Social Justice and Change Archives - Page 41 of 45 - Clover Hill Diaries

Drought raises the the hard questions

Like the rest of the world agriculture has a diverse population of people who farm.

For simplicity and this post I am going to put the people in agriculture into five boxes based on the feedback I get from my interaction with the people I have met on my journey. It goes without saying that a Venn diagram would be much more appropriate

Self-absorbed – those who do their own thing and believe Darwinism will decide who survives and who perishes.
Self-promoters who want to save the world
Putting one foot in front of the other
Taking one step forward and two steps back
Move between 2 & 3 depending on their circumstances ( and how much support they garner when they put their hands up to be in box 2)

Coming from a family that for generations has admired the people in box 3 and striven hard to stay there I am definitely an outlier

I am fascinated by, and admire people who want to save the world. I totally understand why they need to be a self-promoter. After all how you can save the world if no-one knows your values and what you stand for and whether you have what it takes to achieve your vision. I also understand why this has to be a team effort and taking people with you is pivotal to success. Realistically how can you build a team if no-one has ever heard of you? Whilst farmers are the ones feeding the world they cannot do this alone and food security is a shared responsibility between everyone along the supply chain.

Farmers in boxes 2, 3 and 5 all tend at some time to suffer from survivor remorse.

Is this good for agriculture as a whole is a question we all need to ask ourselves?

What sort of agriculture sector do we want?

Should farmers like government become devotees of this mantra?

Governments need to commit to a long term reform path that recognises that the primary responsibility for managing risks, including from climate variability and change, rests with farmers. See here

This is something for us all to ponder. For I am afraid that until we answer these questions we are never going to achieve full potential in our agriculture sector.

Equally James Warden makes a very valid point here

People have got to take responsibility of their businesses and not rely on government bailouts. But there are times when there are exceptional circumstances and we are now in exceptional circumstances out here. James Warden

and this from Thoughts from the Midst

I read a comment piece the other day by an economist saying that agriculture isn’t a special case, tourism doesn’t get any special help when they experience a downturn due to the weather. No, that’s true, they don’t. But unlike agriculture, they don’t see their expenses rise, and their income fall, they are a discretionary industry, not the staple provider of the staff of life, they are not personally responsible for the welfare of thousands of living, breathing, feeling animals.

So tomorrow, I’ll get up and do battle again trying to do the best for the animals in my care with the little that I have…. But the Weather Bureau is optimistic again…. surely it will rain soon…..

See just how bleak it is in some parts of the country here via these heart wrenching photos from Latelines Jason Om

“From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot in front of the other. But when books are opened, you discover you have wings” Helen Hayes

See a great blog from Lucy Broad Preparing for drought key to agriculture’s image here

Drought is now an average year and we need a new way of thinking revolution

The farming community spirit is a bit like a diamond where different facets can shine in different circumstances,” Penelope Wensley

Yesterday I received my NFF Advocate newsletter

It began like this

It’s been a tough start to the year for the farm sector, with much of QLD, NSW, SA and NT still heavily within the grips of drought. The NFF has been working to drive outcomes for Australian farmers, and ensure agriculture is reprioritised on the national agenda during this critical time.

My recent post ‘Drought bringing the solutions to the table’ found here reflected on the need for Australians to see drought as an average year and for farmers to focus on bringing the solutions top the table.

‘Farming needs delivery of business strategies on ground right now that can help and this initiative aims at doing everything possible to deliver opportunities going forward. With no stock, no grass, no rain forecasted and no money in the bank it paints a very grim picture around the kitchen table at most farms around Australia.’ James Walker

Farmers need to be pragmatic we can’t hang our hats on waiting for the the government to step in especially in light of reports like this

Productivity Commission and other recent reporting to government are recommending rationalisation of drought assistance and reform of drought policy. The report recognises that the level of drought assistance has crept from a one in twenty five exceptional event to become more frequent in the presence of a long dry and changing climate. In this circumstance, the general observation emerges that too many farm businesses in too many regions have been receiving Exceptional Circumstances (EC) and other related assistance more frequently than the original definition and policy intent. The level of assistance is now deemed inappropriate and an unsustainable distortion of the farm business sector, particularly in the context of climate change.[17]

According to the report [18]:

Most farmers are sufficiently self-reliant to manage climate variability. In 2007-08, 23 per cent of Australia’s 143,000 farms received drought assistance, totalling over $ 1 billion, with some on income support continuously since 2002. In drought declared areas, most farmers manage without assistance. From 2002-03 to 2007-08, on average, about 70 per cent of dairy and broadacre farms in drought areas received no drought assistance.

Governments need to commit to a long term reform path that recognises that the primary responsibility for managing risks, including from climate variability and change, rests with farmers.

