Reg Tomkin, a hard, but fair man and father, was laid to rest at Benambra, Monday afternoon.
A large crowd, including many locals, livestock agents, politicians, and councillors, attended the funeral service.
Best mates, Cr Ben Buckley, and Max Pendergast, along with sons Doug and Rohan, told numerous stories of their time with Reg.
Reg held the respect of many, and was well remembered for his contributions to sport, and the production of super fine wool.
Unlike much of the balance of Victoria, and while most areas of Gippsland have had rain over the past two months, it remains quite dry across all districts.
Travelling to the high country Monday morning, it was very noticeable how dry it is becoming. Producers with irrigation rights are watering paddocks and crops.
In contrast to the very green pockets through the MacAllister irrigation basin, and the few paddocks along the Tambo Valley, pastures are quite dry looking to the eye, especially for the middle of June.
West and South Gippsland have grass with some winter growth, but one can still kick up dust, or drive 2WD through paddocks and drains.
While at the Sale store cattle market, last Friday, farmers were saying that dams have had no run-off, and one producer with a 120 hectare out paddock was already buying water to fill dams.
One attendee at the funeral said “you should stay here overnight, and experience what a real frost feels like”.
In the Tambo Valley, Monday morning, it was 11 degrees, but at Omeo, midday, it was only four degrees.
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a warmer and dry winter for 2017, but it appears that much of this is affecting Gippsland.
Some crop growers in NSW are saying it is too wet, while in some other areas, crops are up but need more rain.
Dry farming crops in Gippsland look like they need a decent drink.
So, where does this leave farmers for the ensuing spring and summer? Will they be able to finish stock in spring, or will the predicted dry conditions see more sheep and cattle come onto the market early?
One wouldn’t think so, especially when Sale agents only offered 181 cattle at last Friday’s store sale.
Travelling around all parts of Victoria does show the large amount of hay and silage held in reserve for this year. One Tambo Crossing producer said he had not fed out any extra feed yet, but would start in a couple of weeks.
Having all of the hay and silage is a blessing if sufficient rain does not fall this winter, but if water diminishes over the next two or three months, extra feed won’t make a whole lot of difference.
Looking at the BOM’s rainfall map for Australia, there is a large brown patch covering all of Gippsland, Melbourne, and some areas north of Melbourne.
Melbourne weather forecasts always amuse me when presenters comment how nice the ensuing winter’s day, or days will be with “glorious sunshine”. I admit, it does make for great living conditions, but “let it rain, let it rain”, I say.
Always the optimist, the glass is half full, and spring rain will get us out of trouble. Producers are happy to do without the mud during winter, providing spring rain comes early.
