shearing€¦ · i think it was the late george potae who once offered a simple strategy for...

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Read Shearing magazine on line at www.lastsidepublishing.co.nz

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Last Side Publishing Hamilton, New Zealand

Promoting our industry, sport and peopleNumber 100: Vol 35, No 2, August 2019

ISSN 0114-7811 (print) ISSN 1179-9455 (online)

Shearing

Inside:Bill Higgins first 400The story of one hundred magsWorld Champs results and photosNew Zealand Woolclassers’ Association

Shearing on SardiniaPhill Hourigan tribute

Damnation contaminationHard men may use bungies too

Marcel Thwaites exercises right of reply

FREESee inside formailing rates

2019 Blade shearing world champion Allan Oldfield (left) with his friend, father, mentor and previous New Zealand representative Phil Oldfield and, (in the middle), one tough looking sun-bronzed hombre at Le Dorat, France.

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Number 100: Vol 35, No 2, August 2019 ISSN 0114 - 7811 (print)

ISSN 1179 - 9455 (online)

ShearingPromoting our industry, sport and people

Next edition due 26 November 2019. Deadline for all material two weeks prior.

UNDER COVER STORY CONTENTS 6 NZ Woolclassers’ Association 8 World championships 201911 Shearing cooks photo essay12 BillHigginsfirst400man14 MarcelThwaitesrightofreply16 PJHawkinsHe maemae aroha17 Don’t underestimate electrolytes18 Damnation that contamination19 Thestoryof100mags24 Wooltechnologyprogrammes25 Elite Shearer training (advert)27 Poets’ corner (Blue Jeans)29 Phill Hourigan obituary30 EleanoreResneauprofile31 LouBrownsmashesrecord33 BookReviewTheShearers34 SheepshearersjoinUnion35 Hard men use bungies too 36 Shearing on Sardinia37 Sardinia photo essay38 Wool pressers photo essay

Publisher: Last Side Publishing Ltd, Box 102, Hamilton 3240,NewZealand.Tel078392891:Mob0274833465.Email:[email protected]:Inkwise,Ashburton.Copyright:Allmaterialsubjecttousualarrangements.Subscribe to Shearing:NewZealand–sendname,postaladdress and $30.00 cheque to receive six issues (twoyears)ofShearing.Overseas readers – email [email protected] forcostsandelectronicpaymentoptions.

Photo credits: PhilOldfield cover, p26 (Owenwee);BarbaraNewtonp6,7;TomHardingp8;Internetp9,29(Hourigan),31;Sheep-Oh!p12;Jenna-LeeMurrayp15(Ohai);Hawkinswhanaup16;GabrielaSchmidt-Morrellp17;MikeGracep21;StanleyAllinghamp23;SouthlandInstitute ofTechnology p24; Smedley Station (WardShearing) p26;HollyTarrant p28; JillsAngusBurneyp30;Acto-Agriculturep32;MargFordep37;LastSidePublishing/Shearingmagazinep5,7 (SmartMove),10,11,14-15,17(Hart),18-23(Taylor),27,28,30(Davey),35,38.

GreetingsreadersandwelcometoissueNumber100oftheShearingmagazine.It’stakennearly35yearstogethereandwehave summarisedpart of that journey in a four-pagefeatureinthecentrepages.As part of the ‘looking back’ we have dug into our

old print photo archives and reproduced a few here. Noparticular rhymeand reason formost, but a couple againseethelightofdaybecauseoftheparticularcircumstancesandstorybehindthem.Forexample,BarryTayloratpage23,whodidwhathehad todo!Becausewe’ve takenupvaluablespacewiththese‘retroitems’,somecurrenteventshavebeenparkedupreadyforNovember.I think itwas the lateGeorgePotaewhoonceoffered

asimplestrategyforcompetitionshearing.‘Youstartfastandyoujustkeepgettingfaster’.Andthatiswhatseemstohaveworkedwonderfullywell forAllanOldfield(themainmanonourfrontcover)inwinningtheworldbladeshearingchampionshipatLeDorat.Allan has travelled the world these past few years,

gainingexperienceonallsortsofsheep.He’sdownontheFalkland Islandsaswego toprintwith thismag.Manygoodbladeshearershavetriedtobreakthat‘stranglehold’on world titles held by the Lesotho and SouthAfricanshearers sinceMasterton in 1996.ElliotNtsombo,EliasHans andMayenseke Schweni between them remainedinvinciblethroughtenworldevents.Allan started blade shearing at the age of 13 (in the

footstepsofhisfather)andbeforelongwascombiningthatinterestwithcompetitivewood-chopping(timbersports).Sogooddidhebecomeatthelatter,hewaschosenintheNewZealandUnder-20 teamfor the2011/12season forcompetition againstAustralia at Melbourne.A move toChristchurchanddifficultyingettinggoodlogstopracticeonmeantthatinteresthadtofallbythewayside,‘buthe’sstillbloodyhandywithanaxewhenhecomeshometothefarm,’hisfatherPhilOldfieldsays!InmorerecentseasonsAllanhastravelledtotheUnited

Kingdom, winning several major competitions againsttheleadingBritishandWelshexponents.‘Makingapointofgetting insomepracticenomatterhow inconvenient,andbecomingadaptabletodifferentbreedsofsheep,’heexplained.Goodthingscometothosewhoworkhard.SeeyouinNovember.Takecareoutthere.

Ka kite anoDes Williams (editor)

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‘Indeed. let us toast Shearing magazine on reaching its 100th edition, and here’s to many more!’ Mick Bool and John Bruce (many years before the event!)

Her Majesty graced the cover of Shearing magazine number 55, exactly 15 years ago. We are sure we can ‘take it as read’, that the usual Royal congratulations on making it to 100 will be forthcoming some time soon. (We check the mail daily ...)

58th New Zealand Merino Shearing & Woolhandling

Championships

Molyneux Stadium, AlexandraFri/Sat 4/5 October 2019

• Open shearing EF $69.00 (start 7.00am Saturday)

• PGG National Circuit EF $60.00• Senior shearing EF$59.00• Open woolhandling EF $59.00 (start 7.00am Friday)• Senior woolhandling EF$ $54.00• Junior woolhandling EF $49.00• Novice woolhandling EF $30.00• NZ Merino Teams (2 shearers & woolhandlers any grade)

EF $69.00• Total prizemoney exceeds $17,800• Cover comb used in all events• Reporting time 30 minutes before all events

All entries by 27 September 2019 to

[email protected] Pay entry fees direct to ANZ 06 0917 0008266 00

(Late entries, if accepted, will incur $10.00 penalty)

This is a public acknowledgement to Paul Grainger of Te Kuiti that the process by which Shearing Sports New Zealand (SSNZ) accepted and dealt with a complaint letter against him was inappropriate. SSNZ regrets that the actions subsequently taken in response to that letter were illegal and damaging to Paul’s credentials. Paul remains as a badged shearing judge and referee with SSNZ.SSNZ has now reviewed its policy to prevent such actions being repeated in future. Sincere apologies are hereby extended to Paul, Claire and their family.

Sir David Fagan KNZMChairman, Shearing Sports NZ6 August 2019

Three ‘old guys’ who knew a thing or two about merinos and winning national Fine Wool shearing titles. From left: Ian Rutherford (1965, 1967, 1969); Ian Kneen (Australia, 1963, 1964) and Murray McSkimming (RIP) (1962, 1966), pictured at Alexandra for the NZ Merino Shears 50th jubilee, 2011.

100

Shannon Warnest at Alexandra 1995, holding what judge John Ferguson described as the cleanest shorn merino he had seen in 27 years of judging. We’ve given it the symbolic 100 not out!

*

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Ifyouwanttosettledownwithgoodconditionsandsteadywork, shearingorwoolhandling, you couldfindaplaceinthePaewaiMullinsteam.Weworkforsomegreatpeopleandwehavesomegreatpeopleworkingforus.Thereisalwaysroomforonemore.

Phone:063744062/Fax063744153Aria:0223744062POBox129,Dannevirke4942.Email:[email protected]:shearingnz.co.nz

Asweheadintoanewseasonthereareatwoimportantissuesweneedtoaddress:Theappallingnon-woolcontaminationstatistics(coveredelsewherein thispublication),andhighseedlevels.

High seed levels (with particular relevance to pre-lamb clips):Agoodgrowingseasonalsoappliestoweedsasmuchasgrass.Thisseasonitisexpectedthatthegrassandseedlevels,especiallyhorehound,willbesignificantlyhigherthisseason.Itmustberemoved.Grass, hay,andsomeseeds lieparallel to thefibreand

therefore difficult to remove during themanufacturingprocess.Ifindoubttakeitout.Nomatterwhetheritisforcontractorgoingtoauctionitis

importantthattheclipreceivesfullpreparationandremovalofseed/grass,andbestpossibleclassingtoensureaddedvalue.

Field Days:A recordnumberofparticipantsattended theannualNZWoolClassersindustrydayandAnnualGeneralMeetingon9May2019atthePharLapRaceway,Timaru.The90orsoattendeesrangedfromclassers,woolhandlers,shed staff, farmers, brokers representatives, otherwoolharvestingrelatedindustrypersonnelaswellasstudentswhoareatpresentstudyingtheCertificateinWoolTechnologycourse.

Therewere a variety of hands-onwool identificationexercises and a yield and micron assessment competition totestthemettleofclassersandprospectiveclassersalike.AhighlightformanywasthetouroftheCanterburyScour

atWashdyke,justoneoftworemainingscoursinthecountryandtheonlyoneoperatingintheSouthIsland.Atpresentthewoolstoresarefulltothebrimandthescourisworkingatfullcapacity24/7,puttingthrough2500balesadayandamillionkilogramsofmainlycrossbredwoolaweekthroughthetwolines.Speakerstothegroupincluded:MilesAndersonFederated

FarmersMeat &WoolIndustryGroup;TheSouthIslandProcurementManager for PGGWrightsonWool RobCochranewhoadvisedthat‘in-shedpreparationremainsthekeytoprovidingvaluetoyourgrowers.‘Nothing has changed from thewaywool should be

prepared–putting likewith like.’Heencouragedclassersandwoolharvestingstafftocontinuethehighstandardofpreparationoflastseasonandtomakesurethatthegrowers,particularly of strongerwool, got to appreciate that byloweringstandardswillnotassistthepriceinthefuture;apresentationonTahiNgãtahi,byBronwynCampbell;TraceyTopp,ownerof‘CosyToes’whoencouragedustobepositiveand‘talkabouthowmuchwoolisworthtotheplanet’;andDrTeriMcClellandfromSouthlandInstituteofTechnologythatwooleducationdeliverywillcontinueintheimmediatefutureandwithaguaranteefromtheEducationMinisterthatanyonewhohasstartedthecoursewillfinishit.At theAGMtwonewboardmemberswerewelcomed:

MargaretForde,representingclassers,andRogerFullerofCPWools,representingthebrokers.

Future field days:Weareintheplanningstageforfuturedaysin the South Island: Lumsden (November), North Canterbury (earlyOctober)andBalclutha.OtherorganisationsareholdingsessionsintheNorthIsland,sokeepalookoutforthose.

Merit Award winners taking part in the micron and yield assessment competition held at the Timaru field day in May. Among the participants were Sharlene Adamson (A2014), Christina Goodwin and Graeme Goodger (A1883).

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Merit Award Winners:Micron:SharleneAdamsonA2014,Yield:ChristinaGoodwin,Micron&Yield:GraemeGoodgerA1883.

MERINO(SponsoredbyNZMerino)Merit:RoseBarnett (Motueka-Nelson)A1565for theclip‘MoutereStation’.Commendation:PhillipaMcConway(Blenheim)A1864fortheclip‘AschworthStation’;MarySatterthwaite(AwatereValley,Blenheim)M2150fortheclip‘MullerStation’.

NZ Wool Classers Association Industry day held at Phar Lap Raceway, Washdyke, Timaru on Thursday 9 May 2019. From left: Eric Laurenson, Nicky Blanchard, Graeme Goodger, Sharlene Adamson, Catherine Scurr, Julie Thompson and Christina Goodwin.

MID-MICRON(SponsoredbyCPWool)Merit:NickyBlanchard(Tarras,UpperClutha)P2041fortheclip‘LongGullyStation’.Commendation: IanKofoed (Oamaru)A2086 for theclip‘InvercroyStation’;BruceAbbottA1456(Mosgiel)fortheclip‘HorseshoeStation’.

OWNERCLASSER(SponsoredbyPGGWrightsonWool)Merit:EricLaurenson(Paerau,Maniototo)FD620,‘Burnbrae’.Commendation:DonaldMacKenzie (Hakataramea,SouthCanterbury)FD609, ‘TableTopStation’;CatherineScurr(CardronaValley,Wanaka)FM1617,‘Tuohy’sGullyStation’;SusanMacdonald (AwatereValley,Blenheim)FM2046,‘Middlehurst Station’; Sally Smith FM2138, (AwatereValley,Blenheim)‘AwapiriStation’;SimonHarveyFD1017(MedwayValley,Blenheim)‘GlenOrkneyStation’;AngusSandallFM2135(Marlborough)‘UptonFellsStation’.

NORTHISLANDSponsoredbyBrendanMahonyShearing.Merit: JulieThompson (Wanganui) FM2106, ‘MangaitiStation’.

QSTENCIL(SponsoredbyPeterLyonShearing)Merit: PrudenceHeaney (Cromwell)Q2158 for the clip‘KawerauStation’.

Wool Research of New Zealand (WRONZ) and NZ Wool Classers Association ScholarshipsawardedfortheWoolTechnologyCourse.These scholarships havebeenmade availablebyWRONZwhoare contributing$5000annuallytoassiststudentstocompletethewoolcourse.Thefollowing studentswho started their course in2018wereawardedscholarships:MalcolmDillion,MarcLudlow,OliviaMcCorkindale,JennaMcLellanandEllaCaves.Studentsthatstartedtheircoursein2019:MecaelaLynch,IngridNeera,Christie Burn, Logan Kamura, Lucas Broughton Siemonel, AngelaArmstrong.

Congratulations:TheNZWCAisveryproudoftheperformancesoftwoofourmembers,PaganKarauria (M2120) representingNewZealand andTinaElers (A2129) representing theCookIslands,whocompetedattherecentAllNationsandWorldShearing and Woolhandling Championships held at Le Dorat, inFrance.

