Targeting the farmers and cattlemen of the high country is sad and
disgraceful credit to Brack and his henchmen not forgetting the Green
fraternity but they also are contributing as the prime cause of Victoria
loosing big business ten fold.

Formerly the major corporate hub of Australia, Melbourne is shutting down
to die. So why are the multinationals leaving in droves to Sydney and
Brisbane one must ask? Reliable sources reflect first Kennett now Bracks
are behind this mass exodus.

Recent weeks a major Victorian effort was denied with Adelaide picking up
the destroyer contract, Telstra's new CEO Sol Trujillo has elected to
operate and live in Sydney while whisper has it that with corporate money
moving from Melbourne, Grand Prix organisers are feeling shaky ground and
may do the same.

With only three of Australia's leading 15 listed companies, BHP Billiton,
National and ANZ Banks left to be run out of Melbourne, surely this must
alert all Victorian's. Problem Bracks needs to be eradicated from
government denying him further development to the demise of Victoria.

Before you poverty stricken refugees clog highways from Victoria, electors
claiming never voting for Bracks have one last chance to substantiate their
claim in 2006.

How much is all the expert and bureaucratic advice worth that's been given
to Australians over the past three decades?

The experts said we were punishing criminals too severely, we banned
capital punishment. Despite "slap across the wrist" court penalties, our
jails are full. The United Nations experts said we cant punish our children
at home or at school. The experts introduced firearm confiscation from
law-abiding individuals, spending more than $500 million, while people on
hospital lists died waiting for surgery and cancer research struggled for
funds.

Unfortunately, respect for law and order is going downhill.

Victorians are still waiting for the 600 extra police promised at the last
election but since 2002, the Bracks Government experts have spent more than
$350,000 surveying the public on crime issues.

There are more experts telling us that we need to import New Zealand apples
and risk fire blight disease.

The fact that our own apple producers get less money for apples than they
cost to produce is somehow swept aside.

The experts have ripped the heart out of small business in Victoria with
escalating land taxes and more than 20,000 pages of regulations to obey.

Farmers pay water tax if and when it rains.

If you want to rip open a rabbit burrow dont forget to ask the experts for
a permit.

So when a mob of do-gooders, radical Greens and "university experts" claim
that high-country cattle grazing should be banned, it is expert advice
thats worth less than a barrow load of bulldust.

J. McLEISH,

Wodonga

SAD END TO 170-YEAR MOUNTAIN CATTLEMEN TRADITION

The 170-year tradition of grazing cattle in Victoria�s high country is over.  In one fell swoop, the Bracks Government this afternoon successfully displaced generations of mountain cattlemen and their families, simultaneously erasing an essential part of Australia�s heritage.
 
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Philip Davis said it was a dark day for the mountain cattlemen and everyone in Victoria who held their own heritage dear to their hearts.
 
He said the Bracks Government had run a dirty campaign against the mountain cattlemen. �The way Steve Bracks has treated the mountain cattlemen is an absolute disgrace,� Mr Davis said. �The Bracks Government ran misleading radio, television and print advertisements vilifying the mountain cattlemen in an attempt to win a few Green votes.
 
�If that was not enough, Steve Bracks then forced the Alpine Grazing Bill through both houses of Parliament in the one week.
 
�Debate in the Upper House was gagged by the Bracks Government and the Bill was automatically passed when it was forced to a vote at 4pm today. Even though consideration of the detail of the Bill was incomplete and the Government had not provided responses to questions.�
 
The Liberal Party opposed the alpine grazing ban every step of the way, but the Bracks Government used its Upper House majority to force it through.
 Mr Davis said despite the Bracks Government�s success in kicking the mountain cattlemen out of the high country, the Liberal Party would maintain its unwavering support for the 170-year tradition.
 
�The Bracks Government has shown its true colours today, totally ignoring the opinions of country Victoria and steaming ahead with its plans to decimate rural and regional communities,� he said.
 
�The Liberal Party will continue its support for country Victoria and overturn the ban on alpine grazing when in government.
 
