My Wall Words

After 18 days the walk has come to an end, it’s been an amazing experience that will take some time to process and to recovery from.
Thank you to those who continue to fight for the wellbeing and prosperity for all Australian, the power is with the people, when they realise it.
Here’s my Words from the Wall

This walk is about raising awareness to the wrecking ball that is the Murray Darling Basin Plan.

I wanted to help tell the story of what is happening in Northern Victoria and Southern New South Wales, Farms, Businesses, Communities and Environments being laid to waste.

I can only speak from my experience, a third generation mixed irrigator turned newspaper owner and editor of the Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper.

I don’t have many certificates and qualifications. I’m a farm kid, who was blessed to have grown up around quality people.

From sitting in the ute with my grandfather Ken, as he would grab his tobacco and role a smoke while talking, conveying wisdom.

Ken was a very practical person, growing up during tough times, catching rabbits with dogs, he knew the value of things. He also knew the value in people.

Always willing to sit and talk, from the richest to the poorest, Ken treated them equally and never varied his approach to suit the audience, authentic to a tee.

My grandmother Joan taught me about service to others and community, still on the farm at 95 and using a wood stove. 

Joan was guided by her faith and devoted to those around her.

From cooking smoko for the shearers, to serving the community through CWA and church groups and in Ken’s final years traveling 68km a day to sit by his side.

My father Ian always had a steadfast moral compass and rigid ethics, as a rebellious and naïve child at times, I would find some of his traits frustrating but as time goes on, I appreciate the wisdom in his logic.

Ian always looked to the long term and broader implications.

Working with my Uncle Andrew who would always be willing to let you have a go and support you when things didn’t quite go to plan. He and his wife Debbie helped in myself transitioning into owning my first farm.

In growing up on the land you learn a lot about yourself and the character of others. The trying condition separates the wheat from the chaff, when it’s 40 degrees in the water bag and you’re working shoulder to shoulder with men and women in the shearing shed you learn about grit and working as a team to get it done.

I truly believe we’re all of equal worth but we do hold different values.

The Basin Plan is a political animal, devoid of the qualities that I love and value about rural Australia.

Mateship, honesty, humility, ethics, wisdom and compassion.

If we look from one end of the Basin to the other, there are horrendous failures.

From robbing the Darling and her communities, to fake science, social destruction, industry collapse, wiping out family farmer, environmental damage, lack of understanding and there is no accountability!

No one can even admit a problem, those in a position of power only further attempt to divide and manipulate, rather than actually fix the problem.

These communities, environments and food producers have formed from more than a hundred years of nation building. 

There were problems that arose like salinity and clearing that were addressed in our regions through authentic action working in collaboration with community.

Land and water management plans, rules and regulations, Landcare groups, environment champions programs and huge investment in efficient world leading best irrigation practice and working with our soils and seasonal variability.

All that means nothing to the Plan that seems to favour corporate greed, foreign powers, water traders, yachting enthusiasts and run by maniacs.

What is the plan to “Save the dying Murray” actually doing to the Murray?

Where are the Peter Garrets of the world dancing at Barmah as he did to champion the plan that would save the Murray.

Where is our food security and once sustainable industries heading?

The egos are running manic and our lessons of history are being ignored.

But I have faith in the future and it will not come from the same behaviour and nonsense that landed us in this position, it will come from the people.

People like the beautiful humans who so warmly embraced our family over the last two and a half weeks.

People who have watched their communities, businesses and environments devastated.

I do have faith in the true nature of people. It’s within all of us. It’s our morale compass or grit, our determination and together, we can achieve great things.

In 2013, I suffered a brain injury and while I experienced basically five years of living hell it demonstrated to me the innate strength and potential that lays dormant in every single Australian, no exceptions.

It takes faith, to step outside what we are told we can do, or what is possible or who we should put our trust in to act in our best interest.

If we run our businesses in the same manner as the government runs our nation, we would be broke and destitute. These are the people saving the Murray Darling Basin.

It’s time to wake up Australia and not just on water.

I would like to thank my wife and kids for humouring my own lunacy. Also I would like to thank the hundreds of people and businesses who supported us and made us feel welcome and loved.

What the walk has achieved would not have been possible without the support of BeefItUp Australia and Anita Donlan. BeefItUp is a registered charity run by volunteers to support rural towns and communities helping with peoples’ mental health and advocacy.

A big thank you to those who continue to advocate tirelessly for our regions, without the likes of Southern Riverina Irrigator, Speak Up For Water, Central Murray Floodplain Environment Group and Member for Murray Helen Dalton who constantly fight and speak publicly about the issues,

If there’s no noise, how does broader Australia know there’s a problem?  

It has been an experience that myself and the family will treasure for the rest of our lives.

Life is short, grab your opportunities to change our world now!