Nicola's Notes

2 July 2007: Nicola Raymond’s Next Strategy!

When I was awarded my UK Nuffield Scholarship, I was offered a chance to travel across the world, studying the agricultural subject of my choice for a minimum of 12 weeks. As I have never been a girl who has undertook any deed “normally”, I decided, as a single unrestricted female, to capitalise on it and take additional time-out from my career. Consequently, I booked a trip that allowed me to seize a unique, nine month world travel experience. I also decided to reside in Australia for a few months and undertake employment in the agricultural industry to gain further experience.

All the above I decided in summer 2006 and by October 26th, I was flying across the Atlantic to North America on a huge adventure, feeling ecstatic and with an element of control back in my life for the first time in many years.

After I completed my Nuffield study in the USA, Chile and Argentina, I landed in Melbourne, Australia on 27th December full of hope for seven months of adventure, agricultural employment and new friendships. My plan was to return to the UK on 20 July 2007 for the spectacular Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, the largest and best agricultural show in the UK and an event that I am heavily involved in.

However, I have contemplated heavily over this original plan and now recognise that although returning to Wales for the show would be wonderful, following the show, I would be back in Pembrokeshire, seeking employment in the UK without any specific inspiration or focus on my direction for the future.

Therefore, I have taken the monumental decision to stay in Australia, capitalise on the opportunities that present themselves, and further develop relationships with all the wonderful people I have met. In addition, my visa does not expire until December so I feel that I really ought to utilise it to my advantage.

To reiterate my current position, my current employers are The Smart Group, and producer Brendon Smart. Brendon owns an 8000 acre farm called Akeringa with Beef, Lamb, Barley, Canola, Oats, Beans and Lucerne Pasture Seed in the region of Tatiara, near the small town of Keith, in South-Eastern, South Australia.

I have been employed by The Smart Group since 2nd April for 3 months, creating a future focus for their lamb and beef sectors through a Strategic Marketing Process. This involved defining a vision and undertaking market research in both the South Australian Market Environment and Macro Environment. The education has been unbelievably worthwhile and everyone I have met has been interesting and kind. My report was issued to the Smart Group Board three weeks ago and I am currently carrying out the recommendations that I suggested.

A few weeks ago, I helped Jason and Brett injecting hundreds of lambs here at Akeringa. I enjoyed this immensely and it prompted my thoughts as to how much passion I still had for practical farming, as I always had as a teenager. Couple this development, with deepening friendships here in this area, my utter respect for the Smart Group business and my happiness whilst living at a farm that I can call “home”, and it seemed impossible to consider leaving here and moving on next week.

And, suddenly a breakthrough! Brett, the young livestock guy has just handed his notice in as he has an amazing opportunity in Western Australia which he couldn’t refuse. As a result, “Nicola Raymond” has delayed moving on and will assist with farm work here for a few weeks! In addition to this work, I will also continue to offer my skills through internal communications and supply chain management if required.

All five guys here have farmhouses as part of their employment package, so I will acquire Brett’s farmhouse which is 400 metres down the laneway from the yard. Consequently, I will move out from the homestead at Akeringa to Brett’s house over the weekend of 30th June, which coincides with Damien Smart’s return home from his Nuffield Scholarship. (Jess and Damien live at Akeringa).

Therefore, I now have a short-term solution to continue working here at the Smart Group while I consider a couple of additional exciting opportunities. These employment opportunities could mean another move within Australia or even New Zealand in the near future, but in the short-term I will be happily “farming” again!!! I apologise to anyone who planned to rely on me during the 4-day Royal Welsh Show, especially my Mum and Aunty Rosemary. I want everyone who is attending, to know that I will be thinking of you all and hopeful for another hugely successful event under the guidance of the Pembrokeshire Advisory Committee.

To my family, I want you to know that I love you and miss you all hugely and wish I could just “pop home” for a visit, but obviously, this is not really practical. I want to thank Hywel, John, Metho, Ken and Brendon Smith for all their support to me in recent weeks as you truly are great friends. For Jenny, I must apologise because I am not going to see you again before you leave Australia and head home, but you truly are the best girlfriend I could ever wish to have. For Garry, Dave, Leigh and Broady, I will soon be visiting your homesteads for a great reunion so be prepared, and Fintan - I cannot wait for your arrival in Oz in August! Finally, for Andrew Watson - I DO plan to join you on the Aussie slopes for a few days skiing in late-July and cannot wait to see you and Heike again!

