From "Avon to the Alps" by Meredith Fletcher, published by Shire of Avon, 1988. "While the families on Llowalong scraped an existence, the conditions for teh settlers on nearby Mayhew's estate reduced them to near starvation. The purchase, subdivision and administration of this estate revealed gross mismanagement and caused much hardship and suffering for the families who settled there.
"Several years after Captain Mayhew's death, the Mayhew family moved to Melbourne, leaving a manager in charge of Nerrina. ... The property was sold in October 1920 for £12 an acre and was subdivided into 10 allotments averaging 35 acres. Each settler could lease another 30 acres until the irrigation scheme was completed and water was available. Settlers were invited to apply for an allotment on this land which was advertised as 'suitable for irrigation and intense culture, eminently suited for beet culture and dairying'. The ten successful applicants began moving onto their allotments in mid 1921. Among them were Norman and Doris Ripper who came from Melbourne to establish a farm at Nerrina. Both Norman and Doris were new to farming; before enlisting Norman had worked for Brockhoffs and Doris had worked in Dunklings. Norman served in Gallipoli and France until he was invalided home. When they arrived in Gippsland they had two small boys, a smattering of knowledge gleaned from a short period that Norman had spent at Dookie, and lots of enthusiasm.
"Within a year, many settlers realised their position was hopeless - the land at Nerrina was poor and could not support dairy farming. A report by the SRWSC stated that the land was not suitable for irrigation and fodder crops could not be grown. ... the settlers watched their cows die from cripples, impaction and red water, caused by phosphorous deficiency. Norman and Doris Ripper were among the first to leave. In 1923, they moved to a 50 acre farm on the Maffra-Stratford Road, where there was more promise of irrigation."