You can follow us on the web via: http://www.woolclassers.co.nz or www.facebook.com/NZWCA.

E W E N I Q U E S H E A R I N G PARTNERSHIPWe service a large Wairarapa client base and offer both permanent and seasonal positions for profes-sionally motivated shearers and woolhandlers. Full accommodation available.

Phone Rick MacLeod 06 377 1942Members NZ Shearing Contractors’ Association

Former Ohai shearing contractor Daryn Murray (Integrity Shearing) has got himself well entrenched with a new line of business. Smart move, you might say. And Smart Move he has become, proprietor of an aptly-named, Invercargill-based company producing tools and equipment especially designed to make moving heavy objects around so much simpler. We caught up with Daryn at the Mystery Creek Fieldays in June, demonstrating old ideas with his new innovations, such as the trolley above that lifts and locks awkward objects such as heavy drums and gas bottles, with others that have tipping mechanisms. All are designed with efficiency and health and safety to the forefront, Daryn says. Check out http://www.smartmoveproducts.co.nz/products/.

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The Welsh team at Le Dorat, from left: Elfed Jackson (blades), Gwenan Paewai (woolhandling), Richard Jones (machines), Rhydwyn Price (manager) Aled Jones (woolhandling), Rheinallt Hughes (blades) and Alun Lloyd Jones (machines).

Welsh wallop rest of the world By Tom HardingWalescouldhardlyhavehopedforabetterworldchamp-ionshipsinFrance,returninghomewiththetwo‘bigones’–theindividualshearingandwoolhandlingworldtitles.Richard Joneswon the individualmachine shearing,

makinghim thefirstWelshman to everwin the covetedtitle,whileAled Jones bought theDesCookMemorialTrophybacktothe‘LandofSong’forthethirdtimenow,afterAngharadLewis(1998)andBronwenTango(2010).ManyWelshsupporterswhowereinLeDoratfeltthere

wasapalpablesenseofpositivity,teamspiritandself-beliefaroundtheteam,ledbyhighlyrespectedmanagerRhydwynPrice; this positive atmospheremust have contributed totheirsuccess.Rhydwyn, Champion Shearer ofWales 2004, had

predictedmonthsbeforehandthatbothRichardandAledwerecapableofgettingintothetoptwoorthreeifthingswenttoplan.Afterthemachineshearingfinal,however,hisgutfeelingwasthatScotsmanCalumShawmighthaveit.‘TobehonestIthoughthe’ddoneenough,andthenhewas

announcedfourthsoItotallychangedmymind,Ithought,“thischangesthingsalot.”’RichardJonesisknownforthetrulyexceptionalquality

of his shearing; open shearerswho line up against himregularlyinfinalsatUnitedKingdom(UK)showsknowthatgettinghalf,oreventhree-quartersofasheepuponhimjustisn’tenough.Rhydwynbelievesjudgingisevolving,alteringtheblend

ofqualitytospeedneededtotriumph.‘Thejudginghaschanged,see.Wehavetobequitecareful

nowgoingforwardthatwedogetthejobrightbecausethedo-gooderbrigadeisonourbackbigtime,’hesaid.TheotherthingsaboutRichardthatmakehimachampion,

Rhydwynbelieves,arethatheissocontrolledunderpressureand absolutely meticulous in his preparation, leaving no stoneunturned–evendoinghishomeworkonthejudgesandfindingouthowhardtheyarejudgingouttheback.

Richard is fromCorwen inNorthWales,where the31year-oldfarmssheepandbeefwithwifeFfionandtheirtwodaughters.Healsoshearsaround18,000sheepintheUKseason.Headmitsthatitwasa‘bitofashock’initiallybeingannouncedworldchampion,andittookawhiletosinkin,althoughhewenttoFrancewithself-belief.‘Youhave tobelieveyoucando it,’hesays, ‘– ifyou

thoughtyouweregoingtheretocomesecondyou’dneverwin.But,toactuallydoitwassomethingelse.Youknow,IsaidtoRhydwynatThreeCountiesShow,‘Rhyd–meorAledcouldwinthis’...ifyou’regoingthereforsecondorthirdyou’llneverdoit,willyou.That’sthewayIlookatitanyway.’Woolhandlingworldchampion,Aled,hasdecidedtogo

outonahighandputhisbroomawayfortheforeseeablefuture,asthe26year-oldsheepandbeeffarmerfrommid-Wales isalsoprettyusefulwith thehandpiece. Askedifhe preferswool handling or shearing, ‘shearing!’ is theemphaticanswer.On9August,barelyamonthafterreturningfromFrance,

hewaspart of a four-standUKandYFC lamb shearingrecord,postingapersonal9-hourtallyof644.WithLloydRees,HughProtheroandGeorgeGilbert,thefourshearedatotalof2,654lambs,raisingmoneyforseveralcharitiesincludingWalesAirAmbulance.TeammanagerRhydwynthinksAled’sfitnessplayeda

bigpartinhissuccessinFrance.‘He’sworked on his fitness allwinter because of this

record–hejustjumpsaboutlikeaJack-in-the-Boxandhemakesthejoblookveryeasy.Andhe’sgotsuchalotofreachaswell,hereachesacrossthetable–hedoesn’thavetorunaroundit,sohedoeseverythingfromoneside,whichsaveshimsuchalotoftime.‘Andagain,likeRichard,’Rhydwynsays,‘Aledissocool

underpressure.Hewentintothatfinalasifhewasgoingtoworkeveryday.Nothingfazedhim,heknewhewasgoodenoughtodoitanditwasjustmindovermatter.’

Welsh world beaters: Richard Jones (left) and Aled Jones.

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Golden Shears World Shearing and Woolhandling Championships, Le Dorat, France, 4-7 July 2019

MachineshearingIndividualfinal (20sheep):Richard Jones (Wales)57.001;Rowland Smith (NewZealand) 57.950 2;CamFerguson(NewZealand)59.8003;IvanScott(Ireland)60.0004;CalumShaw(Scotland)60.9005;JackRobinson(NorthernIreland)63.6506.

Teams (20 sheep): Scotland (GavinMutch/CalumShaw)56.7001;Wales (AlunLloyd Jones/Richard Jones) 58.2502;NewZealand (CamFerguson/RowlandSmith)61.8003;England(AdamBerry/StuartConnor)62.5504;France(LoicLeygonie/ThimoleonResneau)69.005;NorthernIreland(JackRobinson/IvanScott)69.606.

Blade shearing Individual (six sheep):AllanOldfield (NewZealand)58.4501;MayensekeShweni(SouthAfrica)63.4002;BonileRabela(SouthAfrica)71.4333;TonyDobbs(NewZealand) 73.667 4; JohnathonDalla (Australia) 79.783 5;AndrewMudge(England)86.8006.

Teams(sixsheep):NewZealand(TonyDobbs/AllanOldfield)68.2331;SouthAfrica (BonileRabela/MayensekeShweni)73.4002;England (AndrewMudge/GeorgeMudge)88.2003;Australia(JohnathonDalla/KenFrench)93.5674;Ireland(PeterHeraty/MartinHopkins) 100.417 5; Scotland (MarkArmstrong/WilliamCraig)112.6336.

Woolhandling:Individual:Aled Jones (Wales) 121.00 1; RosieKennan(Scotland)130.602;PaganKarauria(NewZealand)141.303;ShereeAlabaster(NewZealand)149.704.

Teams:NewZealand(ShereeAlabaster/PaganKarauria)165.701;Scotland(RosieKeenan/AudreyLamb)187.302;France(LucieGrancher/AdeleLemercier)193.703.

All Nations events:Shearing:Open (20 sheep):Richard Jones (Wales) 62.951;RowlandSmith(NewZealand)63.902;GavinMutch(Scotland)66.853; JackFagan (NewZealand)67.554; IvanScott (Ireland)69.205;CamFerguson(NewZealand)71.056.

Senior(12sheep):AlexSmith(NewZealand)51.121;LlyrJones(Wales)52.952;MarleyWaihape(NewZealand)55.313;FelixCesbron(France)58.664;JoeBoylan(Ireland)64.805;JosephStephens(Ireland)67.5836.

Intermediate (6 sheep):ViktorLarsson (Sweden) 48.10 1;EmilyChamelin (UnitedStates) 49.66 2; JoanneDevaney(Ireland)49.883;Pierre-AlainDemierre(France)51.4874;SvenScheffler(Germany)54.505;MariePrebble(England)59.056.

Junior (5 sheep):LucieGrancher (France) 43.40 1;LucasWoznlezko(France)48.752;KevinBurke(Ireland)50.53;MelissaRoth(France)50.554;KarolinBunting(Germany)51.055;William-LouisClavel(France)6.

Blades (6 sheep):MayensekeShweni (SouthAfrica) 63.811; Bonile Rabela (SouthAfrica) 71.81 2;AllanOldfield(NewZealand) 74.803;MartinHopkins (Ireland) 92.114;LoicJauberthie(France)94.385;SamMcConnell(NorthernIreland)97.516.

Woolhandling:Open:PaganKarauria(NewZealand)162.41;AudreyLamb(Scotland)183.22;AledJones (Wales)187.03;TinaElers(CookIslands)244.24.

Above left: world champions at wool-handling, Pagan Karauria and Sheree Alabaster with team manager, Ken Payne. Above opposite: New Zealand’s team marching to an official reception: front rowers Rowland Smith, Sheree Alabaster and Cam Ferguson. Opposite: Arguably the surprise result at the world championships – New Zealanders Tony Dobbs and Alan Oldfield winning individual and teams blades titles. Others from left: Christophe Riffaud, Dobbs, George Graham, Greg Herrick, Oldfield, Payne, Mayenseke Schweni, Bonile Rabela, Izak Klopper (South Africa) and George Mudge (England).

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Rodney Macdonald, some years ago with the trappings of success at Raglan’s (now defunct) Western Shears. The trophy below is a bit more difficult to get your hands on, unless your name happens to be Tony Dobbs. But John Kennedy of Timaru won the coveted blades championship at Christchurch in 1977 and again in 2005 (titles a mere 28 years apart!), joining the likes of the Karaitiana brothers, Sno Roffey, Donny Hammond, Paul Rose, Peter Casserly and Peter Burnett among the other multiple winners.

Changed your address?Please remember to let us know so we can keep our distribution labels

up to date. Phone 0274 833 465Email [email protected] Private message on Facebook

(Shearing magazine)

We have experienced staff available for shearing crossbreeds & Merinos.

We pride ourselves in going the extra mile!

Operating 2 Hecton Tandem Crutching Trailers.

Servicing South Canterbury through to Otago. Inviting new and existing customers to give us a call.

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It was more than just New Zealand’s (and the world’s) rugby community that mourned the loss of Sir Brian Lochore, who died at his Wairarapa home on 3 August 2019 after a period of illness. ‘BJ’ as he was known to all and sundry, is pictured above at the launch of the Golden Shears 50th jubilee book at the Woolshed, Masterton, in March 2010. An iconic New Zealander and farmer, he competed as a lower grade shearer at the first Golden Shears in 1961 and maintained a strong interest in the event. RIP Great man.

Waimate ShearsThe52ndWaimateShearsthisyearisonFridayandSaturday11/12OctoberattheWaimateA&PShowgrounds.Always looking to the future,we

have recently completed the addition ofamedia room, sponsoredcourtesyofMakikihiFries,fromwhichwewillbe able to live stream our event to the world.Itwillalsomakeviewingeventsevenbetterwithadrop-downscreenthatwillshowclose-upsofcompetitorsandtheirskills.

We have expanded our programme this year to include twonewevents,women’smachineshearing,andnovicemachineshearing.Botharebecomingincreasinglypopulararoundthecountry.WewelcomeWaimateAccountantssponsoring thewoman’s event andWaimateShearingthenoviceevent.TheFather&SoneventwillagaintakeplaceSaturdayafternoonandshouldprovidesomelightentertainment.WewillagainwelcometheAustralian

Blade shearing team for the annualTrans-TasmanTestagainstourNationalteamofAllanOldfield(Geraldine)andTonyDobbs(Fairlie).We look forward to welcoming

Shearing Sports NZ Chairman, Sir DavidFagan,WarrenParker(ShearingSports North Island President) and MichaelHogan(ShearingSportsSouthIslandPresident) asweacknowledgetherecentachievementsofourNationalteaminFrance.

Phone Colin on 022 183 2200or 06 879 5553

Like to come shearing in the sunny Hawkes Bay?

We have jobs available from mid-May to end of September and mid-October through to March for seasonal staff.

If you’d like to move here to live we have permanent positions available for the right people. All you need is a good work ethic and your gear.

Accommodation available.

Sponsor, North Island Woolhandling Circuit

Shearing magazineBecome a subscriber!

Note: Two-year sub now $30.00 (up from $20.00)

See page 3 for details or just email [email protected]

It’s that easy!

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Work available in Central Hawkes Bay from mid-November to end January for reliable, experienced shearers and shedhands.

Member NZ Shearing Contractors Ass’n

Busy North Canterbury run Clean, reliable staff wantedMainshear November-AprilPre-lamb May-September

New client enquiries welcome

Phone Mike Morgan021 251 7742

Tribute to the cooks: Top left: Anne ‘Pappy’ Robinson (from August 1995 at Otematata Station); Joy and Arthur Broadwith at Tautane, March 1997; Hine Paewai, November 1993. Bottom left: Diane Kernan, November 1989; June Heatherington, August 2010 (obituary); Horiana Ropiha at Terawhiti, March 1994.

