WORK duties were well and truly put on hold on Friday with many farms covered in snow.
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While snow fell and settled in Ballarat’s CBD around 11am, it was heavier in areas including Clarkes Hill, Dean, Gordon, Wallace and Bungaree.
While winter around Ballarat is probably never snug for sheep and cattle, they were put to the test on Friday with the white stuff settling on their backs.
Clarkes Hill farmer Dominic Prendergast said Friday was more about staying warm than worrying about the farm.
“There’s not much you can do on a day like this,” he said with a laugh.
“I should be out there doing some maintenance and things like that... but that’s always put on hold when we get the snow.”
While farmers in the region are used to at least a couple of snowfalls each year, Mr Prendergast said he had noticed the depth of snowfall declining in recent years.
“We used to get some huge dumps,” he said.
“It’s a long time ago, but I can remember people skiing on Clarkes Hill.
“Even a few years ago I had to drive my wife to work in the 4WD because the snow was so thick.”
Mr Prendergast said while the snow looked pretty for “about half an hour”, it generally turned to “slop” quickly.
“That’s the worst part about snow, it creates this great slop,” he said with a laugh.
“But at least it looks nice.”
The freezing temperatures hit parts of Victoria which usually never see snow on Friday, with snow falling near the coastal hamlet of Lorne.
It’s believed snow hasn’t fallen in Lorne for more than 15 years.
patrick.byrne@fairfaxmedia.com.au