�Steve Bracks may have killed the legend of the Man from Snowy River, but he has not killed the spirit of country Victorians and they will fight back,� he said.

Philip Davies
Shadow Minister for Agriculture
Victoria

PARLIAMENT PASSES BILL TO DESTROY THE MOUNTAIN CATTLEMEN

�The cattlemen are gone, and now we will see an incremental closing down of the Alpine National Park to people and other uses,� local Upper House member and life member of the Mountain Cattlemen Association, Graeme Stoney, told Parliament last week.
 
Mr Stoney spoke for nearly an hour as lead speaker in the Upper House on the Bill which he described in his opening sentence as �The Bill to destroy the Mountain Cattlemen�.
 
The Upper House process allows for scrutiny of Bills in what�s called �The committee stage� and during that time the Leader of the Upper House, Philip Davis (Gippsland Province) and Graeme Stoney probed the Government about the implications of the Bill.
 
During that stage the two Liberals extracted from the Minister at the table, Candy Broad, the admission that the Forest section of any Alpine National Park cattle run has not been considered part of the future management or compensation process.
 
�It will be impossible to keep cattle out of the Alpine National Park section of these runs.  The Government say Cattlemen can keep the Forest leases but this means most Mountain Cattlemen will be unable to stock the Forest section of their lease either.�  Mr Stoney explained this week.
 
�The Government has been trumpeting that 10,000 cattle will still be grazed on Forest leases outside the Park.  This is only Government spin and it appears only about 1,000 head will be left on the Mountain State Forest leases,� Mr Stoney said this week.
 

In Parliament Mr Stoney said, �The numbers are listed on the licences whether they are grazed or not. By the look of it the government has added up all the listed numbers on the licences and said, 'There are 10 000 cattle; the cattle will be there the cattlemen will be there. Everything is fine. Get them out of the park. The culture and heritage is still there'. That is one of the most fraudulent claims ever, and it will be hard to get up as an issue. It is like the $250 000 advertising campaign. It is an absolute and fraudulent sham. There might be 1000 head of cattle left and a handful of families, but it means that the cattlemen have been destroyed. It means that the Mountain Cattlemen's Association of Victoria will be gone.

�It means the annual get-together will be gone. Some 3000 people attend that get-together at a different venue in the mountains every year.
�It means that the heritage, the culture, the knowledge and the skills will be gone. Every other user of public land in Victoria knows that and knows that they will be next.�
 
Later in the debate the Minister virtually admitted there will be no compensation for the Forest section of the runs even when it can be proved conclusively they cannot be used because of the closure of the Alpine National Park section of the same run, Mr Stoney said later

Mr Stoney said in his speech, �I heard that you will not be able to ride a horse up Mount Eadley Stoney soon. Let me say this: I will be riding my horse up the mountain, and I will be taking my grandchildren. We will stay at our hut, if it's still left.

�They do not take long to get busy. There is a circular going around inquiring or 'consulting' on whether they should pull down most of the Bluff hut. My four kids were at the rally: Chris, Anne, David and Kate. My three grandchildren were there: Harry, Angus and Connor. Their heritage has gone. Debbie and Bruce McCormack were there. Their grandchild, Jake, is a seventh generation cattlemen. His heritage has gone.

�There are lots of huts around the high country. There are several Ryder huts at Campbell's yards. I would not mind betting they pull down all but one. There are a group of huts called the Tawonga huts run by the Hicks family and the Coopers. I would not mind betting they pull all but one down. Charlie and John Lovick are rebuilding their hut; they have got the poles up. I hope they are allowed to finish it. I know that Charlie and John will still ride up Mount Lovick even if they ban horses from it.

Towards the end of his long speech Mr Stoney demonstrated, by quoting from a historical book, that the Man from Snowy River was a Mountain Cattleman because the Government speakers had been deriding claims �The Man� was a Cattleman .

