SHEEPVENTION was a triumph with pleasant weather bringing smiles of anticipation to a substantial gathering in the Rams Shed on Sunday for the official opening.

Sheepvention president, David Botterill launched the official opening by warmly greeting those in attendance.

 “Your presence underscores the importance of this event to our community and the broader agricultural industry.

“We are delighted to have you join us for what promises to be an exciting and enriching experience,” he said.

 “For the past 10 weeks, the Hamilton Pastoral and Agricultural society and the Sheepvention committee have been the focal point of our community’s conversations.

“Last year, I stood here with our mayor, David Robertson who promised a new indoor exhibition space.

“Today, I am proud to recognise the considerable time and effort of our volunteers, skilled tradies, the shire of Southern Grampians and many individuals who have worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life.

“The new shed is a testament to the Hamilton P&A society’s commitment to providing the best possible experience for exhibitors and visitors.

“We look forward to hosting many indoor events as we continue to enhance the facilities of the Hamilton Showgrounds.”

The Sheepvention president went on to speak of the many exciting outdoor offerings and interactive displays.

“An event of this magnitude wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and hard work of many people,” Mr Botterill said.

“I extend my heartfelt thanks to our committed volunteers who generously give their time and energy - your efforts are invaluable and greatly appreciated.

“This year has been a tough season for many in our community marked by challenging weather conditions and contentious debates around the live export.

“These issues have highlighted the importance of initiatives like the Keep The Sheep campaign which underscores the value of our sheep industry and the need to support our famers through difficult times.

“Your resilience and dedication are the backbone of our community and events like Sheepvention are vital in bringing us together to share knowledge, support one another and celebrate our industry.”

Mr Botterill acknowledged sponsors saying, “We are profoundly grateful for your partnership.”

He closed in welcoming Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) mayor, David Robertson, South West TAFE executive managing marketer, Louise Cameron and opening guest speaker, Leila McDougall to the platform.

Cr Robertson welcomed visitors including politicians, Western Victoria MP, Jacinta Ermacora, Western Victoria MP, Gayle Tierney, Lowan MP, Emma Kealy, the local SGSC councillors and Glenelg Shire Council mayor, Karen Stephens.

Cr Robertson said, “Being down here in rural Victoria builds up your resilience a lot because we don’t get a lot of help.

“You learn to look after yourself and do things yourself and an example of that is what the P&A society have done here…two months ago, and came to the council about building a shed.

“It’s a magnificent shed up there - it’s been built in two months, and I must congratulate Merge Constructions who put it up - it was going to be seven weeks - they did it in four weeks.

“We had our local contractors in Creek Electrical who worked tirelessly and when the roof came on and they got everything up and going.

 “And Fitzgerald Concreters who poured 383 cubic meters of concrete in three days and got a job done.

“Get it done, do it yourself - don’t wait around for someone else to do it,” he said.

Cr Robertson spoke about the tough times farmers in rural Victoria are currently facing.

“As David Botterill said, it’s been a pretty tough season - it’s actually the driest six months we’ve ever had on record. 

“Farmers up here have spent hundreds of millions of dollars this year just keeping their stock alive,” he noted.

Cr Robertson closed by saying he was looking forward to Leila McDougall’s speech about being just a farmer.

“Hopefully she doesn’t have to make one (a film) next year on who wants to be a bloody farmer,” he quipped.

South West TAFE (SWTAFE) Education executive manager, Louise Cameron opened by saying how terrific it was to be at the event of the year for the farming community.

“We all know how important it is as educators in this region to ensure that we offer the right skills in agriculture for the sector to grow a workforce for the future.

She spoke about SWTAFE’s substantial offering of agricultural, horticultural, conservation and wool courses they have provided.

 “In 2025, we plan to expand those programs with offering the diploma of agronomy and the new Diploma of agriculture for the beginning in 2025,” she said.

“While we offer courses from campuses in Warrnambool, Portland and Colac in Glenormiston, our Hamilton campus service the needs and the skill shortages across the region within agriculture, horticulture, wool classing in early childcare, health and VCE for those students who are looking for an alternative program instead of secondary school.”

Sheepvention guest opening speaker, Leila McDougall, a film maker and sheep farmer from Tatyoon stood up to the microphone to share her story.

Leila said she and her husband, Sean started a charity 10 years ago to promote mental health in farming communities, but two years down the track devastation struck their family.

“My husband lost his uncle to suicide and my mother attempted suicide in the same year,” Leila said.

“We then realised that there was very little support for people post that horrible word ‘suicide’ that everyone’s scared of talking about.”

Those tragic circumstances led to the couple organising an event called Mellow in the Yellow.

“It’s a big gathering in a canola crop that’s very happy and it’s about bringing community together…and subconsciously getting people talking and being open about their mental health,” she said.

“But then we all know that horrible thing that started…called COVID and we couldn’t run our event anymore,” she said.

During this time, the couple were inspired to create their own film with Leila setting about the script and investigating how to get a cast, crew and director and make the film authentic.

“I’m sick of watching Australian films about rural Australia and they’re making us look like bogans - that we’re uneducated, that we’re not relatable - that’s not what we’re like at all.

“And when you look at films that have really impacted the world and the culture - they leave a lasting effect on us - and that’s what we wanted our film to do,” she said.

“We want people to be emotional and go on a journey and feel empathy so that when this happens in our communities, there’s more love - we’re not running away from those people.”

Leila spoke of terrible statistics in Australia and said we lose a farmer to suicide every 10 days.

“And 75 per cent of farmers feel that they are undervalued in the work that they do to make the world survive,” she said.

In naming the film, she asked her husband, “What’s something farmers always say about themselves?

He replied that he would say ‘I grow grass for a living or I’m just a farmer.’

Leila said ‘Just a Farmer’ was the perfect title.

A short screening was shown to the audience, which included some background information on Leila and a short clip from her film.

A Question & Answer session shortly following with Lowan MP, Emma Kealy putting forward the following to Leila.

“We’ve got a green drought through the region at the moment - there are a lot of people who are probably listening to you today who are not in the best financial position or not in the best mental position.

“What advice can you give to them to help them to get through this and realise that a green drought is a failed season, it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a failure?” Ms Kealy asked.

“Yeah, definitely,” Leila responded.

 “And we’re all in this together - remember, you’re not alone - there are people to talk to.

“If you see someone that’s withdrawing, go and have a chat with them.

“That’s the most important thing we can do in these times is come together,” she said.

David Botterill thanked Leila for her positive message and invited Keep the Sheep movement founder, Benno Sutherland to the platform.

“Mr Sutherland said upfront, “Our business at the moment is about this legislation that’s come through around the abolishment of live export.

“We organised a rally in Perth… (with) 1700 trucks, trailers, vehicles and three and a half thousand people.

“We’ve got to have a House of Representatives inquiry.

“So the guts of the matter is, Labor can’t keep kicking us in the teeth.

“This is about rural Australia now, it’s not just about live export.

“But make no bones about it - you as a taxpayer are going to pay for it somehow,” he continued.

Mr Sutherland urged his listeners to join the petition and donate some money.

“Help us fight for rural Australia - It’s your community, it’s your pub, it’s your club, it’s your IGA, it’s everything,” he said.

See Saturday’s Spectator for further information on the Keep the Sheep campaign.

David Botterill closed by thanking all for their attendance.