Glenn Falla, The Buloke Times
The aftermath of Covid 19 brought with it a lot of self-reflection for many people and an opportunity to look at current lifestyles and determine if there was balance.
Many city dwellers from our major cities have since chosen to sell up, pack the caravan and travel permanently with no fixed address.
Some city folks simply moved to the country to avoid the hustle and bustle of the city lifestyle, looking for a slower pace and reducing the risk of further lockdowns. Becoming self-sufficient and growing your own vegetables, or raising animals at home for consumption gained popularity for those who can handle the responsibility that comes with that.
Hunters from around the state have long enjoyed the fruits of their labour, enjoying wild food in camp and for months after returning home from a successful hunt.
Donald and its surrounding wetlands have a long history of supplying wild food for families around the state, and for that matter, for interstate visitors as well.
Opinions
Granted, hunting is not for everyone, and the very subject can be divisive and opinions polarizing, creating robust discussion around the dinner table in many a household. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion, and nobody should be subjected to ridicule for holding a view.
One thing that’s for certain, though, is that there is a renewed interest in people taking time to reconnect with country, harvest some wild food in an ethical and sustainable manner with likeminded friends and family.
Training and tests in Donald
As Field & Game Australia’s Hunting & Conservation Manager, I’m not all surprised to see a resurgence in hunters gaining certificates in Waterfowl Identification through training and tests run by volunteers such as Donald’s Tom Manifold earlier this year.
The training was offered at the local community centre in Woods Street, and the testing offered by the Game Management Authority soon after.
Pass rates were high, and people travelled from as far away as Horsham to participate. The training was supported by local business Buloke Firearms and Donald Field & Game branch.
Responsible hunting, as supported by the Labor Government post the inquiry into recreational gamebird hunting in Victoria during 2023, is in safe hands.
Congratulations to Tom for such a commitment at the young age of 18. Serving your community from so many angles and community groups is a credit to you and your upbringing.
We encourage all licensed and accredited hunters to get out often this season, enjoy your time in the wetlands and share the experience and the food with someone new.
Take a newcomer duck or quail hunting this season and demonstrate the ethical and sustainable way to gain a free feed of some of the tastiest wild food getting about.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 3 May 2024.
