Winners are grinners...

And losers make their own arrangements. Well, we weren't all in the winners' circle when the money hit the table last Thursday at the end of the local Catchment Management Authority's Farming Systems Program. But, as they say, 'the game was the winner on the day'.
CWCMA CHAIR TOM GAVEL ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS (NICKO CAN'T WATCH)
We were all lucky to have been living in a catchment with such a progressive management authority. Col Seis's decision to turn all his cropping zones into grassy woodlands and his discovery that a relative of the happy wanderer made a good edible understory shrub struck me. But Col's always been a genius with invention. No one can match him. Tim Wood had a char trial and old man salt bush planted at a funny angle to trap the cold air. Tim is a lovely guy and he's a deserving winner.

INNOVATIVE FARMERS IN AN INNOVATIVE CATCHMENT: COL SEIS, STEVE KISS AND TIM WOOD
Steve Kiss had a bush tucker garden called Possum's corner, and biodynamic preparation spread from the air. Steiner would be impressed were he still alive. Steve is a lovely guy and his place looks terrific.
WINNERS AND LOSERS
Despite feeling disappointed after such a long and gruelling effort, we all managed to be jolly jolly. There are no losers in this class. A good plan will attract the money to make it happen. And there are two more rounds of funding this year. Our dream of a carbon farm will come true.
STEVE KISS CELEBRATES This is how winners celebrate.The post announcement episode was a civilised affair. Jane Wilson of Lowe Family Wines - a fellow classmate - invited us all back to the vineyard she and husband David own in Mudgee, for a wine tasting. Then on to Augustine's (near the airport) for a special meal. (I had beetroot risotto and beef cheeks.) And we had a 'wine options' game, run gracefully by David, a very funny man with loads of personality and endurance.

JOLLY JOLLY AT LOWES FAMILY WINE TASTINGThe night ended after we agreed as a group to form an "Alma Mater" to have dinner and a special speaker every quarter. Nicko stressed after the results were announced that there would be another two rounds of funding this year, one for groups of farmers, which the four of us clustered around Goolma (plus Col if he wants to get involved) could go for. We might get our plans realised anyway.

I hope to publish some or all of the plans because everyone's was brilliant in some way.

Well done everyone!