In concluding his speech Mr Stoney told Parliament, �The process that has brought us to this point has been absolutely disgusting. It has exposed the government for what it is and what it stands for. I make the point that country people are generally pretty polite, but they have long memories. I predict that what this government has done to the cattlemen and the way it has ignored history and the cattlemen's contribution to the heritage and culture of this nation will sow the seeds of this government's destruction. For me that cannot come soon enough.�

Grahame Stoney
Spokesperson For Forestry
Victoria

It would seem that Premier Bracks (soon to be departed premier) has a polution generating solution to cattler mowing the high country which he has removed.

This poem was sent to SOS by Duane L Langley that does sum it all up about
the Snowy
_______________________________________________________________________

It was dark and cool in the vast of night when God decided now to strike
From within the dense and massive clouds he threw his multiple lightening pike

It hit the ground with blinding speed and sought the tinder bush
The searing heat completed it's feat and the flames headed North with a push

The stockman astride his well worn saddle saw this display of might
The sparks they flew from his horse's shoe as he pounded down through the night

He knew at once that he must ride hard to his mates at camp below
At the camp he reined in hard and fast, with "fire!" being his only bellow

The stockmen knew what they had to do as they climbed their mountain steeds
They raced as a group on back to the coop where the cattle had had their last feed

Two thousand head were soon being led to a two mile wide burnt scree
For it was hear that the land had been burnt as a plan for needs be the animals can flee

With the smoke and the sparks filling the air from the South the cattle were again on the move
For the flames were high on the ever glowing sky, but the cattlemen were now in a groove

They cracked their whips with lightening speed and drove their charges to flee
By mornings light by way of their flight they were all in the lea of the scree

For here the grass was green and lush and fire was stopped in it's tracks
The cattle were safe and horses relieved as the mountain men alighted their backs

All around wildlife roamed, safe from the wild red steer
Thanks to man and his managing hand, the fire was no longer a fear

2003 came another lightening spree, but the cattlemen were no where to be found
The wildlife headed again to the scree where safety and sanctuary abound

But a sign here stood from a greenie hood that lambasted the Mountain man caste
Wilderness area is now proclaimed for this spot so damaged in the past

As the animals read with a feeling of dread, the sign from modern man
They mourned the day that had passed their way, of the man with the management plan

They hunkered down, too tired to hop, knowing that all was lost
Their last thoughts as they burnt to death, where's the Mountain man, oh! what cost

The Bracks Government will gag debate on the Alpine Grazing Bill that will ban mountain cattlemen from the high country, with the legislation to automatically pass at 4pm tomorrow.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Philip Davis said the Liberal Party fought the Bracks Governments moves today to gag public and Parliamentary debate by rushing the Bill through the Upper House.

But the Bracks Government used its Upper House majority to change this weeks Government Business Program to include an additional four Bills including the Alpine Grazing Bill, which will result in debate concluding at or before 4pm tomorrow (Friday) and automatically going to a vote.

Mr Davis argued in the Parliament that the bicameral system of Parliament existed so that checks and balances were in place and it gave the opportunity for Parliamentary scrutiny and public debate.

Ramming this legislation through will not allow this public debate, Mr Davis said.

Irrespective of what useful discussion is going on and what is yet to be said, all debate will cease and alpine grazing will automatically be banned from 4pm tomorrow.

Mr Davis said the Liberal Party would continue its support of the mountain cattlemen, both now and when it wins government.

This is yet again another example of pure arrogance on the part of the Bracks Government, Mr Davis said.

It is bad enough that Steve Bracks is forcing mountain cattlemen out of the high country and dissolving their 170 year heritage, but he is now gagging debate on the issue.

With the Bracks Government holding the Upper House majority, this is a done deal and the Premier obviously thinks there is no point being democratic about it by allowing debate.

Mr Davis said Steve Bracks’ actions proved his Government had been severely embarrassed by the public support for the continuation of alpine grazing and the successful Country Voice rally on the steps of Parliament last week.

Labors advertising campaign vilifying mountain cattlemen is also causing ongoing embarrassment and rushing the Bill through the Parliament is a tactic to alleviate this.

