Our farm is split in two by a rural road that carries milk tankers, log trucks, school buses and gravel trucks from the hills down the valley to the town. And the only place to cross the road is 100 metres from a blind corner. To make matters worse, Pearlie Girlie does not know the road rules.

To make sure the cows are on the road for the shortest time possible, we bunch them up like a pack of marathon runners at a starting line.

Let us at it!

Then we stand at the road with flashing lights and signs aplenty to warn drivers and only let the cows across when the coast is clear.

We're 100m down the slope straddling the road - watch out!

Still, we have seen smoke pour out of semi trailers desperate to stop in time, L platers “coast” right through at 60 km/hr and others roar past at 100km/hr metres away from the first or last cow. I would like to build an underpass but the cost is around $80,000 plus “extras”. One day, we will be able to afford it but please slow down on rural roads. We’re not the only ones.

By the way, Victoria’s road rules say:

• When a Give Way To Stock sign is displayed, you must slow down to a speed which will enable you to give way or stop if necessary to avoid hitting an animal.
• When a stop sign is displayed at a stock crossing, you must stop before reaching the crossing and must not proceed until all animals have crossed the road.