Extract found here

Governments do care but they listen to voters and in the 21st century developed world people in the main just aren’t interested in other people’s problems

“You have got to not just influence myself and my colleagues, but you have to influence a whole country, it has to be something that, when you walk into a (Cabinet) room, with the 19 votes, you can get 10 of them. And that is what is politics about. – Barnaby Joyce

On top of this Art4Agriculture’s Archibull Prize entry surveys consistently shows us year after year both teachers and students alike think more than 50% of the food we eat is imported. I am confident our teachers and students are excellent representation of the awareness of the Australian population with regards to where their food come from

Yes farming has done a poor job of showing Australians how much they rely on their farmers to feed them but that’s another story. We have all have choices, so farmers like everyone have to get on the front foot because nobody is forcing us to farm.

Chair of the inquiry, Dick Adams (Member for Lyons, Tasmania), on the importance of agricultural public policy to be more strategic in future with respect to assistance to farm businesses:

Putting our resources into black holes is not where the future is and not a good way to spend the public dollar. I think the Australian people would rather be assisting enterprises that have a business plan looking to the future; that will adapt to climate change and the issues that confront us in the next 20 to 30 years. We’ve also got to look at the opportunities at the enterprise level and look at where we’re going in a world sense. I think farmers will get left behind if they don’t adapt and look for opportunities. Dick Adams

This post is about farmers taking their destiny in their own hands and I want to hear from those farmers so I can share their story. Today my feature farmer is James Walker.

James with two of his daughters

I am lucky enough to know James. Young Farming Champion Bron Roberts and I enjoyed James company over dinner in Brisbane in December and what a dynamic, exciting and far sighted young man he is.

James is a Nuffield Scholar and Western Queensland mixed enterprise wool grower grazing 15,000 sheep at Longreach. You will find a great story on James and his farming operation here

James has even mixed it with royalty a number of times with he and his wife Manny among a group of four young families representing the next generation of graziers invited to meet the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall during the Longreach leg of their Australian visit in November 2012.

Yes and doesn’t Queensland remember 2012 well – the year of the floods. Sadly again Queensland farmers like many in NSW and Victoria are living through another nightmare weather event caused this time by not enough water, with Queensland having the hottest year on record in 2013

James Walker and his family far doing it very tough but he is not standing still. James and his wife Manny are using social media and the Agrihive website they have set up to help tackle the big challenges around farming including drought.

The Agrihive team commitment says it all

If you have a concern problem or opportunity in Agriculture, Agrihive does not sleep until we are on the other side of the concern, problem or opportunity.

Agrihive will move mountains to achieve business, lifestyle and agricultural goals.

Our team is committed, exposed heavily to Agriculture and will provide results.

James has fire in his belly and he is in it for the long haul. James is also a person who DOES care about other people and I can assure you when you read his story you will be just as impressed with this young man as everyone who meets him

This is the Agrihive story in James words…..

Many efforts have been made to fundraise and subsidise the farmers that are facing annihilation. The results of these efforts are limited and lack long term strategy for a weak and fading industry that is exposed to tactical policy changes that lack foresight and courage from our leaders.

Farming needs delivery of business strategies on ground right now that can help and this initiative aims at doing everything possible to deliver opportunities going forward. With no stock, no grass, no rain forecasted and no money in the bank it paints a very grim picture around the kitchen table at most farms around Australia.

We need a revolution in Agriculture, we need to enable farmers to navigate and recover from this complex situation. We need high levels of information that is not rhetoric and long winded, we need result focussed information right now to help us. We do need to accumulate suggestions for long term policy but we need to create opportunities now before another farmer quits our system. That is why we have created Agrihive.

Agrihive is a site that requires you to join, provide real ideas, concepts and results for right now, which will be delivered to the farmers. It honours the resilience of the farming community in desperate unchartered times. As famers we want to take control of the situation.

We want to dust ourselves off and continue being the best producers of food in the World and contribute to the Australian Economy. We are not whinging we are just searching for answers and we are becoming desperate for them. which is best achieved through training, awareness and interaction.

As an example the first instalment of Agrihive is to provide a free 25 minute audio you can access by clicking here. The file contains interviews with three experts in the fields of marketing and feed and fodder analysis.

Farmers will learn what other leading producers have learnt;

How to buy fodder like a professional
The 3 key measurements for effective feeding
How to compare different fodder costs
2014 Cattle market expectations from a marketing expert

Click here to access nowDrought, Fodder, Finance and Future

Agrihive has a suite of information and templates to take control of your business in the drought.

We are progressively covering the following topics and have a growing Agricultural business community.

Savings

There are many layers of cost reduction in Agriculture, Agrihive will uncover spending through key expert eyes and unlock some new discoveries for farmer savings.

Production

The ability to accumulate revenue generating assets is the key to recovery from drought. Agrihive reveals a systematized approach to business performance.

Possibilities

See the Possibilities

Please join now for updates at www.agrihive.com and contribute to real change.

Agrihive will create new opportunities and levels of thinking; revealing new options.

There have only been 500 free CDs recorded so please act now and feel free to pass this message on to your friends and contacts as they may get something good out of Agrihive as it is committed to a better future in Farming.

You can download your complimentary recording by clicking here

“Let our advance worrying become advance thinking and planning” (Winston Churchill).