It is obvious the Premier wants this issue to fade away as soon as possible, before it causes more damage to the Bracks Governments credibility and support especially from country Victorians, he said.

Philip Davis Phone: 0428 431 038

Passed on from generation to generation of Australian Farmers, says that
"When you discover that you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is
to dismount." However, the government, educational institutions, and
corporations housing overpaid executives, all with academic advisors now
adapt more advanced strategies,such as:

1. Buying a stronger whip
2. Changing riders
3. Appointing a committee to study the horse
4. Arranging to visit other countries to see how other cultures ride horses
5. Lowering the standards so that dead horses can be included
6. Reclassifying the dead horse as living-impaired
7. Hiring outside contractors to ride the dead horse
8. Harnessing several dead horses together to try increasing the speed
9. Providing additional funding and/or training to increase dead horse's
performance
10. Doing a productivity study to see if lighter riders would improve the
dead horse's performance
11. Declaring that as the dead horse does not have to be fed, it is less
costly, carries lower overhead costs needs no maintenance and therefore
contributes substantially more to the bottom line than do some other horses
12. Rewriting the expected performance requirements for all horses
13. Promoting the dead horse to a supervisory position

Keep firmly in mind, "Stupidity is not hereditary, it is something they
have acquired themselves, and at no time do these millstones around the
neck of Australia allow common sense to cloud dictating this stupidity.

 
The snow season is about to begin, the snow bunnies will be out in force.The cattle have been excommunicated from the Alpine areas. The repeated gripes from the greens over years, about the cattle,  is the smelly dung left behind, This is really well digested grasses and provides compost for the soil.
In the Spring the exotic excreta  and kleenex deposited ,by the thousands of rich and famous emerges from the melting snow .   The effluent of the affluent thaws and brings the flies and is eaten by birds and animals and contains  a range of exotic diseases .This is a much more disgusting scenario than a bit of old chewed up grass called cow dung. Then there is the heliport and the artificial snow.and the thousands of vehicles and more. Why is this massive pollution not being excommunicated from the pristine alpine areas?
 
 
W.Morgan
BEECHWORTH
 
0357282779

High Country Cattlemen and families march on Melbourne last Thursday

Suffering from terminal arrogance, Victorian premier Steve Bracks not only confirmed his dictatorship but smacks of Bob Brown nosing to hold green votes for his government of spineless leaches by removing the Australian heritage high country cattlemen from the Snowy.

Not renewing their leases after 170 years of occupation is a crime without consequence or "so he thinks".

This shows his contempt for the pioneer families of this country - which adopted his family from Lebanon to its shores. The people
of Lebanon would react in a very different way to Bracks - self appointed dictatorship removing a slice of his families national heritage compared to the peaceful rally conducted by the high country families that gathered in Melbourne this week.

The end of Bracks political life has just begun at a pace never before seen on such a massive scale as a nation stand behind the cattlemen.

"Mr Bracks", this is far too large for your fourth Reich to handle. Backup from the party faithful is evaporating since understanding they are sailing on a Titanic.

These tragic apologies for government did not elect themselves - yet in general conversation with many voters revealed that some 90% stated they never voted for Bracks.

So with Bracks moving into past tense - who is moving IN ?

Will Victoria be rid of the Titanic ? or will they be just changing deck-chairs ?

A future voter with a message for Bracks from Australians

From: katherine.stent@opposition.vic.gov.au
Date: Tuesday, 07 June 2005 07:09:21 PM
Subject: News from The Nationals: Country MPs challenged

Tuesday, June 7, 2005

Country based Labor backbenchers are being challenged to cross the floor
and represent the views of rural and regional Victorians when a bill to ban
alpine grazing is debated in State Parliament next week.

Speaking after a meeting with mountain cattlemen in North East Victoria
today, Mr Ryan said the Bracks Government had abused its power by running a
taxpayer-funded campaign to drive the cattlemen out of the high country.

