Last June the Victorian State Government banned cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park. A protest website emerged at about the same time.
According to the most recent newsletter from this website:
Several small mobs of cattle are continuing to move slowly across the Alpine National Park. This is a week-long protest by many Mountain Cattlemen’s families against the loss of their grazing licences and subsequent treatment by the Victorian Government.
While the focus was on one of the small and symbolic herds yesterday, today it is becoming apparent that there are several groups of cattlemen, each with a small mob of cattle. This protest is clearly being supported by mountain cattlemen from all sides of the Alpine National Park, all wanting a return to alpine grazing.
The cattle and their drovers will be on the track for the next seven days as they travel to the annual Cattlemen’s Get-Together to be held at Rose River near Whitfield next weekend. The cattle are not in the Park to graze, they are travelling through.
The protest is being fully supported by lobby group Country Voice and the Mountain Cattlemen’s Association and many other groups concerned at the direction the Victorian Government is taking with public land and national park management
These small mobs are travelling on the original stock routes and bridle tracks across the Victorian High Country. The mountain cattlemen have been banished by the Bracks’ Government from the Alpine National Park for its political gain but at Australians cultural expense. end quote
According to Peter Attiwell quoted at my blog post of 16th June last year:
The critics of alpine grazing use science to support the basic tenet that grazing is incompatible with use of the land as a national park, as encapsulated in the slogan ‘National Park or Cow Paddock?’. The slogan is totally misleading. A cow paddock, once abandoned, will never return to the ecosystem that was destroyed to create it.
In contrast, there is no evidence that cattle grazing in the High Country has eliminated rare and threatened species, nor has species composition or diversity been irrevocably altered. Indeed, 170 years of controlled cattle-grazing has left by far the greater part of the High Country in excellent condition. Clearly, at the long-term and landscape levels, cattle grazing over some part of the High Country can be accommodated within management plans to achieve specific goals without an irreversible deterioration in biodiversity. end of quote
It is interesting to ponder that grazing was only allowed in about 15 percent of the Alpine National Park. Many may argue that there should be no grazing in National Parks. But what about Ramsar Wetlands? Most of the Ramsar Wetland listed Macquarie Marshes is grazed and there is evidence that this is having a significant negative impact, click here for earlier blog post.
We have a very adhoc and political approach to environment protection in Australia.
Jennifer Marohasy BSc PhD is a critical thinker with expertise in the scientific method.
I recall Robert Cote’s post of December 16, 2005 referring to the very careful wording of the NPS Mission Statement … in the US:
“The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.”
The Cardinal principle of Queensland’s NCA states similarly: A NP is to be managed to provide, to the greatest posssible extent, for the permanent preservation of the area’s natural condition and the protection of the area’s cultural resources and values.
The defiant cattlement should be applauded for their commmitment to the permanent protection of our cultural heritage.
W H O A ~ EDUCATED IDIOTS = X & NON-SMOKERS NO DOUBT.
BEIN A BORN & RAISED “Y A N K” RANCHER ? GRAZING
DOES NOT HURT THE LAND AS LONG AS YOU DONT …..
“OVER~GRAZE~IT” IE TO MANY CATTLE PER ACRE.
THE RULE OF THUMB IN THE WESTEN USA = 1 STEER PER 4 ACRES “I F” ITS NON-IRRAGATED.
AS FOR A STEER POOPING ON THE GROUND ????
HAVE YA HEARD OF “RECYCLING” ?? ITS A NATURAL HAPPENING BETTER KNOWN AS FERTILIZING.
ANNNNNNNND FYI …. WE BURN OFF THE PASTURES IN THE SPRING OF THE YEAR TO CONTROL THE WEEDS.
YA BURN EM JUST AS THE WEEDS ARE STARTING TO GROW = PURE D GRASS PLAINS = LESS THE BRUSH TOO.
YO CATTLEMEN …. YER IN TROUBLE JUST AS WE SMOKERS ARE …. THEY MAKE UP THER MINDS …YER OUT OF BUSSINESS.