When I think of James and the conversations I have had with him I think of the quote

“THERE are two types of people in this world – the doers and the don’ters.

Doers accept they can create the life they want and then come up with a plan to make it happen. James has got a goal, he has got a plan, he is adapting and look for opportunities.

He is doing what a lot more people need to be doing and that is getting of their backsides and making it happen.

I invite you to join Agrihive now for updates at www.agrihive.com and contribute to real change.

Beef Central have also covered this story here

Lets not forget people are doing it tough and everybody needs a hand from time to time. This is a great organization doing just that and all Australians can lend a helping hand by supporting them. Visit their website here

Picture You in Agriculture

Tonight I am speaking at the Zone 3 finals of the RAS of NSW The Land Showgirl finals

Now it has been said that is this competition is out-dated and is no longer relevant.

Whilst the name of the competition makes me and a lot of other people cringe I can assure you this competition, the opportunities and doors it opens has never been more relevant

I know this because at least 90% of our female young farming champions have been involved in this competition and they tell me the process of preparing for this competition builds their knowledge and confidence and inspires a desire to take the next step and share the positive stories of agriculture with the wider community.

So I am relishing the opportunity to share my story, the Young Farming Champions story and the launch of latest Art4Agriculture’s initiative the Picture You in Agriculture Foundation with the audience tonight and having conversations with the people in the room.

Let me take this opportunity to share with you what I will be saying tonight ……….

Showgirl finalists, ladies & gentleman,

Tonight, I am asking you to ‘Picture You in Agriculture’ –

What does that look like for you?

What does it look like for your family and friends and

What does that picture look like for every Australian out there who relies on Agriculture?

For the showgirls here today, your picture is one that shows your pride for your local community here in Crookwell and the surrounding districts

Its shows a desire to stand up and say we are passionate about agriculture and our rural community.

This is a passion I share with you and I would like to share my story today and what my picture in agriculture looks like.

I was a partner in a family farming operation that proudly provided the milk for breakfast for 50,000 Australians every day.

I have learnt a lot and have grown from the challenges and experiences along the way

I now want to use my learnings to assist young farmers and new entrants into the industry to do the same type of things that I have been able to do.

I want to help them learn what I have learnt. I want them to be proud to share their story.

There is no denying that farmers are the ones feeding the world – they are the body and soul of food production and rural communities.

But farmers cannot do this alone. This is a shared responsibility between farmers and consumers right across the globe,

Every minute the world population grows, adding another 158 more mouths to feed.

More food will need to be produced over the next 4 decades than has been produced during the last 10,000 years combined

We all know these facts we have heard them before but the issue is more complex than economies of scale

The issue that is much more challenging is

how we get the next generation of farmers involved, when farming is becoming more complex, high investment, hard work and there is a perception that it is a low return business?

Moreover becoming a farmer is no longer a birth right but a conscious choice by rural entrepreneurs

So I am going to ask that question that everyone is asking

how do we attract and retain the next generation of rural entrepreneurs and young people to live and work in the rural communities that support them?

Trust me THEY ARE OUT THERE

I KNOW

I WORK WITH THEM EVERYDAY

It can be done AND it is my generation’s role is to invest in them

Since the turn of the century, the amount of land we can grow food on has been decreasing by about 1% a year

So obviously the majority of the additional food needed by 2050 is going to have to come from increasing yields per ha

On top of this according to the WW Fund, today our global footprint exceeds the world’s capacity to regenerate by 50%

So if we continue consuming as we do today we will need the equivalent of two planet earths by the mid 2030’s and we know we only have one

So another very important question

How we reduce waste and produce more food with less water, chemicals and fertiliser?

I know this can be done too – because there are many amazing farmers doing this in Australia everyday

Take my industry as an example

Today’s dairy production requires

• 10% of the land

• 25% of the feed &

• 35% of water used per litre of milk produced than it did in 1940

Wow that is something we can all be proud of

But identifying the problems and challenges around global agriculture and feeding the world is one thing, looking for solutions is definitely more challenging

Perhaps women are the key?

We live in a world that is increasingly social, interdependent and transparent and in this world feminine values are ascendant

Powered by these values – like cooperation, communication and inclusiveness – institutions, businesses and individuals are breaking from masculine structures and mindsets to become more flexible, collaborative and caring

Feminine values are the operating system of the 21st century but women have traditionally lacked the confidence factor

And this is why our show societies are so important.

Every showgirl participant, finalist and winner I have met tells me the process of preparing for this competition builds her knowledge and confidence and inspires a desire to take the next step and share the positive stories of agriculture with the wider community.

And this is where I come in

I am obsessed with identifying talent, and with the development of talent, and with the nurturing and celebrating that talent.

I am obsessed with ensuring that farming, and farmers male and female, are able to take their rightful place in the full global value network available to them.

I also recognise the need to take many stakeholders with me on that journey

So I looked at agriculture’s “leadership programs,” and was disappointed that our young people were too often forgotten about when they had finished their formal training.

