CIRCULATION 1810 P 02 6777 1111 F 02 6777 1112 [email protected] walchatelecottage.com.au 30 June 2021 Maa...sk up! Six unmasked sheep were refused access to public transport on at present,” Dr Allen said last week. He explained that if anyone is Monday morning and are pictured working out their next move identified as a close contact by NSW Health, they will contact you. after escaping lockdown. It is reported they were looking to You can get a COVID test at Walcha General Practice if: travel north, following a week of wet weather in Walcha, however their shepherd had not pre-arranged their border passes or their • you have been identified as a close contact by NSW Health masks! • you have been to a ‘case location’ or on transport at a time identified as being at risk. You can identify these places/times simply by They were not the only ones caught out on Monday following googling ‘current NSW COVID-19 locations’ implementation by NSW Health over the weekend that mask wearing is compulsory for everyone over the next two weeks who enters • you have symptoms, even if they are only very mild. Symptoms a building that is not a residential premise. This was implemented are: fever, tickly/sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, new following an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta Strain of COVID tiredness, headache, sore muscles or joints, nausea/vomiting or in Sydney and surrounds. Reports from Walcha businesses were that diarrhoea many people were not adhering to the mask-wearing directive, and All you need to do is call and make an appointment if you need a test not checking in every time they entered. “We have had some angry and remember your mask. customers who said they had checked-in earlier in the day, however it is really important that you check-in every time you enter,” Kings Anyone who has been to Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Blue Pharmacy staff commented. Mountains or Central Coast since June 21 is being asked to stay at home for 14 days after you were in these areas. You are not being Our lost sheep could have accessed masks at IGA, Kings Pharmacy asked to get tested unless you are in one of the above categories. or Walcha Handmade, who all have supplies, unlike toilet rolls which have all sold out at IGA following panic buying in Walcha over the If you have been in close or casual contact with anyone who has weekend. “We stocked our shelves full on Saturday and it was all visited from these areas, you are not being asked to be tested. If you gone by Monday. Hopefully more masks and toilet rolls will arrive develop symptoms get tested. today,” Kim McKinnon from IGA commented. So please be more responsible than our escapee sheep and adhere Panic spread through Walcha on Thursday when reports spread to the rules in place, as business owners and staff are only following like wildfire around town that there was a positive case of COVID in directives from NSW Health for our safety. Businesses can be fined town. “I want to assure everyone that there have been no positive if they are not implementing the rules, so it’s time to Maa....sk up COVID tests in Walcha and no one has a COVID infection in Walcha Walcha! By SIMON NEWTON Well stay at home orders are now in place for the Greater Sydney, Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong areas until 9 July. Positive COVID cases are on the rise, 159 people are now confirmed OK EARTHMOVING cases with further expectations that this number will rise. For us, like the rest of NSW we need to abide by our restrictions with guest PH 6777 7430 FAX 6777 7448 limitations, the wearing of masks compulsory in all indoor non- • Earthworks • Road Construction • Erosion Work • residential settings and at organised outdoor events. We all need • Stick Raking • Dam building • to contribute in stopping the spread of COVID-19, even if there are no confirmed cases in our region. The restrictions affect everyone’s PETER O’KEEFE: 0429 944 821 JASON HOY: 0437 277 197 business in one way or another and the sooner we can get them lifted the better. Yes, the restrictions are very harsh on many people and their businesses throughout regional NSW, but it only takes one single person to do the wrong thing. A simple contact with a person travelling through or returning from a hot spot who is a positive carrier could spread it throughout our community before we even realise it is here. Argentina has resumed its beef export trade but under self-imposed restrictions. Argentina placed a self-imposed snap ban on beef exports a month ago to rein in domestic meat prices for their citizens. Global protein shortages saw beef export volumes from Argentina up close to 20% compared to the same period as last year. China accounted for the bulk of that increase which pushed their domestic prices up. They have now resumed their global beef trade but only at 50% on their 2020 volume which means China will need to source their red meat from another country such as the US. These global protein shortages have allowed Australian beef exporters to diversify our beef markets so we don’t end up in the situation again with China. The beef markets continue to break new ground with the Eastern Young Cattle Indicator reaching 935.5c/kg last Tuesday. Widespread rain and the prediction of a wet winter and spring has beef producers’ confidence on a high. Angus Feeder steer prices are now knocking on the $5/kg mark, while our grass fed kill markets are close to $8/ kg carcass weight. Once again quality breeding females are in high demand with PTIC cows making over $3000 and cows with calves at CONTRACT foot topped at $3500 a unit last week on AuctionsPlus. Bull selling season is upon us and the producers of this district are BOOM spoilt with choice. Over the next 12 weeks in excess of 200 bulls will go under the hammer and what better time has there been to trade SPRAYING in that old bull. The local studs really do an exceptional job breeding quality bulls with industry leading genetics to improve your breeding AVAILABLE herd so don’t hesitate to go and check them out. 720 cattle were yarded at the TRLX on Monday with heifers being the highlight of the sale. Angus weaner heifers topped at 616c/kg, weighed 270kg returning $1668. Charolais sired heifers, 470c/kg, 416kg returned $1957. The feeder steer market was strong, but prices eased which was quality related while the cow market continued its strong run topping at 324c/kg. One very heavy bullock weighing in at 1000kg made 280c/kg, returning a whopping $2800. 3300 lambs and only 400 sheep were yarded on Monday at the TRLX with restocking Dorper ewes topping the sale and selling to a sale top of $300. A large processor was noticeably absent due to a two- week shut down for maintenance and the lamb market was a tad softer, while the mutton market sold to dearer trends compared to the previous week. Heavy weight lambs topped at $231, sucker trade weights to $198 while XB ewes sold to $210 and merino wethers to $228. Online selling continues to build momentum, especially with COVID-19 lockdowns and the way society has progressed to the digital world of working from home. The team at Nutrien Boulton’s will hold their third online clearance sale on 30 July with numerous items already booked Contact Dave at Richardsons Walcha on and more entries are invited. 0427 012 400 or drop in to see the team. Page 2 ... 30 June 2021 Bowls bronze to Dale finalist in ASC Awards Sarianne Andrews Representatives from Show Societies By A.J. Cross across Australia held Congratulations to Walcha Central their first ever virtual student Sarianne Andrews who was a conference recently member of the North West Secondary (due to COVID) School Lawn Bowls team that won which celebrated the a bronze medallion at the NSW success of the Show Championships in Sydney last week. movement and was Playing in the number two NW team, titled ‘Adapt, Sustain Sari and her three team mates won their and Grow’. Walcha first two matches against Sydney South Show secretary, Dale West 32 – 5 and South Coast 16 – 5 Webber logged on before going down to Sydney East 13 – from Armidale and 6 in their final pool match. found the speakers to The NW number one team rounded up be very informative with some good topics discussed. Sydney South West 29 – 1 and South These included recruiting volunteers, encouraging Coast 9 – 6 before losing a thriller 16 – younger people, tips on running a COVID-safe Show 15 to Sydney East in the last pool match. and success stories. North West finished second in Pool As a part of the conference, the Agricultural A and third overall in the ten team Societies Council (ASC) presented awards to competition to qualify for the semi finals honour volunteers and shows in the four categories Sarianne is all smiles with her Bronze Medallion of the tournament. of resilience, dedication, excellence and innovation. from the State Championships last week Walcha’s Dale Webber was a finalist in the dedication They were defeated 35 – 14 by eventual category. Dale has been our Show Secretary for winners Western, who won the finals 38 – three years now and has enjoyed learning about all 21 against Sydney West after SW downed Sydney East 27 – 26 in the other semi final.