 

17 Jun 2007: Agricultural PR, Painting & Partying!

It’s been bitterly COLD here in Keith, South Australia!!!! Every morning this week we have had frost coupled with fresh, bright sunrises and it has all been picture perfect! The average morning temperature has been -2 degrees and everyone has been complaining but I believe I have acclimatised well as it’s not unlike a Welsh winter!!

Last Monday was a Public Holiday in Australia to celebrate the Queens Birthday and after the boozy “Barbie in the Scrub” party on Sunday, I was glad of the break! As it was Ken’s birthday last Monday too, we went out for lunch at a hotel in the small town of “Mundulla” and also visited some of his farmer friends in the region. It was a relaxing day and by Tuesday morning, I was focused and ready for work once more!

Most mornings, I can be seen briefly scanning the UK major newspaper websites to update on worthy news. This week I was astounded to read a shocking press article relating to agriculture which I just have to share! This article confirmed that a survey, carried out by TNS, had questioned over 2000 adults in the UK about the origins of food and agricultural produce and boy, what amazing results were published!

22% of the UK population apparently don’t realise that bacon and pork sausages come from pigs! Can you believe this? In addition, 23% didn’t realise that their loaf of bread was produced in the UK and a whopping 47% were unaware that British farmers produce the oats that go into porridge! 37% answered incorrectly the origins of yoghurt and 18% of those got the basic ingredients of yoghurt wrong too!

With over half the food consumed in the UK being produced on British farms, it paints a desperately sad picture when the British public cannot make any connection with agricultural produce. As rationalisation continues in UK agriculture, it is obvious that the number of people involved in farming life will diminish. As a result, people will be further and further removed from the land and the lack of knowledge will become more extreme. I also believe that the UK supermarkets aren’t exactly innovative or helpful in assisting the industry with an improved connection.

This article also opened my eyes to the disparity of general agricultural knowledge between the UK and Australian populations. Agriculture in Australia still represents 5% GDP and contributes substantially to export performance which strengthens its worth to the Australian economy and its people. Australia is not only a country, but an island and the world’s smallest continent, and being so far removed from other countries’ intensifies its need to not only feed its nation but to remain self-sufficient. Australian farmers also appear to be well respected here and they generally receive positive media coverage and are recognised by most people as fundamental.

In the UK, agriculture represents only 0.5% of GDP, and although Europe is the second smallest continent in the world after Australia, it has 55 countries with 720 million people so it’s hardly comparative! And I guess all this blatantly lessens the need for UK self-sufficiency to the detriment of the farmers who are often negatively publicized without valid reason or rational judgement, especially over subsidies.

I guess what I am trying to say is that I continue to be in awe of the positivity towards Australian farmers here, more so after reading that UK press release!

This week marked the return of Jess to Akeringa. Jess is Damien’s fiancée and Damien is Brendon’s son who is currently on his own Nuffield Scholarship (in case anyone is not up to speed!). Jess had been travelling across America and Europe with Damien and arrived home here on Thursday having had an amazing trip. As a result, Jess and I are now rattling around this lovely big farmhouse together and I am enjoying spending time getting to know her.

My work week has been somewhat varied this week, from continued marketing and promotional work for the Smart Group plus identifying areas for improvement with internal communications within the business. Plus I have been involved in more wonderful farm work and have loved it all! Yes, it’s true dear friends, this week you could have also seen me standing on a stepladder painting, driving the Yeut into Keith to collect barrels of oil, seed, and chemicals for the farm, and flying around paddocks on a quad-bike spot spraying nasty weeds! I really have turned into a handy-helper or general-minion depending on your views of my worth!

Here at Akeringa, Brendon and Damien have been eager to have a separate administration block to reduce staff pressures on using this small office in the house. As a result, over the past six weeks, a new building adjacent to the farm sheds on the yard has been built and it is now at its painting stage - here enters Nicola Raymond with a brush and roller in hand!!!!! This building is awesome and has an office, archive room, kitchen, bathroom and a board room and will be the envy of many. The plan is to transfer all farm business work to this block in the next few weeks, after my painting challenge has been completed!

