Current News

Despite most farmers praying for rain for most of the year, cherry growers across the region have enjoyed the dry conditions. 

Benalla grower Mark Foletta said the dry conditions had limited the risk of disease.

‘‘The dry conditions have meant disease pressures are relatively low,’’ he said.

‘‘With the dry conditions, they are less prone to brown rot. I use no chemical fungicides so the dry conditions have taken the pressure off.’’

Mr Foletta — who has 1200 trees of varieties such as Royal Dawn, Black Star and Lapin — is expecting to harvest an average of 1.5 to 2tonnes of the fruit most popular at Christmas time.  Read more of this Shepparton Country News article........

To view the Media Release please click here

Further to the Full Bench decision issued by the Fair Work Commission on 9 August 2018 [[2018] FWCFB 4695] 1, the Horticulture Award is varied as follows:

1. By inserting clause 10.4(d) as follows:

(d) A casual employee must be engaged and paid for at least 2 consecutive hours of work on each occasion they are required to attend work.
2. By updating the table of contents and cross-references accordingly.

2. By inserting clause 10.5 as follows:

10.5 Right to request casual conversion
(a) A person engaged by a particular employer as a regular casual employee may request that their employment be converted to full-time or part-time employment.
(b) A regular casual employee is a casual employee who has in the preceding period of 12 months worked a pattern of hours on an ongoing basis which, without significant adjustment, the employee could continue to perform as a full-time employee or part-time employee under the provisions of this award.
(c) A regular casual employee who has worked equivalent full-time hours over the preceding period of 12 months’ casual employment may request to have their employment converted to full-time employment.
(d) A regular casual employee who has worked less than equivalent full-time hours over the preceding period of 12 months’ casual employment may request to have their employment converted to part-time employment consistent with the pattern of hours previously worked.

The Victorian Cherry Association's AGM will be held on Tuesday, 02 October 2018 10.00am at the Horticulture Centre of Excellence, 255 Ferguson Road, Tatura.  Registration will open at 9.45am and a payment of $65.00pp is required on the day. AGM Notice and Agenda available below for download.