stick Shed will be open all weekend with an art show and there’s a market by the lake. Friday’s show even includes a biggest weed competition. Fireworks are scheduled to wrap up the GrainCorp Lake Party.

Website: murtoabigweekend.com.au

Facebook: facebook.com/MurtoaBigWeekend

By the way, it’s only 2hrs and 12 minutes from Murtoa to Swan Hill. Swan Hill’s show runs Friday September 30-Saturday October 1, with a fireworks display Friday 9pm. 

Website: www.swanhillshow.com.au

Facebook: facebook.com/swanhill.show

If you live a little closer to the SA or NSW border, you might have some shows lined up to attend or participate in across the border. The Melbourne Royal Show starts tomorrow, Thursday 22 Sep-Sunday 2 October. Vic ag shows can be found on this handy online calendar from Victorian Agricultural Shows: vicagshows.com.au/show-calendar .

In 2022, we can pencil in Goroke, St Arnaud, Kerang, Elmore & District Machinery Field Days, Donald, Kaniva, Sunbury, Camperdown, Boort, Rainbow, Mildura, Geelong, Nhill, Barham Koondrook, Dimboola, Charlton, Maldon, Jeparit*, Bendigo, Stawell, Ararat, Castlemaine, Warrnambool and Dookie – and that’s only October, in our Vic west region.

In November we can look forward to Colac, Coleraine, Port Fairy, Ballarat, Casterton, Koroit, Kyneton, Clunes, Edenhope, Noorat, Beaufort and Daylesford.

Have we missed any?

*Correction: Jeparit’s show won’t be going ahead for 2022 but planning has begun for their 125th show in 2023.