Friday 28th September - Bad News....

I came back yesterday for my first weekend shift in Morgan Park Town,
and celebrated another dreaded birthday - and it was quite a treat to have
100 people that I didn't know a month ago, singing an out of tune "Happy
Birthday" at dinner last night! Thanks Nicole M for dobbing me in!!! What a
treasure she is!

Nicole M left many Birthday treats and surprises in the
gooseneck - pink ribbons tied around the fridge, doors, pillows, curtain
rods and the TV! and some Darrell Lee Rocky Road in the fridge - plus
another pressie!!! What a gal! What a buddy! Thanks heaps Nicole!

The mood on my return was definitely depressed for the first time during
this whole "incarceration" - and I soon found out why...... we had just been
told that we would not be leaving on October 2nd, despite all the horses
here proving positive for EI antibodies, which means that our horses cannot
be re-infected and cannot carry the disease. Simon Goddard, our "head
honcho" has been trying to warn us of this eventuality, but I think everyone
was convinced we would be going home on the 2nd...... Apparently, the DPI
have to come to a National agreement on when we can go, so we wait and we
wait. It's very hard on the organisers here - not knowing...... David Lyons
needs to know for sawdust deliveries, Warren Morris from Furney's needs to
know for Produce requirements, and the caterers need to know for the very
important job of feeding us!!

To spite all this, efforts are made to keep going. I'm here with my son,
Mitchell, to finally get some time together, and he's looking forward to
"Friday Night Games!" Apparently, we need to bring a bucket filled with
water, a bandage and a sack - what on earth have a I gotten myself into??

I had my first ride on Milo yesterday, and I gotta say, it was quite
hairy! I had a few flashbacks to when he was a cheeky 3 year old! It took me
by surprise, but I suppose the last 5 weeks have been quite unusual - to say
the least!!

We've all heard about the vaccination program, and I'd like to add my
humble opinion.....

It is worth noting that:

a) the 4 previously EI vaccinated horses here in Warwick still suffered
with this strain of Equine Influenza.

b) Vaccination stops the symptoms, but possibly not the carrying of the
virus.....

c) with "blanket vaccination" (compulsory vaccination of all horses),
studies cannot eliminate the possibility of the virus mutating to a
different strain and infecting all horses again......

With this in mind, the proposed vaccination of a "buffer zone" may work.
This buffer zone may act as a fence to help reduce the spread - but I think
we need to maintain the standstill and ride it out, until the disease burns
itself out, and Australia is an Equine Influenza Free country again! The
planned vaccination buffer zone (as of yesterday afternoon) for QLD
stretches from Gympie around to Dalby and down to Goondiwindi. It is hoped
by taking the buffer zone that far out, it will give time for horses in that
belt to have the needed immunity by the time it reaches them. It follows,
that all horses INSIDE this zone, which comprises the whole of Sth East
Queensland may have to become infected before the disease has burnt itself
out. If you live in SE Qld, it is almost certain that your horses are going
to get EI. Not if, but when...

I think it is important that the politicians know that Equine Influenza
is not just a disease affecting the racing industry. I don't think the
politicians had any real grasp of the magnitude of horse ownership in
Australia, and the impact on our community of shutting down horse
businesses. This disease impacts the very economic and social fabric of our
society.

Very shortly there will be an Economic Impact Survey for the non-racing
equine community - so everyone look out for it and answer the questions to
let the Government know that we, in the Recreational Horse Industry, are
financially affected by Equine Influenza.

That's all for now!! from the 2 Nicole's in Morgan Park Town

Go to the Archived reports from the 2 Nicoles stationed at Warwick.

Nicole Tough Media Release