I knew that if we were going to build a team of young rural influencers and leaders then what was needed was strategic vision for driving these programs so they would deliver consistent and high quality results for agriculture.

To be brutality honest too often our “leadership programs” are developed as a way to appease agricultural R&D levy payers without being able to articulate or deliver REAL outcomes and benefits for industry.

To me it is imperative that we identify, engage, nurture and support our young people in an environment that allows each individual to build and enhance existing knowledge and skills

We want them to dare others to be different. At times they will need to be fearless.

But they needn’t stand-alone: if we find and elevate these champions, we can leverage their impact and catalyse an even greater change.

More importantly, MY generation will leave behind capable people, who can do it all again, and again…

even backwards and in high heels!

But do it they will…because of us.

As I said earlier THEY ARE OUT THERE

I KNOW

I WORK WITH THEM EVERYDAY

If we invest in them – it can be done

It is incumbent on all of us in this room to be loud and clear to our industries that they must invest in our young people.

Show societies have been doing this for generations, why aren’t some of our industries?

In 2011, 1 invited young people working in agriculture to participate in a program that would not only develop their capabilities to farm with confidence, but also to confidently engage with consumers and everyone along the supply chain.

These young people christened this program the Young Farming Champions program

The young farming champions have grown to be a network of young people who share a passion to tell others about the important role Australian farmers play in not only feeding the world but also providing the knowledge and skills sets to help developing countries to grow the capabilities of their agricultural sectors.

They believe in celebrating diversity, sustainability, creativity and progress.

They believe in supplying the world with trustworthy products, that consumers can be confident in.

They do this by bringing consumers and producers together, by visiting schools and raising awareness, and by telling their stories on social media.

These people are young, exciting and champions of their industries.

AND ……

They are making a unique and vital contribution to the sustainability of our industries.

Vitally important they become part of the Art4Agriculture family and we are always there for them even after they finish our programs.

We continually find them opportunities to build their confidence, use their skills, share their stories, build their networks and create their careers.

In the beginning our trailblazers were all young women

That needs to be celebrated.

Because it is awesome that these mums, daughters, sisters, and wives believe in leaving a lasting, positive legacy on an industry that affects and supports every single Australian, every single day of their lives.

But this story isn’t about me. It’s about the dreams and beliefs of this program and every young person who has put their hand up to be involved, and the thousands of other Australians immersed in their industries.

Let me introduce you to the 2013 Young Farming Champions of the Art4Agriculture program, including your very own Jasmine Nixon and Adele Offley.

And I would like to do this by sharing part of a story written by 2013 Young Farming Champion Bessie Blore that will appear in the next edition of Country Web

Bessie Blore was a city journalist who met a farm boy and followed him back to the farm

In Bessie’s words

You won’t see our faces on billboards or bus windows.

You will find us in the paddocks of our farms, the lecture halls of our universities, the labs of our local research facilities, or the factories of our food and fibre processors.

And when we’re not there, we’ll be visiting schools in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra (and maybe one day Australia wide), talking to primary and secondary students through our roles as Young Farming Champions.

We’ll be opening their eyes to the diverse, exciting and innovative career opportunities obtainable through agriculture.

Of the 16 people selected to represent the 2013 Art4Agtricultre team, 12 of us are women.

Jasmine Nixon, Hannah Barber, Danille Fox, Naomi Hobson and Kylie Schuller represent the beef industry;

Kirsty McCormack and Liz Lobsley are on team cotton;

Cassie MacDonald a young vet is representing the dairy industry and

Cassie Baile, Jo Newton, Adele Offley and Bessie Blore are flying the flag for wool.

Some of us are fifth generation farmers, and others like me couldn’t tell a sheep from a goat when they were thrown into the industry

And given the average Australian farmer is a 52-year-old male, we’re kicking the stereotype of a weathered, middle-aged farmer, leaning against an old, wooden fencepost with his Akubra dipped to the sunset.

These days the face of farming is just as often female.

Although I’ve focussed on the achievements of women in a typically male industry, the young men involved are no less notable, stepping out of their comfort zone and into city classrooms to share their passions and dreams.

This year alone there is Martin, who flies planes, and writes blogs from his tractor cab;

Ben, who grows enough cotton each year to produce more than 1million pairs of jeans;

Billy, who grows almost everything you’d find in a box of fibre packed cereal;

and Andrew, whose dairy farm is partly staffed by robots. ROBOTS! I’m serious.

We don’t want to be thanked.

We don’t want you to think of us every time you eat a meal or get dressed,

We just want you to believe that what we’re doing – growing food and fibre is as cool as being an architect, or lawyer, or teacher, or doctor, or astronaut…

We think it’s cool, because agriculture is not about farmers. It’s about people.

My work with Art4Agriculture and in particular the Young Farming Champions’ program has allowed to me to realise it will not be me who shapes and changes the face of agriculture but the quality of young people I can deliver for agriculture and their communities through these social enabling programs like the Young Farming Champions

• I’m now devoting my time to creating a Foundation to provide ongoing funding so that we can secure and expand these activities.

