When the 1990's drought eased 
The O'Leary bull and some of my mob
At twilightWhen I acquired 200 acres in the hills overlooking the Felton Valley and the little Felton East village, some of the locals thought I was a Melbourne wanker atwith a big cheque book. The bit about the cheque book could not have been further from the fact.
I spent 10 of the happiest years of my life at my little property, Alexa Hills, named after my Mum who had died not long before. I turned to farming in 1987 after a life in newspaper journalism and politics. I proved not much of a farmer but I did try.
I had family at Clifton – my then son-in-law Paul Cleary was doctor there, My daughter Janet, and David and Samantha, my grandchildren, are all now living in Brisbane.
I spent 10 of the happiest years of my life at my little property, Alexa Hills, named after my Mum who had died not long before. I turned to farming in 1987 after a life in newspaper journalism and politics. I proved not much of a farmer but I did try.
I had family at Clifton – my then son-in-law Paul Cleary was doctor there, My daughter Janet, and David and Samantha, my grandchildren, are all now living in Brisbane.
I was surrounded by generous, tolerant and friendly neighbours – the Jacksons (Peter and Alan) next door, and the Cochranes (Howard and Loretta and Stan and Phyllis), the Fitzgeralds (Ted and Judith) and Lisa and Simon at the Felton Produce Agency all just down the road … and then the Gilmours (Jack and Heather and John) up Nunkulla Rd and round the corner … and the Smiths (Noel and Athol) further on ….
I camped on the property at first, then built and lived in a garage, and then a pleasant little house. I had a little herd of Poll Hereford breeders and a big quiet Hereford bull recommended to me by Hilary O’Leary of Leyburn. I put down improved pasture, seeding from the air.
The house had memorable views as the photographs show. The drought of 1990s plus the breakdown of my health ended the dream. I was no farmer. I never picked the cattle market right. I worked night shifts at The Chronicle to keep the feed up to the breeders and then Editor Bruce Hinchliffe asked me to be Chief of Staff for a couple of years. I was 62 then and the oldest COS in the paper’s long history.
So all that’s why the Felton Valley is important to me. How much more important it must be for those families who have farmed there for generations.
I camped on the property at first, then built and lived in a garage, and then a pleasant little house. I had a little herd of Poll Hereford breeders and a big quiet Hereford bull recommended to me by Hilary O’Leary of Leyburn. I put down improved pasture, seeding from the air.
The house had memorable views as the photographs show. The drought of 1990s plus the breakdown of my health ended the dream. I was no farmer. I never picked the cattle market right. I worked night shifts at The Chronicle to keep the feed up to the breeders and then Editor Bruce Hinchliffe asked me to be Chief of Staff for a couple of years. I was 62 then and the oldest COS in the paper’s long history.
So all that’s why the Felton Valley is important to me. How much more important it must be for those families who have farmed there for generations.
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