THAT’S right folks, we are now in our 30th year and still going strong providing the latest rural news, features and agricultural information for farmers, agriculture professionals and the general public.
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The first edition of Town and Country was published on July 8, 1985, with an introduction that went a little something like this: “TOWN AND COUNTRY MAGAZINE is pleased to welcome readers to our first edition,” it stated.
“Our magazine is keen to serve everyone throughout this large and active region, particularly in matters concerning agriculture. fishing, real estate and motoring.
We believe Town and Country Magazine can bring up to date information relating to those important subjects which combine to form the greater portion of life in the region.
Town and Country Magazine covers an area renowned for its beef, fat lamb production, dairying, fine wool, crop and general farming and plays host to numerous stud breeders of horses, cattle, pigs and goats.
We will also be serving the valuable fishing industry in addition to large scale forestry.
Town and Country Magazine covers one of the most densely populated areas in NSW.
The South Eastern region also caters for holiday makers, including skiing, watersports and bushwalking activities.
Town and Country Magazine was launched to link readers of papers throughout the region with a common supplement.
Each week we will appear in 17 newspapers with a combined circulation of almost 55,000.
As a result, Town and Country Magazine is the largest circulating magazine of its type in country NSW.
We look forward to your company each week and ask that you drop us a line outlining which features you would like to see and how we might improve our service to you.”
Volume One Number One of Town and Country Magazine had on its first front page the issue of the National Tax Summit convened by the Hawke Labor Government.
Events of that year were similar to what is happening in rural areas of NSW today, with fuel prices steadily increasing and many farmers feeling the pinch in terms of their income.
Prime Minister Bob Hawke had released a White Paper proposing a capital gains tax and a death tax.
A number of organisations including the Livestock and Grain Producers Association (LGPA-the predecessor to what became the NSW Farmers Association in 1987) and the National Farmers Federation were opposed to the taxes.
For example the price of fuel under the Liberal/National government of Malcolm Fraser had increased to 13.8 percent per annum, whereas under the Labor government, price increases had fallen back to only 6.8pc.
The opposition was so strong to the proposals that it led to a huge rally outside Parliament House organised by the National Farmers Federation, with more than 30,000 protesters turning up.
The message plastered across noticeboards and in country pubs was ‘Get to Canberra or face the consequences’, with some towns shutting down completely, such was the feeling in some rural areas.
Town and Country Magazine will be publishing a comprehensive 30th birthday edition on August 10 with thoughts from founding editor and former Goulburn Post journalist Leon Oberg (now retired) plus various local politicians and rural identities giving their thoughts on how this magazine has given a voice to country people over the years.
If you wish to submit some editorial content for this upcoming publication, you can contact myself, Antony Dubber on 4827 3514, via email at antony.dubber@fairfaxm edia.com.au, or if you are interested in advertising for this special edition, contact Manager Gavin Halder on 4827 3539, via mobile on 0419 481 613 or email him at gavin.halder@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
