NSW DPI Equine influenza daily update - 24 September 2007

SITUATION UPDATE
The disease has continued to spread within the currently defined infected areas. There were new infections at a riding school at Campbelltown and some infections near Armidale emanating from the campdraft at Narrabri. Most of the spread appears to be from aerosols but some spread is occurring from human movement. This is an extremely infectious virus. There is an absolute need to maintain personal biosecurity. Everyone should restrict visits by vets, farriers and other service providers to the absolute necessity only. Make sure all visitors conduct personal biosecurity, especially washing hands for two minutes, when they enter and leave your property. There are currently 2102 Infected Properties, 341 Dangerous Contact Properties and 310 Suspect Properties. Since the introduction of zoning, the number of Restricted Areas is now listed as 3. This includes the Red Zone (Restricted Area) and the two Purple Zones (Special Restricted Areas) – Upper Hunter and North Western Sydney.
Symptoms of EI were detected late Friday night (21st September 2007) in two horses at Warwick Farm. EI was confirmed Saturday morning and the number of horses showing symptoms has increased. Tracing how the virus may have been introduced to Warwick Farm is being undertaken. The boundary of the Red zone (Restricted Area) declared on Friday has been adjusted to encompass Warwick Farm and a very slight adjustment was also made on Sunday at Kentucky, near Uralla.

We’re now starting to see properties that suffered the first wave of infection coming out the other side. Of the 35 horses locked down at Moonbi (Tamworth), 34 are now testing negative, and planning for de-stocking the site has commenced. We expect to soon see the Parkes site follow suit.

The Vaccination Management Operations Centre (VMOC) set up at Orange Agricultural Institute is now operational in preparation for the arrival of the first batch of EI vaccine into Australia on Thursday evening and its distribution to strategic priority areas in NSW. Approximately 9,000 doses of vaccine from the first batch will be allocated in NSW.

Information on movement guidelines applicable to each of the zones, Protected Area (Green), Control Area (Amber), Restricted Area (Red) and Special Restricted Area (Purple) are now available on the NSW DPI website http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/livestock/horse/influenza. The page ‘Which zone am I in?’ allows the viewer to zoom in on their local area for its current zoning. Travelling Horse Statements are also available for the public to complete online.

Audio Link http://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0008/182294/Bruce-Christie-240907.mp3
NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Bruce Christie discusses the latest developments in the EI outbreak, the new zoning system and plans for vaccination.

Horse flu warning renewed in SA

The Department of Primary Industries is urging horse owners to report any symptoms of equine influenza in South Australia, amid concern that the issue has slipped off the radar.

Full report.

Flu outbreak suspected in Qld thoroughbreds

Officials have locked down Brisbane's racing precinct because of a suspected horse flu outbreak.
A Queensland Racing spokesman says it appears horse flu has spread to the state's thoroughbred population for the first time.

Full story

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200709/r186241_693940.asx Video Link

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/pm/200709/20070924-pm01-horseflu.mp3 Audio Link

Magic Millions cancelled amid horse flu threat

The continuing horse flu crisis has forced organisers to postpone the highly lucrative Magic Million Yearling Sales on the Gold Coast.

Full Report.

Horse flu hits Brisbane racehorses

The equine influenza (EI) crisis has taken a dramatic turn in Queensland with the first likely cases of the disease in racehorses suspected at Doomben in metropolitan Brisbane.

Read the full report.

EI Permits

EQUINE INFLUENZA 24 September 2007

Contact your Rural Lands Protection Board for EI permits
Rural Lands Protection Boards (RLPB) remain the first port of call for movement permits within the red and amber zones under the new equine influenza (EI) protection plan which came into place last Friday.
RLPB officers will review permit applications, then forward eligible requests which meet the requirements of the particular zone to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Local Disease Control Centre.
While the new zoning plan allows some movement, horse owners need to be aware that movements in the red and amber zones are still restrictive. Approval will not be automatic and all applications will be assessed on their merit.

Horse owners in the green zone can move their horses on self-issued Travelling Horse Statements (THS). THS forms have to be downloaded from the NSW DPI website www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza/permits

THS forms must be carried during all horse movements and copies retained for seven weeks.
For movements within the purple zone, permits are not required.
In the short term movements out of the purple zone are prohibited.
People unsure of which board they need to contact can find out on the RLPB website, www.rlpb.org.au/locate.html or from the EI hotline, 1800 675 888.