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WOOLHANDLERSSTARTING IN MAINSHEAR,

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NOVEMBER 2019ALL ENQUIRIES TO JOE OR WIKI

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(From Papers Past: Northern Advocate 5 January 1924)Inanup-countrywoolshednearWanganui,WilliamHigginsshore406sheepinaday.Thisperformance[inFebruary1923]madehimaworld’schampion.Theachievementcallsfornarration,andthelaurelsoffameforanathletictriumph.Itisusualforinternationalheroestomaketrialbycombat

inanarena,andinthepresenceofthousands.The athlete has hisOlympiad, the fightingman his

stadium,andtheoarsmanariverforhisregatta.Higginshadawoolshedforastage,andonlyhismatesforanaudienceInsteadofPressandcinematobearwitnesstohisability,

andtospreadhisreputationfarandwide,hisfameisinprintonlyonthewalloftheshed,andinstencilledletteringread–‘WHiggins,406’.HisrealpublicityagentsareshearinggangsofNewZealand.SeteyesonWilliamHigginsandseeafair-hairedsix-footeroffourteenstoneand29years.Heiscladinbluedenimsandsleevelessjersey.Hisbarearmsarefleshybutshowsuppleness.Hisfeetareinsackmoccasins.Bowyangs,beltandbraces(madeofstringandmotortubes)completehisraiment.Higgins, going for a tally, seems at ease.His gear is

ready, handpiece oiled, port-hole open.He chatswith amate,glancesintothepen,spotshisfirstsheep,peepsoutofthewindow.Withoutlookingheknowsthebossisabouttostrikethestartingbell.Heappearsdisinterestedbutisastenseasasprinter.‘Clang!’Heisinthepen–nonoise,nofuss.Hissheep

mustbekeptquiet.Hebacksthroughthepull-outdragginghisfirst.Aquickglancenoteshisnext–thatbareheadedewewhichheknowswillbeinthesameplacewhenwanted.Hecouldfinditblindfolded.Itmustbesoifsecondsaretobesaved,andbigfiguresmade.Hestartsontherightside,aquicktrimhereandthere,and

downgoesthemachineontheflank;woolthatisnotfreebreaksonhispowerfulforearmastheblowdrivesdownthesideoftheleg;thewoolpartsfromthetrackofthecomb,andpinkgleamingskinappears.Uptheright,downtheleftofthebrisket.Acrossthebelly

–across,across–hisfreehandthrowingasidethefallingwool.Hecurves,withlissomwrist,apliantblowaroundthecrutch.Drawingthesheeptohimheshearstheleftlegtothetail.Thentothehead,andoffcomestheforelock.Nowtheraggedendsonthebreast.Uptheneckhethrusts

underthewool,themachinecomingoutbehindtherightear;thelooponhisarmhebreakswithaquickbackwardpullleavinginsightbareneck.Thusheopenshissheep.Hefinishedtheneck,settingittohimbytwistingthehead.

Thecheeksaredone,andturning,alwaysquietlyturning,ahalf-shornshoulderisfinishedwithacoupleofdownwardstrokesbeforedroppingthesheeptocleanuptheribs.Now,withlongsweepingblowsfromtailtoneck,thefleecerollsoffinwavesofgold.ThenHiggins straightens and shears the last shoulder,

downthelastside,alongthelastleg,andtheewe,naked,strippedofherproperty,islookingoutoftheporthole.Shehasbeenoneminuteontheboard;apush,andoutshegoes.Thenextwilltakenolonger.Higginsbreaksdownwards

fromshouldertoleg–atouchinthecrutch–overthebelly–overthetail–asnickattheforelock–upthe‘boomerang’

withasmile–afewjabsontheshoulder–thelongblowsandthenontothefloor–andMadameBareheadjoinshermateinthecourt.Higginsisoffagainanddraggingthatsheepwiththefree

woolthroughthepull-out.‘Isn’theatradesman!’murmursthebossinadmiration.Tradesman!Athleteis thecorrectword.He’s racing.Everymuscle fromhead to toe is inconcentratedaction.Brainandeyeareworkinginunisonwithhandandarm.Bendingandswayingandbalancedheholdsafull-grown

sheepunderperfectcontrol,hisstrongrightswinginganddrivingwithperfectaccuracyandrhythm.Alongside is amate, a pacer, a ‘six-furlong horse’

stretchinghimtotheutmost.Thecompetitivespiritdrivesthem.Paceisthewholething–pacethatdependsuponstudy,training,accuracyandresolution.Eachblowisperfect;thereisnogoingback;everysecondmustbesaved.Longblows,shortblows,straightandcurved;theyareallgaugedtoanicetyandmadewithaprecisionthatnoboxer,nooarsman,nogolfercansurpass.Allthedaylong,forninesolidhours,Higginsmustgofor

it.Theshedislikeanoven.Sweatbreaksoutonhisbrow,tricklesdownhisface,anddropstothefloor.Howheaches!Hisbackisnearlybrokenwithbending;hislegsquiverwiththestrainofgripping;hisanklesaretortured;hisbrainringsfromthepunchingoftheengineandthewhirrofthepulleys.Atit.Anothersheep,alivinghundred-weight,isdragged

tothestand.Downwardhedrivesfromtheshoulder–atouchonthecrutch–overthebelly–asnickattheforelock–upthe‘boomerang’withasmile–afewjabsontheshoulder–thelongblowsandthentothe‘whipping’side–downwardblowstothefloor–andoutshegoesthroughtheport-hole.And then – another.Holding, pressing, turning, and the‘otherbloke’pushinghimallthetime–sothedaygoeson.406sheep,andewesatthat,isHigginstallyforaday.Overtwentytonsoflivingweighthedrags,throwsand

holds–afeatofpace,powerandendurancethatraisesittothehighestrankofphysicalprowess.(Top13)

Bill Higgins – a day in the life

Main photo: The legendary Bill Higgins on his way to shearing a world record 406 sheep in nine hours near Whanganui, February 1923. A good three kilograms of wool on that floor, would you say?

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(Fromp12)Higgins uses the broad comb.He has aningeniouscontrivance,apatentrackofhisowninvention,which starts and stops themachine.Theweight of hishandpieceontherackcutsoffthepower.Theactofraisingitthrowstheover-headgearintoaction

again.Thus,fromthemomenthegrabshishandpieceheisreadyforaction,asecondortwoissaved,andhislefthandneverleavesthesheep.WilliamHiggins’ record tallywasmadeatMrBradley’s

shedatMoumahaki, inFebruary1923,whenheshore406Romney-Lincolnewesrightoutofthepen,inninehours.Inthefirstrunoftwohours78sheepwereshorn.Inthenextfourrunsofoneandthree-quarterhourseachheshore80,82,85and81respectively.Inthefinalsprint,tensheepwerefinishedintenminutes,andHiggins,itissaid,‘finishedfreshasadaisy.’Twocombswerebrokenduringthefeat.The recordsofWilliamHigginscanbeverifiedbeyond

question,andentitlehimtorankastheshearerwiththegreatesttallytohiscredit,andthechampionpacerinthewoolshedsoftheworld.(Adapted)

Want to make money this mainshear?Thencomeworktheseasonwithus.Wehaveplentyofsheeptoputinfrontofyou,fromstartofDecember,tomid-March.JoinusforthefullseasonorcomeafterNewYear.*There’splentyofcampoutworkwith9-hourdaysandlotsoflambstoshear.Weworkoverawidearea,soweatherdoesn’toftenstopus.Attheendoftheseason,it’sallabouthowmanysheepyougottoshear.Whenyouworkwithus,theansweris‘plenty’.TheShearingContractors’Association recommended rate for 2ndshearcrossbredsthisseasonis$2.03AllUp.Wearepaying 6 cents over that: NZSCA Us$/ewe or lamb $1.65 $1.69 Plus Holiday Pay @ 8% $0.13 $0.14 Plus Gear Allowance $0.20 $0.20Plus Kiwisaver $0.05 $0.05ALL UP $2.03 $2.09

*We’vegotjobsforgoodwoolhandlersandpresserstoo:experiencedshedstaffarepaidbetween$21and$27,PLUS20mins/day for paid rest breaks, PLUS8% holiday pay and PLUS 3%Kiwisaver. PLUSwoolhandlersgetanextra$3/hourwhentheshedratiois2shearersto1woolhandler. *PLUSwepaySTATUTORYHOLIDAYS:thereareSIX stats over the mainshear period (Xmas, Boxing Day, 2atNewYears,AnniversaryDayandWaitangiDay).Soupto6daysyou’llgetpaidtohavethedayoff.Plentyofcontractorsarestillnotpayingstats,despiteitbeingthelaw.Comeworkwithusandbetreatedfairly.

*Lifewithusisfullycatered:weprovideyoursmokosandlunch,nothingforyoutodo.Ifyou’restayinginouraccommodation,thenyou’llgetbreakfastanddinneraswell.Youdon’tneedavehicle:wetakeyoutoworkinourvans.Andwepayinfull,eachweek,everyweek.

* We employ an experienced trainer at our cost, not yours.He’stheretohelpyoushearfasterandbetter,plusimproveyourgearprepskills.Thebesttrainingisday-after-day,notone-off.

*Wehavetwogoodaccommodationbases:justoutsideofTaihape andTaumarunui. Both townswith goodfacilities:Farmlandsstoresforgear,24-hourBPsand…Macca’s.Thereareseparatebedroomsforcouples.It costs $25/night to stay at the base, including your breakfastanddinner.So, just do it. Give us a ring to reserve your place.

Charlie Burton: 027 251 1111Ewen Mackintosh: 027 251 4444

Tom reckons that’s a box!That’sabox,Shearing mag!Thefirst100–arguablythemostsatisfyingtallyofall?200isgreat–you’reofficiallya‘shearer’,300evenbetter–you’rea‘realshearer’...400,500,600andyou’reaboveaverage,althougheventhesetalliesdon’traisetheeyebrowsthattheyusedto;you almost have to do a 700, 800 or even 900 on crossbred lambstogetreallytalkedaboutthesedays.Butwho,iftheyarehonestandcantrulyrememberhow

itfeltallthattimeagoasayoungster,canreallysaythatanythingmatchesthesatisfactionofseeingthosethreenumbers,1–0–0appearontheirtallycounter,orinthetallybookforthefirstevertime?Itgoeshand-in-handwiththatyouthfulstageofyourlifewhereeverythingisaheadofyouandanythingispossible–yes,anything,givenenoughtime,hardworkandmaybejustalittlebitofluck.

Well done Shearing!Gohard,keepworkingonthoseblows,your footworkand thatgear,andhere’s to thattwo-hundy!(Tom Harding)

John Hodder dancing with wools, Golden Shears 2019.

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Wehavevacancies forprofessionalshearers, shedhands and pressers to staffourAshburton-basedshearingrun.Weofferexcellentaccommodation,toppayratesandsteady,year-roundworkwithbusymain-shearandpre-lambruns.

Phone: Office 03 302 7541; Grant Smith 0272 413 010

By Des Williams‘Twas the afternoon tea break at theNewZealand championships, earlierthisyear.Hecaughtmyeyefromaboutthreemetresawayandasked,‘DoIgetarightofreply?’No further explanation necessary,

I knew immediately what he wason about. ‘He’ isMarcelThwaites,shearing judgefromFeilding,witha‘cultivation’ hanging from his chinthatanymanaspiringtogrowwhiskerswouldbeproudof.We’dpublishedaphotoofMarcelin

the August 2018 Shearingmagazineand described him in the caption as ‘SheepeewithaGoatee’.Yougenerallywritethesethingsinthehopethatnooffencewillbetakenwherenooffenceis intended.So, the reassurancewasimmediate–‘Sure,youhavearightofreply.’Andforthemoment,apromiseto‘catchup’latersealedthedeal.Timefliesandthewintermonthsare

rollingbybeforewegetthechancetochat.Marcel is aNorth Island-basedSouthlander, born and raised by his grandparents atWyndham.He hasKaiTahuandWaitahaiwiaffiliationsand theThwaites line goes back sixgenerationsinthesouth.‘TheEnglishsideof the family tracesback to theVikings,withabitofgypsy in thereaswell,justtomuddythewaters,’heexplains.Orshould thatbe toenrichtheblood!By the time Marcel was high

school age he’d started working inneighbouring shearing sheds during holidays,earningmoney.‘Mygrandfatherwantedmetowork

Marcel Thwaites – the right of reply

Marcel Thwaites – Chefee with a goateewithmyheadinsteadofmyhandssohewasn’t tookeenonmybecomingashearer.Itendedtoagreewithhimto some extent, and I entertained the thought of going to university andstudyinglaw.Buttherewerenostudentloansinthosedays(early-1980s)soIthought I’dwork in theshedsuntil Ihadsomemoneysavedup.’Marcel recalls a typical startwith

hisfirstcontractor,LloydWilkinson.‘First thebroom, then thepress, andeventually thehandpiece.Lloydwasoneof those slowhandguys, averyclean shearer and a shearing instructor aswell,soIwasgettingthebestadvice

and guidance right from the start.“Shear every sheep as clean as you can, don’tworry about tallies!” Itwasn’tlong before I’d become passionateabout shearing and any thoughts ofgoingtolawschoolfellbytheway.’From Southland,Marcelwent to

Central Otago to try his hand on the merinos.HeworkedforJohnStringerat Ranfurly and found himself incompanywith top class finewoolshearerswhowerewillingtopassontheir knowledge of those differentskills.HealsoworkedawhilewithPaulKahukuraatOmakau,andwithStanHirotiatWedderburn.BetweenOtagoandSouthlandMarcel

foundenoughworktokeepbusyanddidn’t have to think about travelling any further afield. He spent sometimeatBalfour,working forGordonKawau, and established a friendshipwith JoeClarke atRiversdale,whilerubbing shoulderswith the likes ofGeraldHoera,RobbieTaiandothers,aswellastheNorthIslandgunswhoused to comedown and support theRiversdaleShow.Marcelthenspentaboutfiveyearsat

Milton,duringthelate1990s,workingforRonDavis,beforeendingupbackin Southland, working for HaddieSmith atMataura from 2001-2003.Itwasduringhis timeinMiltonthathedevelopedaninterestinjudgingatcompetitions andgot to the stage ofdoingsomedummycardswithBruceWalker. Before that could be takenmuchfurtherhowever,Marceldecidedtotryachangeofoccupation.

He realised he had an interest in cookingalmostbyaccident.Helpingoutatabarbecue,he’dfoundtheblokebesidehimwasachef,whodidn’tcaretobe‘doingforfunwhathegotpaidto doduring theweek.’But itmadeMarcel realisehe toohadan interestinpreparingfood.‘So, I hung up the handpiece and

enrolled in a two-year course at theSouthland Institute ofTechnology. Iwasonlyabletomakethatchangewiththe considerablehelp and supportofmypartner,GeraldineTuripa,andthekids.ItmeantmygoingfromearningagoodwagetolivingonastudentloanwhileIwasdoingmytrainingsowewere definitely feeling the crunch atthattime.(Topage15)

There’s far too many of these on country roads between shearing shed and home. Make sure they don’t have to put your name on one of them.

