So far 2020 remains dry for most farmers in our area with a few exceptions for those in the far eastern and western parts of our district. Most canola has been seeded and we are keeping reasonably busy baiting for snails and mice. A good drop of rain would be most welcome right now as we have passed the traditional time for our season break. 2019 was also dry up until August when reasonable rains fell giving many farmers promise only to have it taken away with a major frost event in September. Insect activity kept SEAA busy through October but 2019 for SEAA overall provided half of the work that we would normally do.
In October Scott participated in Dunn Aviations’ fire bombing training course in Bunbury and Collie. This was followed by some on the job training generously provided by Neville Dunn out of Jandakot Airport in his AT 504. Unfortunately WA fire activity ramped up and this was discontinued, however following a call from Pays Air Service in late December, Scott took our AT802 to NSW to undertake sub-contract firebombing work for that company who contract to NAFC, the NSW RFS and other fire authorities. Scott and aircraft were based in the Riverena town of Wagga, working from there and Tumut in the Snowy Mountain area with many other aircraft from various companies mainly on the Dunns’ Rd. fire that caused major destruction to the towns and districts of Batlow and Tumburumba. The aircraft ran faultlessly and kept busy for the time it was there until good rains led to a major decrease in fire activity in the region. The aircraft came home in late February.
