DONALD BIRCHIP Phone: 5497 1222 Phone: 5492 2735 Email: The Buloke Times Fax: 5492 2863 [email protected] Email: [email protected] birchipblc@ Est. 1875 bigpond.com Published Tuesdays and Fridays PRICE (inc. G.S.T.) $2 PP331336/0000 1 Friday, March 5, 2021 For the Shire of Buloke, and the districts of Birchip, Charlton, Donald, St. Arnaud, Watchem and Wycheproof • Charlton’s deb set: Back row, left to right, Brodie Grylls, Jake Burke, Fergus Bourke, Caileb Good. Middle, Michelle & Wes Jenkyn (Trainers). Front, Thomas Fitzpatrick, Ruby Wright, Morgan Sullivan, Courtney Sait, Dora McGeown, Zara Jenkyn, Sophie Roberts, Chace Hooper-Dixon. (Photo by Andy Banks Photography) Debs Dazzle at the Rex The Charlton Neighbourhood House was thrilled to present the Charlton positive occur, particularly them to achieve something Protocols Debutante Ball for 2021, with the event being held for the first time at the for our youth.We auspice positive. Adhering to the COVID Rex Theatre. the Youth Group, and its “It is also terrific that we protocols placed limitations; presi dent, Dora McGeown, were able to be the first post- however, the event was Neighbourhood House was Campus, which had con- university and employment is on our committee. To- COVID event in the Rex, structured for the Debs to approached in late Novem- ducted the event for over 70 shortly. gether we have spent the and able to financially sup- feel like they had experi- ber by the Debs to see if any years, had announced it was “The difficulties of COVID year seeing many things port them with hire for the enced a true Deb evening, assistance could be offered, not able to continue. have had such a negative im- taken away from them, and evening and trainings, along and that as many people had as the event had been post- The young ladies had pur- pact on our lives,” said pres- stresses added with home with supporting small busi- the opportunity to join the poned three times, and chased their dresses and ident, Kaylene Cossar. schooling and social isola- ness with purchasing the celebrations as possible. The Friends of East Wimmera young men their suits, and “It was important that we tion. This was a wonderful suits, flowers, presents and event took place over four Health Services, Charlton some were heading off to endeavoured to have something opportunity to work with food and so on.” • Continued on page 2. Mildura Rail Line Faces Longer Freight Times . Incompetent, Unaware – or Sabotage? From Freight Alliance CEO, Reid Mather. the use of the non-gauge con- Minister Allan’s ill-informed the impacts this will have on The Murray Basin Rail Project (MBRP) hits another hurdle, with the vertible concrete sleepers in decision now puts this project Victoria’s liveability and latest revelation the Sea Lake Lines is undergoing maintenance, and Minister the current works. in the cost prohibitive basket for economy. future governments to deliver. “Trucks cannot address the Allan has approved the use of non-gauge convertible concrete sleepers. RFA Chairman, Glen Milne, questions “if the min- The Essence freight task alone,” Cr. Milne said. The Federal Government Consequences • Bigger, longer and heav- ister is unaware, ill-informed The very essence of this “Modern cities all around the provided $195.2 million of ier trucks will be utilised or has intentionally decided to project was to decrease truck world are utilising rail more So, what does this mean? funding and a further $5 mil- across Victoria. use non-gauge convertible movements by 25,000/year and more to move freight ef- lion to plan for full standardi- • Rail Freight on the Mildura concrete sleepers as the final and with Victoria’s freight ficiently and safely – yet here • More trucks in Mel- sation of the MBRP. Line will take 3 hours longer death nail in this project’s cof- task set to triple by 2050, and we have a government deter- bourne and more trucks in our to travel to Melbourne than fin”. Melbourne will be Australia’s mined that road will be the so- suburbs and freeways. The current actions of the before the project commenced. Non-gauge convertible largest city. It is naive to think lution, as shown by their concrete sleepers were not the continual mismanagement, Andrews Government and • Sea Lake and Manan- “Off the Table” that a current and future Mel- only solution to the current actions and poor decisions Minister Allan are at best not gatang will not have access to Minister Allan has an- bourne will not be impacted maintenance work. There are within this project. within the intent of the fund- the national rail network, nounced standardisation of by congestion, air quality, products that could have been This government’s contin- ing. which essentially limits their the MBRP is off the table for amenity, and road safety. used that