Pig farmers in Tasmania shutting down
They say it never rains but it pours. We’ve just had the news today that the abattoir we use for our business is going to close down in three weeks. It’s owned by a massive conglomerate and they’ve probably decided it’s not worth their while keeping it running.
It means the probable closure of our business. There are no other abattoirs in the north of Tasmania which slaughter pigs. At this stage we’ve only just found out and have not quite moved beyond the stage where we have to hope for a miracle. Government lifeline or intervention of some sort. Apparently they’re halfway through an $800k deal to keep it open. So that worked.
We have poured our hearts and souls into this business over the past seven years. It has taken both of us, and while I have tried to withdraw from it in part and set up my own line of business editing books for people, writing freelance journalism, and getting a travel memoir published, it is not much of or in any way enough of an alternative to keep us afloat. We will now be casting around for what Oliver can do that might keep our heads, and our children’s heads, above water, while I carry on doing what I do in the meantime.
We’re used to our lives being a roller coaster ride. We haven’t chosen a safe or normal route. We’re both self employed, and getting on in years. We’ve run a marginal farm business and I’ve launched a tenuous writing career. Every so often we start to feel as if we might be getting somewhere. My book has been published by an independent UK publisher and is currently showing in the Amazon bestseller rankings even though it hasn’t been published yet. I have a small, part-time roll with the Tamar Valley Wine Route. And I have managed to place some articles with national newspapers and magazines this year. Oliver has built a dedicated processing room and had it passed by Council, no mean feat. And we’re booked into a whole raft of spring events. And then this happens.
We have never been dealt quite such a body blow as this before. We’re reeling today, and currently wondering how we’re going to survive and what in hell we’re going to do. I can only say watch this space.
