Learner drivers
Bullocky set to share tips and tricks of dying art in holiday workshop
ROHAN Morris loves a challenge and being a bit different to the crowd.
It was the main reason he decided to train as a bullocky at age 15.
He’s now grown up with a wife and two kids and uses his almost-lost art to clear timber on the family’s Maryvale property for use in building sheds and other farm infrastructure.
And while it might be a lot quicker and easier to jump in a skid steer and hit the start button than it is to prepare a full bullock team, he said carrying out the actual work was almost as efficient as modern machinery.
It was also a lot more relaxing.
It’s just one of the unusual activities going on at Gleneden Family Farm.
Mr Morris said the key to any small business was diversification, so they had gone out of their way to create several income streams.
The family produced all its food on-farm, with the leftovers sold at market or via Open Food Network Australia, a platform for producers to sell their wares online.
They run heritage animals for food and sale including old breed, slow-grown, organically fed, free range, pastured pigs and poultry, and old breed, fully pasture-fed cattle, sheep and goats.
The family is now gearing up to run a school holiday program so people can learn about the lost art of running a bullock team.
Mr Morris said it was all part of his belief that country and city connections should be fostered and encouraged.
“I’m a pretty dry character and I don’t get too excited about much, but it’s nice to share what we’ve learned with people,” he said.
“One thing I really believe in is to try and repair the fabric of our rural communities and re-establish the connection between rural and city communities.
“Back in the day, city people used to have a cousin somewhere in the country.
“Now hardly anybody living in the city has a direct connection to a farm, so by throwing open our farm gates, we’re doing a little bit to re-form that connection.”
Mr Morris said he’d read just about everything written about bullock teams in Australia and was looking forward to sharing his knowledge with people interested in learning more.
His team was one of only two working bullock teams in Queensland and began with two calves he acquired while still in high school.
“Basically I like farm animals and I like old traditions,” Mr Morris said.
“Clydesdales and horses cost a lot of money, but you can start a bullock team with next to nothing.
“I use my bullocks these days to pull timber from the bush and a bullock team is almost as useful as a machine.
“It’s probably faster with machinery because getting the team ready takes an hour and trying to drive a dozen animals capable of independent thought is challenging.
“But it’s not much less efficient at extracting timber and you can do it in a more environmentally friendly way