Queensland here hi guys. Good for you!. Dont stop now we have a few thousand Ausies behind you all.. Did u know? The real reason they dont want you your cattle there is because they have actually SOLD off many national parks and world hertiage listed parks. Its true. They have used them as a lean with deals overseas. Also the roo guys dont want u there either. We all know that our granfathers and father controlled fire weed by grazing their stock.The National Party and Government are traitors of the farmers by flooding the market with cheap imports. Live exports is another example. Farmers have never asked the right questions regarding the trade market. If they did they would know that the middle man and agents such as Elders are real traitors. We would like to offer to pay your fines if any are incurred and to support you guys. Some people thought they might come and help u drive a few hundred head into the mountains.[or more.] Please read http://www.halakindmeats. We are starting share farms free range and share abattoirs. We pay for everything plus give you a better price. That way your kids have a future. HKM my company have a MOU with AFIC. Instead of sending the animals live to the middle east Japan or else where we come to u. There is better funding and subs than u get Call 0755392369 reverse charge and have a chat. You have nothing to loose. We are also looking to start a country party with real people to have a say. My Dad was a bullock team driver and guys he would be so proud of u. Go for it and know we are all behind u . Keep up the good work. Stuff the Government ! Call Me
http://www.halakindmeats.com
Share farms, live exports, exports
Home | What to do | What it is | Export Licences | submissions | Contact Details | Another Aussie Hero | Elders live Export | Global
Picture Taken At Macleay River Kempsey
SHARE FARMS AND ABATTOIRS
Free Range Poultry etc. Lease arrangement or Co-joint Investment arrangement of your choice.
The fact is there is no reason why we cannot have share farmers, and share abattoir owners and operators in Australia, in a 50/50 arrangement with overseas buyers and Australian farmers working as partners.
I have personally had meetings with Leaders who assure me they do NOT require animals live for religious purposes and that it’s driven by the trade dollar and the middle man.
To quote a live exporter I was speaking too he said the following. “middleman – generally adds little value but normally has set up the contact/trade arrangements which the farmer doesn’t understand because he has no information flow or simply has not bothered to ask the pertinent questions.”
To quote them “it is purely economical” through Governments Tariffs, departments of trades and the ever greedy middleman who steals our jobs and sends millions of animals to an unbelievable and unnecessary cruel ending.
This has led to a partnership between myself Wendy Lewthwaite is a Director of HKM and AFIC.
A message to Farmers: If YOU want more money for your stock, please contact us at info@halakindmeats.com or ring reverse charge.
We are working to provide you with a better price by dealing DIRECT with the overseas purchasers and YOU the Farmer.
You have nothing to loose but your hard times and financial problems if you are a farmer or small abattoir owner or both.
Australian Farmers are the Back Bone of the Country. Help us to help you.
Let’s stop our country towns closing because of Lack of Jobs for our Kids.
Let’s turn Australia around like it used to be in the old days.
This project is in memory and a Tribute to Stan Lewthwaite
Stan Lewthwaite was born in Kempsey 1911.
He was one of the original pioneers of this country along with his father Frank.
Stan passed away on the Gold Coast this year.
In his younger days Slim Dusty used to ride with him when Slim was only a slip of a kid and learned much. He was a bullock team driver, farmer, amongst other things. A bushy through and through. Always reckoned he could never understand city folk getting lost in the bush because every tree was different and every tree looked different.
He was a great believer in share farming.
Wendy Lewthwaite
Wendy Lewthwaite a Director of the Halal Kind Meats Company was also born in Kempsey.
Due to to her father’s knowledge of farming, and sense of common decency which was passed on and the wisdom of Phoebe their mother both surviving daughters are able to reach out to speak to the international community while staying in contact with the grass roots folk.
Wendy also has State Security and Investigation and is the President of (PALE) People Against Live Exports in conjunction with RSPCA QLD
Jan and Garth Keppie
Jan, Stan`s eldest daughter and her husband Garth are Lawyers and Principals of the Internationl Language School AICOL and run a Educational Farm Stay.
http://www.mysterymountain.com.au http://www.aicol.com.au“
The family have followed in the tradition of fair play and humanity towards animals while farming, combined with grass roots and international communication skills.
Cattlemen told to leave Alpine National Park
Park Rangers have met mountain cattlemen, who are protesting against new grazing laws by illegally droving cattle in the Alpine National Park.
Parks Victoria says the cattlemen have promised to leave the park by tonight.
They face a fine of up to $25,000 if they do not follow the order to leave.
Parks Victoria chief executive Mark Stone says about 60 cattlemen are in the park.
“We indicated to the cattlemen that they were there illegally, which is probably stating the obvious, and we requested that they remove the cattle from the park,” he said.
“I understand that is their intention and they will be out of the park by [this] evening.”
Dr. Ameer Ali
President
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) has had 41 proud years as Australia’s only Islamic peak body.
Today AFIC is responsible for halal food products certification, In 2005 AFIC celebrated its 41st annual congress and dinner in Sydney, electing its new president and welcoming all its council members.