This week has also been another sociably active one and I am still thoroughly enjoying spending time with the farm guys and meeting additional people in the region. Last Tuesday night I had dinner with Ian’s retired-farmer parents in their lovely home in Keith. One of Ian’s sisters lives in Norwich so we had an instant UK connection and I enjoyed a great evening with them enjoying rare steak, a fantastic lemon dessert plus wine!

On Friday night after a cold late afternoon spot spraying on the quad-bike, we all gathered in the garage for a Friday night beer. And by “all”, I mean the five farm guys, Brendon & Robyn, Jess and I, Brendon’s youngest son Ryan and his football mate Tony so there was quite a crowd of us! Ryan and Tony had been processing and cutting a couple of own-kill lambs plus the two deer that were recently slaughtered. As a result, we all had both Venison and Lamb sausages with cold beers and the atmosphere was sociable and fun - if freezing flippin cold!

On Saturday Jess and I prepared for a house “Barbie” here at Akeringa. This house has the most superb front patio and by the time we’d lit a roaring fire, added a couple of gas heaters and lit the BBQ we were raring to go! Approximately 20 of us enjoyed an evening of good Aussie BBQ food, Aussie beer and wine and good humour. I met Jess parents and a local farmer called John who is also the President of the Keith Football Club. By 10.30pm though, I was sitting in front of a TV watching South Africa take on the Wallabies in an awesome game which saw the Wallabies lose by just 3 points.

I am hugely enjoying these recent casual social gatherings because as a result, I am learning much more about the Smart family, their local friends and the farm staff. These shindigs give me a chance to listen to local gossip being discussed and also hear endless stories from the guys and their past escapades which are always hilarious! All this helps me to integrate myself here further and be more comfortable and happier in my surroundings as a result.

Finally, for everyone who has been wondering where this Welsh fruitcake Nicola Raymond is heading in the months ahead (and in her life generally) I should be able to tell you all something next week! Originally I had a three month work contract with Brendon which brings me to the end-June. The beauty (or anxiety depending on your attitude) of my current situation is with each passing day of this trip comes continued vagueness of what I will be doing next! But I have to admit that there is quite a thrill not knowing where life will next take me, even if I am missing out on some security! News via email from all you wonderful people would be marvellous by the way!

 

12 Jun 2007: Hungry Jacks, Diction & a “Barbie in the Scrub”!

It’s been a week of new social experiences, drink, food and frolicking!

I have been back on the John Deere sprayer at Akeringa, watching Ian spray 105 litres per hectare of Herbicide on Canola land, and I have also been with the Zimbabwean guy Barry whilst he seeded/drilled beans to Brendon’s land and it’s all been absolutely wonderful!

On Monday night last week, Ian, Grant, his wife Claire and I went into Bordertown, a 2500 population town 50km from Akeringa and famous as the birthplace of former Labour Prime Minister Bob Hawke. For those who are confused, Ian and Grant both work on the farm here at Akeringa. The plan was a Chinese, but as the Chinese Restaurant was closed so we headed for the “Bordertown Hotel” instead!

I have noticed that most rural towns in Australia have a large central hotel, normally named after the town and all appear to have exactly the same layout, features and services. There is always a large, plain front bar with a pool table, dart board and a TV screening the latest sporting event for casual drinkers. Then there is the “pokies” room, an area filled with gambling/fruit machines and normally busy with Australian women in their 40s and 50s!! There is a large restaurant with endless tables and good ambience, and many hotels also have an additional function room for private meetings or parties. Finally, all appear to have a drive-thru “Sip & Save” liquor retail store attached to the building which links directly to the front bar. The similarities between them are somewhat eerie but they all seem to have a spirit, goodwill and great food.

In relation to Australian food, immigration has certainly created diversity within the major cities and I have regularly consumed Sushi, Vietnamese and French foods in Sydney and Melbourne. In relation to home-cooking, a recent survey found the most popular meals eaten in the “urban family” home are Spaghetti Bolognaise and Stir-Fry. However, once you move into rural Australia eating habits become more traditional and predictable. Rural Australians appear to be simpler eaters, enjoying cereal, toast or porridge for breakfast, sandwiches over lunch and the classic meat with two veg in an evening (often via the “Barbie”!)

