Cleckheaton Trophy goes to NSW superfine fleece

superfine-fleeceNSW superfine wool growers Ed and Jill Hundy have won the Cleckheaton Trophy for the Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association grand champion fleece.

The competition was sponsored by Australian Country Spinners.

Australian Country Spinners (ACS) CEO Brenda McGahan spoke on the activities of ACS and presented the trophies, assisted by Southern Grampians Mayor Mary-Ann Brown.

An Honorary Life Membership was presented to Kevin Dunn by ASWGA President Simon Cameron. Kevin was one of the original members of the association and has been for 46 yrs.

Over that time he has held the positions of branch president, delegate and ASWGA President.

One hundred & five Superfine woolgrowers, sponsors and guests converged on Hamilton on the 13/14 May 2017 for the 6th Annual Reunion Dinner & Farm Tours.

Ninety-three people attended the ASWGA reunion dinner held at the Grange Burn (Comfort Inn) at Hamilton on Saturday 13th May.

Visitors attended from Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and Western Australia. Lesley & Roger Prior, Merino breeders from England attended.

Building towards the only pure Merino flock in England via importing genetic material from Australia. A very expensive operation, they are here to learn as much as possible about Merino breeding.

Mike Kuritani, an ASWGA Honorary Life Member, flew into Melbourne from Japan on the morning of the dinner.

He works for the Itochu Corporation and attended the dinner to speak about the Hamilton Lamb’s Wool brand his company has developed.

He also highlighted the need for growers to be aware of the damage skin pieces left in wool does to the finished garment, growers need to be vigilant in all areas with their clip preparation to gain the highest returns.

Mike was driven to Hamilton from Melbourne by Andrew Worthington of Australia Merino Exports, (AME) one of Australia’s biggest wool exporting companies, and they service a worldwide network of manufacturers. A new wool store Australian Merino Direct established at Ararat offers woolgrowers an introduction to international clients via AME.

Andrew was a guest speaker at Kelseldale, Mt Challicum on the Sunday where they displayed a Country Road garment from the range of clothing that has traceable certificates to Tasmania where the wool is sourced. Kelseldale Stud opened to visitors for the day by the principles Russell & Penny Hartwich, well supported by Geoff Phillips and a number of volunteers. High class stud Merinos were on display, superfine & ultrafine wool also displayed. Sean McDougall, Rosevale, spoke on containment areas for stock and IED tags which are being introduced to Victoria.

Prior to the dinner on the Saturday the Mibus Family opened their Glenara Stud to a bus load of superfine wool growers plus many others.

The attendees were treated to a display of high class Stud Rams & superfine wool. Guest speaker Marius Cuming from AWI provided informative information on the activities of Australian Wool Innovation.

Australian Wool Network displayed their garment collection they have developed in co-operation with Hedrena and Kangaroo Island to guests.

Lunch was provided at Bill and Jenny Crawford & family’s Sierra Park where pure Saxon Stud sheep were on display plus a large quantity of wool as the Crawford’s are in the middle of shearing. One of the many sponsors Andrew Howell of Elders spoke on the present wool price trends.