Dressing for Winter
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Several long term residents are saying that this is the coldest winter we have experienced for many years.
Throw in how wet it has been in recent weeks and you may have to rug-up and cover yourself appropriately in the paddock.
When dressing to stay warm on the farm bike or the horse, most farmers keep to a simple formula.
In winter it's a singlet and shirt (sadly, flannelette shirts seem to have gone out of fashion), a jumper and a jacket or parka over the top if it's really cold.
The latter is often replaced by a driza-bone if it is raining.
You sometimes get the impression that to put on more would almost be a bit unmanly, as if you're not tough enough for the job.
They then spend time complaining to their neighbours or mates at the saleyards about how cold they are.
It has taken me a few decades to realize all these rules should be broken.
Simply put, increase the number of layers you are wearing to stay warm in really cold weather.
The power of lamination is the best way to remember this.
The more layers the better.
Two singlets instead of one, a sleeveless pull over or vest over your shirt then two more jumpers or football tops.
That's six layers so far, to which you add a seventh with your hard-to-tear material parka or driza-bone.
Equally important but which most neglect is a woollen scarf to wrap around your neck and be tucked under your jacket.
Yes, believe it or not, you can still move.
Headwear is vital too as you can lose more heat from here than elsewhere.
I like a decent brim, especially in driving sleet.
You can then tilt your head to protect the ice and windchill from your face, whereas a beanie exposes your cheeks to the elements.
Good gloves are also vital.
Forget those thin leather ones you use for wielding a crowbar or putting out hay.
Their insulation properties last barely a couple of minutes in the freezing cold and if it rainy, they quickly become hopelessly soggy.
Instead, I use driza-bone mittens lined with thick wool - ugg boots for hands, if you like.
The only downside is that you have to take them off to do fiddly things like unchaining gates.
However, buy them big enough and you can wear ordinary gloves inside them.
The outside driza-bone covering turns the rain, unlike commonly used leather.
Below the waist, I don't get cold legs and toes like some.
Many advocate the use of long johns under their jeans.
If raining, the use of waterproofs is enough for me - two layers instead of three.
If your toes get cold, you can wear a thin pair of socks under a thicker pair, if your boots will allow the extra thickness.
So in our worst freezing weather, pile on the layers.
You can't have too many.
If you are warm in the paddock, you are more likely to be effective in what you want to do.
Being able to comfortably withstand whatever the elements throw at you is satisfying in itself.
Meatworker Madness
Reports are filtering through from Queensland of a crazy court result applying to 500 meatworkers at Teys Beenleigh meat processing plant near Brisbane.
Up to 800 workers are employed there.
Most of them voted in 2013 to allow flexibility into their workplace instead of the rigid demarcation and other antiquated practices which applied.
This allowed a welcome lift in the plant's productivity and in return Teys agreed to pay a higher hourly rate to these workers and reward them with an end-of-year bonus from the extra profits that ensued.
Win-win all round.
Well, not quite.
The union for meatworkers, the Australian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU) not only felt left out but could see their power and influence slipping away.
They objected to the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement and took their opposition to the Fair Work Commission (FWC).
This is the body set up by the previous Federal Government, who also appointed the commissioners to it.
Dutifully as ever the FWC ruled in favour of the union, which meant the workers had to revert to the previous union approved 2010 award.
This resulted in the workers being thousands of dollars a year worse off, with some reportedly losing up to $12,000.
In 2014, a bonus of $4,500 was paid to 500 employees.
Teys General Manager of Corporate Affairs, Tom Maguire, was not happy when the Federal Court ruled that the FWC had the authority to back the union case, even if the workers were worse off as a result.
He said "This union has successfully fought to reduce the benefits of our employees, just so they can chest-thump and say they had a win".
Obviously, our country's industrial relations are in need of an overhaul.
Trouble is, Tony Abbott when asked keeps reminding us that he promised before the last election not to make any changes in his first term.
Equally frustrating, on the other side Bill Shorten always exactly parrots the union position.
Meanwhile, no change means everyone suffers.
The Goodes Debate
The Sydney Swans footballer, Adam Goodes' reaction to being booed has polarised all sports fans.
There is no middle ground.
On one side of the debate are those convinced the booing is done by bigots and racists who are intolerant yobos that are an embarrassment to our country.
Interestingly, nearly all sports' commentators fall strongly into this category, even conservative ones like Rebecca Wilson.
On the other side is a large slice of the general public who have expressed a diversity of views including the belief that Adam Goodes has overreacted.
Comments I have heard or read in letters to newspapers include: He's a sook; He should man-up; He can dish it out to a disadvantaged 13 year old girl but he can't take it; He tries to milk penalties; It was Goodes himself who played the race card; and so on.
Both sides of the debate seem as far apart as ever.
While there is obviously truth and fiction on both sides, the most troubling accusation is that of racism.
It is wrong to say Goodes was booed and taunted simply because he is black, as many claim.
After all, none of the other 70 AFL Indigenous players are booed.
Nor are they in other sports.
In fact, players like Inglis and Thurston are the most admired in Rugby League.
The brilliant Ella brothers fell into the same category in Rugby Union.
The whole of Australia cheered Cathy Freeman's successes.
No one was more fondly regarded than Evonne Goolagong.
Even Goodes himself has been revered for years for his football skills.
He has made millions of dollars and has been appointed Australian of the Year, hardly the actions of a nation of racists.
However, while Australian of the Year, Goodes received much publicity for his speeches emphasising our "very dark past, a brutal history of dispossession, theft and slaughter" and railing that Europeans "have raped, killed and stolen".
Given the rewards and honours that have come Goodes' way it is unclear what more we should do for him.
A little recognition of how present generations have rectified what Goodes sees as some of those earlier sins would have been nice.
No one wants to see anyone unfairly booed and hopefully that will cease, but many would say that Goodes has been booed in recent times simply because crowds have grown to dislike him.
The fact that he is black is largely secondary.