• I want to make a difference; the young people I work with want to make a difference. In fact I know we’ve already started to make a difference. And I want to make certain that with the support of my generation we can continue to do this.

• Enabling the next generation of farmers to feed the world sustainably requires knowledge, adoption and implementation of both existing and new technologies, and paddock to plate collaboration and training. Enabling people in this way will help produce the leaders of tomorrow and shape the future face of farming in this country.

The call to action for my generation is

By investing in our young people, and joining me and focusing our time on these activities we can use our time and energy and $ in the best way we can contribute to future of the farming communities that we hold so dearly.

Young people such as our Showgirls here tonight who have shown us they want to make a difference.

Your farmers. Your future. By Bessie Blore

In the future… you will have health.

In the future… you will be valued.

In the future… your world will be even more beautiful than today.

How do I know this?

Because

Today I am planting the healthiest seeds, to grow the best crop.

Today I am tending my flock, to harvest the highest quality fibres,

Today I am nurturing the next generation of calves to produce delicious nutritious milk

Today I am sowing water efficient pasture for my cows to provide the best value proteins.

Today I am using the most advanced technologies in the world, to ensure a flourishing environment, and happy healthy animals.

Today I am a farmer.

And in the future – all this becomes yours.

To the showgirl finalists, be fearless, tell your stories and continue to Picture You in Agriculture

Thanks for the inspiration

The Art4Agriculture Young Farming Champions

Professor Shaun Coffey

The Future of Farming – The Rise of the Rural Entrepreneur – A Rabobank publication

Bessie Blore – Visit Bessie at http://journobessatburragan.blogspot.com.au/

Sacha Bonsor – “Do nice girls really finish last” – SundayLifestyle.com.au

Archibull wins the Event of the Year at Trangie Australia Day Awards!!

Lifetime highlights abound

OUT OF THE OFFICE aka Get a life

No-one has ever received an I’M OUT OF THE OFFICE office email from me. That’s because I am never out of the office (see footnote) and if I was there is no-one to replace me. Poor me (please send flowers)

Thank you for this great little infographic

Truly – How is that for work life balance? Not an impressive badge of honour to wear and I don’t recommend it to anyone. Not that this is new. Its now fifteen years since I worked for some-one else and all I can say is I am glad smart phones didn’t exist then because even when I left the office (which was usually a 90 hour per week gig) I never relaxed nor was I much fun ( and kudos to my family and friends for putting up with me)

Now I am not alone in that there are plenty of people kidding themselves who email back within 5 minutes of me receiving the original OUT OF THE OFFICE message. I will kid myself here and say that’s because I am really important.

Just to show you the how the connected world is keeping us very connected I am finding LinkedIn a great tool for identifying potential Young Farming Champions. To reach as many people who can identify rising young stars I have been building up my LinkedIn connections. Last Sunday I sent 30 Connect with Me requests to agribusiness professionals at 5.30am. Sixteen of these people had replied by 7.30am. Does the agribusiness sector ever turnoff – me thinks not?

So 2014 is the year I reach my ideal weight and get an office assistant and a life work balance, meet new exciting and energizing people and have fun

You will be pleased to know I got off to a reasonable start and I did however manage to find some me-time over the last 3 weeks to relax

That involved making good use of my Kindle iPad app and my new Apple TV ( love it) catching up on all the movies I’ve missed in the last 3 years ( I mean who doesn’t go to the movies for 3 years – pathetic Lynne) and spending lots of idle time on my front verandah reading

Love my front verandah – all it needs is me and a glass of wine

Now my friends all tend to have very diverse reading habits with only my sister having a similar penchant from crime novels to me. So where does one go to find book and movie recommendations and inspiration from like minded souls. All I can say is thank god for DR Google

Search “Best Books for 2013”

Search “Best Crime Novels for 2013”

Search “Best movies 2010-2013”

and a special thanks to all those bloggers out there who share fav movies and books

So I am going to do my bit (note to book publishers – please send your appreciation reward to my “get a life” fund)

Here’s my list of recommendations and BTW I do read other things beside crime novels but starting with Crime Novels ( note some a lot darker than others )

Now I read anything by Jo Nesbo with Police being a highlight for 2013, Michael Robotham ( Watching You was good ), David Baldacci (note if you are like me and over the Danielle Steele genre – BEWARE every now and then he brings out one of those gut wrenching power of love and determination and miracles story), Robert Goddard, Michael Connelly, Karin Fossum, Nicci French ( loved the trilogy Blue Monday, Tuesday’s Gone and Waiting for Wednesday – bring on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday I say), Camilla Lackberg and a fair bit of Jodi Piccoult stuff.

