Fri, 20th Mar, 2015 Malcolm & Kerry’s farm, Westbury

8.9 degrees at 8am this morning but with a beautiful clear blue sky. Saw on Sunrise that Cyclone Nathan had crossed the coast north of Cape Flattery so all good at home.

Cool morning but lovely though the wind comes in quite strong gusts.

Took a photo of the van next to the horse paddock. Malcolm’s mare produced a foal and he is getting him trained to race.

Lovely view over the paddocks.

Had a wander around their vegie patch. Grapes, strawberries and huge tomatoes plus a whole lot more – we had potatoes, corn and beans last night from the garden.

Check out the size of this tomato.

Huge sunflower too.

Mr Bumble Bee.

Then a snail – but these you squash!!

Malcolm has a PRB Lotus Clubman.

Here’s a shot of the engine for Griffo.

Malcolm made this ramp on the back of the ute to save costs going over to the mainland. Reminds us of our days travelling around with the Formula in the back of the Hilux.

Then he is going to restore this one so it looks like this.

He used to race sprintcars and did very well too.

His tractor for the Tractor Pull. He and his father started the Tractor Pull competitions and Malcolm made the weight thing they had to pull.

I went for a wander. They have a collection of birds in their aviary.

Lots of old machinery lining the road etc. An old chaffcutter by the shed.

Old tractor as a garden ornament.

Lovely entrance into the property.

Malcolm is 4^th generation farmer. His great grandfather, Sir Walter Lee was born in Longford and followed his father’s footsteps and became a wheelwright. He was also a lay preacher. Later, around 1923, he started the farm, Barunah, as a dairy with his two sons. He was Premier of Tasmania three times and was knighted in 1920.  He was instrumental in the starting of the Tasmanian Hydro Electric Scheme. In 2008 Malcolm commissioned Mr Freeman to create a carving of him by the front gate.

Looking across the paddock where they cut the lucerne – then it rained!!

Across the other way is the Western Tiers which in winter is covered in snow.

Quamby Bluff (we stopped at the lookout there after leaving Liffey Falls and looked across this way).

Malcolm took us for a walk around the sheds and taught us a bit about hay farming – lots of different types. He also grows lots of different crops, like potatoes, corn. So many things to keep on top of they need to have good time management. Machinery now makes it physically easier but it is still a very busy lifestyle.

Checked out the machinery. This tractor is his favourite as it collects all the bales and stacks them on the tray then they just drop the whole lot off in the shed in one hit.

He also sells silos.

Malcolm bought these two old tractors which are single cylinder, 2 stroke diesel.

He made this one as a replica of the one, it has a 2 cylinder Lister diesel engine.

He also made his own motorhome from a bus.

Great aerial shot of the farm, Barunah.

Brian emailed that he has sent the radiator down – with some coffee too. What a wonderful guy. When it comes we will take out PWR one out and send it back to get it replaced, hopefully, under warranty.

The car was loaded onto the ute then Malcolm and Steve headed off to Longford for scrutineering.

I did the washing but used Kerry’s big machine which was a lot quicker!!!

Their daughters are coming over so we are going have a girls’ night and lots of cuddles of little 5 month old Eden.