Mr Amjad Mehboob
Amjad Mehboob is the CEO Chief Executive AFIC
Mr Mark Townend
Mr Mark Townend is the CEO of RSPCA QLD
Supporting Free Range Farms in replace of Live Exports
——————————————————————————–
P O Box 439
Avalon NSW 2107
Australia
Telephone: (02) 9973 1728
Facsimile: (02) 9973 1729
Email enquiry@hsi.org.au
Website: http://www.hsi.org.au
Thursday, 5 January 2006
“ Humane Society International is in full support of the HKM, PALE, AFIC initiative to create a more humane life for farm animals and to improve slaughter techniques. The establishment of Humane Halal abattoirs is a giant step in the right direction. We look forward to an opportunity to work with them in the future to achieve these goals.”
Verna Simpson – Director – Humane Society International
——————————————————————————–
The group from State Government of Johor Bahru (Malaysia) are:
Dato Dr Hj Ibrahim Bin Endantd CEO Johor Islamic Religious Council
Dato S.S. Hj Nooh bin Gadut Mufti, State of Johor
Tuan Hj. Mahmood Hj Hashim General Manager, Johor Islamic Corporation
Muhammad Zakaria Manap CEO, ICMC Healthcare Sdn. Bhd.
Dr Hj Md Luckmal Hakim Director, ICMC Healthcare Sdn. Bhd.
Md. Israk Bin Abdullah Director, ICMC Healthcare Sdn. Bhd.
Asmadi Bin Md. Rahani Operation Manager, ICMC Healthcare Sdn. Bhd.
Bradley Saunders
A/Assistant Director
Partnerships and Innovation
Strategic Partnerships Office
Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy
Ross Richardson and State Members Federak\l Leader of AMIEU
(Australian Meat Industry Employment Union)
Mr Mark Townend
CEO RSPCA
(Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)
Bob Macleod
President of Small Abattoir Association
Amjad Mehboob
CEO AFIC
Fazel Rihim
AFIC State Supervisor Queensland
Brad Saunders
CEO Aboriginal and Torres Stait Islanders
Mr Marin Cloete
Office of the Premier State Development and Innovation
Wendy Lewthwaite
Halal Kind Meats and People Against Live Exports in comjunction with RSPCA QLD
Graham Dillion
Aboriginal Chief Elder – Elder Leader
Antje Struthmann
People Against Live Exports Secretary
Garth Keppie
Director of AICOL
Jan Keppie
Director of AICOL
The group is visiting Australia at the invitation of the AFIC and is investigating the possibility of investing in meat works/plants (with joint venture partners) The group is due to arrive in Brisbane/Gold Coast on 24 May 2005 and leave on 26 May 2005.
The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils
932 Bourke Street, Zetland NSW 2017, Australia
PO Box 7185, SSBH Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia
Tom Hannan
Retired A.M.I.E.U. Federal Secretary
Adviser Supporting HKM
Cattlemen to defy gazing ban
06jan06
MOUNTAIN cattlemen in Victoria’s high country will today begin driving herds of cattle across the Alpine National Park, defying the State Government’s grazing ban imposed seven months ago.
The protest comes after the Government yesterday announced a $7.5 million funding package to rehabilitate the park.
But unlike an earlier rally when 600 cattlemen and women stormed Victoria’s Parliament house on horseback, this protest will be subdued.
“We’re making a symbolic statement about the way we were treated when we lost our rights to the high country,” Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria spokesman Charlie Lovick said.
“We need to get the Government to the table and sit down and really take an interest in preserving our heritage. We’re just being paid lip service at the moment and it’s a lot of spin.”
Cattlemen dismiss Alpine clean-up
January 5, 2006 – 1:01PM
Victoria’s Alpine National Park is to get a state government-funded clean-up, but the evicted cattlemen reckon they took good care of the environment for free.
Six months ago, 600 mountain cattlemen and women mustered on horseback outside Victoria’s parliament house to protest a ban on alpine grazing in the national park.
Generations of high country families said the move would threaten their livelihoods and destroy a 170-year-old tradition.
Today, acting Premier John Thwaites announced an environmental works program to eradicate pests from the park and revegetate the Alpine bogs.
“Cattle grazing will continue outside the park’s boundaries, but we will be restoring the environment to its natural state in the Alpine National Park,” he said.
“With the removal of the cattle, a $7.5 million Bracks government funding package and increased volunteer efforts, environmental works will be stepped up dramatically in the park.”