Full details of the new zoning can be obtained from NSW DPI’s web site.
NSW Equine Influenza and donation hotline: 1800 675 888

Contact Details for Min McGauran

There has been a lot of work done by everyone to contain EI in NSW & Qld and we can gain some comfort in knowing that the containment is working and that the number of horses and areas affected by EI is a relatively small percentage of our horse population. It is important that these containment zones remain in tact and that we remain vigilent in keeping the rest of the country free from EI. The talk about doubts that the disease can be controlled and eradicated only serves to undermine efforts of all concerned in the eradication effort and we must not let this deter us from continuing the fight to free our country of this disease.

It is important that the Minister for Agriculture, Hon Peter McGauran is aware of our determination to ensure the welfare of our horses into the future, and we urge you to contact the Minister and let him know that we are serious in our support for the eradication of EI in Australia.

The contact details for Min McGauran are :
Hon Peter McGauran,
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7520
Fax: (02) 6273 4120
Email: Peter.McGauran.MP@aph.gov.au


Barry Smyth
President
AHIC

EI has it hit the Singleton/Lower Belford area

Just wondering???I have spoken to a couple of local people in this immediate area who tell me this EI has now had a case at Lower Belford NSW.

From what I can gather it is no use ringing the DPI from all the other blogs but I did check out the map and we are still not quarantined.
The issue with a Australian Horse register sounds like a Government ploy to eventually get people to pay a registration fee each year like dogs and believe me with a government like ours this will be probably be the case.

Kaz
Hunter Valley

TIME TO PULL TOGETHER

I agree that we in the equestrian industry (not the racing industry) are fed up with the blatant discrimination against our sector. The reason government listens to the racing industry is that they get millions of dollars of revenue from betting but they also have a united voice.
The value of the horse industry in total to the Australian economy is approx $7 billion, of this the total contribution of the racing industry including breeding and betting is approx $3.5 billion. Therefore our total industry is worth an EQUAL AMOUNT to the economy. It is obvious from this that we need a united voice if we are to be heard by government. If this EI crisis can't make us unite, nothing will.

How can we present a united voice? By every individual contacting their breed or sport association, riding club, show society and asking them to join together under one banner. My association, the EFA has done a good job for their members and in media relations since the EI crisis started, and I am sure they would be most receptive to an industry association. The Horse Council was supposed to be it, but they appear to be seriously under funded. It is imperative that we have a united voice so that when the legal class actions commence for compensation, which will happen as soon as Justice Callinan concludes his enquiry, participation will be facilitated. Don't forget the lawyers are offering to act pro bono, so they are confident they will win!

Today I spoke with the executive producer of ABC program Four Corners to try to get them interested in putting a program together. He could not understand the financial devastation being caused to many in the non racing sector even though I did explain to him in words of one syllable & he was not interested in the government discrimination. His comment was "we are too busy with the election and the public perception of horses only extends to racing". Will try Sixty Minutes tomorrow.

What else can you do? Contact your local media and government representatives. I know a lot of people are already doing this, tell them your story. Quote the stats above, they come from the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, a Government authority.

Victoria Ferguson

IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME

So I hear on the 6.00pm news tonight that EI has finally reached the thoroughbred racing industry in Brisbane. Well it was only a matter of time. The so called biosecurity measures in place at Brisbane race tracks has been nothing but a farce since this thing began. The racing industry was in such a hurry to get back that it risked being out of action for months and will now want us, the tax payers to foot the bill for their stupidity. Do you know while we the so called unimportant pleasure horse owners sit at home spraying and scrubbing every surface that goes on or off our property, doing everything to stop the spread of this disease, to protect the racing industry for gods sake, they have been doing nothing but washing their shoes and hands. When a race horse is taken out off a property, they are walked along public though fares to a race track. When they arrive the horse who is usually saddled is taken from them and held by an unknown person, the people accompanying the horse are asked to wash there boots, are escorted to a wash room and told to wash their hands they then go out and collect their horse who has undergone absolutely no decontamination either of the horse or the equipment they are wearing, from the holder who then without any decontamination takes hold of another horse from god knows where. The same for when they leave, horses and their equipment are not being decontaminated before or after entering a race track for exercise. The race horses of Brisbane are mixing with People from unknown places but you can bet your last dollar that people are coming from infected areas, off properties that have horses and attending their race horses at our local race tracks and DPI have completely succumb to the pressure of QLD Racing who have cared of nothing else but getting back to racing. Rather than have 6 weeks off they are all faced now with 6 months off. I take my hat off to the harness racing people who have suspended all racing. They deserve to get the vaccine first.

