Hello Everyone,

           

            We are at the stage of fine tuning the visits to the properties and confirming the relevant speakers and format for the Conference. A tour cost analysis of the tour and Conference will be presented at the next meeting so we will be able to let you know what the cost will be later in the year. At this stage our aim is to keep it under $AUS 3000.00 per person. An early booking incentive will be available, a deposit of 40% of the total amount will be required by early February, 2008, with the balance due July, 2008.  BULLDUST magazine will have the official booking form, as will our website. www.devoncattle.com

            It is possible also for you to join just part of the tour. There will be pre- Conference, Conference and after-Conference packages available. Also, many of you know Pauline Wood. She is on the committee as our travel agent and will be able to point you in the right direction for enquiries relating to internal tours before or after the Devon tour and Conference. Contact Pauline at pauline@andysworldtravel.com.au    Attractive packages are available to overseas visitors.

            Devon breeders are preparing the individual stories of their cattle production which will be included in the “Starter Kit” which everyone involved with the tour and Conference will receive...

I will tell you a little about the people we will visit for the first 5 days of the tour.

 

We will give you the choice of three hotels in Sydney from where you will be able to be picked up by the tour bus from 10am on that first morning of Tuesday, 9^th September. We will then travel to our overnight accommodation in the Hunter wine growing area 2 hours drive north of Sydney for a special welcome dinner and presentation of the Starter Kit. You will be able to relax, and prepare yourself for the next two weeks.

 Our first visit will be to Pauline Wood and her daughter Sophie Butlers’ stud, Wallaton which is 30 minutes away. From two years of drought to flood has left Pauline “shell-shocked”. Leaving for work the morning of the flood Pauline thought that the river was running a bit fast. After that it was flood mode. A neighbour turned up to help her move the pump from the creek, fences were cut to let the cattle get to higher ground. After that she watched the water cover her property to within 100 metres of her home. She knew it was 10 – 12 feet over the whole farm because she had built a shelter shed for the cattle recently and all she could see at the height of the flood was the roof. So she is still carting water for the stock and feeding out hay because there is a layer of silt over most of the farm. However, their cattle (which have won many champion ribbons in the showering) will be there for our inspection.

 After lunch we head inland 3 and a ½ hours drive over the Great Dividing Range to the fertile inland slopes and Liverpool Plains near Coonabarabran. John and Ann Rumbel established their herd in 1984 and moved here from the parent herd at Dungog, near Gloucester about 10 years ago. Belmur is the name of their stud and their bulls consistently receive high prices on Bull Sale day. They also run a commercial Angus crossbred herd. They will host a barbeque that evening, after which we travel to Coonabarabran where we will stay for two nights.

The next morning we visit two large properties, firstly Keith and Kay, Steve and Lisa Moody are a family operation 13 K south of Coonabarabran. They property is 3500 acres of extensively improved pasture running depending on the season 550  predominately  polled commercial Devon bloodlines of Belar, Barnstaple and Gowan Ross. They will have on show some Devon as well as some crossbred females with calves. Some weaners are sold straight off their mothers; others are grown out for the grass fattened and feedlot market.

            Next, Dennis and Tania Hall will welcome you to Mount Marion nestled among the hills of Binnaway near Coonabarabran. Here you will see a mix of stud and commercial mainly polled Devons, which have been bred by the family since the 1930’s. You are then invited to join Dennis and Tania for lunch in the garden of the homestead.

            That evening we hope for a clear night to see the stars of the world at the Siding Springs Observatory.                                                                           

            We move slightly inland to the home of Barnstaple Devons. Graeme and Wendy Barnes have moved their Stud enterprise to Marriot Park at Gunnedah. Last year Graeme had the first Bull Sale in his on property specially purpose built Cattle Selling Centre. As part of the Conference Tour in excess of 50 bulls and a selection of quality females will be offered from Barnstaple and invited vendors at this annual Bull Sale. This will be a good demonstration of the bull breeding power of Australia. That evening in Gunnedah a special reunion dinner will allow us all to meet with old and new friends.

            Next day, still in the Gunnedah area we travel to Kurrajong, home of Alison Heaps’ Gowan Ross polled Devons and Vic Edwards’ Vix Devons. Between them they have 600 pedigree and performance recorded Devons run under commercial conditions. They focus on producing a diverse range of high quality Devon seedstock. You will see their herd and also invited younger local breeder’s cattle. Activities involving visitors are also planned.

            For now, I hope I have whetted your interest and that you will be waiting to hear more of what we will have on offer in the next email!

The reason for this tour, the Conference, is also coming along well.  Brazilian Portuguese interpreters have been approached with one young lady confirmed already. Specialist cattle research speakers and relevant industry technology will be there as well as at individual properties.

Time is ticking; so that we can make it a great event let us know if you are thinking of coming, we would love to hear from you. Any questions, please ask, if I can’t answer them I will find someone who can.

With Best Wishes,

Loma Wright.