By Corey Everitt
-Liam
Liam sold cattle on the last day. A young farmer from Chirnside Park, he said it ’sort of sucks’ that Pakenham was closing. He is the same age as the saleyards, it has been an area of fond memories in his life.
“It was built the year I was born, I used to spend all my summer holidays down here with my dad,“ he said.
-Lionel
Lionel is a farmer from Horsham, he would make the five hour drive to Pakenham for the past 17 years because the prices were best.
Even though he didn’t bring any cattle on the last day, he made the trip one last time to see the saleyard off.
“This market was great, I would come all this way because the prices were better than anywhere else,” he said.
-Michael Savage
Michael Savage was an agent with Landmark at Pakenham for 23 years. Though he said it was ’disappointing’ to see the saleyards go, he ’understood’ the decision and said ’things change’.
“It will cost the farmer more money, but we just need to get on with it,” he said.
-Ray
Ray is a farmer from the Macedon Ranges, he came all the way out to see the Pakenham saleyard on its last day.
He is no stranger to closures, remembering the old yards of Newmarket, Dandenong, Geelong and Camperdown which closed last month.
“It’s the way it goes”, he said.
“My grandfather’s farm used to be on Tram Road in Box Hill, now look at it.”
He enjoyed seeing some farmers on the day that he hadn’t seen in sometime.
“I have recognised some people from back in the day, who I haven’t seen in 45 years!.”
-Liam
Liam is a local farmer from Longwarry and his partner works for the VLE. He brought Georgia along with him to see the last day of Pakenham.
“Just wanted to see it out,” he said.
-Anne and Frank Moya
Anne and Frank Moya are farmers from Nar Nar Goon. They were original stakeholders when VLE started in Pakenham. They came to see the saleyards on the last day, as it’s been such a key part of their farming and local landscape.
“We watched the saleyards being built from our farm,” Anne said.
