Garvoc cattle breeders Peter and Jill Wines received an unexpected text message a month ago whilst holidaying on a Pacific Islands cruise.
The message came from a concerned neighbour, who was unaware of their whereabouts, asking how they had fared as wildfires swept the South-West of the state on St Patrick’s Day.
Mr Wines, who at that stage was totally unaware of the fires or the damage they had caused, soon discovered that all of his sheds, machinery and fences, and seven-eights of his 120 hectares of pastures, had been destroyed on their The Sisters Road property.
With nowhere to contain the cattle and no one to manage them in his absences, Mr Wines accepted an offer from WVLX manager Tim Nowell and Gordon Branson, Banquet Angus.
The offer was to house and feed the cattle with donated hay at the Mortlake saleyards, until the family returned home and better arrangements could be made.
Consequently, with surplus feed scarce in the region and the Wines’ property in need of re-establishing its pastures, some 127 head of the Angus and Angus-Simmental cow herd, most with newborn calves, were advertised and offered for sale at the WVLX on Thursday.
Offered over five drafted pens, these were sold to supportive competition, with the tops – 22 Angus cows with Angus calves at foot - fetching a sale high $2150 per outfit, while five remaining pens made $1600-$2000.
WVLX manager Tim Nowell said the offer to accommodate the cattle was the least the company could do when the room and the facilities were being unused.
“It was suggested by our agents that some affected people may need assistance and were only happy to help,” Mr Nowell said.
“While the hay for cattle was also generously donated, the biggest commitment of all was made by Gordon Branson, who attended the yards three to four times a week for a month to feed the cattle which were in the midst of calving through the ordeal.
Mr Branson said each time he came down, one or two new calves had been born.
“They started to calve from the night they arrived and they have been calving ever since,” Mr Branson said.
“They were no trouble, they were good calving condition when they arrived.”
Mr Wines said he was extremely grateful for all the assistance he has received since the fires last month.
“To the manager and agents of the WVLX, and to Mr Branson who took control of the situation, we are very appreciative for all their help as it was all completed without our input as we were unable to return home until the cruise was completed,” Mr Wines said.
He said they would wait until the spring or even later before they restock the property with cattle.
“While our stockyards were basically untouched, the rest of the property still has to be re-fenced and pastures sown and established before it can take on cattle again,” he said.
“It will take time and we are in no hurry.”