I have personally discussed the lack of Biosecurity at our race tracks with Rod (the DPI representative at Brookfield community engagement centre) who seemed really concerned and outraged that this might be the case. I was told that it would be passed on to his supervisor and that they would get back in touch with me tomorrow. That was last Wednesday and I am still waiting. I suspect that Rod passed on this concern only to discover that DPI is completely aware of the Biosecurity measures not in place at our local race tracks, after all they must have approved them. While DPI wants us to sit at home they are happy for the racing industry to pass on this disease at their whim granting movement permits willy nilly without vet certification or any proof that the horse is well enough to travel unlike the pleasure horse owners who are struggling to get a permit to get a sick horse treated or bring home horses stuck out in this mess. People are travelling from infected areas to these race tracks and QLD racing has made no attempt to really stop the spread of EI. They thought that they were immune and now EI has literally bitten them on the bum and they are reaping the rewards of their efforts.

And finally why has Mr Beatie/Mrs Bligh left this natural disaster in the hands of QLD racing. Who died and left them GOD. Why are they making the decision and why is DPI falling into suit with them. QLD racing is only concerned with taking care of its members, and DPI is only concerned with taking care of QLD racing. Who is taking care of us, the average pleasure horse owner/VOTER.

Mrs Bligh your Labour Government and your DPI has let us down, it is time you stepped in and started taking care of all the people of QLD and not just the Thoroughbred owners.Leslee

Roar Don't Whisper

If I hear another word about the poor racehorse people l will scream!!!
It seams that the whole world revolves around the racing industry the only reason that everybody else has horses is because they broke them and where of no use to them any more!!! Well l am sorry to say that this is not true!!!

Being an avid campdrafter to those that do not know what that is basically it is chasing a cow we have lost the biggest events in our competition year Chinchilla Grandfather Clock and Warwick Gold Cup now there is upwards of 700 that's right 700 nominations in the Warwick Gold Cup alone now you tell me at what race meeting is there that many horses on the grounds at one time
hum.......none!!! And that is only one draft there is also the Stallion draft, Novice Draft and the Ladies Draft.

Who l really feel for are the people on the small blocks with no grass a couple of horses and that rely on the trails to get their exercise done, DPI & F Depart of Primary Industries and Fisheries
not hearing the word Horses in there at all. They are supposed to stand for animal control and care seams to me they are putting animals welfare at risk. Now l know there are going to be a few of you that are going to take offence at this and get your noses out of joint.

Call the TV Channels the only way we are going to make a point is PEOPLE POWER we have one of the biggest industries start making some noise People Unite Roar Don't Whisper Start making the biggest noise any body ever heard.

Ang Qld

EI in Woodford/Kilcoy?

I am hearing rumours that we have uncomfirmed EI in Woodford /Kilcoy area!! due to the fact that comfirmed properties in Esk area and others have not yet been listed on the wonderful DPI Qld site, I was hoping people out there could check in or email me to let us all know.

Just got an email to say that a thoroughbred place in Peachester has it?! Does anyone have the real FACTS?

We would all appreciate any news of the virus' TRUE where abouts.

Thank you in advance.
Sharon, Woodford.

DPI Needs to shape up

It is now reaching the point of being ridiculous in my current situation at Centennial Park.

Whilst I acknowledge we were amongst the first to get it and also very widely publicised, it has now been over 5 weeks since the first diagnosed case and we have the DPI constantly changing dates for our quarantine period to end, a veterinary practice who has done a sterling job of diagnosing and treating the virus and now after trying to launch an experiment (Sentinal Project) have faded away into the background and can provide no details on how long the quarantine period should be for, no regular swabbing of horses to check progress and not being a good source of any updates from the chief veterinarians around the state.

