TRANSCRIPT: INTERVIEW WITH ELLIS GELIOS ON FLOW FM RADIO, 26 AUGUST 2024
Subjects: Canola crops, Sarah Carter, Hume League finals
E&OE
ELLIS GELIOS
In the Riverina, you’re always surveying agricultural pockets. Tell us about the strength of canola crops in the Riverina region right now.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, the yellow seems to be coming out earlier and earlier. And driving from Wagga Wagga there the other day, heading to Temora and Cootamundra and Grenfell and noticed there were paddocks upon paddocks of canola. Wonderful to see. We know how important this is as a crop. I can remember as a young lad growing up on a farm between Wagga Wagga and Junee, my father grew oats and wheat and we didn’t get into what was then called rapeseed. Dad decided that he would stick with the stable and staple crops that were so much a part of the Riverina, but it has changed. And, these days canola is one of the crops of choice. And when you’ve got an oil processing plant at Bomen, when you see the exciting ventures that are going into investment in processing canola, not just for our own use but, indeed, the international market you know that they’re onto a winner. And, as I say, the crops are just getting better and better. I mean, years ago you used to look at a canola crop and the yellow was reasonably sparse. These days, it just looks like a yellow blanket has been cast over the countryside. And it’s beautiful to see. And many people do pull up and want to take selfies in it. I just advise them, not to go to the farmers’ paddocks, to take it from the road side of the fence because there are all sorts of worries about people venturing onto other people’s property and that has become a bit of an issue in recent years. But, get out of your towns and have a look at the crops. They are quite a sight to see. If you must take a selfie with them in the background, but don’t venture onto the farmers’ paddocks because A: it’s illegal and B: there might be a stray bull that might decide that you shouldn’t be on that side of the fence and, quite frankly, it’s trespassing. So I just urge and encourage people to be mindful that it is farmers’ property that they could be wanting to enter. But enjoy what is a great sight to see and, it’s great to see the swathe of yellow right across the countryside.
ELLIS GELIOS
Michael McCormack, the Member for Riverina, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific. I’m going to be speaking to him about how he turned 60 recently. The former journalist will tell us all about that.
Fun fact as well, in case you’re listening from outside the Riverina area in southern New South Wales, the Riverina area that Michael McCormack covers spans an area bigger than Switzerland. At 48,988km², the Riverina represents one of Australia’s most diverse federal electorates. That is something that I certainly was not across before. So there you go. I’ll link up again with Michael McCormack in a few short moments’ time. Up next, though, we’re going to take a look at Australia’s historical anniversaries to have taken place on today’s date, the 26th of August throughout our history, don’t go anywhere. It’s the Country Viewpoint on FLOW FM.
[BREAK]
ELLIS GELIOS
And welcome back. You’re listening to the Country Viewpoint program right here on your Colour of Country Life, FLOW FM, from wherever you’re listening across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia or on our live stream, flowfm.com.au. It’s great to be with you as we head towards the end of our Monday program.
I do have Michael McCormack on the line, the Federal Member for the Riverina and the former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia. Back in 1964, in early August, he was born and he celebrated his 60th birthday recently. He was born in Wagga Wagga in NSW. Well, Mr McCormack, a belated happy birthday to you for turning 60 recently and thank you once again for being here with us on FLOW FM. Tell us how you celebrated.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Well, thank you very much and I did celebrate it in Vanuatu but it was very sad after the trip with the Save The Children Fund, that Sarah Carter, who was such a staunch advocate for that organisation, passed away within 48 hours of coming home and we celebrated her life at a very special and moving funeral, a poignant time, last Friday in Melbourne. She was a force of nature and she would have made such a great Parliamentarian. I was so, so sad to see her go. I know Matt Tinkler and the Save The Children’s Fund is absolutely devastated. The organisation, Save The Children, does such a power of good right across the world. And that organisation has been absolutely gutted by the loss of Sarah. We mourn her loss. We thank her for her 45 years, but certainly the last 10, where she made such a difference globally. And, you know, I think the Labor Party, moreover, has lost somebody who – what a shame she never got to take a seat in Federal Parliament because she would have made such a difference and I say that in a very bipartisan fashion as somebody who was very honoured to deliver a eulogy at her farewell service.
ELLIS GELIOS
Michael McCormack, thank you so much and enjoy the Hume finals happening shortly.
MICHAEL McCORMACK
Indeed. Osborne look like they are specials again but I tell you what Holbrook may have something to say about that, but it’ll be a good final series. All the very best.
ELLIS GELIOS
There we have it. Well, time has gotten the better of us here on the Country Viewpoint on this Monday. However, the next time I link up with Michael McCormack, I’m going to be asking him all about his heavy endorsement of the new Premier of the Northern Territory, Leah Finocchiaro, a leadership change in that part of the world for the first time in eight years, Michael McCormack is firmly behind the new Premier, saying that she’s taken out a decisive win in the NT election and that he’s pleased for Territorians who can now rely on the Country Liberal Party to provide strong government to make the most of the many opportunities the Northern Territory offers. It’s just one of a number of elections that are slated in Australia over the next few weeks and months, including, of course, the Queensland election and the WA election, which we will be firmly across here on the Country Viewpoint program.
ENDS