This image is a tribute to our high-country cattle men and women. They are a hardy breed, with resilience, common sense, and a deep love and respect for the land. Their character is epitomised in Banjo Patterson’s famous poem, “The Man from Snowy River”. But their livelihood is under threat from bureaucrats who think they know better how to manage the land. I hope we never lose the spirit of these great Australian characters who have been part of our history. On the far left of this photo you can see the late Ken Conley – a legend of the high country – with two new-generation cowboys. They are on Ken’s property in Benambra, working a fresh mob of brumbies recently saved from Alpine National Park. Mustering the horses for sale is a far better solution than the barbaric practice of shooting them from a helicopter. Our high-country people and our Aboriginals know we need to manage the environment so we do not lose a precious resource through neglect. If ever our island nation was invaded, we would need people like these, with the knowledge and bush skills to help us survive and thrive.