It seems as though we have been pushed into the bleak background and forgotten, if we were serious about clearing this up Centennial Park should still be an active, monitored quarantine centre by the vets and DPI alike but it is now a sitting duck.

So we have:
- DPI that know little to nothing
- On-site veterinary practice who have no information and can provide no advice on quarantine periods or swabbing, and are not regularly checking every horse in the centre

Whilst permits may not be granted to us, our horses are in a similar situation to those trapped in various places - we have no access to any grass, riding tracks & arenas out in Centennial Park which is silly considering we are all now in a Red Zone along with Randwick and Redfern.

DPI - Give us a decent strategy, get advice from our veterinary experts and make some decisions - Firm Dates for end of quarantine, make it 31st December and stick to it if it has to be - at the moment all you are doing is lagging behind the 8 ball and falling to every whim the Racing Industry demands and looking at the performance horse industry as a secondary market.

Allow us to move our horses out to Purple Zone (highly contagious areas) so at the very least our horses can recover in paddocks rather than stables with limited exercise, its now turing into a welfare issue and the DPI would not know the back of a horse from the front.

Kate Wallis

The EI impact on my business and my life

Good morning pupils and friends,
 
Here is a copy of a letter that i am forwarding to  the various useless government bodies regarding the dreaded Equine Influenza (EI) virus. I hope those of you with horses are ok.  Please buzz me if  you are not as i am slowly and unfortunately becoming a real "expert" with  this horrid disease. Be careful with colic like symptoms; as the coughing and  stress on the horses can quickily turn into fatal colic.

Chin up everyone.

Kind regards,

Catherine

The EI impact on my business and my  life.
 
It takes a lot for me to put pen to paper, because  as a horse person I have certainly learnt over the years that the Horse Industry has its share of both success and failure. You learn to accept these highs and  lows; put on a brave face and roll with the punches. Resilience is the key to  surviving in the harsh reality of the commercial Horse world; but I never  thought that my resolve would be tested in such a manner.
 
I am not only a Horse Business owner, but I am  also an Equine vet's wife and most importantly a Horse Lover.
 
As a Horse Business owner I run Tathren Stud and  Riding School. I have my finger in many pies of the Horse Industry; I am first  and foremost a Riding Instructor.  I also produce a  nationally successful show team, I stand 2 stallions at stud, I  also breed for both the racing,show and performance sectors, I own  racehorses and I also run a horse transporting service. I feel exhausted just  listing my many faceted career in the industry......  But this has all come  to a screeching halt with the dreaded EI outbreak, and I am more exhausted, and  more financially and emotionally drained than I have ever been in my  life.
 
Spring is usually the time of year when we are  welcoming new foals into the world and the 11 months of waiting has finally come to fruition. I am now dreading these ever impending births as my place is  riddled with EI, and this "Black Death" is killing more foals than being reported in the sugar-coated media reports. The fact that I am really informed on  this matter, is one of the small joys of being an Equine vet's wife....   you  really know the truth about EI.
 
Spring is usually the time when the stallions are  busy covering mares, and after a very successful year for both Gleniph Sovanity (National, East Coast and Australian Champion) and Tathren Strong Persuader (State, National and East Coast Champion).  We were looking forward to a very  busy breeding season for the boys who have lots of mares booked to them.... They  now stand very quiet and listless in their paddocks coughing and not very  interested in anything at all.
 
Spring is usually the time when we are doing the show circuit with both our pupils and  our horses; now all show plans are put on hold indefinately. This is very  upsetting and disappointing to all concerned including the various societies  that run these events, and the pupils that have been training throughout the winter for them...  not to mention the flow on effects throughout the training,  saddlery and clipping industries.
 
Spring is usually the time when we are taking both  our Thoroughbred mares and others to the picturesque Hunter Valley for breeding, but these mares now look like that they will not be covered this season, and this will mean a huge financial loss for us...  not to mention the  loss of transporting income.
 
Spring is usually the time when we enjoy watching  our racehorses run, and now an up and coming horse called Shift Boss waits at Noel Mayfield-Smiths training stables at Hawkesbury not knowing when or where his next race start will be. The racing industry is suffering huge financial losses as is constantly being reported in the media...  but the true impact is yet to be seen.
 
