Team Scotts Flat
BY ALEX TIGANI
There is a special bond between the men on Scotts Flat Road.
When you first cross paths with Colin Meyn, Graeme Cameron and John and Daniel Redgrove you arrive to find some straight-talking Australian farmers who are ready to get on with the job.
Yet, such is there drive to help each other out, you could easily mistake their passion and dialogue for a football team regrouping in the dying stages of a final.
“Well, we do go by the nickname of ‘Team Scotts Flat’,” John Redgrove told The Hunter River Times.
“All we need now is the matching caps with our team name on it,” Colin playfully added.
As per every Spring season, the quartet combine forces between tractors, fields and paddocks taking on any job which requires assistance.
The first big task of the season, cutting their first batch of American lucerne, resulted in 860 barrels of hay.
It will be ready to cut off again in the coming days.
“Then we’ll cut the lucerne every 30 days for the rest of the summer,” John continued.
Colin Meyn has called Scotts Flat home for 72 years, Graeme Cameron made the move from Singleton 21 years ago while John, 61, and his family have called the area home since 1880.
And they could not be happier.
“This is the most productive time of the year and Scotts Flat is probably the best piece of land in the Hunter Valley for how fertile it is,” John continued.
This attribute allows for a great amount of feed to be grown which then allows for all their angus cattle to be kept fed (particularly through the recent drought).
“We have dry land property at Westbrook, we grow the feed down here on the irrigation block and make silage and hay,” Colin revealed.
“It keeps the cattle going and if we did not have that in the drought we would have had to destock dramatically.”
The recent drought has taken a financial toll on all farmers across many aspects such as the high cost of grain (one of many inhibiting factors).
However, access to irrigation makes the process work while their mateship makes the journey worthwhile in the long run.
While sporting analogies may accurately depict their comradery, the team does have a recent claim to fame.
Last week, 15-time Group 1-winning trainer Kris Lees celebrated his first Newcastle Gold Cup victory with Mugatoo (ridden by Kerrin McEvoy).
“This paddock will go straight to the racehorse history at Broadmeadow,” Graeme proudly added.
“Chris Lees is the main one, he was the first trainer to win for the city and country training championship.
“We provide all his lucerne and we also provide for the likes of Torryburn (Stud).”
So, next time you back a Lees’ winner, remember that the horse’s winning feed originates from the champion team out at Scotts Flat.
“We help one another, that’s the name of the game,” Colin concluded.