Page 12 - Australian Pork Newspaper

A true industry stalwart retires
PORK Queensland Inc founding director John Riley is taking a well-deserved break from a lifetime of work with and for the pork industry.
John has been associ- ated with the industry in Queensland for as long as I can remem- ber as a consultant and since 2009 as a director with PQI.
He was one of the original directors who helped reform a Queensland represent- ative organisation to provide a voice for pig farming and the pork industry, taking key is- sues to the government as well as providing a voice into Australian Pork Limited as a State Farming Organisation.
John has been a com- mittee member of the Queensland Pig Con- sultancy Group in Toowoomba and since arriving in Australia 25 years ago has focused on supporting the in- dustry.
He worked as an APIQ auditor and as- sisted many Queens- land producers im- prove their production systems.
As a director of PQI, John has always pro- vided valued contribu- tions and robust debate on the core activities of our organisation and will be greatly missed.
The Pork Queensland Board thanks John for his service to our organisation and the Queensland pork in- dustry and wish him the very best in his re- tirement.
PQI membership call
After providing mem- bers a break from the annual fee for the past
Excellent quality Concrete Slats for Piggeries
Farrowing and weaner crates, growers and baconer pens. Feed hopper with stainless steel trough.
President’s Perspective
by JOHN COWARD
two years, PQI is now calling on members to continue supporting the function of the or- ganisation with ongo- ing or new membership and the annual fee.
• Members with more than 300 sows: $300 per annum.
• Less than 300 sows: $150 per annum.
• Associate members: $200 per annum.
This fee goes towards any expenses incurred in attending meetings as well as supporting our membership with
Queensland Farmers’ Federation.
PQI directors give their time free to sup- port the Queensland pork industry.
Call me on 0407 622 166 or any director for membership inquiries. Best wishes for 2020
PQI would like to ex- tend our best wishes to all producers and stakeholders and wish you and your families a happy and safe Christ- mas and a prosperous 2020.
Thank you!
Congratulations to Christmas Hills Brigade and Dianne Simmons (captain), Deirdre Lucas (secretary) and Veronica Holland (firefighter).
In the line of fire
John Riley
EVERY year, thousands of volunteer firefighters give up their free time and risk their lives to help their follow citizens.
Australia’s leading spe- cialist bushfire fighting pump company Austral- ian Pump Industries de- cided to find out what makes a firefighting vol- unteer tick.
The company launched a program to pull entries from volunteer brigades in Victoria with a view to letting them have their say about what makes these folks put themselves in the line of fire.
According to the ‘State of the Climate 2018’ re- port, there has been a long-term increase in Australian fire conditions and the length of bushfire seasons.
This has been a con- stant trend since the 1950s and there’s no denying the fact, even if the cause is open to question.
The concept of volun- teer firefighting appears to be almost unique to Australia.
The idea is that citizens, most of whom already have a full-time job, give up their leisure time with family and friends to train
and educate people and raise funds, then in emer- gency situations, they don their gear and report for duty within community that needs them most.
Country Fire Authority volunteers respond
Aussie Pumps’ Brad Farrugia said, “We start- ed with the Country Fire Authority in Victoria be- cause we know they have 50,000 volunteers and that is a mighty force.”
Aussie Pumps builds high-pressure firefighting pumps used by farmers and home owners to pro- tect their property.
They’ve supplied hun- dreds of pumps to the Na- tional Parks and Wildlife Service and to the Rural Fire Service in NSW.
The company believes if the volunteers are going to have to put themselves at risk, they should have the best equipment and get the credit they deserve.
“The more we get to understand the volunteers and the people who give up their free time, the more we realise what a huge debt we have,” Far- rugia said.
“We appreciate the over- ly selfless men and wom- en who protect the lives
and properties of others.” Here are some samples of the great responses the
company received.
This is from Craig War-
ren from Wallington Fire Station.
He said a lot with his short sharp comment about volunteers giving up their time.
The question was ‘what motivates a volunteer to join?’
“The only reward is feel- ing good about yourself by helping others,” Craig said.
Carol Brislane from Anakie Fire Brigade came up with a good point.
“I hope I may inspire others to join,” Carol said. Aussie Pumps was flooded with entries but eventually Christmas Hills Fire Brigade won the prize of an Aussie Fire Red Brigade Fire Captain high-pressure firefighting pump based on this very lyrical entry from Liz
Mildenhall.
“Motivated to learn
about fire behaviour and suppression after the devastating Black Satur- day bushfires, we women joined the Christmas Hills Brigade. Ten years later with more knowledge and
skills under our belts, we feel our efforts are valued, enjoy the teamwork and feel safer living in our beautiful bush,” Liz said.
Christmas Hills typical- ly has a history of active women firefighters going back to the 1970s.
Several of the female members are officers and hold important roles with- in the brigade.
The brigade often fields an all-female crew!
Aussie Pumps distribu- tors around the country are getting behind this “appreciate the firie vol- unteers” campaign and doing their bit to help out as well.
Bushfire survival guide
Tens of thousands of Aussie Pumps’ Bushfire Survival Guides are going out into the market, free of charge to help people prepare for the worst.
The guide helps to pro- tect property, livestock, crops and human life.
For more info on the Aussie Pumps’ prod- uct range, contact Aus- sie Pumps or dealers throughout Australia.
www.aussiepumps.com. au
Farrowing flooring with a 10mm gap; weaners flooring with a 12mm gap; and growers flooring with a 15mm gap.
Diagonal Farrowing Crate.
Straight Farrowing Crate.
Ph (02) 6644 6065
Mobile 0437 431 901 | Email sales@vereyken.com.au
2 Clark Rd, Junction Hill • PO Box 421, Grafton NSW 2460
Head Office:
Victoria: Freecall:
Vereyken Bros. Pty Ltd ABN 11 003 543 548
Ben Slots 1800 999 245
Anytime or (02) 6644 6065 Mobile: 0437 431 901
Phone: (03) 9462 4266 Mobile: 0418 388 842
Page 12 – Australian Pork Newspaper, December 2019
www.porknews.com.au
ALL FLOORING IS MADE TO SIZE AT NO EXTRA COST