Local farmer Jim “Spud” Hepworth, a Litchfield, Watchem and Donald stalwart and fourth generation cereal and sheep, farmer has starred in a short film that has gone viral overnight.

The video, released on Thursday by a local group called Farms For Food, has had over 69,000 views in 24 hours.

Mr Hepworth spoke about the community impact that changes such as mineral sand mining and new transmission lines have had in his region.

MP Anne Webster, Member for the Mallee, addressed parliament yesterday and recounted Mr Hepworth’s story quoting “to see something go through like a power line or a mineral sand mine, it just breaks your heart to see it all smashed up,” she said. Dr. Webster spoke of the “threats to food security in the Mallee” and shared Mr Hepworth’s story as an example of one of the voices from her electorate.

Mr Hepworth stated that “we fought to keep this land through drought and flood. Farmers are the greatest naturalists in the world. If you don’t look after your ground, then it’s gone”.

The film, shot on the Hepworth farm amidst wheat fields, then addresses the proposed energy parks in the area.

Both MP Anne Webster and Mr Hepworth spoke of the way in which energy proponents are using divisive tactics to sign on potential hosts. Dr. Webster said that “many of these proponents are using non-disclosure agreements when they talk to a farmer, so they are not allowed to talk to their neighbour.”

Mr Hepworth said that people “are not thinking about the friendships of 100 years… they’re not thinking about the friendships their forefathers have brought together. And now there are families not talking to one another. It’s bringing a big division in the population”.

The short film, created by a community group called “Farms For Food”, was formed to advocate for Mallee and Wimmera rural communities and raise awareness about legislation affecting farmers and land use.

This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 12 November 2024.