It is great to see how McInnes Wilson Lawyers has grown since its humble beginnings in 1975. The firm made a big push into Western Queensland in the late 90’s and continues to expand its regional client base to include many western shires and prominent grazing families.
This past Saturday night, I joined Paul Tully and senior partners of the Firm to celebrate its 40thAnniversary. It was a wonderful Gala Dinner held at the Brisbane City Hall with a lot of action on the dance floor towards the end of the night.
I had a good time catching up with founding partner and old mate of mine, Peter McInnes and the late John Wilson’s wife, Margaret and family. The firm was also very happy to welcome Chief Magistrate Rinaudo, Chief Judge O’Brien, The Hon Martin Daubney, Judge Rafter, and Magistrate James McDougall to the evening. In between speeches and Old Fashioned’s, I chatted with loyal clients and staff members of the firm. This included my good friends, prominent pastoralists Nell and David Brook, all the way in from Adria Downs, Birdsville.
Big congratulations are due to the firm for reaching 40 successful years!
Withcott Seedlings update
Mike and Anita Hindle were also at the McInnes Wilson celebrations. Mike said that together with Graham and Wendy Erhart they own and run the industry leading Withcott Seedlings which grow and distribute vegetable seedlings to field growers throughout horticultural regions across Eastern Australia.
Withcott Seedlings are also industry leaders in the grafting of watermelons for field growers and grafted tomatoes for the fast expanding glasshouse sector.
Withcott Seedlings has been in business for thirty three years and is a major employer in the Lockyer Valley employing up to 130 staff
Withcott Seedling are the major sponsor of the National Horticultural and Innovation Expo to be held on July 27 and 28 this year at the DAF Research Facility at Gatton which will be heavily supported by Lockyer Valley growers and all seed companies involved in the vegetable industry.
Vale Geoffrey Still
Sadly last week we farewelled a great old mate Geoffrey Still 85 years. Geoffrey and his dear wife Judith had retired to the Sunshine Coast and his farewell was held at Drysdale Funerals Tewantin followed by a memorable send-off at the Noosa Golf Club.
Our paths with Geoff crossed for many years starting in the west when Geoff was a leader in the large pastoral company Grazcos and Farmers Grazcos and then Dalgety/Grazcos.
Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife Judith and their extended families
Northern markets soften under supply pressure
Meat & Livestock Australia reported greater numbers of cattle have been evident through northern supply chains, with live exports, north Queensland slaughter and north Queensland yardings, all increasing in March. Increased supplies, in addition to a rising A$ and softer demand in the US imported beef market, has impacted northern cattle prices, with all major markets easing throughout March and into April. (for the purposes of the North of the Tropic Beef Report and this article, north Queensland is defined as north of and including Rockhampton.)
While prices have eased, they are coming off very high levels and remain well above the same time last year. The seasonal increase in northern supplies and decline in prices is not uncommon for this time of year.
As indicated in the latest edition of LiveLink, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and Department of Agriculture and Water resources (DAWR) data, live exports have started the year strong, with first quarter feeder and slaughter cattle exports up 13pc year-on-year, at 284,000 head.
Live export feeder steers delivered to Darwin are currently receiving around 350¢/kg lwt – 30¢/kg lwt below where they peaked in February, but still 100¢/kg lwt above where they averaged this time last year.
Feeder steers delivered to Townsville have followed a similar trend, currently making 290-300¢/kg lwt.
Cattle yardings at Charters Towers, CQLX Gracemere and Emerald also edged higher in March. Weekly throughput in March at Emerald and CQLX both averaged about 1,000 head above February levels, while Charters Towers has returned to selling weekly (from fortnightly) in April.
The north Queensland saleyard light steer indicator started the first week of April at 278¢/kg lwt, back about 30¢/kg lwt on where it averaged in March but still 60¢/kg lwt above where it averaged this time last year.
Prime cattle have also declined, but from a lower peak, with the north Queensland saleyard grassfed bullock indicator starting April at 261¢/kg lwt.
Cattle slaughter in north Queensland has started to pick up and will continue to do so as more cattle are turned off and another processor returns to operating after an extended wet season closure. As with many grids throughout the eastern states, northern direct-to-works prices eased in March and into the start of April.
The north Queensland over-the-hook medium cow indicator started this week at 435¢/kg cwt, back almost 20¢/kg cwt where it averaged in March but about 70¢/kg cwt above where it was this time last year.
The over-the-hook heavy steer indicator followed a similar trend, starting this week at 504¢/kg cwt.