"This decision was a political fix from start to finish and country based
Labor MPs must now show some courage and say enough is enough," Mr Ryan said.

"Since coming to government Melbourne Labor has used taxpayer funds to
undertake so-called scientific research in a bid to support the arguments
of the opponents of grazing.

"The Premier and his Ministers have bullied the cattlemen by using the
trappings of office to pursue a political agenda.

"While the cattlemen have taken time away from work and their families and
invested their own money in participating in this sham of an inquiry, the
government has paid bureaucrats and scientists to develop its case.

"If that wasn't enough they then wasted $250,000 on a propaganda campaign
featuring doctored photographs in another blatant attempt to discredit the
cattlemen community."

Mr Ryan told cattlemen today that the Nationals would continue to support
alpine grazing as part of an active, balanced and sustainable approach to
managing the Alpine National Park.

"The former Labor Upper House MP Dianne Hadden has already indicated that
she will represent the views of country people and support the mountain
cattlemen," Mr Ryan said.

"That means we only require two more Upper House Labor MPs to stand up and
say 'the attacks on country Victoria must stop now.'"

"Surely Labor MPs like Robert Mitchell and John McQuilten, who live in
country Victoria, see the need to defend the interests of country communities.

Lower house MPs such as Ian Maxfield, Brendan Jenkins, Joe Helper, Ben
Hardman and Jacinta Allan must also speak up and end the sell-out of the
country way of life in the name of metropolitan green votes.

"Unfortunately I hold little hope that the Bendigo based Minister for
Agriculture, Bob Cameron, will ever show some courage and fight for the
rights of farmers.

"His silence on this issue will be remembered by agricultural producers
through the state," Mr Ryan concluded.

Mr Ryan will speak at a rally against the government's decision to ban
grazing on the steps of Parliament this Thursday. He has encouraged all
Victorians who are concerned about the government's handling of issues
affecting rural and regional Victoria to attend.

To The Editor Mal at S.O.S,
Re cattlemen in Vic story needs to be told that snowy such a big roll in
realising nationhood drove Federation fervor , we adored our wallaby
wombats wattle the alps and plains. All our stockmans patch. We were
home not little British campers sending as much as we could away jamming
boat loads of the best. Then we were plunged into WWI fighting under
Australia's flag for the first time a population of 3.8M at federation to
a bit over 4M in WWII. In a WWI batttalion gathered over the Snowy
Gippsland only 4 returned and they were only angry shells of their
former selves,. That was the dads and uncles generation and they were
back into it again WWII sent the older men to Europe and the teenagers
rounded up for Singapore Burma and particularly New Guinea we were in
big trouble for resources. down to the kids up there while Curtains
Cowboys patrolled the coast dug ditches and observation points all round
the joint that no one talks about. Jap Subs got to Sydney and
Melbourne! Bombing Darwin was just like bombing a country town today!
Look at your 14,16,yo kids today and send them off with a gun and tin
hat. Their horse on another boat . send it one way and the boys to
Galllipolli for a holiday burying their mates. OOps King and country
made a stuff up on map reading. Like burning down the Snowy all in a
days work .... happens. if you are well bred incompetency is an
accident! I think if I remember 27 000 poms 9000 Aussies 2000 New
Zealand 10 000 Turks still overnight at Gallipoli. Fought over
Gallipoli for about 9 mths until they figured they should be somewhere
else. Alexander the Great had about 40 000 men about 2000 years previous
fighting over the same patch so he should have come and given a hand a
few pointers.

generally symbolic that Snowy and Federation important gave up her men
horses passion then the bureaucrats made a move on the water while
everyone away and their minds on other things Govt yielded on the Myxo
rabbit job when it became bureaucrat water supply. Stockmen unhappy
about Snowy Scheme for Canberra water and electricity Stockmen dirted by
American engineers wanting irrigation areas set up before they went back
home. Was that a set up???! brought this thing called catchment area to
Australia where you lock it all up to burn. Almost figured it an issue
in America organisational autocratic bureaucrats can't manage land!
Campaign to discredit stockmen sole rights to snowy water sent to
irrigate inland stockmen unhappy so migrants bought in to do Snowy
Scheme and run irrigation farms. Migrants told Stockman rouges as you
would. Every time you want a bit of clean country for water you have a
beat up extend the national park chuck off the stockmen. You call it
shifting green as consumerist exploitationist as it comes.