I love Ian Rankin, am bit over Val McDermid, still fond of Elizabeth George, don’t mind a bit of Grisham every now and then and there are lots of great Scandinavian crime writers of the ilk of Stieg Larsson like Arnaldur Indridason, Ava Larsson and Hanning Mankell

My 2013 highlights have been

Thrillers

Police by Jo Nesbo ( me thinks this has been his best yet)

Funny/Clever

The Rosie Project by Graham Simsion is an absolutely hilarious, feel-good novel. I read this on the plane. How embarrassing just couldn’t help myself from laughing out loud and if you have ever heard me laugh you would know what I mean. Whilst the ending is a bit lame I cant wait for the movie.

Thriller with a nice mix of humour

When Will there there be Good News by Kate Atkinson – I love her sense of humour, ( not for reading on the plane) her sharp eye for the quirks of human behaviour and tales of dramatic events with unexpected twists

The Cuckoos Calling by Undercover J.K. Rowling, aka “new” crime writer Robert Galbraith is a very entertaining move into a new crime novel genre for Rowling.

Very Very dark ( for me anyway)

The Gillian Flynn Trilogy with Gone Girl being the highlight

Different

Sister by Rosamund Lupton This is a confusing emotive and compelling crime novel that really appealed to me yet I couldn’t get into her next novel Afterwards

Historical Fiction

The Aviators Wife by Melanie Benjamin

This is the story of the relationship between Anne and Charles Lindberg told from her perspective. This book was beautiful. It was raw, and heartbreaking in places; but beautifully done.

A review of the book I related to

It was real. It never tied itself up in a neat little bow. It was complex, and deep. It was unfair, and unresolved. It was life. I liked the stream of consciousness narrative. I fell in love with Anne, the main character, as she copes with the unexpected ups and downs of marriage, fame, and life, while trying to find herself, and figure out what it means to be a woman.

Motivational – don’t normally read this sort of stuff but then again it was a year of doing things I don’t normally do

Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg

Sandberg is the chief operating officer of Facebook and is ranked on Fortune’s list of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business and as one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In Lean In,

She recounts her own decisions, mistakes, and daily struggles to make the right choices for herself, her career, and her family. She provides practical advice on negotiation techniques, mentorship, and building a satisfying career, urging women to set boundaries and to abandon the myth of “having it all.” She describes specific steps women can take to combine professional achievement with personal fulfillment and demonstrates how men can benefit by supporting women in the workplace and at home.
Written with both humor and wisdom, Sandberg’s book is an inspiring call to action and a blueprint for individual growth. Lean In is destined to change the conversation from what women can’t do to what they can.

A Way Through – The Rick Farley Story by Nicholas Brown and Susan Bowen ( I will write a separate blog post about this book )

Bit of fairly serious Chick lit

In a Moment by Caroline Finnerty is a very emotional read, be prepared to go through all the stages of grief, Denial, Anger, Depression and then Acceptance.

A Beautiful Death by Fiona McIntosh sees drop dead gorgeous DCI Jack Hawksworth and his team venture into the murky world of human organ trading.

Still on my list of Must Reads is

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini, who is of course the bestselling author of truly wonderful and gut wrenching The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns,

Paris Wife by Paula McLain, which according to the reviews is in a similar vein to the Aviators Wife and a

A deeply evocative story of ambition and betrayal, The Paris Wife captures a remarkable period of time and a love affair between two unforgettable people: Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.

Love to hear what your fav book is and why

Footnote

When getting a life means I venture beyond my front veranda for more than 24 hours apparently the most polite and most popular Out of the Office email should look something like this

Thank you for your email. I am out of the office from [DAY, DATE] to [DAY, DATE] and unable to respond at this time.

I will review your message following my return on [DAY, DATE]. If you need immediate assistance, contact [Name, phone number and email address].

Thank you for your understanding.

Best regards,

Your Name

I personally would prefer

“I have been kidnapped by my friends until <insert date> . They are holding me hostage, but treating me well. A condition of my release is my full surrender of all technology and complete cooperation…I will respond as soon as I am home safe and sound.”

PS Victoria I know you said you couldn’t be friends with anybody who didn’t like Canada by Richard Ford. Please make an exception for me. Whilst this book got rave reviews (you have plenty of new found friends) your current friend Lynne just found this book was all dark and no light – so depressing far too much ‘dirty realism’ for me

Victoria please remember I am with Marlene Dietrich ( and I am very, very confident you are too)

“It’s the friends you can call up at 4 a.m. that matter.”

A goal is a dream with a deadline.

Back in October I wrote a post about my mission to reach my ideal weight in 2014

The post was very rewarding for a number of reasons including the emails I received from people who were inspired by the post to join me on my journey

I am also very pleased to share with you I am getting there (big pat on the back time)

To date this has been achieved in the main by following Rebecca’s advice about my diet and the mantra

High protein, low carbs, good fats and small portion sizes.

You would be so proud if you saw my grocery trolley and my refrigerator – 100 points

So I started to think mmh what could I achieve if I took the rest of Rebecca’s advice and got stuck into the exercise.?

