While I identify as a passionate Australian, waving our national flag has never been on the radar ... That is until this year.

If survey polls are correct I am not alone; it seems 80 per cent of the nation does not want the Australia Day date changed and I guarantee that figure is higher in rural areas.

What the debate has done is to reinforce nationalistic opinion. Mark it in your diary, 2018 will be the year that Australia Day came of age and all because a bleating minority endeavoured to influence public opinion.

We could not fail to recognise that over the years MLA has grabbed Australia Day for a full-on lamb marketing blitz.

Well, I have finally got the message and the lamb loin chops will hit the barbie.

There is a 51ha block for sale near Port Fairy that seems to have a very unusual breeding program according to the selling agent. 

“The land is excellent for cattle, with the owners running about 33 Angus cows producing weaner calves for sale at 18 months old.” 

The poor bloody cows must be knackered.

The tip is the Cattle Council has signed its own death warrant after deciding not to take decisive action in supporting a more democratic national beef representative body.

The major representative focus of the council at present is members appointed by state farm bodies.

The Victorian representative has a small herd of European stud cattle and was appointed by the VFF.

While making no criticism of that person the representation is hardly indicative of Victorian beef producers.

Of course, with beef cattle returns the highest on record, any appetite for change on farms has waned.

The same could be said of the AWI. Several large wool producers had Wally Merriman in the gun, but as wool prices skyrocket to unprecedented levels they have strangely gone quiet.