Spring is usually the time when we welcome many new clients to the Riding School. This is not the case and I feel most unprofessional when dealing with new lesson enquiries, as I cannot tell them  when I will be able to resume teaching again. The uncertainty that comes with this dreadful disease is truly awful; even the various government bodies do not  know the real impact of EI yet.
 
Spring now has become a time of woe. My day  now consists of taking 40 horses'  temperatures twice a day, checking the severity of their cough and the consistency of their nasal discharge,  administering copious amounts of "Bute" and recording my findings on a chart. This coupled with the ongoing feeding, watering and rugging makes for a very long and non money earning day.  I am exhausted!   Thanks to a few of my agistors and friends who are helping me with this huge task.  
 
As an Equine Vet's wife I see the other side of  this unstoppable disease. My husband is also very exhausted, as this disease not  only hits the professional horse business owner...  but it also severely hits the pleasure pony owner.  These people have never called a vet out for anything, would have no clue on how to take a temperature, and would not know what "bute" is.  My husband has now taken on the role of not only being a  vet...  but also being an educator and a psychologist to the ill informed  public.  This is where the government and media should step in, and educate the general horse owning public and should stop playing the blame game.  EI is here to stay; the DPI cannot stop it and the general public need to be educated and ready for when it strikes them.  

Vaccination is not the answer; as its efficacy is very questionable indeed.  I am constantly amused by the rumour mongering and rubbish being posted on many equine forums at the moment...  what  the public needs is cold hard facts and advice on this horrid disease.
 
Also as a vet's wife, I see the huge financial loss to the veterinary industry.  My husband's practice and every other Equine practice in Restricted areas are ONLY allowed to deal with flu cases and  emergencies....  and are banned by the government to perform any routine vet  work.  So horses that do not have the flu yet or are not in a life threatening situation cannot be seen by a vet.  Spring is usually the time of year when the  practice is run off its feet with the busy breeding season...  this is not the  case.  I feel for those vets that are in Restricted areas, but do not have the  flu yet, as they are banned from doing any work at all.  With this EI crisis in full swing it is crucial that  owners keep up to date with their accounts, so that they may have a clear conscience and feel they can call on their vet immediately to help out.   EI  is dangerous and you will need your vet!
 
As a horse lover this is were EI becomes gut  wrenching.  It is very eerie once EI hits your place. Your horses stop  whinnying at feed time or when they see you, they stop galloping  and playing in their paddocks, they stop pricking their ears, they stop  glowing with good health.  I even miss the rare (but annoying) gate rattling from some of our more impatient horses. It is a deathly silence that  falls upon your place...  and all you can hear is the never ending choking  cough as snot goes hurtling through the air.  They hang their heads between  their front legs and stand motionless.  It is so depressing. The massive financial  losses to both my husband's practice and my business is in the many tens of  thousands... but this does not even enter your head at this time.  We are both just trying to alleviate the suffering of our equine friends.  My horses are the tools of my trade but they are also a living being and have given  me many years of good service.    It is now my time to serve them and keep them  well and alive; after all they are, my best mates.
 
We will eventually emerge from this EI induced fog and then that will be the time to count losses and once again call upon that  resilience to pull through. My thoughts go out to all those affected  by this disease as I know what you are going through.  

Stay resilient, our Equine friends really need us right now.
 
Kind Regards,
Catherine Brown
Tathren Stud
www.tathren.com

Media Release - Acacia Rose, Independent Candidate Federal Eden-Monaro

Equine influenza a Commonwealth quarantine failure

Acacia Rose, Independent Candidate for Eden-Monaro said 'the Equine Influenza outbreak is a failure of Commonwealth Government quarantine procedures almost certainly linked to part-privatisation of public services and impact on the Eastern Creek Quarantine Centre.'

'The Senate Report on the Provisions of the Quarantine Amendment Bill 1998 places the Commonwealth Government right at the centre of the Horse Flu outbreak.'

'According to Chapter 3.2 the Nairn report (Prof. Malcolm Nairn) recommendation 82 gave in principle support to the concept of privatising Commonwealth quarantine stations. The Government's response to the recommendation was:
• Accepted in principle. The operation of existing stations will be reviewed within existing resources. [1]'
'The enormous consequential costs of Equine Influenza to the racing industry as well as to private horse owners and riding stables are significant affecting a range of allied industries and businesses,' she said.