Even when I was young exercise was not high on the list of things I enjoyed. I played sport but in the main the aim of that was to get into school teams for regional events so I didn’t have to go to school from time to time

My brother and sister and I also did the horse show circuit. Anyone who shows horses knows that takes a lot of hard work – exercising, cleaning saddles, washing horses, plaiting tails et al and stress that comes from being a high achiever and wanting to win every time I went in the ring.

Winning was good but it was wasn’t much fun

By the time I was sixteen I had enough of the stress and was thrilled when we sold the horses and bought a speed boat. Sacre bleu I can just imagine all the young girls out there who would give anything to have a horse would be hating me right now

But seriously buying a speed boat and going water skiing every weekend was the best thing my family ever did. Actually spending your weekend having fun – there is nothing like it and then in my thirties we discovered snow skiing – awesome awesome awesome,

My dad still has the boat all we have to do is dust it off

Sadly water skiing and snow skiing seem to be part of my past and its looks like walking is the go

So how much walking do I have to do?

Well it appears the 10,000 steps concept seems to be trendy right now and its all about setting goals

A good way to remember goal setting is the SMART principles, consider these when setting your goals:

1. Specific – goals should indicate precisely what is going to happen

2. Measurable – you should be able to quantify your goal

3. Achievable – you have to be confident that you can achieve your goals

4. Realistic – ensure that your goals are realistic and maintainable, it may not be beneficial to say you are going to add an extra hour walk every day if you realistically may not be able to stick with it

5. Time-bound – ensure that your goals can be achieved within a reasonable time frame

See http://www.10000steps.org.au/library/setting-your-goals/

So I thought I would do some research into how many kilometres are in 10000 steps?

According to this blog the answer depends on your stride length and the length of each step.

Number of kilometres in 10,000 steps = 10,000 steps X Stride Length in kilometres

Stride length can be measured or calculated:
Women .413 * height
Men .415 * height

Now I am 175 cm tall so I imagine that means I would have the same stride length as the average man

So doing the maths

175 x 0.145 = 72.62 cm = 0.000725 km

So to walk 10,000 steps I have to walk 7.25km in a day

WOW so walking a 5km/hr I will have to walk for 87 mins per day

Now there is a goal and according to Napoleon Hill “A goal is a dream with a deadline”

2014 is the deadline

Is it SMART?

Have I got what it takes?

We will see wont we?

Don’t count the days make the days count

Summer

Hair getters lighter

Skin Gets darker

Water gets warmer

Drinks get colder

Music gets louder

Nights get longer

Paradise gets better

These are the little things in my life that age has told me as I look back are the big things that matter

Today is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.

The title of this blog comes from a quote I love by Brad Paisley and I am going to make it my New Years resolution and I am not going to follow Mark Twains lead

“New Year’s Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual,” – Mark Twain

I got off to a great start and I was on the beach early this morning with my camera. Now I didn’t take this photo

But I was up with the sparrows recording the beauty in paradise on the first day of 2014 and I did take these photos.

Though I must admit there were definitely people expending a lot more energy than me

and a few cuties making the most of this perfect morning

The new year stands before us waiting to to be written and its our chance to get it right.

Rick Farley A life with a lesson for us all

I am a person who needs to be surrounded by good friends to truly relax and find it almost impossible to take 5 when I am left to my own devices

So this Christmas I am determined to break that mould. My front verandah has become my new best friend along with Amazon Kindle and Netfix and Crackle and iTunes

A Google search told me the best TV series of the Year was House of Cards.

I have been fascinated by Rick Farley since I read his 2003 Australia Day address so on my iPad Kindle I am reading his biography ‘A Way Through’

What a contrast my choices of verandah entertainment has been

House of Cards is indeed brilliant but so dark. Kevin Spacey as Congressman Frank Underwood Machiavellian personality is just so evil.

I wish he was an anomaly but we all know there are people in the real world just like him with no empathy, conscience or remorse and believe everything should revolve entirely around them and their quest for power no matter who or what they have to crush to quench their thirst.

Some eerie quotes from the series

Power is a lot like real estate. It’s all about location, location, location. The closer you are to the source the higher your property value.

Choosing money over power is a mistake almost everyone makes. Money is the big mansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after ten years. Power is that old stone building that stands for centuries. I cannot respect someone who does not see the difference.

Now according to the web President Obama has said of House of Cards and Frank Underwood (who will resort to murder, sexual impropriety, blackmail, fraud and a litany of evils to grease the legislative process).

“I wish things were that ruthlessly efficient….. this guy’s getting a lot of things done”

I would prefer to think the President has been misquoted or spoke in jest

The most poignant part of the series1 for me is the last episode when Frank’s wife Claire (who can do evil pretty well herself) asks Frank what legacy will they leave on the world and he can’t give her an answer.

Such a contrast to Rick Farley who also spent a considerable amount of time in the world of politics.