allow the govern- ued failings on this significant market opportunities. the Andrews Government and What appears to be a polit- These funds will only see that standardisation of this ment to undertake this work, ical decision of a city centric project has been bad enough – part 2 of the 5-stage project • Freight cost will continue project will be the responsi- and future government to con- Victorian Government demon- but the intentional use of non- repaired, a project that was to to increase from the MBRP bility of future governments. vert the rail gauge without re- strates no understanding of convertible sleepers is a slap be completed 2018. catchment. She has also since admitted placing the sleepers. But the long-term implications of in the face to all Victorians. in Germany must have adopted the same “fad” as Barley Leads the Way, Again has been seen in Australia. Recently, this newspaper reported that feed Since then, we have learnt that the Mexican barley sales to Saudi Arabia under a November 2020 brewing industry is dominated by two groups, the tender were a good sign, especially when the Chinese FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 2021 Corona makers and Heineken. government had made its market virtually impenetrable by raising the tariff on Australian barley to 80%. sufficiency approach, and barley production reached For the first time, Australia has sold malting barley to Mexico, bought by the Mexican brewing giant Now, we find that Australia has been successful 2 million tonnes. But eventually the lack of water induced the government to decide that importing the which belongs to Heineken. Mexico ranks as the in a further tender, winnng most of the 660,000 world's fourth largest beer consumer. tonnes of feed barley for delivery in March and April grain was a better use of resources. 2021. Moreover, CBH has stated that it expects At an average of about 1 million tonnes annually, Mexico produces its own malting barley, with And the price has risen by almost 18% by Australian feed barley exports to Thailand and Viet- nam to double this year. Thus, exports to Thailand supplementary supplies from north America. comparison with the November 2020 tender. Australia has become more price competitive lately The CBH in Western Australia has reported that should rise from 700,000 to 1.4 million tonnes, and increase from 190,000 to 380,000 tonnes to Vietnam. compared with barley from alternative origins. demand for Australian feed barley in Saudi Arabia The Mexican, Saudi Arabian, and other exam- is likely to increase from "almost nothing" in the Not only barley meant for feeding animals is helping to soften the blow of China's action. ples suggest that, if you have the product, you can 2019-20 marketing year to more than 2 million sell it. Let us hope that the world market continues tonnes in this marketing year. Some time ago, it was hard to believe that a to allow Australia to export favourably, and the Saudi Arabia is the second largest barley relative engaged in the Mexico-Germany trade said pressure which the Chinese government seems to importer in the world. This results from a change she had sold more than 100,000 bottles of Corona want to exert on this country is lessened, little by in government policy. Earlier, it had adopted a self- beer from Mexico in one shipment. Young people little. Debs Dazzle at the Rex • Continued from page 1. falling into a full skirt of tulle, beaded bodice with a halter could play this piece, particu- Marea Judd, Kaylene Cossar; Jess McGurk, Chris Liv- different venues, and to ad- which was complimented by neckline and open back. To larly as she had to add the trainers, Michelle and Wes ingston, Barry McKenzie, dress the limited numbers al- a bow adorning the back of compliment Dora’s gown, she extra 5 entrance pieces earlier Jenkyn; pianist, Gill Gretgrix; Caryn Larmour, Margaret- lowed and travel restrictions, her dress. wore teardrop earrings which when the Rex music system venue suppliers, Uniting Church; Anne Wright, Hayden Jones; the Ball was live streamed. were gifted by her grand- malfunctioned. EWHS Charlton Campus, donors, Charlton Neighbour- The day was jam packed Courtney Sait mother. The Deb Set, represented Buloke Shire Council and hood House Opportunity for the Debs with photos start- The first Debutante was by Courtney, thanked the Rex Theatre. Vehicle Supplier Shop, Tormey’s IGA, and the ing at 3.30 p.m. at the Senior Courtney Sait, with her part- Zara Jenkyn many people involved and and Driver, John Sweatman; many catering donors; piano, Citizens’ Room. At 7 p.m. ner, Jake Burke. The final deb of the made a few small presenta- Livestream, Stuart Plumridge, Charlton Community Service they were bused up to the Courtney chose a princess evening was Zara Jenkyn, tions.