Garvoc cattle breeders Peter and Jill Wines received an unexpected text message a month ago while on a Pacific Islands cruise.
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The message came from a concerned neighbour asking how they had fared in the devastating St Patrick’s Day fires.
Mr Wines, who at that stage was totally unaware of the fires or the damage they had caused, soon discovered that all of his sheds, machinery and fences, and seven-eights of his 120 hectares of pastures, had been destroyed.
With nowhere to contain the cattle and no one to manage them in his absences, Mr Wines accepted an offer from WVLX manager Tim Nowell and Gordon Branson, from Banquet Angus, to house the cattle at the Mortlake saleyards and feed out donated hay until the family returned.
Mr Wines said he was extremely grateful for all the assistance he has received since the fires last month.
“To the manager and agents of the WVLX, and to Mr Branson who took control of the situation, we are very appreciative for all their help as it was all completed without our input as we were unable to return home until the cruise was completed,” Mr Wines said.
He said they would wait until the spring or even later before they restock the property with cattle.
“While our stockyards were basically untouched, the rest of the property still has to be re-fenced and pastures sown and established before it can take on cattle again,” he said.
“It will take time and we are in no hurry.”
With surplus feed scarce and the need to re-establish pastures, 127 of the Angus and Angus-Angus-Simmental herd, most with newborn calves, were offered for sale at the WVLX last week.