Mr Thwaites said Parks Victoria had established partnerships with several community groups and projects would include controlling goat numbers in the Mount Mittamatite region and restoration of historic alpine huts.
Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria president Doug Treasure said cattlemen had cared for the environment for free and had been calling for these measures for decades.
“This is a whole lot of hot air,” he said.
“The only controlled animals that were up there were the cattle and we have been asking for years for animals like wild horses, dingoes, goats and pigs be controlled.”
He said it was not practical to graze cattle outside the park.
Mr Lovick said it was impossible to stop roaming cattle entering the imposed exclusion zones, but fears if they continue to do so, cattlemen may be banned from the high country completely, ending a 170-year tradition.
Cattlemen defy ban
Carla Danaher and Ellen Whinnett
07jan06
MOUNTAIN cattlemen have fired a symbolic salvo in their battle to resume grazing in Victoria’s high country.
A small group of cattlemen defied a State Government ban to lead a cattle drive across the Alpine National Park yesterday.
Six drovers will herd about a dozen cattle across the national park over the next week, meeting other cattlemen and their families.
Mansfield cattleman Charlie Lovick said the group would continue to fight the grazing ban.
“I think the Government thought we had rolled over and died,” he said. “This will be an ongoing stand. We want a right of passage through the national park.”
Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria president Doug Treasure said he hoped the protest would become an annual event.
“An annual drive would keep alive our culture and heritage,” he said.
The small protest is a stark contrast to last year’s rally, when 500 mountain cattlemen rode into Melbourne.
Acting Premier and Environment Minister John Thwaites, who this week announced a $7.5 million package for the national park, said most cattlemen had accepted transition payments and were getting on with their business.
“There is still grazing in the state forests and a number of the cattlemen are now grazing their cattle in the state forest areas,” he said.
Cattlemen defy high country ban
Email Print Normal font Large font By Mathew Murphy
January 7, 2006
MOUNTAIN cattlemen face thousands of dollars in fines as they defied a State Government ban yesterday and embarked on an eight-day droving run of cattle through the Alpine National Park.
Six horsemen are taking about 12 cattle through the national park in protest against the banning of cattle grazing in the high country. They want the Government to come back to the negotiating table.
Mountain Cattlemen’s Association of Victoria spokesman Charlie Lovick, a fifth generation alpine grazier, has spent the past few weeks chasing half his herd of 150 cattle back into the state forest.
“I brought my cattle into the state park and they basically beat me into the national park,” he said.
Around 500 head of cattle had been taken into permitted state forest areas before Christmas as mountain cattlemen had tried to comply with the ban, he said. But due to years of habit, at least half of each herd had wandered back over “an imaginary line” through the forest into the exclusion zone.
“There might be a couple of hundred head in the national park, with us working our butts off trying to keep them out.”
Mr Lovick said he wanted the Government to approve a right of carriageway for the cattlemen to take cattle through the park.
“While we accept that we won’t see cattle grazing again in the high country within the life of this Government, we want them to come back to the drawing board and give us a right of passage,” he said.
The protest comes a day after Acting Premier and Environment Minister John Thwaites visited the national park, announcing a $7.5 million funding package to restore bogs, remove weeds and feral goats.
Yesterday Mr Thwaites said that the cattlemen had a right to protest, but warned that they shouldn’t break the law while doing so. Fines of $1000 per head of cattle are enforceable.
“The vast majority of cattlemen are getting on with it,” Mr Thwaites said. “Those who are protesting, that’s their right, but they obviously shouldn’t break the law or do anything that might damage what is one of our most beautiful parks.”
Opposition Leader Robert Doyle said he sympathised with the cattlemen, who he said were protesting the only way they knew how. “While it is civil disobedience, is understandable because they have had their way of life terminated after 170 years,” he said.
Mr Lovick said the drove will come to an end next weekend at the Rose River in Wangaratta.
The cattlemen fear a total ban on alpine grazing, including state parks. The Government strongly denied any such plan yesterday.
The Government is providing up to $100,000 over three years to individual licence holders to shift their cattle back into nearby state forest areas.
Mr Lovick rejected comments this week by Mr Thwaites that the Government and cattlemen were now working well together.
Cattlemen were still seething over the Government “unfairly painting” them as “environmental vandals,” he said. “We’ve never got over that and never forgotten.”