'Australian taxpayers should not have to pick up the bill for industry losses due to the Equine Flu and indeed those in government who have made decisions to change Quarantine practices including part-privatisation of this public service must be brought to account,' she said.

'The costs of government decisions and consequences including Equine Influenza must be borne by the decision makers bringing accountability back to the Commonwealth Government's table without involving taxpayers in footing the bill.'

'Private horse owners as well as industry groups such as the Thoroughbred and Racing Industry have had to bear the cost of government policy failures and decisions and should be compensated by the people who made the decisions.'

Ms Rose said 'the Commonwealth Government has a privatisation agenda that has impacted the Horse Industry and the Liberal-Coalition Party must take responsibility and foot the bill from their private funds and not from taxpayer funds.'

'The time has come for accountability for decisions made by political parties for costly policy decisions and if that means paying for professional indemnity as do other professionals such as doctors, dentists, veterinarians and horse riding enterprises, then so be it.'

'I am concerned about the impact on local race meetings across Eden-Monaro and the impact on businesses here as well as for riding stables and major providers such as Reynella, Cochrane Horse Treks the Snowy Wilderness group, Penderlea, Jingarra Trail Rides, Pambula Trail rides and the Tumut Argalong Trail Rides for instance,' she said.

'There is already a significant potential impact of horse flu on a range of pony and equestrian clubs and events including the Eurobodalla and Monaro clubs and the Jindabyne Equestrian Resort.'

Ms Rose said 'the highly popular Snowy River Festival which enjoys patronage from exceptional horse riders from across the state is only 6 weeks away and there is still uncertainty about the impact of Equine Influenza and whether this will limit the Festival in any way.'

'The Snowy River Festival is an important earner for the region and Dalgety and we cannot afford quarantine breaches to impact on this important Festival.'

'At the moment Eden-Monaro is a Green Zone or protected area from Equine Flu and Commonwealth as well as NSW DPI resources including border checks of horse movements are essential to prevent an outbreak in this region,' she said.

'Now is the time for the local member Gary Nairn to put his weight behind an inquiry into the alleged quarantine breaches and indicate whether the Commonwealth Government will indeed return Australian Quarantine Services to public ownership and management to prevent any more devastating problems of the nature of the Equine Influenza.'

'The potential consequences of further quarantine breaches including potentially foot and mouth disease will cause major losses to our agricultural sector already buckling under climate change, water shortages and the drought, deregulation, the AWB crisis and the so-called free-trade agreements.'

Ms Rose said 'we clearly cannot afford to hand over core government functions such as control of the Australian Quarantine Services to the private sector and risk further quarantine breaches.'

GET READY TO PAY

Having taken the time on the week end to visit our local DPI information centre (we are here but don’t know anything and cant tell you anything because of the privacy act) we were told one thing that State governments will be brining in a national livestock identification scheme for horses and all horses will have to registered and it will be self funded by us the horse owners.

So after years of under funding our Primary Industry Departments the government has finally found a way of getting out of there obligation to provide a service that we all ready pay tax for. Time has come for all of us to start putting pressure of our politicians or none of us will be able to afford to have any horses and I bet the race horses and thoroughbred industry will not be part of having to pay anything.

Start doing something now or we will be paying later.

Phillip
Jimboomba

Good On you

This morning at about eight o’clock I heard an ad on local radio telling us all to go and have a good day out at the Sunshine Coast Races.....
I just see red..... I used too enjoy a trip to the races but not now.

Queensland racing has been allowed to do what ever they want and the rest of the horses owners in Qld are at the mercy of the Dpi.

I made the comment a few days ago that we should go to the media....
DO IT....

Today we finally got told we could have a permit to move a horse for stock managment across a no thru road between two properties owned by the same person. It has taken 4 days since we applied and numerous emails and phone calls to get this to happen (thank you Jason at DPI). We have had representatives of the DPI tell us down right lies with regards to the zones in Qld. If this permit had not been granted today we were going to start contacting the media.

I still think that by contacting the media we, the non-horse racing people, might get to be heard about what is happening.

I am very disappointed in the response and articles relating to EI in our main country newspaper "The Qld Country Life". They have more or less dismissed the whole EI situation. Look at the horse ads in this weeks issue, nothing. Why can't they stand up and support the people that have always supported them.Christine