DRUNKDRIVER

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‘Geraldine is from awell-knownEastCoast shearingfamilywithNick, her father, and John, her uncle.TheirfatherJockalsohadashearingrunatGisborne.’Suitablyqualified,MarcelfoundemploymentattheGore

RSA,whereheworkedforaboutayear.Thenforfamilyreasons came amove to theNorth Island and a chef’spositioninPalmerstonNorth.ThenwhenthejobatMurray’sIrishBarinFeildingcameupheappliedandhasbeenthereforabout11yearsnow.Itwasn’tlongbeforethatchangeoflocationbroughthimbackincontactwithshearing.‘Onenightbefore theManawatuShow[2010 maybe]

Alan Pretious brought all the out-of-town judges intoMurray’sforaneveningmeal.AlanandIgottalkingandIjusthappenedtomentionhowI’ddonethosedummycardswithBruceWalker,downsouthallthoseyearsearlier.Beforelong Alan had me out at a shed and despite the time lapse, wewere sooncomparingnotesandfindingouropinionsprettyclosetogether.Thatledtomyfirstofficialjudgingstint,attheLevinShow.It[Manawatu]isagreatareatobeinvolvedinthesport

–therearesomanygreatguystoworkwithbothhereandnextdoorintheWairarapa.I’vebeendoing12to14showsa year to gain as much experience as I can and I have been reallyprivilegedtojudgeattheNewZealandchampionshipsinTeKuitiforthepastthreeyears.‘IguesseveryonewantstojudgeatGoldenShearstooand

Ihopethatmighthappenformesometimeinthefuture,butforthemomentIjudgewhereverandwheneverIcanandjustenjoythewholeexperience.‘I’vebeenluckyinthatI’veonlyhadtwofull-timejobs

inmylifeandlovedbothwithapassion.Iwasshearingformorethan25yearsandI’vebeenachefnowfor15yearsandlikeshearingandjudging,preparinghighqualityfoodrequirespassionaplenty.It’snottheglamorousjobit’smadeout tobeon televisionbut thechallengeofstartingwithnothing,oranemptyplatesotospeak,andcreatingfoodthatpeoplecanenjoyisimmenselysatisfying.‘I’veheardcommentatorsatshowsdescribesomesheep

as being so cleanly shornyou could eat your dinner offthem.ButIthinkI’llleavethattosomeotherrestaurant,andsomeotherchef!’

This monster looks clean enough to eat your dinner off, if you don’t mind standing up to eat! (From Shearing, March 1994 – Clifford Hawk of Highland, Kansas sent us the photo of his ‘Moose’, 18 months old and 190.6 kg!)

Above and below: A sad end to the old shearing quarters at Ohai, Southland, most recently owned by Daryn Murray, formerly of Integrity Shearing. A ‘second home’ to many hundreds over the past decades. Destroyed by fire in ‘suspicious circumstances’ on 23 March 2019.

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Phillip Apirana Hawkins of Martinborough lost his life in a traffic accident on 16 January 2019, aged 39. Known far and wide as ‘Jox’ or PJ, Hawkins was a long-time employee of Masterton contractors, Shear Expertise. He leaves behind his fiancé Muriwai, children Karizma and Keanu, as well as brothers Kodi and Bou-dean and sister-in-law Melissa. He was pre-deceased by another daughter, Indiah.

PJ’s brother Kodi Hawkins contributes the following thoughts and words by way of tribute to his inspirational and sorely-missed older brother: Joxwasverywellknownandwaslovedbymanyforhis

workethics,charm,talent,leadership,humour,personalityandknowledge.Alongwithmakingadifference,hispassionforshearingandtheabilitytoturnalongboringdayintoanentertaining,funday.Introducinghispullcordtoallthewoolhandlersthatwere

workingonhimmakingthempullitonandoff.CallingoutCHANGE if theydidn’t, just for laughs.Giving learnersadvicetomakethembetterattheirjob,inamannerwhereitmadethemimprovetheirskillswhichbenefitedthemfortheirfutureintheindustry,betheyshearers,woolhandlersor pressers.Telling them, ‘Thebetter youget, the fasteryourworkethicsbecomenoticed.Resultinginanincreaseinwagesandtheconfidencetoventuretoothercontractors,hereinNewZealand,andabroad.Iwasonceoneof those learners, lettingmeknowmy

wrongs andmaking it right. Showingme timing andcoordination,shapingmeintothewoolhandlerIamtoday.Never givingup onme, knowing I hadwhat it takes tomakeittothetop.Determination,strengthandthehungerformoney.Notonlyour‘LilBro’andI,butsomanyothers.Usinghisshearingability,knowledgeandtalenttoteach,improveandinspirealotofshearers.Showingthemshearingtipssuchasfootwork,sheeppositioning,composureandhowtoprepareyourgear,withdetailedreasonswhy.Hewasgiftedwithanaturaltechniqueandshearingpattern

thatmadehisjobseemeffortless,fullcombingonmost,ifnoteveryblow.Oncedoingatopshedtallyof701inoneday,keepingaconsistentdailytallyaveragebetween300-350ewesand350-400lambs.Veryrarelywouldyouseehimstrugglingwithhissheep,

havingitpositionedproperlyandknowingnottoputpressureonit.Slowandsteadywinstherace,ashewouldtellourLilBro.Ifyouwerewillingtopayattention,watch,listenandlearn,hehadthetimeandpatiencetoshowyou‘theway’andlovedgivingtipsandadviceifyouaskedhim.Healsohad‘thegiftofthegab’whenitcametocontractors

andfarmers,withanabilitytomakeeventhegrumpiestoneslaugh.Itwasusuallythegrumpyonesthatlovedhimmoreforhisloudandfunnyhumourandhowhonestlystraightuphewas.Making sure the teamwashappyand lovingthejob.Whentheteamwashappy,thejobwasdoneinanentertainingandtimelymanner.Makingtheenvironmentinourworkplacepumptothe

extentwhereyoucouldn’twaitforthenextdaywhenyou’dbeworking inhis team.Sendinggoodvibes throughhisteamsandteammemberswithhismusic,singing,jokesandlaughter.So,withhavingareliableandhappyteambehindhim,theyallasateamaccomplishedhappyfarmers,which

led to a happy contractor. In return ‘doing themahi andgettingthetreats’wasrewardingattheendofthedayandweekforeverybodyinvolved.Joxwasalsoawhanauman,notonlytoourownbutalso

tohisextendedshearingwhanauandmates.Influencingandinspiring other people and shearing teams, making them all hiswhanau,too.Touchingtheheartsofallandbecominganidoltomany.Makingsureeveryonewasdoingwell,keepinghis eyeout for theoneswhoneeded closer attention forguidance.Hehadhiswaywithtroubledteenstoo,alwayslookingoutforthenextgeneration.Givingguidanceandadvicetoleadtheminabetterdirection,notonly‘theupandcoming’butallofus.Doingthisallbeforehisownneeds.Hisneedsweretomakeadifferenceandleadbyexample.

Hearingandwatchinghisguidance,adviceandtalentshinebrightlythroughusall.Knowingthatwhathe’dshownandtaughtuswillliveonforgenerationstocome.Letuscherishthegood,thefunandthememorabletimes

wehadwithhimandrememberhisname,Jox,andletusallkeephislegacylive.Restpeacefullybigbro,you’llalwaysbeinourhearts.

PJ Hawkins, passionate shearer and leader.

He maemae Aroha: PJ Hawkins

GRANT MURDOCH SHEARINGKurow (Member NZSCA)

Positionsavailableforreliable,experiencedfinewoolshearersandshedhandsforpre-lamb.Mid-JulytoendofOctober. Greatworking environment, accommodation available, toppayrates,mealsandtransportprovided.

For all enquiries call Grant on 0274 307 678 or office 03 4360436

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Don’t under-estimate an electrolyte

All year round steady work available stretching between Otago, Southland and Northland.

Opportunities to up skill, Elite Shearer Training Courses on our run as well as wool handling

courses.Top pay rates, good accommodation in town,

quality food Cooks positions available. Permanent staff/ locals

wanted to service our run

M: 027 630 9081Msg us on Facebook : www.dmshearing.co.nz

By Gabriela Schmidt-MorrellWewere lucky enough to have a reason to attend theShearingandWoolhandlingChampionshipinFrancethisyear:WehadourSwissTeamsortedagain,hopingforsome

improvement on our placings on last time’s attempt in Invercargill2017.Life and shearing in France is very different toNew

Zealand,thatwasprettyclearprettyquickly.On topof that itwas steaminghot, the area relatively

remote,andourFrenchlanguageskillsnotthegreatest.Itappearedtomethatwhoeveradaptedtheeasiest,was

flexibleandresilient,managedtostayfocusedthebestandconsequentlyprobablyperforminamoresatisfactoryway.Also:whohad theelectrolytes!TheSwiss team failed

dismally there.Our support grandma (mymother) got abit crook at the end, andonlyperkedup again after sheconsumedacoupleofbottlesofelectrolyte-enhancedfluids.Resilienceandfocusofcourse is theshearingindustry

worker’sstrength.Welearnandneedthiseverydayinourjob,wewouldnotlastwithoutit.Flexibilityandadaptabilitymaydependonwhetherornot

youhadpreviouslyexposedyourselftoshearingindifferentenvironments.Ibelievethatashearingindustryworkercantackleany

otherjobwithconfidencebecauseofthoseexactqualities:• Theycanfocusonataskforarelativelylongtime

andjustkeepongoing.• Difficultworkingconditionsdon’tputthemoffallthat

quickly.Theycanpushpastitandjustkeepongoing.• If the instructions change and they have towork

somewheredifferent, at adifferent timeorchangetheirworkingrhythm,theycanjustdothat.Theyareable to change their day plan in their head multiple times,smile,waveandcarryon.

Notthatwewantyoutotakeonanotherjob.Justpointingoutafewqualitiesofshearingindustryworkersbesidetheactualmanualskill.Beingawareofhavingthesequalitiesandusingthemto

youradvantagecouldbeagoodthing.Takethemintocompetinginanythingforexample,and

youshouldgowell.Use theminyourdaily lifeoutsidework:Theyshould

translateintoaprettysuccessfuljourney.Resilience,Focus,Flexibility,Adaptability.AndElectrolytes.TheSwissTeamstillhasaweewaytogotogettothetop,

butwewillgiveitanothergoinScotlandin2022.NosurethatwewillneedElectrolytesthere,neverknown

Scotlandtobethathot.Maybemorelikelyto takesomesprayforthosemidges…

Switzerland’s team at the 2019 world championships, from left: Simon Zaugg, Jael Hertach, Gabriela Schmidt-Morrell, Charis Morrell and Andy Meister.

It’s a safe bet these blokes aren’t discussing the merits of electrolytes – (the late) John Hart (left) and Errol Buchanan at a Contractors’ Association conference many years ago.

Shearing 18


The issue of contamination is not new – far from it. Our image above captures some more recent items found in bales. Our image below (from March 1993 issue of Shearing) shows New Zealand Wool Board officer Owen Petrie with a near-unbelievable collection of ‘hard-ware’. Boots, socks, shorts, shanghai ... as the saying goes.

In anopen letter to anyonewhohasaninterestinNewZealandwool,NewZealand Woolscouring Ltd has made apleaforeveryone to‘cleanupafteryourselves’ and to ‘leave the facilitybetter thanwhen you found it.’Theletter states:‘This seasonhas seen a significant

increaseintheamountofcontaminationfoundingreasywoolbales,intheNorthIslandinparticular.Thecontaminationcomesintheformofpressbars,plasticstock feedbags,wool packs used asdividers, items of clothing, plasticbottles, boots (including gum boots), carkeys,plastic twineand strapping,wooden pallets, drench guns, cellphones and even live ammunition, a jug,andtoiletbrush.’The list goes on. It even includes

equipment used on farm andwhatpeoplemaybewearingatthetimeofharvesting.To give this issue somecontext,belowis thenumberoffindsin each island over the last three years, (April-March):

Year NI SI2016/17 242 2522017/18 219 1752018/19 417 123

‘Itpleasing to see theSouth Islandhas been on the decrease and some credit should go to our members and the workNZWCAhasdonetopromotethisproblematourfielddaysoverthepastfewyears,’thelettersays.‘NorthIslandfindshaveincreasedby

analarming47%!Plasticfindsup300%and steel up100%,with theCentralNorth Island region identified as theworstarea.IntheSouthIsland,whilstcontamination remains a problem, it is not as significant as theNorth Islandthisseason.‘Thecoststotheprocessingindustryof

non-woolcontaminationaresignificant.25%oftheNewZealandwoolclipisexportedgreasy, for sure itwill alsobe contaminated to the same extent as whatwefindandthatcannotbegoodforthereputationofNewZealandwoolingeneral.’‘Itisevidentthatfromthevastarray

of items found it isnot just thewoolharvesterswho are responsible forensuring material does not accidently get into the fadge/bale.Growers and

otherswhousetheshedfacilitiesmustalsotakeresponsibilityforcleaningupafterthemselves.‘Itisimperativethatagoodthorough

clean-upofthewoolshedandfacilitiesprior to any shearing occurs. Thisincludes the removalofanything thatisnotnaileddown,aswellasfadgesofbitsofwoolthathaveaccumulatedsincethelastshearing/crutching.The provision of a suitably-sized

container for miscellaneous shedrubbishisanobrainer.Let’smake an effort and together

lower these frightening statistics bybeingdiligentintheworkplace:•Removeclothing/towelsoutofthe

woolroom,fromfadgesorwherethereislikelytobewoolstacked.Hangitonahook,orputitinyourbag.•Waterbottlesanddrinkcontainers.

As above away from thewoolflow,don’tjustdropthemanywhere.

• Secure personal items and other “stuff”inazippedpocket,orpreferablyin your bag.Youwon’t need themduringtherunanyway.• Use only paper as a division in

bales – if youhaven’t got anydon’tuse anythingelse, justmake sure thecontents are recorded accurately in the specifications.• If younotice a press bar/pins is

missing-find itbeforedoing thenextbale.Don’tjusthopeitwillturnupatsomestage.Removetheitemifpossibleorrepressthebaleifnecessary.

‘Just imagine ifyouhad topay forthedamagecausedtomachineryfurtherdowntheprocessingline!$5000apop–notsogoodifithastocomeoutofyourpocket.Beveryawareandobservantaround the press and its accessories at alltimes.Itistimetoadoptandtakealeafout

of theAllBlack teammantra,wherethe players and coaches clean up the changeroomfollowingeverypractiseandgame.

