Australia Day 2012

Every year on the 26th of January all around Australia we celebrate Australia Day.
This year being no different saw me head into town for the anual Australia Day Awards Ceremony, recognising those in our community who have made an outstanding contribution through their service and dedication. This year was also a first for me too, I got to be present to see the swearing in of two groups of brand new Australian Citizens.
Following the formalities of the day we got down to the serious business of Lammington and Meat Pie Eating Contests, Whip Cracking Competitions, Pavlova Making Competitions and of course it wouldn't be Australia day without our (least) favourite import: The Cane Toad Races.

I will hopefully have some photos to come but for now, why don't you test yourselves on Aussie Pop Culture and Trivia with the "Official" Australian Citizenship test:

Leave your answers in the comments below and we'll see ho you've gone, Enjoy!




1.  What is a "bloody little beauty"?

2. Are these terms related: chuck a sickie; chuck a spaz; chuck a U-ey?

3. Explain the following passage: 'In the arvo last Chrissy the relos rocked up for a barbie, some bevvies    and a few snags. After a bit of a Bex and a lie down we opened the pressies, scoffed all the chockies, bickies and lollies. Then we drained a few tinnies and Mum did her block after Dad and Steve had a barney and a bit of biffo.'

4.Complete the following sentences:
   a) 'If the van's rockin' don't bother ?
   b) You're going home in the back of a ?
   c) Fair crack of the ?


5. Is there someone you are only mates with because they own a trailer or have a pool?



6. What are the ingredients in a rissole?

7. Demonstrate (or Describe) the correct procedure for eating a Tim Tam.


8. In any two-hour period have you ever eaten three-bean salad, a chop and two serves of pav washed down with someone else's beer that has been flogged from a bath full of ice?

9. When you go to a bring- your-own-meat barbie can you eat other people's meat or are you only allowed to eat your own?

10. What purple root vegetable beginning with the letter 'b' is required by law to be included in a hamburger  with the lot?

11. Define the following: Victa, thongs, Esky & Ugg boots?


12. Who is the most Australian: John 'The Voice' Farnham, John 'True Blue' Williamson, Kylie Minogue or Warnie?

What is a Poddy Calf?

I've had a few bemused looks and queries lately when I've used the phrase "Poddy Calf", so I think today is as good a day to set the record straight as we have just got a new baby poddy.

A Poddy Calf is an orphan calf (though this phrase can be used to describe a generic calf). In instances where a calf loses its mother it is commonly reared by hand or with another foster cow. Calf's reared by hand are often fed a formulated milk replacer, that contains all the essential minerals and nutrients required by growing calves.
In the case below and any other cases it is vitally important to the health and development of a calf that it receives the colostrum (first lactation from a cow that has just calved) as this contains a lot of natural antibiotic compounds required by the calf for immunity defenses. Colostrum can be frozen and kept for a period of time so you it can be used for other calves if they haven't been able to get fresh colostrum.

Meet Marcus:

Marcus is a one week old Braford. Sadly we lost Marcus's mother, but we were able to save him. He weighed an incredible 50kg at birth and is certainly a very big bull calf. 
This photo here was taken about three days after he was born. He is currently being bottle fed up to four times a day depending on how much he drinks and how hungry he is.
We are planning to introduce Marcus to one of our foster cows as he is getting a bit too big to stay in the backyard of the homestead.

 Here you can see him sleeping in Mum's garden (another reason why he is getting too big for the Homestead yard.).
He is a real character of a calf full of personality and energy, he will happily chase you across the yard to get to his milk

This Australia Day.....

Why don't you eat (dare I say it, as a beef producer I'm liable to shot for this) Lamb?

Each year there is a push by the peak marketing lobby group for Australian Lamb to encourage not just Australians but all the world to come celebrate Australia Day and throw a lamb chop on the Barbie.


To accomplish this each year they feature a marketing campaign with the larger than life Sam Kekovich fronting their advertising blitz and this year is no different.


Australian Lamb have renewed their advertising campaigns once again with the hilariously wonderful and outrageous Sam Kekovich (Check him out at his Facebook Page: HERE). Following on from the success of last years address tot the United Nations here is this years "offering":

 Barbie Girl

Featuring the wonderful talents of Melissa Tkautz and Justice Crew

Enjoy this years hilarious parody of the famous song here:

(To my international readers you may have to wait as it does currently have region blocking, but soon it should be unlocked)