George Czaus
B.A L.L.B Grad. Dip. Leg. Prac
Partner in HKM
George is a Lawyer and Business Adviser with background in Abattoir, Farms and Meat Works
Ikebal Patel
BE, CP Eng., MIE Aust., MIEE, MBA
Treasure AFIC
Mohamed Adil Rahman
Halal Services Manager – Sydney H.O.
The new Service Manager of AFIC, working with HKM is Mr Mohamed Rahman who came to Australia ten years ago. He is married with three children, two girls and a boy.
Mohamed has been especially appointed to co-ordinate and work with HKM.
We had the pleasure of meeting Mohameds’ parents from India a few weeks ago and are delighted to have Mr Rahman on board HKM.
Fazal Rahim Muhammad
AFIC Halal Supervisor for Queensland
Islamic Council of WA
Tasmanian Muslim Association
South Australia
Home | What to do | What it is | Export Licences | submissions | Contact Details | Another Aussie Hero | Elders live Export | Global
Picture Taken At Macleay River Kempsey
SHARE FARMS AND ABATTOIRS
Free Range Poultry etc. Lease arrangement or Co-joint Investment arrangement of your choice.
The fact is there is no reason why we cannot have share farmers, and share abattoir owners and operators in Australia, in a 50/50 arrangement with overseas buyers and Australian farmers working as partners.
I have personally had meetings with Leaders who assure me they do NOT require animals live for religious purposes and that it’s driven by the trade dollar and the middle man.
To quote a live exporter I was speaking too he said the following. “middleman – generally adds little value but normally has set up the contact/trade arrangements which the farmer doesn’t understand because he has no information flow or simply has not bothered to ask the pertinent questions.”
To quote them “it is purely economical” through Governments Tariffs, departments of trades and the ever greedy middleman who steals our jobs and sends millions of animals to an unbelievable and unnecessary cruel ending.
This has led to a partnership between myself Wendy Lewthwaite as Director of HKM and AFIC.
A message to Farmers: If YOU want more money for your stock, please contact us at info@halakindmeats.com or ring reverse charge.
We are working to provide you with a better price by dealing DIRECT with the overseas purchasers and YOU the Farmer.
You have nothing to loose but your hard times and financial problems if you are a farmer or small abattoir owner or both.
Australian Farmers are the Back Bone of the Country. Help us to help you.
Let’s stop our country towns closing because of Lack of Jobs for our Kids.
Let’s turn Australia around like it used to be in the old days.
This project is in memory and a Tribute to Stan Lewthwaite
Stan Lewthwaite was born in Kempsey 1911.
He was one of the original pioneers of this country along with his father Frank.
Stan passed away on the Gold Coast this year.
In his younger days Slim Dusty used to ride with him when Slim was only a slip of a kid and learned much. He was a bullock team driver, farmer, amongst other things. A bushy through and through. Always reckoned he could never understand city folk getting lost in the bush because every tree was different and every tree looked different.
He was a great believer in share farming.
Wendy Lewthwaite Director of the Halal Kind Meats Company was also born in Kempsey.
Due to to her father’s knowledge of farming, and sense of common decency which was passed on and the wisdom of Phoebe their mother both surviving daughters are able to reach out to speak to the international community while staying in contact with the grass roots folk.
Jan Stan`s eldest daughter is a lawyer running a Language School and an International Educational Farm Stay.
http://www.mysterymountain.com.au http://www.aicol.com.au“
The family have followed in the tradition of fair play and humanity towards animals while farming, combined with grass roots and international communication skills.
The Cattle Men From The High plains By. Slim Dusty
You may talk of the ringer from Qld or the big shearing gun from the west. They are men who have proven their value when ever they are put to the test. But have u ever looked to the mountains, in the south where it snows and it rains have u thought of the men from the snowy and the cattlemen from the high plains.From the high plains away above Bargo in the alps where the snow daisy grows.Where the wild mountain herds are grazing in the shadow of mountains of snow. Where the cattlemen search every cranny when they muster at each summers end in their rain battered hats and oil skins from the high plains comes real cattle men There a part of Australias history our heritage wont be the same> If nobody cares what is happening to the cattlemen from the high plains. After one fifty years they can take it all the hardship the mountains can give they hand on to each generation. they careing they live and let live. All the steep mountain tracks and the gullies which one knows like the palm of his hand.Teres no room here for too many new chums in mountain cattlemans land. So i guess that u will never believe me when you hear what they are planning to do.>Down in town they are writing the law now that the cattle must go. With a sweep of their pen they want to wipe out the cattleman from the high plains> and we loose a part of our history our heritage wont be the same if nobody cares what is happening to the cattleman from the high plains.