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Wednesday, July 30, 2025

News Classifieds Digital Editions

Opinion
Opinion

The worker conundrum

I WELL remember the old man telling me about the good old days, when a bale of wool bought him a new car. Well, those days, I can assure you, are long gone. Nowadays the boffins at AWI suggest you would need at least 30 bales of wool – and with...

22 Jul 2025
Opinion

Once upon a time...

IT’S probably the realm of the old to sit back and think about those good old days, when the world really was a much better place. For the sake of the conversation, let’s call it a rite of passage. You know how they say scent is a powerful reminder...

20 Jun 2025
Opinion

Have we got the energy for the next fight?

IT’S not my style to stick the old nose in where it may not necessarily be required, as you would all know, but watching things going on across my part of the world I feel my advice will be most welcome – even if not yet invited. How many of you...

17 May 2025
Opinion

Why the need for US trade?

The old Whacker is feeling pretty ancient as you read this, looking for my normal dose of inspiration and rock-solid advice. There’s this thing about American presidents and how they do things, rightly or (mostly) wrongly, which will have both...

25 Apr 2025
Opinion

Preserving the Anzac’s legacy

IT’S Easter again. Seems like Christmas was only last week. But more importantly, for me, next week it’s also Anzac Day. And before you put your foot right in it, please don’t tell me how excited you are to have so many public holidays running back...

25 Apr 2025
Opinion

Politicians must be reminded who they work for

This is the first of a regular series of columns coming from the VFF president Brett Hosking, a northwest Victorian graingrower, which will appear in each edition of the North West Farmer to update all farmers about their industry. As we gear up for...

29 Mar 2025
Most popular
Opinion

Trickle or torrent - this is Australia

RIGHT now, Australian farming has got bigger problems than climate change. We are struggling to simply cope with climate constant. This is the stuff of drought and flooding rains. Take Hamilton in the heart of Victoria’s Western District – in the...

22 Feb 2025
North West Farmer

Harvest is rolling and so is the wildlife

COLIN FREE THE wine grape harvest is now in full swing, with the earlier ripening white varieties such as Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio coming off first. Although the other whites and reds won’t be too far away. And I’m delighted to...

21 Feb 2025
Opinion

It’s not what you say ...

Whacker columnHAD some ag college kids out at the home farm the other day, probably thinking they might get their little hands a little dirty for a change. Instead of sitting in their classrooms/loungerooms/bedrooms, tap, tap, tapping at their little...

20 Jan 2025
Opinion

I imagined I knew a bit more about life

DO you ever look up at the clouds?Not to check the weather, just to look. I used to do it a lot as a kid, seeing what was happening up there, just to see what I could see – or imagined I could see – floating past on a daily basis. You’ll notice...

20 Dec 2024
Opinion

Press releases, potholes and bureaucratic bull

THERE I was, sitting in the editor’s office at the local newspaper the other day. Mind you, I say editor and office with a slight tongue in the cheek as he is also the journalist, the advertising manager and receptionist. Hey, I live near a small...

21 Nov 2024
Opinion

You protest too much, methinks

THE old Whacker has been known to make the odd protest or two over the years (very odd, some have suggested).Such as the times (and this is an ongoing almost-annual outrage) the local agent tells me my selling fees have to go up. Again. Then there was...

19 Oct 2024
Opinion

Why there’s no more playing the field

THE old Whacker has been fielding a few questions of late. About field days. Obviously, I would be the person to ask for the best advice, actually, for any advice, and my opinions come at no charge – other than your time. So several of the...

19 Oct 2024
Opinion

More water polo, less Skippy nightmares

SO the Olympics have been run, won and done. Have to be honest here, just between you and me, that – just occasionally – having a little prostate problem actually works out. When you are up and down a few times a night for a little relief here and...

18 Aug 2024
Dairy

Always embrace the art of learning

I often shock people when they hear me talking and singing to myself. But hey, I’m like “of course I talk to myself, where else can I get such expert advice for free?”I also had another birthday a few weeks ago, and obviously I’m fitter...

24 Jun 2024
Opinion

Get me out of here... Scooters, babblers and bank-heist bills

I don’t think the old Whacker will be heading into town again anytime soon. It’s just too bloody confusing, congested and now, increasingly, confronting. We took the train down because the missus refuses to drive in Melbourne. And she also refuses...

21 Jun 2024
Wine Grapes

All’s quiet, but sadly it might get even quieter

WE have just had 11 marvellous millimetres of rain from the recent event – and it was most welcome. While all our grapevines are just about dormant, they will still require wet roots to keep them happy until we get...

20 May 2024