The impressive stone and brick Federation homestead was completed in 4 years by craftsmen with much of the materials brought in by barge. This house continues to be home for Jeff Prell and his partner, Margaret Shepherd.

Grandfather Charles Prell was regarded as a visionary and is credited with building the first rabbit-proof fence - before rabbits arrived in the area - around the substantial property.  It proved to be a wise decision given the devastation caused by rabbit infestation of 1920’s.

An inventor, he designed the first potato grader and believed that machinery provided greater efficiency and productivity. The first farmer to introduce pasture improvement using superphosphate proving that both the quantity of feed and the protein content of the pasture was increased.

As a boy, Jeff recalls in 1939 how the outbreak of World War II impacted the farm activities. His father later went off to fight in New Guinea leaving his mother and aunts to run the business with the assistance of loyal farm hands who had worked on the farm for three generations.  Those were the days where employees for employed for life. The work days were long 7:30-5:30 and Saturday mornings.

Returning home from boarding school to learn to drive the family Model T Ford was a highlight.  Work in the sheep yards, marking lambs and shearing were booked around school holidays. Jeff has subsequently produced multiple broad ribbon rams over decades and built up an enviable premium blood line.

Jeff insists that there is still a future on farm.  The methods will continue to change and technology will play an important role in the success of farming.  

On the environment, Jeff commented, “In my opinion, clearing of trees has had a detrimental impact with erosion of the river banks as a major consequence.  Pastures assist with prevention of erosion and wild life corridors provide habitat for little birds and sugar gliders that control predators such as Gum Moth and Christmas Beetle that attack Eucalypt.”

Jeff will share his views on new settlers at the Crookwell CWA Awareness Day event at 10:00 am Friday 8th September.

Daniel Mossfield was appointed the new Pastor of the Crookwell Uniting Church and moved with teacher wife Nicki and baby son Benji to commence his service in early 2017.

Daniel grew up in a semi-rural area in Sydney and had a desire to work in a rural parish where he could take the time to build relationships, talk and get to know his congregation and broader community.  

Daniel’s first pastoral position was in Queanbeyan. He was then offered a placement in Bateman’s Bay or Crookwell.  Following a very warm welcome from the Crookwell community, the family decided that with a local hospital, good schools and close proximity to Canberra where Daniel could continue his study, that Crookwell was the preferred location.

Daniel and Nicki have found the facilities more than meets expectation.  They purchase their food and fuel locally and are happy with the fresh variety and cost.    

Benji is attending day care where he has real grass to walk on, space to run and can see chickens and emu over the back fence.  As parents, they feel the smaller facility offers more individual attention and care.

Some of the challenges to date have been connectivity with little or no mobile coverage on farms and internet speed being very much slower than the NBN they were used to. Developing social contacts with other young families has proven challenging in these early stages.   

Daniel commented, “The best thing about the country is by far the sense of community, a desire to work for the common good and country hospitality”.