Sweeping the Shed, a tradition that says no individual is bigger than the team and its ancestors. Everyone isresponsible for the smallest details –including cleaning out the locker room aftertrainingoramatch.‘Sweepingtheshed’isyourjob,nomatterwhoyouare.

Damnation contamination

Shearing 19


Benefits include:• Support from experienced industry professionals• Save time by entering tally sheet data only once• Pay employees and produce payslips• Invoice clients and track payments against accounts• Produce PAYE, employee earnings reports and GST on receipts

reports• Integrates with MYOB IMS Payroll and Accounting applications

To discuss how we can help, call Liz on:Mobile 021 749 963 Phone 07 838 1961Email [email protected]

MAHONY SHEARINGNAPIER

TEL 06 835 9571 or 021 423 886 (Brendan)

Email: [email protected]

Permanent positions for quality shearers and shedhands

Member of the NZ Shearing Contractors’ Association

The story of one hundred magsBy Des WilliamsThefirsteditionofThe New Zealand Shearer appeared ‘on the streets’, inthe sheds and contractors’ quartersprior toChristmasof1984.Thatfirstglossy-coveredpublicationwasrathermoregrandiosethanwhatNewZealandShearing Contractors’ Association GraemeBell president had inmindwhen he suggested toAssociationmemberstheyneededanewsletter.AsGraeme recalls, theAssociation

washoldingameeting inWellington(mid-1984maybe)wheremuch ofthe business discussed needed to be dispersed wider afield to othercontractorsandtheirstaff.‘I remember saying to some of

themembers thatwe needed to dosomething, “even if it is just abend-overA4sheetthatwecansendouttopeople’sletterboxes.”Twomembersinparticular that I remember completely endorsing the idea were HawkesBay contractors, Bill Jones and Peter Wakefield. ‘It’sagreat idea, let’s justdo it.’ [So that’swhereNikegot thatideafrom!]‘Petermentionedthathisnephew,Iain

Morrisonwasa formerNewZealandWool Board publications manager and, throughhis companyFreelancePublicationsLtd,was still publishingmaterial for theBoard.That soundedlikeagoodplaceforustostartsowe

metwithIaininWellingtonandbegandevelopingtheideafurther.Hetoowasmostenthusiasticrightfromthestart.’Graeme recorded themoment in

that first edition: ‘MyAssociationapproached Freelance Publicationswiththeideaofpublishinganewsletterandwearedelighted that theprojecthasgrown tobecomea fully-fledgedmagazine.ItwillhelpthisAssociationgrowinstatureanditwillprovideanimportant communications outlet to our membersontopicsofnationalinteresttothewoolindustry.’‘Wewereveryproud indeedwhen

we saw that first edition in print,’Graeme recalled recently. ‘It wasway beyondwhatwe had inmindto startwith, but it set the standardfrom the start as the official journalof theContractors’Association,aidedadvertisingsponsorshipfromindividualmembersaswellastheNewZealandWoolbrokers’Association.’The initial ‘Editorial’ gave some

furtherexplanationof thesetup:‘Theprincipals behind themagazine areformerWool Board journalist IainMorrison,whose companyFreelancePublications Ltd is publisher. Heis supported by long-time shearingindustrywritersHugh deLacy (theSouth Island editor) and Doug Laing (NorthIslandeditor).’Morrisonhadspent fouryearswith

theWoolBoard (1979-1983)prior tohisinvolvementwiththemagazine.Asa shearer, Hugh de Lacy had previously worked forContractors’AssociationfounderElbertdeKoning,whileLaing,as son of long-timeGolden Shearspublicity man Les Laing, also had the smellof lanoline running throughhisveins.Thefirsteighteditionsof‘TheNew

ZealandShearer’asitwasthenknowncarried the secondary title of ‘TheNZ Shearing Contractors’ officialmagazine’.Theyappearedat the rateoftwoperyearasSpring/Summerand

Shearing 20


Te Anau Shearing Ltd

We have jobs available June - August and Dec - April for

people who are reliable, have good work ethics and positive

attitudes.

Meals, accommodation and travel provided

Phone Andrew on 027 434 8108 or 03 249 7035

Autumn/Winter publications.DavidFaganappearedonthecoverofthefirstand seventh editions,while StephenDodds,JillianBurney(asshewasthenknown),RogerCox,PatrickShelford,MavisMullinsandBillMorrisonalsofeatured.Spring/Summerof 1988 featured a

‘robot shearer’ andanaccompanyingstory fromAustralianwriter JillianCockerthatrobotsmightbecommon-place in shearing sheds by 1992.Actually, they were being called‘automated mechanical shearing’devicesratherthanrobots.Toitscredit,themagazineeditor/swarnedthosewhowerewaiting for robots to takeoverthe shearingboard: ‘Don’tholdyourbreath.’Wehesitatetoguesshowmanymillionsofresearchdollarshavegoneinto that idea in all the years since but they still don’t look like taking over the shearingboardanytimesoon.InMay1989themagazineappeared

underanewmasthead–Shearing–Themagazineforallintheshearingworld.FormerNZWoolBoardmediamanDavidGrace ofWellington took themagazine intoprivateownership andsaid itwouldbepublished inAugust,NovemberandMarch,eachyear.‘This issuewill give you an idea

ofhowwemeantogo,’DavidGracewroteinthatfirsteditorial.‘Thereareusefularticlesontrimmingyourtaxesand shearingmerinos.There’splentyabout thecompetitionsandaheapofresults.Wehave reports fromBritainandAustralia and something on lifeinChile. Profiles, recipes, plenty ofphotos,afewlaughs.’DavidGracealsospokeof‘bringing

averyspecialbrandofpeopletogether… reporting on gear and technique,speakingupforwhatseemsbest…’.

Above: cover of the May 1989 edition, the first of 35 produced by Grace Editorial Ltd over 11 years. Below: magazine owner David Grace, pictured at Golden Shears 1990 with his wife Lorraine (centre) and the magazine’s long-time freelance writer/contributor Margaret Way (left).

All year round work available for experienced and reliable shearers

and shedhands who can ensure we provide a quality service

to our clients.

We offer good quality accommodation, meals and vehicles

to travel to work.

ACC tertiary accreditation & member NZ Shearing Contractors’ Association.

Enquiries to Pip on03 693 8087 or 027 432 6932

Forde Shearing LtdSouthland

Staff required for new season.

For all enquiries please

phone Darin or Julie

0272 297 760 or 03 235 8853

Youmight say that aspiration setthemagazine blueprint for the next30 years.The back cover featured afull-pageadvertisement for apopularbrandofdraughtbeer!Thesamebrandthatwassponsoringournationalmulti-breedscircuitatthetime.(Thenalongcame PC bullshit …)For the next nine years Shearing

magazineappearedthreetimesayearaspromised,coveringamyriadoftopicsaboutourindustry,unions,awards,rulesand regulations, competition results, the threatofwoolworm, record attempts,employment contracts, laser handpieces (uptherewithshearingrobots),worldchampionships, ACC changes, Chinese gear, quickshears (in 1993, the newphenomenon!).TheAugust 1993 editionmarked

anothermilestone–ourfirstpublishedpoem!ByAustralianKimWakely(orWakeley?), entitled ‘Adusty,muddytasteofOz’.Secondverse:‘I’m sick of this here shearing shed. It’s 20 years or more/Since anything was done to it. Just look at this rough floor./I’m sick and tired of quarters that have got no bath, you see./I’m sick of pork and puha meals and black and white TV.’

Last line apart, it could have been written yesterday (in some parts ofAustralasia,anyway).Onwards, and upwards, the range

of subjects discussed in Shearinggrewwider:improvingmentalfitness,pesticidesinwool,obituariesbegantofeaturemoreoften, readinga sheep’smind (sheep have a long memory for anything they don’t like,DrGDHutsonoftheUniversityofMelbournehad discovered in a study); splinedrives replacing pin drives, grinding techniques, lock-ups, high costs ofcompo, survivingdroughts, dreadfulsheds,woolsalesontheNet…(top21)

Shearing 21


ThetimeofDavidGraceatthehelmof themagazine came to an end inAugust2000.For the last threeyears(ten editions) Des Williams (present owner)hadbeen‘actingeditor’whileassistingDavidthroughaperiodofill-health.Themagazinewas then takenover byHawkesBay journalist JohnHart,tradingasMediaEastLtd.John’stenurewould lastabout twoyears,orsixeditions.

StartingwithNovember2000,JohnHart had given the mag a slightly different look and ‘flavour’, withsome reliance on overseas freelancecontributors.Major stories includedGrantSmith’sfirstwinatAlexandra,theNewZealandteamreturningvictoriousfromArmidalewiththeWalker-KeatsCup.Andanicepoem–Siberia–byMatMowatofRaetihi.‘Insidetheeight-standshed/Nodoubtashowpieceinitsday/Doors,broomsanddroppersswing/Amidstthedustandheatandfumes…’Unfortunatelytherelianceonoverseas

contributorsmeantpeopleweresubjectto reading aboutDarin Ford/DarinForde/DarrinFordeandDarronFord,all in thesamestory,aswellas ‘RonDavies’ ShearingContractor,whenthose iconic industry people deserved at leasttohavetheirnamesspeltcorrectly.Attheotherendofthespectrum,we

werebeingintroducedtothisthingcalledtheinternet,andwebsites.Improveyourhandpiecetechniqueandotherindustryskillsbyloggingontowww.woolpro.co.nzandAustralianalternatives.Checkoutgearmanufacturers forgood ‘on-line’adviceabouttherangeofcombsavailable,andwhateachoffers inthewayofdifference.Spendalldayintheshed chasing sheep and then go home

and spend several more hours on your computer.Really?Yep,really.The November 2001 magazine

includeda storyby thiswriter, aboutHiltonBarrettwinning theAustraliannationaltitleatGlenInnes,resplendentinpurplewig.UnfortunatelythelackofcolourinthemagazinebackthenmeantthehirsuitHiltonwasinmonochromeonly,soweslipthecolouredimageinhere, just for thememory.Whilefiveother Australian open class shearers werewonderingwhatthehelltheNewSouthWelshmanwasupto,BarrettwasspeedinghiswaytovictorybysixpointsoverMattPhillipson andninepointsaheadofShannonWarnest.

PerhapsthestarswereinalignmentforthelastmagazineproducedbytheNapier-basedMediaEastLtd,foritwasNapier-based JohnKirkpatrickwhowontheGoldenShearsinMarch2002andearnedhisplaceonthecover.Sharing the glorywereRayleneK

and their children, Daniel (then 13), Angela (10) and six-year-oldMary.ThecoverstoryrevealedhowJohnnyhad harboured two ambitions sincehis teenage years –win theGoldenShears and become a policeman.Three furtherGoldies crowns and aworldchampionshipin2017mayhavecontributed to that second ambition fallingbythewayside…

And so Last Side Publishing Ltd became the fourth ‘owner’ of themagazine justbefore theAugust2002editionwasdueforproduction.Ahurriedgather-upmadeitjustontime,albeitwithsomeproductionflaws,butsetthetrailforthenext50magazines.DionMorrell,havingwon theNewZealandMerinoShearstitleforthethirdtime,featuredonthecoverofnumber50.(top22)

Hilton Barratt – purple people beater

David Grace Looks BackIt’s20yearssinceDavidGracewrotehis last editorial forShearing. Hereflects: ‘Afterworking for theNewZealandWool Board for 25 years,ShearingMag landed inmy lap, Isuppose. I ran themagazine from asmallhomeofficeatMakarafrom1985throughuntil1998,withDesWilliamspicking up the editorial responsibilities forthelasttwoyears.’

David’ssonMikesaysDavid(whoturns91thisyear)hashadalifeinwool.‘DadworkedinpublicrelationsfortheWoolBoardfrom1960,includingtimeat the International Wool Secretariat in London.Hewaspassionateaboutwoolas a great product, pushing the slogans oftheera,‘Wool is best for babies and wool is resilient’.‘Dad was there during the hard

yearswhenwool came under threatfrom synthetic fibre and theWoolBoard unsuccessfully sought toamalgamatewoolgrowersintoasinglemarketing organisation.Dad alwayssoughttoimproveindustryprofileandconditionsthroughallsortsofcreativepromotions;fashionshows,woolshedsafetyandExpo70whichsawsheep,sheepdogsandshearersshowingthemhowit’sdoneoverinJapan.’‘Ifoundthewholeshearingfraternity

an interesting lot, not an ordinary bunch;allindividualcharacters,’saysDavid,who now lives atBobScottRetirementVillageinPetone.‘I felt I did a bit of goodwith the

ShearingMaginencouragingshearersandwoolhandlers toorganise togetbetterratesandconditions.Thesemenandwomen have given somuch toour country and they deserve greater recognitionfortheirtalent.Thatsaid,Iusedtohaveabitofajobgettingthewoolhandlerstolookatthecamera!’

A recent photo of David Grace with his grand-daughter, Matia Grace.

Shearing 22


ofwinning theGoldenShears openchampionshipifyoursurnamestartedwithF,B,KorAbecausemore thanhalfofthe294‘stands’occupiedinthe49finalstothattimehadshearerswhosesurnamesbeganwiththoseletters.(Pubquiztrivia,ifeveryousawit!)Howdowedecidewhattoputonthe

cover?There’ssomethingofarulethatsaysyoushouldalwaysputyourbestphotoorimageonthecover.Generallyspeaking,that’snotabadidea.Wenoteelsewhereinthisedition(seephotopage23)howBarryTaylorposedthequestionatthe1998NewZealandMerinoShearsas towhathehad todo.Andhavingbeentold,hewentanddidit.Theonlyotherpersontoaskasimilarquestionduringmy20plusyearsaseditorwasa precocious teenagedwoolhandlerat Balcutha, perhaps 12 or 13 years ago.JoelHenare’sinstructionswereto‘win something important!’Well,wekepthimwaitingthroughfourGoldenShears,threeNewZealandopensanda world championship before Joelfeatured inApril 2017after claiminghissecondworldcrownatInvercargill.Weregardthepeoplewhoworkinthe

sheds on a daily basis as the backbone ofourindustryandforthatreasonwetryandfeaturegangphotosonthecoverasoftenaswecan.Thechallengeforphotographersoutthereis,however,togetagoodphotowhereeveryoneinthegroupislooking‘good’andwitheyesopenand–mostimportant–thephotoistakeninanevenlightwithoutshadeorshadow.Notalwayseasy!Onthattheme,itwouldberemissof

menottoacknowledgeandthanktheconsiderable number of ‘freelancers’who have contributed top qualitymaterialtofillthemagazinepagesover

manyyears.MargaretWay,Waikato Timesjournalistinthelate1980swhodecidedtojoinashearinggang‘forawhile’togetatasteoftherealworld.Marriedashearer(EdselForde)andhaswrittenmanythousandsofwordsaboutour industry and the people in it in the past30years.(Seeherlatestofferingatpage36/37ofthisedition.)Thenthere’sBernieWalker,aregular

contributor from across theTasman,with stories of historical interest hisparticularforte,aswellasentertainingprofilesofAustralian champions and‘Hall-of-Famers’.