Yes Federal government owes us and they possibly had to burn down their
water supply as if by accident to realise their stupidity. trouble is
the states run the national parks or pretend to so if they see merit in
stockmen running the show they have a constitutional battle on their
hands but if they declare it a national water and security issue then
piece of cake I believe. this world heritage push is a real scary one
though with the bureaucrats running the swindle possibly out side our
environmental law??!!!

Anyway the Snowy saga Federation now federal Govt looking to step in is
an interesting bit of symbolic stuff. And yes the biggest job for a
federal government is national defence which makes the WW I&II story
relevant to the getting snowy water

enclosed a bit of my scribble plus two articles from the Canberra Times
on cattlemen. Pitty State Authorities boycotted cheekily the federal
Bushfire enquiries where cattlemen represented the alternative land
management view very ably to the Federal Gov!

Some of this may be relevant to your cattleman's song Env Minister
Campbell gambling on a stockhorse around the plush green lawns of
federal parliament with Vic Cattleman President very symbolic for me
where we were coming to reclaim Snowy water and a piece of the action we
contributed to so much yet publicly vilified for good sense.

Noleen Franklin

Interesting article from the Albury Boarder Mail,and as we are arounf 10 years behind the USA I guess that is about when the government is going to act on eradicating these nut cases that feel they are saving the world by violence as we have seen at rallies and protests here in Aussie dressed in Green with a yellow stripe down the back

2003 fires saw death and devastation in magnitude that will remain with this nation for ever.
There is no doubt many contributing facts and factors of blame are being subjected to government buck-passing
on their way for a health check with the spin doctors then major surgery of  white-washing for public viewing.

Under the provisions of the Coroners Act 1997, the ACT Coroner's Court is conducting a comprehensive Inquiry into the cause, origin and circumstances of the fires which destroyed and damaged property in January, 2003 and Inquests into the deaths associated with those fires. The Coroner presiding over the Inquiry, Mrs. Maria Doogan, has legal authority to examine all aspects of these matters, including powers to:

• hold public hearings into the fires and deaths;
• require witnesses to appear to give evidence and/or produce documents;
• cause expert and any other relevant reports to be prepared or produced; &
• make any finding and recommendations relevant to the fires and/or deaths.

This inquiry was sanctioned by the ACT government including Chief Minister, Jon Stanhope (also Attorney General). Guess who instigated the suspension of Coroner Maria Doogan  then Supreme Court action  into the inquiry into the fires, in which four people died and 491 homes were destroyed, which has been on hold since October?

All Australian  has been affected by this catastrophe  - looking forward to the Coronial outcome with exceptions it would appear

Julian Burnside, QC, counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions, started his submission  arguing against the disqualification of Mrs. Doogan and saying there was no grand conspiracy by the coroner to hide material from parties who might be facing an adverse finding in the inquiry make one think.

With his legal background and driven by self-preservation and a Coroner asking questions that may expose Jon Stanhope made his move to silence the Coroner.

He did not count on Federal Member of Parliament Wilson Tuckey championing a Royal Commission that has thousands of signatures gathered to get on with the job without interference from concerned sources.

We will be posting more on this fascinating saga. If you care to surf the search engine you will be amazed at what is there in the ACT government, 2003 bushfires, that will enlighten you as to who is duck-shoving what and take a look at the USA satellite images of the Snowy and check out the fuel loads that the Greenies and NPAW say were not high.

