It is dry. Bone dry. Fairly typical for this time of year, yet still confronting. Even hardy old trees that survived the lead‑up to the 2019/2020 summer are now giving up. We’ve been fortunate so far to avoid bushfires in our immediate area. Our brigade – and neighbouring ones – have been busy supporting firefighting efforts across the district. We’re not out of the woods by any stretch.

The cattle remain in good health, though they’ve naturally lost a bit of condition. We’ve started hand‑feeding again to supplement their diet. The paddocks have now had two light grazes since the last meaningful rain. There’s plenty of ground cover, but its nutritional value is poor.

We are on the waiting list for electronic collars to create virtual fences. This will be a game changer for us. As the cattle get hungry, they lean on our soft built-for-horses fences. The electronic collars will help me not only manage the paddocks better, but reduce the load on existing fences. As a bonus they will also allow me to plant replacement paddock trees without building special tree guards.

This summer also saw the arrival of a new tool on the farm: our little utility buggy. I found it late last year in need of batteries and a bit of TLC. After it sat in the shed for a while, I finally committed to upgrading the old lead‑acid system to lithium. Chris at HBPlus Battery Specialists recommended a universal upgrade, and we had it installed just in time for Christmas. It has already proven its worth—hauling garden materials, ferrying tools to leaking pipes, and, thanks to a 12‑volt reducer, towing the weed‑spraying trailer. I’m rapidly running out of excuses for not staying on top of the weeds.

Our days revolve around work, the cattle and keeping the place ticking along. We’re watering some of our most vulnerable trees, which means certain paddocks are off‑limits while we try to establish young plantings. Kangaroos are once again becoming a significant pressure on the pastures, though managing native wildlife is never straightforward.

We had the boys home over the silly season. Between long hours in the shed working on their vehicles, I introduced them to the joys of true classic motoring in the form of a 1974 Peugeot 504. This one was lurking just down the road and looking for a new owner. It’s the same make, model, and year my parents bought new. We did countless family road trips in that car, and I drove it myself until the wheels practically fell off. Taking Mum and Dad with me to register this one was just fabulous. It is now my preferred daily drive. Teaching the lads how to service a car without the luxury of an OBDII port has also been an absolute delight.

With work continuing through summer, farm jobs, new ideas taking shape, ongoing projects still demanding attention (the house and horse float among them), and even some unexpected news from the local council, life has been full. Yet through it all, family and community remain at the centre.

My next post will be an update on community and some of the amazing people who live in our area.

Living on the Rock Farm remains an extraordinary experience.