The 2019 Australian Salers AGM was held in the wildflower state (Western Australia) and it didn’t disappoint as Salers cattle, other agricultural enterprises and flora all featured over the weekend.

A group of enthusiastic Salers breeders descended on Bunbury in WA on the 29th of November to attend the 2019 National Australian Salers AGM and farm tours.  Everyone arrived at some point on the Friday in Bunbury, unfortunately some arrived some 3 hours later than anticipated due to flight delays.

Despite the huge difference in the time zones and a very late flight into WA for one couple, all participants were up bright and early ready to be picked up by our host/driver Alan Penfold.  After reacquainting ourselves with one another and introducing new people we boarded the bus and headed out to Alan and Sharon’s home property Alsha-Baylee Salers, approximately 30 km south of Bunbury.

Before we started looking at cattle we had a refreshing morning tea with lots of talk about everything and anything.  Once Sharon was sure we were fully fortified with food and a cuppa we headed out to the stock yards where we were able to view the greater majority of Alsha-Baylee’s animals.  This gave a brilliant opportunity to see mature progeny of sires likes of GGT Red Rock, several home grown sires and their progeny.  The quite nature of the Penfold’s animals was on display as you could walk in and around all the animals without any issues, while others just wanted a scratch.

Sharon Penfold from Two Fat Cows explaining how she makes her prize winning Double Choc ice cream.

Lunch was finished off with a tour of the production area of Two Fat Cows.  Two Fat Cows is an artisan ice cream and relish business run by Sharon.  We all learnt that there was a lot of work which goes into making such a large number of flavours of ice cream.  This year Sharon’s Double Choc ice cream won Grand Champion ice cream at the Perth Royal Show. She was then eligible to compete in the Australian Grand Dairy Awards.  This flavour was one of a number that we were able to taste test.

 

 

 

At this point we loaded back onto the bus eating our favourite flavoured ice cream (thank you Two fat Cows) while heading for our next stop.  While driving debate continued as to what really was the best flavour of ice cream or combinations of.

Lachlan having a chat with Australian Salers Association members about his property.

By the time we arrived at Fry families dairy farm at Brunswick Junction it was getting rather warm and so we headed into the dairy were it was cooler to listen to Lachlan talk about his families property and how it operates.  This was educational as several people didn’t know how a herring bone 7 a side swing over dairy worked.  After a number of the guys eyed off several tractors and pieces of machinery that they wanted at home, they all decided the implements were too big to get in each of their suitcases and then onto the plane.

 

 

 

Some of the many Gnomes at Gnomesville.

On the way back into Bunbury we called into Gnomesville which is in the Ferguson Valley.  Gnomesville was originally only tiny but now is a vast assortment of thousands of gnomes stretching out over several hundred meters.  It can be described many ways – cute, weird, cooky, creepy, colourful or just fun.  However you describe it you walk away with a smile on your face.

On being returned to our drop off point we refreshed and changed for the AGM and the tea followed after.  It was great to see Ray and Toni Hughan (Salers breeders – Jillgary Salers stud) join us for the AGM and share a meal with us.  It wasn’t a late night as the time difference, jet lag and a busy day took its toll on everybody.

Some of the cross bred cattle at the Busselton block

Due to a revised schedule we were up and about early (no sleep in L) to head out to the first of 2 two leased blocks of land that Alan and Sharon have.  The first block which is just outside of Busselton was actually an old air force base in the Second World War.  Some of the old buildings still stand today including one that has been renovated into a house.  On this block is run mainly Salers cross animals.  Some of the crosses are Murray Grey, Brahman, Devon or Shorthorn.  We bid farewell to one couple as they had an early flight out before we headed off to the second lease block.

 

Alan and Sharon showing A.S.A. members some of the native flora

On arrival at the second block we had a break to have morning tea.  We thank Bruce for his hospitality in having us all invade his home for morning tea before we headed out to view Red Angus and Salers cattle.  While here we also were given a flora lesson on the native trees and shrubs in the area as this block has a number of areas of vegetation that is reasonably undamaged and we took a walk through some of it.

A casual lunch was had at a pub in Margaret River where talk turned to the future and what we all would be doing between now and Christmas.

Farewells were said back at our pick up point with some couples heading back to Perth to fly out the following morning while others stayed on in WA to extend their trip.

Our sincere thanks goes to Sharon and Alan Penfold for organising the 2019 Australian Salers AGM and tours in WA. It was a terrific weekend.