Roger Leslie became a regular contributor of stories about hisexperiences shearing in GermanyandTomHardinggivesus thoughtfulpieces fromWales andotherpartsofthe northern hemisphere.Keep themcoming,Tom!JillsAngusBurney,BarbaraNewton,

Doug Laing, Richard Sampey, cartoonist NevilleSinclair.I’msuretohavemissedsomeone out – inevitablewhen youembarkonathank-youlist.ButaspecialthankstoRossMcMillan

ofNaseby, thepoet‘BlueJeans’whomade his poems and ballads available to themagazine for publishing oversomany years.We have included atypically evocative Blue Jeans poem at page27ofthisedition.And so,where to fromhere?Else-

whereintheworld,newspapersprintedon‘newsprint’paperareever-shrinking,size-wise,inthefaceofon-lineordigitalproductions.Itmaybe,withourindustrystill comprising a transient population, that thehardcopyproductionwillbesuitable for a fewyearsyet.While adigital edition is always readable oncomputer, laptopor ipad,wouldyoubebotheredtryingtoread40pagesonyourmobilephone?Andwouldimagesofthatsizedojusticetoagangphotowith12-15ormorefacesinit?Maybethatwillbesomeoneelse’sproblemtoponder …Atpresent themagazine is printed

in Ashburton and shipped to Hamilton fordistributiontomorethan400ruraloutlets (contractors, pubs, merchandise stores) and to subscribers in many countriesaroundtheworld.Sohereweare,Number100.Some-

thingold, somethingnew, somethingfictional, something true… to lightlyparaphrase that old rhymeof adviceforwhat thebrideshouldwearatherwedding.Andhopefully,somethingofparticularinterestforyou!

ADRIAN COX SHEARING LTD

has vacancies for experienced shearers and

shedhands for stayout work on his fine wool run based

in South Canterbury.Excellent working

conditions.

Give Adrian a call today!

Tel 03 614 7811

Notquitesomuchbecausehe’dwonthatprestigioustitleagain,butforthefactthathehadnotyetbeenrecognisedasaMasterShearer.Thatomissionwasput torightsbyShearingSportsNewZealandin2003.

Thenextmilestonewas the switchfrom newsprint paper, spot colourandjustfourcolourpages,toabetterquality ‘shiny’ paper and full colourthroughout.Thiscameintwostages–November2004(above)forthebetterpaper and some colour, followedbycolourthroughoutinAugust2006.Oneprominentshearerthenremarkedhowthe‘shinypaper’meantthemagwasnolongersuitableforuseinthetoilet!Buthisopinionwascounteredbyanotherreaderwho(attheRaglanspeedshear)related to the editor how his fatherregardedShearingmagashis‘Bible’,andthatitwasnottoberemovedfromthe toilet under any circumstances, so it wouldalwaysbeavailableforreading!Wehadalittle‘celebration’withthe

November2009magazinetomarkthe25th anniversaryof its inception.Wenotedthenthatanothermagazinehadbeen launched about the same time as ourmag– thiswas a publicationnamed Cueandwasintendedasarivalto thewell-establishedListener. Cue lastedabout17weeksbeforefolding,soweclaimthebraggingrightsonthatscore.Andwhilewewere proud ofour 25 years, that edition also carried astoryaboutLister, then‘celebratingits centenary this year as it strides into its 100th year of designing andmanufacturingitsworldwiderenownedshearingequipment.’On a less serious note, we also

calculated that you had more chance

Shearing 23


ROTORUA

TO OUR CLIENTS WE OFFER

TO OUR EMPLOYEES WE OFFER

Jeff ‐ 027 4920758 Office ‐ 021 414914 [email protected]

We support all that is best in shearing

Drug Free Gangs H&S Policy systems in place Proven shearing & woolhandling services

A true drug free environment (Mandatory tes�ng by NZTDDA)

Above NZSCA recommended rates Accommoda�on, food, transport,

emeries ‐ all provided at no expense

Ireland’s shearing team member at the 2017 world championships at Invercargill, Stanley Allingham has set a new Ireland lamb shearing record at Millton, Co. Cavan. His nine-hour tally of 708 on 4 August 2019 bettered the old record of 669 set by Mark McGeown two years ago. Stanley’s runs produced 162 (Mark’s tally 151), 137 (128), 135 (129), 137 (132) and 137 (129). Stanley (above right) shares the moment with the previous record-holder.

Ray Te Whata Owner 027 948 4512Vanessa Te Whata Manager 027 435 1595 | 03 248 6122

Mossburn, Southland

We also have a 10-stand portable crutching trailer available

0917

r214

9-12

-b

Vacancies available for clean reliable shearers and shedhands from January through to end of March.We have a great working environment with meals, accommodation and transport provided.

‘What do you have to do to get on the cover of Shearing magazine?’ the 1992 New Zealand Fine Wool champion asked. ‘Winning the Alexandra Show again would be a good start,’ the editor replied. (Barry Taylor, November 1998.)

Shearing 24


Employment opportunities for wool technology graduates

DAVIS SHEARING CONTRACTING

CoveringOtago,SouthlandandfurtherafieldfromourbasesatGore,MiltonandBalclutha

Shearersandshedhands-weprovideexcellentaccommodation and living conditions, clean

sheep,greatsheds,steadywork.

Wefocusonprovidingtopqualityshearingandwoolpreparationserviceforourmanyclientsinacompetitivebutrelaxedworkingatmosphere

Farmers-wehavethecrewtomeetyourneeds-whenyouwantit,howyouwantit.

Ring Jason - tel 03 418 0824. E-mail [email protected]

Ifyouarelookingtobuildacareerinwool brokering, scouring, exporting,growing, shearing, classing, woolhandling or working for a privatewoolmerchant,theCertificateinWoolTechnologyofferedviadistancelearn-ing through theSouthern InstituteofTechnology’s SIT2LRNprogrammeisworthlookinginto.Alevel4certificatedividedintofour

15creditcoursesandanon-sitepracti-cal block course, it can be studied over twoyearsandpredominantlyfromthecomfortofyourownlivingroom.Thefourcoursesinclude:• Wool Value Chain,•WoolClassification,•WorkingintheWoolIndustry;and•ComputingandCommunications.Studentslearnawiderangeofimpor-

tantaspectsrelatedtothewoolindustryincluding;wool production, gradingandclassing,woolterminology,breedrecognition,staffsupervision,profes-sional ethical standards, health and safety, andworkingwith people ofothercultures.They are also expected to attend

a practical block course over the two-yeardurationoftheprogramme.Thesewillbeheldin2020atvenuesinbothChristchurch(forSouthIslandstudents)andNapier(forNorthIslandstudents).The practical block portion of the

programme is run over one weekandispartoftheWoolClassificationcourse.Topics covered includewoolterminology,breedrecognition,fleeceand oddment sample exercises, along with grading and classing exercisesandindustryvisits.Studentswillalsohave the opportunity to listen to guest speakersfromtheindustryandinteractwiththeirfellowstudentsandtutors.Atthecompletionoftheweek,there

willbeanassessmentofknowledge/skills learned throughout the practical blockcourse.

Designed to enable students to gain a joborprogresswithinthewoolindus-try,theCertificateinWoolTechnologyprovidesthemwiththeknowledgeandpracticalskillsrequiredtoworkwithinthewool industry inNewZealand.It also teaches them about the sheep farmingsystemsthatproducewoolandhelpsincreasetheirconfidence.Oncestudentssuccessfullycomplete

the programme, they can apply to the NewZealandWoolClassers’Associa-tion for registrationof aProvisionalStencilwith the intentionofmovingontotheirProfessionalStencil.Formore information about this

programme or to discuss your training requirements, please contact SeniorTutor inWoolTechnology, [email protected](Freephone)orvisit:www.sit.ac.nz.

Laurie Boniface, Senior tutor in Wool Technology

Shearing magazineHelp us keep New Zealand Post in business – become a

subscriber!

See page 3 for details or just email your address to

[email protected]

It’s that easy!

Shearing 25


0 + 0 = 0

Shearing 26


MICHELLE SHEARING LTD

Milton, Otago

• Reliable and motivated Mainshear staff required• Lakefront accommodation available• Work with professional and approachable teams• Zero drug policy

Contact: Tony on 03 417 8312 or 0274 350 387

Work available in the Gisborne region for quality shearers and

shedhands

All enquiries welcome

Phone Beau on 027 842 4172

Participants in a blade shearing course held on the Heraty Farm at Owenwee, County Mayo on 22 June 2019. Back left: Ross Mooney, Peter O’Malley, Gavin Hopkins, John Grady, Michael Walsh, Barry Gaffney and Phil Oldfield. Front left: Thomas Oldfield, Lee Mooney, Martin Hopkins, Peter Heraty, Thomas O’Malley, Brian Grealis and James Hopkins. Heraty and Martin Hopkins represented Ireland at the recent world championships.

Smedley Station mainshear, January 2019, Justin Ward Contractor. Standing from left: Te Raumarama Nepe-Apatu Borell, Candace Elers, Shania Hema, Dillon Teneti, Madison Bright, Kirk Karaitiana, Mike Story, George Morris, Stu Davies, Cam Beachen, Ashleigh Ramage, Matty Taylor, Chrystall Lork-Paewai, Te Rama Paewai, Trish Moke-Ludlow, Scott Robinson, Reegan Tarrant, Gem Swaby, Te Awhi Ataahua Howden, Cherish Hamblyn. Sitting, from left:Duane Belshaw, Levi Titirau Paki-Borell, George Renata, Whati Hill, Warwick McClutchie. (Smedley Station photo.)

Shearing 27


GRANT MOORE SHEARINGWinton, Southland

• Grant Moore Shearing is looking for keen reliable staff for the busy main shear season, December through to end of March. We are paying on and above the recommended new pay rates to our staff and also entitlements. Meals are provided and we have some accommodation available.

• We have recently taken over Integrity Shearing in Ohai and will have continuity of work through most of the year.

• We have also taken on a full-time Manager Chas Tohiariki with 15 years experience in the Training sector and many more as a shearer. We see this as a win win for our clients and our staff and will be able to offer training and support on daily basis.

• We will strive to offer the best service for our clients and a safe, positive, happy, work environment for all our staff.

Any questions or queries, message or phone us Grant +64 273 450 963 or Chas +64 277 474 471

ExperiencedstaffrequiredforourbusyKingCountryandWaikato-basedMainshear,November-February.Excellentconditions,mealsandtransportprovided.

Phone Troy Simmons, 021 175 9162 or 07 873 8624email: [email protected]

IN THE LONG AGOAwayoutwestwherepeaksarehighandthekeawingsatwillWherethetracksofsheepandbillygoatsaresidledroundthehillIhadamateinthelongago–whenmateslikehewerefewOnewhowouldlendahandtoafriend–andhe’dstickthroughtheworstlikeglue.

WecameonedaybytheHead-LongRidgetothetopoftheBreak-Neckspur(Wherethegoingwasroughandthebluffsrosesharp,andanxioustimesoccur)ThereIslipped,thensliddownthefrozensnowtillarockledgemademestopAndhelplesslaywithabrokenlegattheedgeofafataldrop.

ButhecutoutstepsinthesnowandiceattheriskofhisverylifeDowntheicefaceofthefrozenslopewiththebladeofhisskinningknifeAnddraggedmebackwhenitseemedasiftherewasonlythemerestnodBetweenlifeanddeath–buthebattledthrough–thoughnooneknewhowbutGod.

Thosewerethedaysoflongago,ofafriendwhowasrealandstraightWhenallmenwerepleasedtoshakehishandandproudtocallhimmateInlateryearshetooktodrink–‘twasafterhelosthiswife–Andalcoholputhimdownandoutthroughtheyearsofawastedlife.

Hediedlastnightinaroadwaysmashandtherewasn’ttheslightestdoubtHewenttosleepatthedrivingwheelafteradrinkingboutNowfolkcanrememberhimastheylike–andstatewhattheywishtostateTheydidn’tknowJackinthelongago,whenamatestayedbyamate.

They’llrememberhimdrunkanddown–buteveryonefollowsastarThoughitonlyshinesfromanemptyglasseachnightinapublicbarAsilenttoastandalonelydrinkasmymemoriesbackwardbendTonightIonlyseeamanwhostoodbythesideofahelplessfriend.

© Blue Jeans

In the days before spell-checkers ... No problems with this one ... Not too sure about this one ...

Blue Jeans – champion wordsmith

Shearing 28


Phone: 027 862 3424

We’re looking for friendly & reliable people who like to take

pride in their work.

Our busiest times are main shear (late Nov to early Feb) and second shear (late April to early July), but we love to hear from

keen people at any time.

We have positions for shearers, woolhandlers and woolpressers.

Top pay rates, transport and food supplied. Accommodation

available.Call or text to book in and

“Get Shearin’ with Kieran!”

Another blast from the past. We published this photo (minus the colour) in November 1997, a Pat Hodges gang at Rata Hills, ‘up the Rangitata.’ Back left: Peter Sanders (classer), Steve Chamberlain, Brian Le Lievre, Sarah Esler. Front left: Isobel Knipe, Tracy Rathgen, Richard Griffiths, Pat Hodges, Peter Nelson, Alistair Patterson. Photo by Richard Towers of Geraldine. Sorry, we missed naming the young fellow in front, in the original photo. You still out there bro?

Flashback to March 1999 when Gary Woolston was being aided on the board by one-year-old Holly Tarrant. (With a surname like that we are reason-ably confident Holly knew what she was doing!) Fast forward to 2019 and 21-year-old Holly is these days work-ing as a trainee woolbroker for Curtis Wool Direct (NZ) Ltd at Napier. Holly is the daughter of Linda Tarrant, who recently represented New Zealand as a woolhandling judge at the world championships

In August 1991 Dean Martin of Manga-kino was espousing the merits of drinking plenty of water during the day. ‘If you feel thirsty you are probably already 2% dehydrated and it is going to take you a long time to catch up again’ was the advice being offered back then. Still true. Just look at the amount of ‘hydration’ our All Blacks get through in 80 minutes!