Australia is also famous for the “meat pie”!! At petrol stations and convenience stores across Australia, you are rarely faced with substantial choice in the sandwich section. Here its hot, take-out meat pies, sausage dogs and hamburgers with muffins and crisps that are seemingly most popular. American fast-food is also as prevalent here as in the UK, with Mc Donalds, Wendy’s, KFC and Pizza Hut all vying for the “quick serve restaurant” market share. These have over 40% of all foodservice spend in Australia.

I also thought I would explain the story of “Hungry Jacks” fast-food outlets because I was totally confused by them when I arrived in Australia. Hungry Jacks is a chain identical to Burger King. They have the same outlet image, layout and product lines, and for weeks I was mystified why it was called Hungry Jacks and not Burger King. The logo is the same, using the famous orange and yellow semi-circular buns above-and-below the name, but in Australia it says Hungry Jacks not Burger King! This, for a simple Welsh girl, was too confusing so I did some research..

Burger King’s first restaurant was opened in 1954 in Miami, Florida and they grew across the USA in the 60s, 70s and 80s. In the 80s, Burger King acquired UK rival “Wimpy” outlets and developed market share in the UK. When Burger King decided to expand into Australia, it found the “Burger King” name already trademarked here by a lone man running a fast food outlet! As a consequence, the Australian Burger King franchisee, Jack Cowin was provided a list by Burger King of alternative names that “Australian Burger King” outlets could be branded. Jack Cowin selected Hungry Jacks and the outlets were set-up by Cowin, exactly the same as in the US.

Therefore, Hungry Jacks is a franchise of the Burger King Corporation and the first outlet was opened in Perth in 1971. When the Australian trademark “Burger King” name lapsed in 1996, Burger King Corporation wanted Jack Cowin to change the Hungry Jacks outlets over to their name as with every other outlet in the world. But Cowin resisted and as a result, Burger King decided to open seventy outlets across Australia under the Burger King name to compete directly against him!

As a result of Burger King’s actions, in 2001 Hungry Jacks began legal proceedings against Burger King citing intrusion of their franchise agreement! The case was won by Hungry Jacks, and Burger King had to pay $75 million Australian dollars compensation! Burger King eventually sold their 70 outlets to Jack Cowin at Hungry Jacks and the name lives on! Interestingly, Hungry Jacks restaurants must still follow menu changes made by Burger King and the layout must be the same because the franchise still fully operates.

This week I have also been thinking about the Australian-English diction I have subconsciously grasped since landing on these soils. Initially, I was not only confused by place names because I would verbalise them differently to Australians, but words like “swag” (a rolled up outdoor bed) “smoko” (tea break) “daks” (trousers) “esky” (cool box) “hoon” (boy racer) “schooner” (glass of beer) and “yakka” (work) were totally beyond me!!! I will never forget the first time Brendon asked me to pass the “Esky” and I looked at him blank and dumb! I have also noticed that Brendon regularly uses “streuth or buggery” in sentences and Ken says “good-on-ya” repeatedly! And Australians are renowned for adding the letter “O” to words, such as Crimbo for Christmas, Servo for Service Station and Arvo for Afternoon!

I have also become more and more astounded by Australians using nicknames for friends and colleagues! There are five guys working on the farm here whose names are Ian, Grant, Brett, Barry and Jason. At first I didn’t know any of these names as most have nicknames directly related to their surnames! Ian is “Metho” (Matheson), Jason is “Smithy” (Smith), Brett is Borgy (Borgmeyer) and Barry is often Bazza! Brendon is known by friends and acquaintances as “Smarty” (Smart) and Jim Gelch in particular regularly calls him this! Amid this chaos, Grant is seemingly the only guy unscathed in all this merriment!

So as a result of all these subconscious elocution lessons, I am increasingly using Australian vocabulary with a lesser Welsh accent! I find myself calling men “guys”, using “fair dinkum” for fair play, calling fields “paddocks” and Kangaroos “Roos”! I now also use words like Grog, Barbie and Footy and am waiting for the day I start using “Chook’s” instead of Chickens and “Poms” for English friends - God forbid!

