THE FLINDERS NEWS – by Dylan Smith – “A historic one-tonne long screw mechanical wool press, believed to be the only one of its kind in Australia, could soon find a new home as a tourist attraction at Orroroo.
The piece of equipment, an enormous innovation in the 19th and 20th centuries, was located at what was once Black Rock Station and has been carefully restored by Dean Keatley and his brother, Brian, both of Jamestown.”
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN – by Cally Dupe – Countryman – “Female shearers across the ditch are celebrating the anticipated release of a film shining a spotlight on their industry and gender.
The trailer for a new film featuring five female shearers from New Zealand was released online last week, ahead of its world premiere at the New Zealand International Film Festival on October 11.”
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN – by Zach Relph – Countryman – “The Australian wool market’s record price, trading at more than $20/kg since August, has failed to break into the nation’s top-three highest values when compared to inflation, an analyst has found.
According to Ag Answers’ Rural Bank figures, the current market ranks fourth in Australia’s wool-pricing history based on the 2017-18 dollar, with the country’s peak wool price coming in 1950-51.”
RURAL LIFE – by Sally Brooker – “New Zealand won the transtasman blade shearing test and the New Zealand woolhandling champion won his third consecutive title at the Waimate Shears on Saturday.
The 51st annual two-day shears at the Waimate showgrounds attracted strong entries across its categories, which began with woolhandling at noon on Friday.That culminated on Saturday afternoon with the open section win to Joel Henare, who splits his time between Gisborne and Motueka.”
QUEENSLAND COUNTRY LIFE – by Bruce McLeish, Elders northern zone wool manager – “THE wool market in Australia continued to ease last week, although a falling local currency shielded Australia’s growers from the worst of it.
With the ‘off season’ among processors and a fair degree of price resistance many in the industry have been calling for some sort of correction, and perhaps it has now occurred to a sufficient degree so that many are hopping back over the fence to say that prices will start to increase again shortly.”
STOCK & LAND – by Annabelle Cleeland – “Renowned Victorian Saxon breeders, the Crawford family of Sierra Park, Victoria Valley, has been crowned the prestigious 2018 Wool Excellence title, awarded by Vitale Barberis Canonico.
The Crawfords were ecstatic to receive the honour which was announced on Sunday at the Calyx, located in the heart of Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, in front of more than 30 Wool Excellence Club members from NSW, Victoria and Tasmania.”
SHEEP CENTRAL – “LEADING superfine Saxon wool-growing family, the Crawfords of Victoria Valley, has won the prestigious annual Vitale Barberis Canonico Wool Excellence Award.”
SHEEP CENTRAL – by Doug Laing, Shearing Sports New Zealand – “NEW Zealand blade shearing champion Tony Dobbs reached a personal milestone when he won the New Zealand Spring Shears Open blade shearing final in Waimate at the weekend.”
SHEEP CENTRAL – by Terry Sim – “AUCTIONSPLUS sheep and lamb listings increased last week, but clearance rates decreased as rainfall boosted vendor price expectations for the 88,403 head offered.”
THE WEEKLY TIMES – by Sophie Lewis – “MIXED results have been felt across the wool market, leading the Eastern Market Indicator to finish 21c/kg lower at 1992c/kg clean.
Australian Wool Network technical manager Kelvin Shelley said poorer quality 16.5 micron and finer clips felt the brunt of the decline, dictated by European interest.”