Shearing 29


• Positionsavailableforshearersandshedhandswithgoodworkethics• Excellent accommodation, meals and transport provided• Freewi-fi• Opportunitytoupskillwithin-shedtraining• All stats and entitlements paidwhereapplicable

Phone: Tomo on 0274 943 200

Obituary: Phill HouriganIt’s fair to say the recent death ofWhanganui shearingcontractor PhillHourigan caught just about everyone bysurprise. Phill died inWhanganuiHospital following abrainbleedon25July2019,justacoupleofmonthspasthis 52ndbirthday.WhenPhill’s deathwasnotified to theshearingcommunityonFacebook,manywerethecommentsdescribing him as a ‘good bastard’, a ‘goodKiwi bloke’andsimilarsentiments.Highpraise inanyone’s language,endorsedbythefactthatanestimated1000peopleturneduptofarewellhimininamannerdeserved.EarlierinhislifePhillhadsurvivedtwoboutsofopen-heartsurgery,firstinhis teens and again about 12 years ago

PhillenjoyedacountryupbringingonafarmatTurakina,southofWhanganui,developinganimpressiverangeofskillsintheprocess,especiallythoseinvolvingphysicalendeavour.Shearingsheepsoonbecamealife-longpassionandtalliesaround500becamecommonplace.Inhisearly20s,PhillandamatewenttoEnglandin1990

andshoreinDorsetandinWales.HethenwentontotheUnitedStatesandworkedinColoradoandWyoming,beforenextspendingsometimeinWesternAustralia.

On his return, Phill soon established Hourigan Shearing, butalsosawtheneedtoallowfordecliningsheepnumbersbygetting involvedwithother revenue earners, includingdairying, forestry, beekeeping and honey production.He also offered services in sheep pregnancy scanning,artificialinsemination(AI)fortheLivestockImprovementCorporation,andasheepdippingservice.ItwasPhillwhotookoverLeeMatson’slong-established

businesswhenLeeretiredaboutthreeyearsago.ThatwasamovemotivatedbywhatPhillsawasaneedtokeepthebusinesslocalandmaintainworkforlocalshearersandshedstaff.Phillwasalsodescribedasbeinganastutethinkerwitha

quickacademicmind.Hewasalsoatalentedartistandhadaspirationsofacquiringhisowndairyherd.Phill is survived by hiswifeTracy and childrenSean,

Conor,Paige,BeauandPatrick.(Adapted from Whanganui Chronicle, 10 August 2019.)

Phill Hourigan, 1967-2019

Adrian and Brendon Cox – father and son in the Top 30 at Golden Shears. It wasn’t last year ... 1994, actually!

Shearing 30


By Jills Angus BurneyAsfewasfivewomenintheentirepastfiftyyearshavequalifiedfromtheOpenHeats. So,when the newly-crownedAll Nations Women’s champion in Le Dorat,France,ElenoreResneauplacedthirty-fourthoutofeighty-sixintheAllNations Open heats, her close call to the finaleighteenqualifierswasalandmarkAll-Nationsachievement.Tobeplacedsoclosetothe‘top30’

insuchastrongfieldinthe40-degreeCheatwaveofthefinaldayoftheAll-Nations championships, Resneau almost emulatedtheuniqueachievementthatisUnaCameron’s–theonlywomantop30finish–intheOpenChampionshipatthe2011MastertonGoldenShears.Resneau’s competitive shears in Le Doratandthoseoftheseveralequallywell-preparedFrenchwomenshearerssnapping at her heels, showhow farwomen have come in the two yearsfromtheAll-Nations’attheInvercargillWorldsin2017whereparttimeshearerPaganKarauria’sSeniorfinalfinishwasconsideredexceptional.Exceptional performances are few

andfarbetweenformostaspirants–andResneau’s is all the more impressive as itsignalsherarrivalontheworldstage.Indeed,outsideoftheEuropeancircuitand theRoyalWelshwomen’s eventwhichshehaswonin2016and2017,shewouldhavebeenlargelyunknowntothosefromthesouthernhemisphere.It is a comingof age forwomen’s

open competitions too, rather than the inexorable invitation events ofthepast.ThethreeFrenchwomeninthewomen’sfinal competitionwas asublimedominance–overthreesheep

itwasamerecleanshear,oversixinthe semis they reproduced all their skillandspeed,butthe12sheepfinalwasaFrenchgrand slam –first andsecondandsixthplace.OnlytherisingNorwegianforce,seniorshearerAnne-LiseHaugdahl-HumsteadatthirdwaswithinsightoftheFrenchArmada.Withherwomen’stitlewin,Elenore

followsheroldersister,Jalle’ssuccess,anOpenshearerwhowasalsoanAllNationswomen’s finalist inGorey,IrelandandapastwinneroftheRoyalWelshwomen’sevent.FewmighthaveviewedElenoreasasignificantnameonthe Open crossbred circuit, let alone as thesixth-placedFrenchopenshearer.

It is impressive that she is not so far behind her older brother,Thimo(42),aperennialFrenchteammember.Her twelfthplace in theFrenchopenchampionship on the third day ofcompetitionwasinstructiveofherintent

toleavehermarkandachievehergoals.‘Towin thewomen’s finalwas a

secret and personal goal,’ Resneau said after receiving thewinnersmedallionand trophy, even though she said she ‘feltovercomewithbeingsickbythethirdsheep.’

At 29, Elenore Resneau has 13 yearsoffulltimeshearingbehindher.FromafamilyofshearersbasednearArpavon, in the south-eastofFranceneartheItalianAlps,Resneaugrewupastheseconddaughterofbothparentswho,with their five children,wereshearing theirway around the southwestofFranceandoverontheislandofCorsica.Somethingof a royal familyof the

Frenchwool industry, theResneau’sareacoterieofshearers,shepherdsandfarmersaswellasshearingjudgesandcompetitionorganisers.(Topage32)

Eleanore Resneau – All Nations champ

Competitors from left: Jalle Resneau 6th, Pauline Bolay 5th, Pagan Karauria 4th, Ann-Lise Haugdahl-Humstead 3rd, Aubane Nardetto 2nd, Elenore Resneau 1st.

Shearing 31


NZ Shearing Contractors Association Inc

New members welcome. Join now!

Keep abreast with the new rates and changes in legislation.National President: Mark Barrowcliffe Tel 0275 544 433. Email: [email protected]

National Secretary: Suzanne Kennedy, PO Box 5185, Terrace End, Palmerston North 4414.

Tel 027 263 7634: E-mail [email protected]

NowasoloMumoftwoboys(8and11)whomshesharescustodywithhershearingex-husband,Resneauhasarichhistoryinhershortcareer. At16shelearnedtoshearonherfather’sflexiblestand.Butunlikethegenerationbefore,she also learned on a solid dropper, finding it good as a beginner butnoticingthediscomfortofherfather’smenasshesoonout-shorethem.Resneau’s experience ranges from

shortdaysontheeasybare-belliedsheepwhenthesheeparehandedtoherinthelargeFrenchbarnsandthemachineisnotevenpulledoutofgearbetweensheep,to thehillsof theKingCountry,NewZealand.SheattributesworkingforDeanBallandNeilFaganasinstrumentalinliftingher fromseniors into theopenclass.Evenherpartner,competentNewZealand open shearer, James Ruki says it’shardtokeepupwithherdoing80anhourontheCorsicasheep.That’saphenomenal 700 a day pace, although shequalifiesthatwiththeFrenchshrug,‘wedon’tdoafullday.’So,Iask,whatisherbest tally?Theanswersurprisesme–over250inadayonmerinosanda tallyof398crossbred ewes infivehours.Suchtalliesarebreathtakingevenacknowledging the lighterweight ofthesheepandthecoarsewoolledbarebellies.But formostdays forResneau it’s

aneven250andthentheyrunoutofsheep,or theyknockoffat5pmonaregularday.Whenqueriedastowhethershe harboured any record aspirations, Resneau declines to think thatway.She is resolutely focusingon a longcareeranddoesn’twishtochangeherpatternsandplacesofworktopursuesuchaspirations.

Brown smashes merino record

NewZealand-bornshearerLouBrownon27April2019putinthequickest-everdayofmerinoshearingtosmashaworld recordwhich hadwithstoodat least four other attempts since itwas set 16 years ago.The 31-year-oldBrown, based inBunbury, southofPerth, but raised inNapier till hecrossedtheTasmanat theageof13,shore497merinoewesineighthoursinawoolshednearKojonup inWestAustralia.

At just under 58 seconds a sheepwhen no one previously in a day’srecord shearing had averaged under a minuteonmerinoewesorwethers,itwas31morethanthepreviousrecordof466setbyfellow-KiwiCartwright

Terry in a two-stand record withbrotherMichaelJamesTerryin2003,alsoinWestAustralia.Itwasalsojust33shyofNewZealandshearerStaceyTeHuia’snine-hourrecordof530setinNewSouthWalesfouryearsagoandregarded as one of the greatest tallyshearsinAustralianwoolshedhistory.Brownwas alwayswell ahead of

the target,with successive two-hourrunsof120,126,126and125,whichcompared with runs of 114, 119,118 and 115 shorn by CartwrightTerry,whoalongwithhisbrotherwasprominentintherunningofSaturday’schallenge.Anotherprominentinthestagingof

the recordwasDwayneBlack,whoholds the eight-hoursmerino lambshearing recordof570and thenine-hoursrecordof664,set in2002and2004respectively.The standard of shearing was

monitored by an international panel offourjudgesappointedbytheWorldSheep Shearing Records Society, headed byNorthernHawke’s BayfarmerBartHadfield.(Doug Laing)

* * * * * *

Merino Shearing Records (Solo)Ewes9hrs:StaceyTeHuia:530,20/2/20158hrs:LouBrown:497,27/4/2019

Wethers9hrs:GrantSmith:418,4/11/19998hrs:SteveMudford:373,8/9/2018

Lambs9hrs:DwayneBlack:664,3/10/20048hrs:DwayneBlack:570,6/10/2002

Lou Brown, record smasher

Shearing 32


Buck Naked .... and .... Doug Deep

I see they are still spending millions on trying to produce a shearing robot. That would be money well spent, eh?

Oh yeah nah, definitely!

Wide-combing it with ... © Last Side Publishing 2019

We require staff for our busy summer mainshear from December through ‘til April and for our pre-lamb June

through ‘til August. Good work ethics and attitude towards our clients and fellow staff are essential.

Travel and meals provided.

All enquiries welcomed to [email protected]

Curly 0274 336 477 or Jamie 027 336 4007

Member NZ Shearing Contractors’ AssociationMember ShearNZ

From the Subs bench: When magazine subscriber Warren Davey (left) of Dinsdale needed a man with machine to help construct an access road on his property (on the outskirts of Hamilton), he called up a mate that he’d shorn with many years ago in Western Australia. Warren recalled how the pair had worked together for a New Zealand contractor, Ross Bryant, at Jerrimungup in 1984. Some light banter between the two during a smoko break suggested that Warren might have been the better shearer on those WA merinos, but the mate was quick to add he later claimed back some of his own reputation on the few occasions they got amongst the crossbreds at home in New Zealand. ‘The ‘mate’, if you haven’t recognised him, is John Fagan, Golden Shears open champion 1984 and the cause of much fuss over world records after he’d shorn 804 lambs at Piopio in December 1980. That was much to the ‘disbelief’ of the late Godfrey Bowen, who was of the opinion that nobody could shear 800. But that’s another bedtime story, for another cold wintery night!

STOP PRESS: We had to drop one out to fit this one in! Aidan Copp set a new eight-hour world record in the merino-cross lambs category on 17 August 2019. Shearing on a property in the Riverina District of New South Wales, Copp bettered the previous mark of 519 set by Dwayne Black in 2005. Sponsored by Lister, Copp’s run tallies were 135, 130, 125 and 134.

Shearing 33


All year round work available for experienced and reliable staff on our local and stay out runs. Fine wool shedhands required from start August until end October.

Quality accommodation available. Friendly and safe working

environments.

For enquiries call Joel on 0274 075 531

The Shearers – New Zealand Legends by Ruth Entwistle Low. There’s a story inAustralian cricketfolkloreaboutaburlyfastbowlerfromthe1980snamedMervHughes.‘He’(aided mightily by Patrick Keane) producedabiographyattheendofhisplayingcareerand,whenaskedhowitfelttohavewrittenabookhesaid,‘I have now actually written more books than I’ve read!’Vaguelywithin that same theme,

Timaru-basedwriterandoralhistorianRuthEntwistleLowcannow, if shewants, claim to havewrittenmorebooks thanshehasshornsheep.The Shearers followsher2014best-sellingbook, On the Hoof: The Untold Story of Drovers in New Zealand and is an equally impressive production frompublisher, PenguinBooks.And thatone shorn sheep in her tally book may betheresultofsomecloseliaisonwiththat noted blademan,TonyDobbs,one of the book’smany entertainingchapters.Launched at Timaru earlier this

month, thebook isdivided into fourparts:The shearers; theirwork, theirworld/culture,andtheirgutsandglory(accentonrecordsandcompetitions).Ineachsection,Ruthprofilesanumberof ‘identities’ whowill be knownpersonally, or by their deeds, to most readersof thisbook.Partone is toldthrough the eyes of PeterCasserly,Kelly Hokianga, Sarah Higgins, Jack Luttrell,MurrayGriceandPeterandElsieLyon.

A Peter Casserly quote explainswhyhe stayed shearing for so long:‘When I started, on eight pound ten a hundred in 1965, my schoolmates were [earning] three pound a week as an apprentice mechanic; so I done a season shearing and went home in a Mark 1 Zephyr, and me mates on the West Coast were still riding pushbikes.

