Ambassadors promote wool harvesting

The state-based shearers and wool handlers in the Wool Ambassadors Program are positive role models for the wool harvesting industry, thereby helping to attract a quality workforce, raise wool harvesting standards and improve the culture in shearing sheds.

Now in its second year, the program is an extension of the training initiative that has been run for several years in South Australia and Victoria by SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc (SWTI) with support from AWI.

The new program has seen wool harvesting ambassadors introduced into New South Wales, Western Australia, Queensland and Tasmania as well as in South Australia and Victoria. They are selected annually by expert shearer and wool handler trainers.

AWI National Manager, Wool Harvesting Training & Careers Development, Craig French, says the ambassadors have been selected as role models in the industry.

“They have been chosen due to their leadership qualities, outstanding talent and potential to excel, and their high standard of presentation and conduct in shearing sheds and also out of hours,” Craig said.

“They are mostly second- and third-year entrants to the wool industry, are team players, have a great work ethic, and have a willingness to learn and better themselves.

“As ambassadors for the wool industry, they will visit workshops and industry events to highlight the successes and benefits of working in the industry – and will be able to demonstrate a range of career pathways. During the year, they will also compete in a minimum of three Sport Shear competitions in their state.”

Each state team of ambassadors are provided with clothing and personal mentoring from AWI or SWTI trainers; the shearer ambassadors are also provided with shearing equipment from Heiniger.

The ambassadors will receive a trip to New Zealand from AWI to receive further training and participate in the famous Golden Shears competition.

AWI thanks all the previous wool harvesting ambassadors for their hard work in promoting the wool harvesting industry.

South Australia

The South Australian ambassadors Mitchell Yates (shearer, Kimba), Joe May (shearer, Cummins) and Cody Pearce (wool handler, Mount Pleasant) being presented with their awards by SWTI’s Josh Sneath and Glenn Haynes. The awards were presented at the Adelaide Show in front of the crowd of young people during the South Australian School Merino Wethers Competition at which the ambassadors did the wool harvesting. This year’s South Australian program is a joint industry effort between SCAA SWTI, AWI, Heiniger, Prime Super, Fox & Lillie and ioMerino.

Victoria

The Victorian ambassadors Maxi Armistead (shearer, Colac), Aleisha Rintoule (wool handler, Gymbowen) and Jack McArdle (shearer, Colbinabbin), pictured here with AWI Victoria Industry Relations Officer Holly Byrne, Heiniger’s Ben Mulraney, Fox & Lillie’s Genevieve Butler, and SWTI’s Glenn Haynes. The awards were presented at Clunes in front of the crowd of young people during the Victoria School Merino Wether Challenge at which the ambassadors did the wool harvesting. This year’s Victorian program is a joint industry effort between SCAA SWTI, AWI, Heiniger, Prime Super, Fox & Lillie and ioMerino.

New South Wales/Queensland

The ambassadors of Ally Johnson (shearer, Barraba) and Jack Philipson (wool handler, Parkes) are pictured above in blue shirts at the back and front, with AWI trainers and the previous year’s NSW and Queensland ambassadors. The photo was taken at the New South Wales School Merino Wether Challenge in Dubbo at which the ambassadors did the wool harvesting. A third NSW ambassador, Randy Bedford (shearer, Young), was unable to attend this event. This year’s program is a joint industry effort between AWI, Heiniger, and NSW WoolTag.

Western Australia

The Western Australia ambassadors Tristan White (shearer, Yealering), Mikayla Reihana (wool handler, Calingiri) and Blake McFarlane (shearer, Mount Barker) being presented with their awards at the Perth Royal Show in September, pictured with AWI WA Industry Relations Officer, Tennille Norrish, and WA Shearing Industry Association Executive Officer and AWI WA Training Coordinator, Valerie Pretzel. This year’s WA program is a joint industry effort between AWI, WA WoolTAG, WA Shearing Industry Association, WA Government through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Heiniger, and Westcoast Rural.

Tasmania

The Tasmanian ambassadors Ashlee McConnon (wool handler, Swansea), Katelin Barker (shearer, Evandale) and Tom Jacobson (shearer, Kellevie) being presented with their awards at the Westbury Show in November, pictured here with SWTI trainers Petrisse Leckie and Steve Rigby and AWI’s Tasmania training coordinator Lachlan West. The program this year is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Primary Employers Tasmania, SCAA SWTI, AWI, Heiniger, ioMerino and Next Level Elite Mentoring.

Back-to-back win for Slim in the Nationals

A special congratulations to 2023/24 wool ambassador Alexander (Slim) Schoff from Chinchilla in Queensland who won the Open Wool Handling title at the 2024 National Shearing and Wool Handling Championships held in October at Katanning, WA. This follows on from his win at last year’s Championships in Jamestown, SA. The only previous male back-to-back winner was Dave Summers, also a Queenslander.

This article appeared in the December 2024 edition of AWI’s Beyond the Bale magazine. Reproduction of the article is encouraged.