Galston Rotary have supported the agricultural students at Galston High School with annual education trips to Quirindi.
My wife, Julia, and I set of from Galston with the aim of getting to Quirindi later that day.
First stop, Singleton for breakfast and were there joined by two other Galston Rotaryians, Brian and Harley.
Next was to catch up to the students bus at Arrow eld Horse Stud. This is claimed to be the number one horse stud in Australia.
About 20 brood mares in a paddock near the first assembly area put on a good display of galloping around the paddock. Then it was on to see mares with foals, some only 4 days old. The next stop was a yearling horse training area where young horses are trained ready for the yearling sales.
The errands in Quirindi included picking up the key for the race course from the council and food for the students. With the food in the fridge it was time to join the students at Windy Station. I thought Harley was a bad navigator but the bus was even worse. Harley, Brian, Julia and I were at Windy Station a good 15 minutes before the bus and students.
Windy Station is changing direction from lot feeding to natural grazing, which means no more hormone treatment. We were also shown the sowing of sorghum.
The BBQ dinner, with a few members of Quirindi Rotary Club, was enjoyable. The good news for Quirindi Rotary is they have a lot of new younger members who are enthusiastic.
Thursday morning saw breakfast at the race course, then off to the Cox’s farm, owned by Robert and Muriel. This was one of the rst farms visited when this Galston High School Year 9 Ag Class trip commenced 34 years ago under the instigation of former charter member George Cromie.
Due to the rain on Wednesday night, bailing of the prepared Lucerne hay was not possible, however the wrapping of a bale of silage was demonstrated along with the machinery used in cutting and bailing was shown.
Following the visit to the Cox farm, the students visited Quirindi High School Ag department prior to trip to Breeza Station. The four Rotarians arrived just in time to board the bus as they had made a trip to Werris Creek Railway Station. Well worth a visit to the museum in part of it.
Breeza Station grows cotton, both irrigated and dry, 2 types of wheat including durum, corn, sorghum, chic peas, some other smaller crops and they raise cattle on 12,700 acres (that sounds a lot bigger than 5,080 hectares). This station, along with the other properties, is situated on the Liverpool plains. This is the most fertile area in Australia along with the Darling Downs.
I am saddened that mining interests and Governments want to put the viability of this national asset at risk.
The Cox’s and Daniel from Breeza Station joined us for a meal at the RSL on thursday night.
Friday after breakfast off to the sheep station on top of the hill on the road to Timor.
A very enjoyable 3 days with thirty four year 9 and 10 students, three teachers and the Rotary crew.
Will I do it again? Just try and stop me.