“In this era of adversarial politics and campaigning there are lessons to be learned from his life, his capacity to get everyone talking to one another, and to agree on a compromise” Natasha Mitchell ABC Radio

“Farley brought competing interests together, listened deeply and patiently, worked from clear principles, helped people to understand each others’ perspective and to find common ground, and often delivered results that everyone could live with. Farley usually negotiated deals that represented real progress, but more importantly, that left a legacy of better relations between competing interests. Invariably, he earned the respect, trust and admiration of those he worked with.” Andrew Campbell

Rick was a city boy who is his own words was

shaped over a long time by a very diverse group of Australians – cattlemen, farmers, conservationists and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. I thank them all for the education they have provided me. It also has been shaped by over 25 years in the political and public policy arena, which represents both the best and worst of our national endeavour.

As his 2003 Australia Day address shows, Rick had a big picture vision for agriculture in this country and was 100% committed to Australia being the great country it deserves

So I perceive my country now to be a bit lost; still not managing change equitably; searching for its place in the world; looking sometimes for simple truths and solutions which no longer exist – in the middle of a cultural vortex and not quite sure of the exit point.

In that situation, it seems sensible to me to look to the bedrock of our nation, the points that can ground us and give us stability. In my view, these distil down to our country – our land and waters – and the nature of our relationships with each other.

Unless we use natural resources in a sustainable way, we are mining the future. Unless the relationships between our citizens are respectful and inclusive, we are a divided and diminished society.

To me, these are the defining features of Australian culture and identity. Together, they can unite our communities, build resilience, and create a firm foundation from which to meet the ever-increasing challenges we face.

By any measure, we are not caring properly for our natural resources.

We automatically imported European systems of agriculture, based on wet, fertile landscapes, and unsuited to our fragile soils and rainfall patterns. Australia’s wealth depended on agriculture and mining for a long time, and without sufficient knowledge about the long-term results, we went hell for leather……

The tasks before us obviously are enormous. Farming systems will have to change; further adjustment in the farm sector is likely; rehabilitation will take decades and will be impossible in some areas; public and private costs will be huge; new regulatory systems will have to be introduced; and a vast amount of political and social capital will need to be invested.

But unless we do it, in my view we will limit our future as a nation and as a society. Our economic, social and even our spiritual security will inexorably be diminished.

Sadly Rick Farley is no longer able to grow his legacy but eleven years later what Rick said in 2003 is just as relevant today

There is a golden opportunity here – to come together in an act of national will to create a priceless legacy for future generations; to cement part of the foundation for a modern Australian culture and identity. One that builds on the past, but can deal with the new realities we face.

I never met Rick Farley but I am honoured to be working side by side with people who knew him and respected him and I for one will be working hard in 2014 (25 Years of Landcare) to celebrate both his vision and inspire others to make it their mission.

In Andrew Campbell’s article “Whatever happened to brave leaders” he says

Rick Farley … was gifted in speaking truth to power, in cogent language that political leaders and their constituents could “get”. How we miss those clear, far-sighted voices in debates over how best to share the water resources of the Murray-Darling Basin. How we miss their ability to understand and empathise with all sides and cut to the essence, to find a way through to a better place.

In Rick Farley we lost a real national leader, one of the most significant Australians of the late 20th century.

There are indeed lessons to be learnt from his life. Rick Farley may be a “one of” but surely a team of people who aspire to achieve his vision could have a red hot chance This makes me ponder perhaps the most pressing thing wouldn’t you agree is that we (agriculture) identify and nurture the next generation of Rick Farleys?

The Amazing Disappearing Farmer A heartfelt story

Browne’s Dairy first caught my attention whilst I was visiting WA in November 2012 with their very heartfelt and very entertaining campaign Save WA Dairy Use by Date Campaign I wrote about it at the time here and explained very cleverly on film here

Many of their products are very funky

and I imagine appeal to the demographic ( 13-18yrs) who turn to heaven forbid to less healthy alternatives in their teens

Now they are appealing to the hearts and minds of Western Australians through the Amazing Disappearing Dairy Farmer campaign

According to their website

In a massive show of defiance to those companies who choose to import Eastern States’ dairy products, thousands of everyday West Australians turned out to declare themselves ambassadors of WA dairy. A lucky few were then selected to broadcast their message of encouragement back to WA farmers. They’re West Aussies from every walk of life – young, old, families, parents, brothers, sisters and friends. People like Madeline Abbot and Robert Lorrimer from Ascot, the Rickett family from Ellenbrook and Cameron Powell from Scarborough.

While these people don’t know each other and have probably never met, they all share something in common – they recognise that without the hard work of WA’s dairy farmers, there would simply be no milk. It’s vitally important that our farmers are able to secure a fair return from the market for the milk they produce. This is the cornerstone of Brownes’ philosophy and a cause we are proud to champion.

Imported dairy products are hurting WA farmers – that’s the cold, hard truth. So with the help of our WA dairy ambassadors, we’re issuing a call to arms to all proud West Australians to buy local and support your State. This is one of the messages that our stars of the screen are now relaying on television and online around the State this week.

I look forward to seeing the impact of Brand WA on Western Australians. Will appealing to the heart translate into purchases? Well no-one can say Browne’s Dairy aren’t giving it a red hot go