So, next thing, I had a girl in the car, the elbow out the window and a crew cut haircut – and I’m still married to that girl [Gloria] …’In Part two, CatherineMullooly,

Edie Parkinson, Barry Pullin, Ian and Beth Kirkpatrick and Alister and Kim Cuming (RewaShearing) talk abouttheirwork,andBarrytalksabout‘thetoptwoinches’:‘I quickly got into the habit [of putting his used combs and cutters on a needle, in the order they’d been used] because I could actually go back and look at the hours that I’d shorn, and think back and say, okay on the second run those two cutters didn’t work so well, or that was a bad comb choice. So I could go back and see what was going wrong – whether I had bevel or the scallop wasn’t right, to see if I’d ground properly …’PartthreeincludesstoriesfromHape

Shearing,RichardWiniata(Mahana),BrianKerr,AnnRobinson(‘TheDavidFagan of cooking’) andMackintoshShearing.

Ewensays:‘I think if your staff know you do genuinely care, they’ll do what needs to be done. You’ve got to be authentic. If you’re not authentic, they pick it out in ten minutes, they do.’Part four contains contributions

fromMalcolmSadler,RegBenjamin,BartandNukuHadfield,TonyDobbsand Brian ‘Snow’ Quinn. ‘Snow’still remembers his first day on thehandpiece,offeredastandforthedaywhenanothershearerdidn’tturnup.Hewas15.‘They asked me if I’d like to shear and I said I’ll try – have a go. We were shearing for Mervyn and Collie Watson … and we were shearing lambs, and I shore 139 that day. I wasn’t very tidy, I don’t think, either, because every time the farmer came in he’d say, “I’ll show you how to do one,” and I’d be watching him and I’d think, ‘Gosh, I wish he’d hurry up and get rid of that lamb so I can shear another one.” I’ve never, ever forgotten that day.’

The Shearers (New Zealand Legends) isavailablefromallgoodbookstores.Published by Penguin Random House Books,recommendedretail$39.95.

* * * * * *

Book review

Above left: The cover of Ruth Entwistle Low’s new book, featuring stories about more than 20 legends of the board, with many stories never before seen in print. Above right: The author with her best day’s tally, shorn with help from Tony Dobbs.

Of course, you realise we [shearingjudges] are the highest unpaid professionals in the world? (Robert Hudson, Top Class Wool Cutters,1996.)

Shearing 34


Brunel Peaks woolshed, 22 February 1993 – the day and occasion might not rate among the shearer’s favourite memories, but this photo, taken during David Fagan’s failed world record attempt that day, rates favourite among the editor’s many thousands of images taken over the past 30 years. Total focus evident on every face.

TararuaShearingLtdShearers and shedhands wanted.

Must have good work ethics and be reliable.

Accommodation, meals and transport provided.

Work from mid-November to end of March.

Phone Lionel or StephanieHome 06 376 7877Work 06 375 8488Cell 027 440 7021

MemberNZShearingContractors’Association

Jack Harrison was a most interesting character with the gift of the gab. He’d had open heart surgery in the days when it was still very much pioneering surgery. He was one of the early success stories when a lot of the others didn’t make it. (Kerry Johnstone, Top Class Wool Cutters,1996.)

Sheep Shearers join Union FIRSTUnionhassignedthefirstindustrycollectivecoveringsheepshearersandwoolhandlersin24yearswithManawatuShearingLimited.Thecollective includesmarket-leadingratesofpayandwillenableworkerswithinthecompanytoengage more in the decision making around their employment andinthewiderindustry.Duetotheseasonalnatureofsheepshearing, the initial agreementwill cover between30-90workersovertheyear.Thecollectivecomesafterconcernsoverwagediscrepancies,

inadequatetimekeeping,alackofemploymentagreements,thecommonincorrecttaxationofstaffascasuals,notpayingproper holiday pay and many not paying rates recommended bytheNewZealandShearingContractors’Association.FIRSTUnionseestheshearingindustryasanintegralpart

ofthewoolsupplychainandalreadyrepresentsworkersinproduction,manufacturing,andretailoftextilesandclothinginNewZealand.Thereisanopportunitytousetheunion’sindustrialpowertopromotetraining,upskilling,morevalueaddedprocessinginNewZealandandtogiveanalternativevoicefortheindustryinthepublicsphere.Assuch,theUnionhasalsocommittedtoreturninghalf

ofallincomeobtainedfromunionfeesbackintoupskillingmembers in their trade.Union spokesperson JaredAbbottsaysourunionwantstoseeasmuchvalue-addedprocessingaspossiblereturnedtoNewZealandcommunities.‘WithourexistingrelationshipsintheTextilesandClothing

industries,weseeourinvolvementinSheepShearingasanopportunitytopromoteastrongasustainableindustryinNewZealandforyearstocome.‘Manycompaniesthatusewoolintheproductspromote

conceptsaroundethicalsupplychains,butwhatweknow,iswhenyouscratchbelow thesurfaceweseeall sortsofinjusticesgoingon.Unionshavethepowertoaccessworkersbothlocallyandnationallyandfindoutwhatisreallygoingon,andweintendtousethattoourmembersadvantagewhileensuringthatcompaniestradingwoolarelivinguptotheirownstandards.’addedAbbott.Theagreementallowsforothercompanies tobecomea

partytoit–FIRSTUnionishopefulthatovertimetheentireindustrywill becomeparty to the agreement.TheUnionpresentedtootheremployersaboutitsplansfortheindustryattheNewZealandShearingContractors’AssociationAnnualGeneralMeetinginMay2019.The union is taking a number of initiatives, including

developingindustrystrategiestosupportastrongwoolprice,investingintraininganddevelopmentopportunities,workingcooperativelywithgoodemployerswhiletargetingthosenotplayingbytherules.“Havingaunionactiveinthisindustrymeansworkershave

avoiceatthetableofdecisionsbeingmadebygovernmentthat affect them, suchas the restructuringof the industrytrainingorganisations.Butwedon’tjustwantworkerstohaveasay,wewantthemtoknowtheirrightsandknowthatweexisttohelpthemenforcetheirrights,’saidAbbott.

Shearing 35


BARROWCLIFFE SHEARING

FancyworkintheKingCountry,Nov-Feb andMay-July periods?Have you got:• Goodworkethic?• Positiveattitude?• Respectforfellowemployees

andclients?• Abilitytohavefun?

Training available.Call Mark on 0275 544 433

Member NZSCA and ShearNZ

By Angus MooreHowmany timeshaveyouheard anoldershearersaytoalearner,‘hardenup’?Assomeonewhohashad todoplentyofhardeningupovertheyears,Ibelievethereisaplaceforthephrase,especiallywhenitcomestothewoolharvesting industry, but more care needstobetakenastowhenthisphraseisspoken.Onepointofconcernformeiswhen

someonewho isnew in theshearingprofession,orhashadaspellforanytime,thinkstothemselves,‘mybackistiredandsore’.Usuallythisismetwiththeageold‘hardenupmate’.‘Soft’.In thepastwithsmalleranimals thatwere less aggressive,wemay havebeenabletogetbywiththisattitude,butnotnow.HereiswhyIthinkthatis.Thephysiologybehinditisthatthe

muscles in your bum, hips, stomach and lower backmake up the core.When you make bending/lifting/pulling and twistingmovements, allthemusclesinthecoreworktogetherasoneunit.Ifproperbodypositionisusedthenallshouldgowell.However,itisnotverynaturalformusclestogofrombeingusedalittletobeingusedforeighthoursaday,five,sixorsevendaysoftheweek.

When a muscle gets tired it stops workingaswellasitcould.Reactionsare slower and movements lesspowerfulwith less control.This iscalledfatigue.So now, in the third run,we have

apersononthestandwithafatigued

back and can’t put your socks on, or just a general discomfort that nevergoesaway.Theseareafewthingsthatcanbedonesoasaworkeryougetthebestoutofyourselfbothintheshortandlongterm.Firstly,iflookingtogetintoshearing

orhavingtimeoff,makesureyoukeepupagoodlevelofstrengthandoverallfitness.Thereareafewguysoutthereprovidingveryspecificadviceonthisor you could see a physio or personal trainer.Secondly,investinabungy.Ihang

mineupmostdaysandespeciallyifIhavehadsomedowntimeoraniggle.Ifindthatshearinginitforthefirst15minutesofeveryrun,andonandoffduringtherunisthebestwaytogetintoitafterabreakofafewweeksormore.IfIneedtoIwilljustleaveithangingandsheareverysecondsheepoutofitwhileitswingsabove.Young people starting out should

have one on hand to take the pressure off as the body and back especially,untiltheygetusedtotherigoursofthejob.Allinallagoodtoolofthetrade.NotoneIwanttouseallthetimebutIdowhenitmakeslifeeasier.I knowmany people who have

sworntheywouldneveruseabungyandputalltheyoungerguysoffthempotentially doing the younger ones unnecessarydamage.When the timecomes that they need to use one, they wishtheyhadtriedoneyearsago.Rememberit’sjustanothertoolyou

canusetomakelifealittleeasier.

back that is sore and starting to play on theirmind.‘Hardenup.’Thesheepcouldbealittleheavyor

theshedisaclosedboardwithatrickydrag.Maybetheyarecomposites.Thissituationcancauseallsortsof

problems.Ifasheepmovesawkwardlyandputsthesheareroffbalancetheycouldendupwithashortorlongterminjuryveryeasily.Now that the back is fatigued and

not doing its part properly the other muscles start to take over.This cancauseanimbalance.Thechainreactiontoallthisisnot

hard to see. Slippeddiscs, herniateddisc ruptured disc, back out.Tight

It’s okay for hard men to use a bungy

The bungy, a tool for body care (modelled by Kevin Casey at Waimate, 1990.)

Shearing 36


Shearing on SardiniaIfsheepstatisticscanbereliedupon,theislandofSardiniaishometoatleasthalfofItaly’snationalflockof7.1millionsheep.LittlesurprisethenthatSardinianfarmersarehappyto get some imported help shearing their sheep, and that notoriously far-rangingKiwi shearers have been readilyputtingtheirhandsupfortheMay-Junegigformorethan30years.Theexperienceisadeepimmersioninauniqueculture

whichseestheshearerseatinganddrinking,feastingreally,with the localsmostafternoons.There’s littleworkdoneanywhere onSardinia between1pmand4pm,when it’shottest;shopsshut,roadsarequiet.Fortheshearers,thistranslates to needing to take two bites at each shearingday,which requires an essential shiftinmindset and approach to the freeflowingwine and beer on offer eachafternoon.Shearers are typicallyon the farms

shearing aftermorningmilking by8.30am,thenshearsomemore–mostlyatadifferentfarmbecauseflocksarerarelybig–aftermilkingintheevening.The evening job can be followedbyanother drinking and eating event.Shearing time there clearly brings familiesandfriendstogether.Thelocalpriest can be in attendance and tradition dictates that draggers bring the sheep to theshearers.Whenyou’vegotagangofprofessionalshearersblazingthewooloff that calls for a hearty contingentof draggers, and so lots of people toindulgewithafterwards.

Sardinia, or Sardegna as the Italians call it, is an island smackbang in themiddleof theMediterraneanSea200kmswestofItaly,200kmsnorthoftheAfricancontinent.Ithasabout2000kmsofcoastlineandalandareaof24,100sqkms,soitisbiggerthanWalesbutsmallerthanHawaii.Sardinia is Italian, but its isolation has preserved traditions, languagesandaculturedistinct frommainland Italy.An

estimated1.6millionpeopleliveonSardinia,socomparedtomostofEurope,thisisnotadenselypopulatedplace.ThewoolfromtheSardosheepisconsideredaby-product.

ItissimilartotheNZDrysdalewithlongcoarseguardhairandjustasmallamountofsoftershortstaple.Thesheeparepredominatelyfarmedfortheirmilk.PecorinoSardoisawidelyregardedhardcheesemadefromSardiniansheepmilk.ButSardiniahasnumerousothertypesoftraditionalcheesemadefromsheepandgoatsmilk.CazuMarzu,madefromsheepmilk,squirmswithmaggots!Localslookuponit as a delicacy but their traditional hospitality commonly extends to them offering it to their shearers too.Meatfeaturesstronglyinthefeastequationtoo,seephotoopposite

of the traditionalmeans of cookingoutdoors; suckling pigs, sheepmeat,andallpartsofthecarcassarecookedspit-roaststyle.Delicious.Farms have dogs that live with

the sheep, to guard them.The dogs,and farm cats too, aren’t pets andkeep awary distance from visitingKiwis.Mostly, no one lives on thefarms.Itappearstraditionistoretreatto the safety of towns and villageseach evening.A glance at historytells the story of Sardinia being anoften-invaded landmass, and thereis strong archaeological evidence ofwellorganisedbutvery tribalcultureestablished there through theBronzeAge1800BCE.Thisfierceloyaltytofamilyandclanprevails inSardinianculture today, so the opportunity for

shearerstobewelcomedthereastheyare,isanexperiencetobevalued,andrespected.Footnote:Othernationalities,particularlyFrench,alsoshearonSardiniaeachyear.(Words and photo essay page 37opposite from Marg Forde, who has visited the island twice and whose husband Edsel has shorn the last 12 seasons on Sardinia.)

Proud to support N.Z. Shearing Magazine

We require staff July-October and January-MayAccommodation, travel and meals provided

Good attitude towards work and our clients essentialReliable work and weather patterns in Central Otago

Employment Agreement based on NZSCAWork under NZSCA ‘SHEARNZ’ programme

All enquiries welcomed. Contact Peter or ElsieTel 03 448 6378 Fax 03 448 9201

Email: [email protected]

MID/SOUTH CANTERBURY

Requires quality shearers and woolhandlers for permanent or seasonal work. Good rates

offered, must be drug free.

Phone Tony 027 693 3010

Shearing 37


Shearing 38


Bale makers: Top left descending: Willie Sharp and Craig Tepu, Golden Shears 1993; Basil Pomara, 1992; Lisa Lawton and Bryce Napier, 1997. Middle descending: Rangi Ruru, 1996; Kerry Solomon, 1996; Bryce Le Lievere, 1991. Right descending: Roy Toia, 1993; Gail, pressing the bale her way, 1994.

Chrystal ShearingHas positions available for

reliable, experienced shearers and shedhand workers for

mainshear. Nov. to end of Jan. Our 2nd shr run is March to

end of July. Ring now to secure a position.

Phone Farrell on 06 839 7999 mob 027 308 8725

Or Max (organiser) on 027 688 4673

Y-NOT SHEARINGFlinders RangesSouth Australia

WANTEDQuality shearers and shed staff

All camp out shedsExcellent conditions

No drugs

Phone ++61427672370

Shearing 39


Heiniger New Zealand | heiniger.co.nz | (03) 349 8282

Image for illustration purposes only.

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Shearing 40


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