Sept2011_MT MEE NEWS
by Ian Wells
It is mid August as I write, and the long awaited spell of traditional winter weather continues. The sodden landscape has dried out, some nutrition and palatability has returned to our grasses and our livestock have never looked better.
And the Squire has just turned off a couple of decks of fats to slaughter and got very fair money – despite the general gloom over beef export prices. So on the micro scale, things aren’t all that bad!
On the broader front, things don’t look so rosy. Self- funded retirees have had a dreadful time since the GFC and recent events have been little short of catastrophic. The international equity market seems to be at the mercy of the hedge funds and short sellers who connive to bring about falling markets to line their pockets. The political shenanigans in the USA and the very real concerns about the future financial stability of some major European nations – and the possible downstream effects on the availability of wholesale funds to the Australian banks, are hastening the process.
So the hard – earned savings of many retirees have shrunk by almost half, and even worse, so has the income they were generating.
There is little doubt that the resources boom is providing wonderful windfall profits to our governments. But at the same time, the boom lies behind the madly high $A, which is poisoning the Australian economy. Primary production is struggling with a steeply rising cost base on the same returns it had 20 years ago and manufacturing is in a terminal decline. For example, Bluescope is reportedly reducing output by up to 50% and putting off 2000 workers. Meanwhile One Steel, the only other Australian steelmaker, has realised that it could operate more profitably by selling its unprocessed ore overseas!
What is the land that gave the world secure supplies of meat, wool, butter, the Hills Hoist and the FJ Holden coming to? We can wonder just what heritage we are leaving to our grandchildren, with our financial survival becoming utterly China and India dependent, our farmlands destroyed and our all important food security gone.
But all of this is only marginally relevant to our glorious Mountain, where on Sunday September 11th all our troubles will be forgotten as the Savoyard Singers bring us song and laughter in their annual spring concert. They have selected a wonderfully bright and happy program of well- known songs from stage and screen, and their obvious pleasure in performing for us makes our experience even more enjoyable.
You can still book with Kay (5498 2104) or Joyce (5498 2270) if you are quick!
By the time that you read this the Mt Mee Spring Ball and the September Markets will have been and gone. Mt Mee’s monthly markets are going from strength to strength, and if we didn’t have the new Hall deck heaven knows where we would put all of the stall-holders.
Sadly though, as Father Time takes his toll of the exponents of the “New Vogue” dance style, the patronage of our monthly dances is declining. So the future of the Mountain’s monthly dance is currently under review. One proposal is that it be replaced with several licensed events (with adequate suppers but no dinner) each year – featuring say R&R, Country, Blues or Jazz. This would perhaps interest Mt Mee residents – we see fewer locals at dances than the fingers on the hand of an old butcher!
Hall Committee would greatly appreciate feedback on this issue.
Many readers will be pleased to learn that young Michelle Knight, who earned such high praise for her organisation of the Woodford Memorial Hall refuge for flood victims earlier this year, is wonderfully happy in her new occupation on a cattle property deep in the Queensland bush. An earlier essay into bush employment didn’t work out – through no fault of Michelle’s, but now she is doing what she has always wanted. Good one Michelle!
The two spring rounds of wild dog baiting are coming up fast, with the first due for the week of September 5th and the next on October 3rd. The Council officers are doing a good job in spreading the net, with baiting in Mt Pleasant, Delaneys Ck and Rocksburgh now coordinated with the Mt Mee effort. This gives a much better chance of picking up the dogs as they move around their territories. Please keep your domestic dogs under close supervision during baiting weeks!
Dog and cat owners should also be watchful for paralysis ticks this spring. They are about in great numbers at the moment and preventative measures are really good value. Veterinary treatments for affected dogs and cats seem to start at about $500 these days!
Finally, here is a true story. A Mt Mee swain set out the other day to introduce his new lady to some local friends – and couldn’t remember her name!
On the broader front, things don’t look so rosy. Self- funded retirees have had a dreadful time since the GFC and recent events have been little short of catastrophic. The international equity market seems to be at the mercy of the hedge funds and short sellers who connive to bring about falling markets to line their pockets. The political shenanigans in the USA and the very real concerns about the future financial stability of some major European nations – and the possible downstream effects on the availability of wholesale funds to the Australian banks, are hastening the process.
So the hard – earned savings of many retirees have shrunk by almost half, and even worse, so has the income they were generating.
There is little doubt that the resources boom is providing wonderful windfall profits to our governments. But at the same time, the boom lies behind the madly high $A, which is poisoning the Australian economy. Primary production is struggling with a steeply rising cost base on the same returns it had 20 years ago and manufacturing is in a terminal decline. For example, Bluescope is reportedly reducing output by up to 50% and putting off 2000 workers. Meanwhile One Steel, the only other Australian steelmaker, has realised that it could operate more profitably by selling its unprocessed ore overseas!
What is the land that gave the world secure supplies of meat, wool, butter, the Hills Hoist and the FJ Holden coming to? We can wonder just what heritage we are leaving to our grandchildren, with our financial survival becoming utterly China and India dependent, our farmlands destroyed and our all important food security gone.
But all of this is only marginally relevant to our glorious Mountain, where on Sunday September 11th all our troubles will be forgotten as the Savoyard Singers bring us song and laughter in their annual spring concert. They have selected a wonderfully bright and happy program of well- known songs from stage and screen, and their obvious pleasure in performing for us makes our experience even more enjoyable.
You can still book with Kay (5498 2104) or Joyce (5498 2270) if you are quick!
By the time that you read this the Mt Mee Spring Ball and the September Markets will have been and gone. Mt Mee’s monthly markets are going from strength to strength, and if we didn’t have the new Hall deck heaven knows where we would put all of the stall-holders.
Sadly though, as Father Time takes his toll of the exponents of the “New Vogue” dance style, the patronage of our monthly dances is declining. So the future of the Mountain’s monthly dance is currently under review. One proposal is that it be replaced with several licensed events (with adequate suppers but no dinner) each year – featuring say R&R, Country, Blues or Jazz. This would perhaps interest Mt Mee residents – we see fewer locals at dances than the fingers on the hand of an old butcher!
Hall Committee would greatly appreciate feedback on this issue.
Many readers will be pleased to learn that young Michelle Knight, who earned such high praise for her organisation of the Woodford Memorial Hall refuge for flood victims earlier this year, is wonderfully happy in her new occupation on a cattle property deep in the Queensland bush. An earlier essay into bush employment didn’t work out – through no fault of Michelle’s, but now she is doing what she has always wanted. Good one Michelle!
The two spring rounds of wild dog baiting are coming up fast, with the first due for the week of September 5th and the next on October 3rd. The Council officers are doing a good job in spreading the net, with baiting in Mt Pleasant, Delaneys Ck and Rocksburgh now coordinated with the Mt Mee effort. This gives a much better chance of picking up the dogs as they move around their territories. Please keep your domestic dogs under close supervision during baiting weeks!
Dog and cat owners should also be watchful for paralysis ticks this spring. They are about in great numbers at the moment and preventative measures are really good value. Veterinary treatments for affected dogs and cats seem to start at about $500 these days!
Finally, here is a true story. A Mt Mee swain set out the other day to introduce his new lady to some local friends – and couldn’t remember her name!
A bottle of Johnny Walker could perhaps go to whoever uncovers the identity of our hero!
