A Newstead farmer is fuming, and members of his community are rallying, after his neighbour witnessed his sheep being stolen. Tony Butler had attended a protest with emergency services volunteers in Melbourne on Tuesday 20 May when he says the incident occurred.
Tony and another member of the Newstead farming community, Rebecca Hamilton, are trying to raise awareness of stock theft and seek community support and assistance. In particular, they are asking for everyone to keep an eye out for suspicious activity and anyone with information to come forward.
Tony explained that the recent alleged theft, which was not his first experience of stock theft, first became apparent when a neighbour drove down a remote road by Tony’s property. The neighbour reported to Tony that she saw a white van (later identified as an Iveco Daily) towing a furniture trailer; some men were throwing sheep into the van and the trailer.
“The moment we realised we’d been hit by thieves we went out and did a paddock count and we found ourselves to be exactly 80 short,” Tony said, confirming that police have been fully informed. He believes that the incident was organised to coincide with the protest, which was against the State Government’s new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund legislation. Tony said: “The farmers rally on the Tuesday was all they needed to attempt this theft. Probably 30-40 per cent of the farming population of Victoria was in Spring Street.”
Tony said he and other farmers are fed up with being targeted by thieves. In the past, he has trialled solar-powered satellite trackers for his sheep, but the technology was not reliable enough. “It’s in its infancy, it’s expensive, we’ve found it’s got flaws,” Tony said. “We will have to go back to a similar system, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this organised theft is happening.”
Rebecca Hamilton, who told the Tarrangower Times that she has also experienced theft of stock from her farm in the past, said that there has been a big response to calls for help on social media in relation to the van witnessed in the incident. Rebecca hopes that by spreading knowledge of the risk of stock theft, that the community can be alert. She asks that anyone with information call Crimestoppers.
“We’re encouraging people to report, it helps a tight-knit community,” she said. “We’re all just here to help each other.”
Community members are encouraged to take note of unusual stock mustering or transport (at night, for example); record time, location and vehicle details to provide to police. To report crime information confidentially, call Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000.
This article appeared in Tarrangower Times, 30 May 2025.
