A South African couple were given a taste of country life in Glen Innes last week as they spent two of their nine days in the country exploring the town and its surroundings.

Mainie and John Stevens, from near Frankfort, Free State province, won the prize as part of a competition run by agricultural animal health company Virbac and were given an insight into the way things are done in Australia.

The couple were guided by Virbac regional area sales manager Andrew Mulligan and visited several local properties, the Rangers Valley feedlot and last Tuesday’s lamb and sheep sales noting an evident difference to South Africa.

“The people are more productive here. There is a lot of labour in South Africa but you do a lot yourself here. It was very interesting and we learnt a lot,” Mrs Stevens said.

They were made to feel at home staying in the apartment of Stuart Bell and Wendy Fahey and appreciated the warm welcome they had received from everyone they had spoken to.

“Everybody was so friendly, they went out of their way to spoil us,” Mrs Stevens said.

After leaving Glen Innes on Wednesday they made their way to Perth where they experienced the rugby union clash between Australia and South Africa on Saturday before flying home.