SNOWY's KIDS
By
Mal E Bull
copywrite June 2005
===========================================

A National Catosphy confirmed to government greed
Our snowy mountain heritage locked up to feed their need
The ghost of mountain ANZAC's including Brumbies brave
who fought to save democracy would now turn in their grave

Snowy was blooming like the garden god had made
Water was abundant cascading down the glade
Wildlife live in harmony vegetation they control
The mountain peoples program was working on a roll

CHORUS
Snowy's kids return they've seen their history fall
Banjo, Miles and Henry will answer to the call
we'll rebuild mountain heritage and punish those who thought
that the people of Australia would give it up for nought

While away at war old Clayton saw a chance to grab their land
McKell on side said make it wide l'll lend a helping hand
Bannish the cockie farmers and the horsemen all so grand
The man from snowy river will no longer make a stand.

Work and toil to save the soil the bushland is their life
They starting conservation well before this bloody strife
Their beloved mountain country they worked so hard to keep
see ferrule dogs and greenies dump all upon a heap

(CHORUS)

Shoot the brumbies shout the greens and lock off all the trails
while pollies looking for their vote just sit and wag their tails
Its time for us to make a move and set the country right
Take back our stolen heritage by standing up to fight.

(CHORUS)


END

Songwriter composer Mal E Bull and top line country singer Frank Gallen have many songs of protest about government to their credit and have now introduced Steve Richards into the fold of "AUSSIE FRONTIER". This great group have now just released "Snowy's Kids" with words and music by Mal and vocals by Steve for you to download FREE and spread the word. Initiated by Noleen Franklin Mal got to and produced this great song and has another that will be ready in about a week on the Victorian issue regarding the demise of the high country cattlemen by Steve Bracks. To download "Snowy's Kids" right Click Here

Hi everyone,
it is vital that we get a great turnout for this rally - it isn't just about Alpine Grazing, it is to indicate that those of us with an interest in country Victoria have had enough!
BUG, PMAV members and everyone else, please attend AND send this on to everyone you can think of who would be interested.
We have to make this count! We must send a strong message to the Government and only numbers will do this.

Rita
----------------------------------------------------

From: Kersten Gentle
Date: Tuesday, 31 May 2005 04:58:27 PM
To:
Subject: CATTLEMENS RALLY - JUNE 9TH

Please find attached a flyer and schedule for the Enough's Enough Country Voice Rally on Thursday 9th June, 2005.

Please distribute far and wide and encourage family, friends and employees to attend this important rally.

Kersten Gentle
Victorian State Manager
Timber Communities Australia
PO Box 246
Healesville Vic 3777
Ph: (03) 59621874
Fx: (03) 5962 1873
Mob: 0418 331 465
victca@virtual.net.au
www.tca.org.au

SCHEDULE FOR COUNTRY VOICE RALLY TO SUPPORT MOUNTAIN CATTLEMEN

Wednesday 8th June (overnight camp)

3.00pm onwards

Horse riders and those interested in camping arrive at Gunbar Station, Old Sydney Road, Beveridge for overnight camp. If you are camping overnight, please call Bob or Scott (numbers below) to let them know numbers and for more information on the site and what you need to bring.

Thursday 9th June (day of Rally)

5.00am – 5.30am

Horse floats to leave Gunbar Station for Vodafone Arena where horses will assemble for the rally.

10.30am

Those not riding horses to assemble at Parliament House Gardens next to Parliament House – make sure you bring your placards, banners and families and wear your country clothes.

11.00am

Rally commences at Parliament House Steps with entertainment and speakers. At the same time the horses will depart Vodafone arena under police escort, along Swan Street, right into Batman Avenue, Left into Flinders Street, right into Swanston Street and then turn left into Bourke Street where they will ride up to Parliament House.

NOON

Horses will arrive at Parliament House. Assembled crowd to part and form guard of honour for mountain cattlemen.

1.30pm

Rally ends with horses riding back to Vodafone arena and people departing.

