well, the Howard Govts latest drought initiative has really gotten under Mals skin. Mals a bushy from way back, spend his formative years in the bush and loves the chance to get back to town with Gypsy when he can and has lost count of the rm williams boots hes gone through over the years. yeah, theres a lot more to mal than meets the eye !
Mal and i had a wide ranging chat just this afternoon about the drought and the impact its having on farmers and the future of this country. i asked mal a few questions and the interview is a shining example of the integrity that mal brings to this election campaign.
Q . Mal ... you have a long history in the bush .. can you tell us a bit more ?
A. oh ..i love the bush. i love the dust and the dirt and getting dirty, working the land. i grew up in a small country town not far from Wangaratta , Tarrawingee is its name. mum and dad had a small farm in Tarra, and we lived and breathed the bush. its kelly country, tough blokes and even tougher birds who loved the land. Gypsy and i love getting back there when we can. theres some nice wineries near Tarra and they also have a great selection of cheeses at the wineries. i love the land, and i love wineries.
Q. You know Lee Kernaghan ive been told ?
A. yes, lee and i are great mates. he gave me one of his hats once. we go to dinner ocasionally when hes in town. Lee has a foxy cross called Bandit, gypsy and bandit get along like a house on fire.
Q. so ..from this love of the land..how do you feel about the Howard Govts latest drought relief package ?
A. well.... i think its fucking disgraceful.
Q. mal youre going to have to elaborate.
A Ok its really fucking disgraceful. John Howard has watched this drought destroy rural australia.
Q. Mal.. how would you change things for the farmers ? Its a big question.
A. well i wouldnt have sat on my arse for seven years and stuck my head up it either. Thats for starters. Howards offering farmers $150,000 to walk off the land, family history and generations of hard work. and then what ? does he expect people to live in Caravans ? what happens to the towns that rely on farmers, will they just become a massive caravan park, a caravan park where people have to shower under a wine cooler filled with urine. well thats what howard wants for the bush.
Q. Is that how you feel mal, thats pretty serious.
A yes, thats how i feel. showers in caravan parks from a wine cooler bag filled with urine. thats the way the Howard Govt is treating farmers. lets not forget, farmers made this country what it is young man and ill punch you in the face and anyone else who disagrees. ill punch them in the face. i learnt a lot in the bush, on the land, ill knock you cold.
at that point i called the official interview off. however mal did go on to discuss some important themes for the bush. encouraging the development of solar and wind power initiatives on farms as a way of helping farmers stay on the land. recycling water, recycling sewerage water and also went on to mention that mal walden is scottish for ned kelly.
Theres no doubt that Mal is in touch with the land, his heart is hurting for the bush at the moment. it was a heartfelt interview and at times mals passion got the better of him, no doubt. but you can feel the passion. thats important.
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