New beginnings for Giles abattoir

I was told of this news at the Baw Baw Shire Council meeting last week.

You may remember after some unappreciated and sneakily obtained video footage from an animal rights person, PrimeSafe Victoria aided the closing of this highly regarded family operation.

The next day I spoke with Colin, Kath and Val Giles, and Val and Ray's granddaughter Debbie Di Sisto. Unfortunately, Ray, who turned 81 on this day, is partly affected by a stroke brought on by the stress of the situation within their family business.

Colin appeared to be happy and pleased this part of his life was over, and the Giles families could get on with their lives.

For Colin and Kath, and Ray and Val, this meant a more relaxed retirement.

I also had the opportunity to speak with Peter Polovinka, who was the successful purchaser of the business.

He has already commenced cleaning up the outside of the abattoir, which had been closed for over two years.

Mr Polovinka is a jovial person who has a long background in setting up and fitting out abattoirs.

At the time of the closure many locals of Trafalgar lost their jobs or were - in some way or another – affected by this untimely event.

Mr Polovinka promised, where at all possible, to employ locals, or use local companies when fitting out and commencing slaughtering.

He hoped to slaughter the first beast in July this year, but planned to revamp the abattoir to export standard.

While he would like to be personally involved in the buying of livestock, Mr Polovinka plans to have buyers out in the field.

He intends to slaughter cattle and sheep only for the export market, and will be sending the carcases to a boning room.

This will still be a boon for the district, even though the small producer businesses catered for by the Giles family have and will have to continue killing elsewhere.

The new owner plans to build numbers up to 200 cattle, and or 1600 sheep a day, and employ up to 30 people in varying roles.

He said most of the interior of the abattoir would be rebuilt to meet current export standards. He said he spent most of his working life doing this for other people, and this time it is for himself.

When talking with the Giles family, Colin made it clear they want to thank the many locals who assisted and supported them throughout this crisis, and also the people from across Victoria and interstate, many of whom they did not know.

Colin particularly mentioned Frank Hernadi, Bob Jones, and Mick Bourke OAM for their fantastic efforts.

He also praised the Baw Baw Shire for their assistance throughout the ordeal, and for their decision to extend the existing use permit to enable a successful sale.

Colin said their grandfather, father and uncles had butcher shops in Middle Park, Albert Park and Brighton in the late 1930s and 40s, then his father moved to Gippsland and in 1956 and purchased one of the local butcher shops and abattoir. They built a new abattoir, which is the one recently sold, in 1966.

The news of the Giles abattoir being sold comes on the back of other recent sales.

I have yet to confirm this, but most people in the industry know of the sale of Tabro Meats, both Wonthaggi and Moe, to a Chinese buyer.

To add to all of this, Joe Catalfamo of Tasman Meat fame has confirmed he has purchased the Deniliquin abattoir, and Castricums at Dandenong, with details to come at a later date.

All of these recent sales could help to boost a shrinking processor environment.

Meanwhile, three independent people are looking after the trust fund that was set up earlier in the year for the Giles family.

The money was donated to the family in the hope the facility would be reopened.

The fund is being held in consideration of further options.