Socially it has been a great week, and following Monday’s meal in Bordertown, on Wednesday night Ian cooked a huge pot of Spaghetti Bolognaise for everyone and we watched “Men Behaving Badly” and the French Tennis Open Championship on TV! Thursday night was even more unique because following a beer after work, Brett and Ryan (Brendon’s youngest son) arrived back at the farm with two, somewhat deceased, adult deer! We traipsed down the sheep shearing sheds in the freezing cold and watched them being uniquely processed! As the night temperature here is now normally 3 to 6 degrees (this isn’t amusing coatless!) refrigeration was not an issue!

On Friday morning I was travelling to Keith town centre to be interviewed for ABC Rural Radio which was broadcasting locally. They had heard there was a nutty Welsh Nuffield Scholar residing in the district and decided I would be an interesting interviewee (questionable I know!). I was asked questions about the farm at home, the Welsh Meat Company, the Nuffield trip and my thoughts on Australia.

By Friday night, Grant and his wife Claire had agreed to cook a meal for 7 of us! We enjoyed home-cooked pizzas over more beer, wine, and an Australian Rules Footy match! Grant and Claire are from Western Australia and working here for 4 months whilst Damien is away on his Nuffield studies. Grant’s long-term employer is Peter Nixon, the Chairman of Nuffield Australia and he is due to be back there once he and Claire have toured the country on a year-long adventure.

After a lively Friday night with consumption of quality Port until 2.30am, Saturday was quiet! I did however, do something which I had not done here in Australia thus far - I cooked Cawl! Cawl is a traditional Welsh stew with meat and vegetables which is boiled slowly. It usually includes Welsh lamb and leeks, although other meats are used and I cooked it with ham. Cawl is a famous national dish in Wales and very popular in winter when it’s cold! It’s been so cold here this week that it seemed like an ideal task so with the ham I added potatoes, swedes, carrots and leeks and I served this up on Saturday night with garlic bread and cheeses to Ian, Barry and his fiancée Mandy. I think they enjoyed it and at least they are still alive and kicking!

My Sunday was a huge highlight this week, one of the most enjoyable days in Australia thus far and one that I will never forget!! Ian, Brett, Grant & Claire, Barry & Mandy and I decided to have a “Barbie in the Scrub”!!!! For everyone at home, that means a bonfire, with BBQ cooking, in bushland / scrub and inevitably lots of alcohol! We all settled at a clearing near the farm at 1pm with chairs and tables, food and drink after the guys had lit a wonderful fire. We cooked steak, snags (sausages), lamb chops, cold chips (don’t ask!) and marshmallows and simply sat in the afternoon sun chatting, with music from Grants I-pod and sipping stubbies (beer!) and wine!

By 7.00pm Ken had arrived to join the fun and frolics and had to play catch up with a substantial quantity of red wine! It was 11.00pm by the time we all left, but I felt completely rejuvenated, in high-spirits and as tipsy as it’s possible to be after a full 10 hours! It was a truly unique experience and I have wonderful memories to treasure. I should have photos on my blog of this unique event in the next few days.

Ken stayed here at Akeringa on Sunday night and because it was his birthday on Monday, I not only cooked him breakfast (which I felt completely incapable of doing!) but we went out to the small local village of Mundulla for a pub lunch. Monday was an Australian Bank Holiday and described as the “Queens Birthday” (hence the “Barbie in the Scrub” all day Sunday). The pub was old and had an idyllic setting with a roaring fire, creaking floorboards and a chatting barman called George! I cautiously sipped a Cabernet Sav and it all reminded me of an evening at a local pub back in Wales in winter. Following lunch, Ken and I went to visit friends of his called Wayne and Sally Hawkins, large lamb and pasture seed producers near the local village of “Frances” and about an hour’s drive from Akeringa. I was so tired I struggled to be attentive and ask relevant questions but they were wonderful company and I dearly hope I can meet them again when I am not dying with a hangover!

After Ken dropped me home last night, I sat and reflected on a somewhat crazy social weekend with fondness and warmth. I have made some truly special friends in the past few weeks and have immensely enjoyed their company. I feel very fortunate to spend time with them whilst I live here and I hope these friendships will last forever.

And now it’s Tuesday morning, it’s another working week and I am still tired! I was hugely relieved to receive an early telephone call from mum and dad with positive news over some recent home pressures. This has been a huge relief for me from Australia, I want to say to all my family, that I have been with you in spirit and I know you can all be proud of your inner strength and unity over the past few weeks. I love you all dearly.

page top