Camilla, Will, Emma and James Shippen of Banyandah Pastoral Co run a huge self-replacing Merino operation across 105,000ha, the majority of which is situated at Moulamein, north-east of Swan Hill.

The average annual rainfall there is 330mm but in November last year, like much of the region, it suffered unprecedented flooding which stranded many of the Shippens’ sheep – and put half their usua...