For more information or a copy of the map please call:

Bob Richardson 0402 658 012
Scott Gentle 0438 556 020
Kersten Gentle 0418 331 465

G'day Riders and Friends, The baloon has gone up and we need your support. The cultural heritage of our high country is threatened once again by those seeking to garner 'GREEN' votes without thought for logic , science or common sense. I will be travelling to Melbourne with two horses and my Auntie Joan Sinclair from Khancoban , daughter of the late Ernie Boardman a true bushman of the high country.
Please show your support be either attending this Rally or contacting a relative or friend in Victoria who may be able to get there. You can also voice your disgust by emailing the Bracks Government. We look forward to your support........

PETER COCHRAN 0417 370 490

P/S Thanks to Kersten and TCA for coordinating the Rally.

Incorporation No A0045193C
ACAG
Alpine
Conservation and Access Group

Neville Wright, Pat Ryder, Allan Mull
(03) 5727 3538
(03) 5754 4611
(03) 5754 4594
0418 821 697
Email: acag@mtbeauty.com Website: www.mtbeauty.com/acag

Media Release /Letter to the Editor 30/5/05

Mr. Bracks claims in a media release 24/5/05, that there are 300 rare and threatened flora and fauna species in the Alpine area, and several are threatened by cattle grazing.

Well Mr. Bracks, your mis-managed National Parks are nquestionably the biggest key threatening process to our flora, fauna and water.
Approximately 70 threatened flora species had 90 to 100% of their known Victorian habitat burnt by the unnatural feral fires in 2003. Some 5 animal species listed as being critically endangered also had more than half of their habitat burnt at the same time, and millions of fauna perished a most horrid death in those fires.

We ask the Grim Reaper Bracks Government, “How many of those are EXTINCT now?” When you find the answer from your expert scientists and your anti- grazing cattle lobby, as according to you they seem to” know it all”, please let the public know.

If the above deceased flora and fauna could vote to bring those
responsible to justice, the result would be 100% GUILTY.

It was the 4-5,000 hectares where the cattle grazed in the high country that did not burn that afforded refuge to resident and fleeing fauna. The trouble now is that the wild dogs are eating what is left of these animals and we need more trappers to reduce the dog numbers.

Mr. Bracks statement on television on 26/5/05 that the photos depicted in the Age and Herald Sun proved that the scientific findings were correct about cattle grazing, must leave the scientists squirming. This must be seen as a measure of his incompetence and deceit to promote National Parks and vilify the Mountain Cattlemen at the same time using a manipulated photo. How much credibility do you really have now! Is it possible that
your selected scientists told the Taskforce what you and Minister Thwaites wanted to hear?
Local knowledge, commonsense and experience have been totally ignored ONCE again.

What a low act to provide a slush fund of $250,000 of taxpayers’ money to buy the Metropolitan media and try to convince the city voter that your decision is the correct one. IT IS NOT! Photos will start to appear on our Website shortly.


Neville Wright
President




Allan Mull Media.

The Gunbower Island State Forest Users Group condemns the Bracks Labour government’s decision to ban grazing in our mountain country.
We object to the way in which the economic and social consequences of implementing such a ban have not been considered.
John Thwaites has stabbed a knife into the very heart of every Australian.

Our mountain cattlemen symbolise our forebears who have made Australia a prosperous and free country. Many cattlemen laid down their lives on foreign soil.

This decision can only cause resentment and stress, not only for the immediate families of the cattlemen but unrest and uncertainty for those that make their living from natural resources and who work in the bush.

What next?
Are communities along the Murray River to be dealt the same blow?
Are the outcomes going to be a foregone conclusion?

Pass on this message to Mr. Bracks.

“You have written the demise of your government; those who visit the mountains to camp, and ride with the cattlemen; thousands that visit and camp in the Redgum State Forests along the Murray River come from all over Victoria; they are the ordinary, low to middle income earners who work hard.
Labor used to represent the ‘working bloke’- not any more.

The communities that will be affected by this push by environmental extremists’ philosophical ideals are not about to lie down.

The Alpine Grazing decision will show voters that democracy and free debate are sadly lacking in this Victorian government and will cause it’s downfall at the next elections”

Audrey Dickins-
Chairman
Gunbower Island State Forest Users Group(GISFUG)