Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association Inc. ANNUAL 2016-2017 LUXURY FIBRE 100% NATURAL DEAD FAST SO YOU CAN BE DEAD SURE EXTINOSAD™ Pour-On kills lice like no other1. Applied off-shears, its powerful knockdown chemistry starts killing lice within hours of contact2. With no known fi eld resistance, lice don’t stand a chance. In fact, EXTINOSAD Pour-On even comes with a 6 month lice-free guarantee.* It’s dead fast, so you can be dead sure. For more information about EXTINOSAD Pour-On, contact Elanco on 1800 226 234 or your rural supplier today. *Visit extinosad.com.au or contact your rural store for terms and conditions. References: 1. Cisneros, J. et al. (2002). Toxic effects of spinosad on predatory insects. Biological Control 23, 156–163. 2. Levot, G. (2008). Aust. J of Ent. 47, 251–255. EXTINOSAD™ Pour-On contains 20 g/L spinosad. 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EAH16060 AUSHPEXP00060 Contents Executive Committee and Council Members 4 UK Focus - Taylor & Lodge 40 Message from the President 5 The Campaign for Wool 41 Tasmanian Conference & Farm Tour 7 Ararat - Barunah Region Report 42 Honorary Life Membership - Dr Peter Morgan 14 Albury-Wodonga Region Report 42 South Africans attend Launceston Conference 15 Hamilton Region Report 43 Ermenegildo Zegna celebrates the 53rd edition of its 16 Goulburn/Yass and Mudgee Region Report 44 wool awards New England Region Report 45 ASWGA Business Development Working Group 18 Tasmania Region Report 46 Behind The Future for Traditional Superfine Report 20 Western Australia Region Report 47 Hamilton Lambswool 21 South Australia Region Report 48 What is special about traditional superfine wool? 22 Owen Stanley Rohleder - Obituary 49 Oak Hills 1PP 24 Sheepvention 49 ASWGA Fleece Competition Winners 2015/16 26 An Overview of the Australian Sheep and Wool Show 51 ASWGA Fleece Competition Statistics 27 Tony Gee - Obituary 51 Penny & Russell Hartwich - Kelseldale 28 CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation 52 From Tasmania to Times Square - America knitters 30 mad for Aussie Wool - Australian Country Spinners An Industry in Progress - Australian Wool Exchange 54 The Vitale Barberis Canonico Wool Excellence Club Invasive Animals CRC 56 31 and Wool Excellence Award Initiatives. National Wild Dog Action Plan 57 Visit to Vitale Barberis Canonico Fabric Mill, Biella 32 Italia Growing market for next-to-skin wear driving demand for Superfi ne Wool - National Council of Wool Selling 58 The International Wool Textile Organisation 33 Brokers Congress 2016 Photographic Competition Winner 35 The Look on the Court 60 Reda launches “Reda Future Project” initiative 36 Growing ultrafi ne wool demands top genetics in Yass 61 “For the times they are a-changing” Teaching Japan the Aus wool story 61 37 New England Wool ASWGA Membership Form 62 Ultrafine Wool: Many challenges, but flystrike and 39 dag are not among them. ISBN: 978-0-9944442-1-9 Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association inc. Annual 2016-2017 3 Australian Superfine Wool Growers Association Inc. Council 2016-2017 Offi ce Address: Wool House, Unit 9, 42-46 Vella Drive, Sunshine West Vic 3020 Ms Melissa Mulley Phone: 03 9311 0271 Fax: 03 9311 0138 Email: [email protected] Executive Committee: President Address: “Kingston”, CONARA Tas 7211 Mr Simon Cameron Phone: 0411 125 622 Email: [email protected] Vice President - Vic Address: “Avington Farm”, 504 Sidonia Road, SIDONIA Vic 3444 Mr Noel Henderson Phone: 03 5423 7100 Email: [email protected] Vice President - NSW Address: “Riverton”, 1392 Grafton Road, ARMIDALE NSW 2350 Mr Mark Waters Phone: 02 6775 3788 Email: [email protected] Vice President - Tas Address: “Macquarie Hills”, 963 Mt Joy Road, LONGFORD Tas 7301 Mr Ian Thirkell-Johnston Phone: 03 6398 5128 Email: [email protected] Treasurer Address: “Monterey”, PO Box 347, SEAFORTH NSW 2092 Mrs Catherine Hayne Phone: 02 9948 0612 Email: [email protected] Immediate Past President Address: “Cookmundoon”, Wee Jasper YASS NSW 2582 Mrs Helen Cathles Phone: 02 6227 9634 Email: [email protected] Members of Council: Ararat-Barunah Address: “Kelseldale”, RSD 1510, Geelong Road, BALLYROGAN Vic 3375 Mr Russell Hartwich Phone: 03 5354 4254 Email: [email protected] Address: “Avington Farm”, 504 Sidonia Road, SIDONIA Vic 3444 Mr Noel Henderson Phone: 03 5423 7100 Email: [email protected] Albury-Wodonga Address: “Avondale”, 281 Cemetery Rd, SPRINGHURST Vic 3682 Mr Ian Humphry Phone: 03 5726 5362 Email: [email protected] Goulburn-Yass Address: “Summer Hill”, 2615 Bigga Road, BIGGA NSW 2583 Mr Danny Picker Phone: 02 4835 2220 Email: [email protected] Address: “Talaheni”, PO Box 337, Hall ACT 2618 Mr John Ive Phone: 02 6258 2661 Email: [email protected] Hamilton Address: “Glenara”, DUNKELD Vic 3294 Mr Trevor Mibus Phone: 03 5573 3212 Email: [email protected] Address: “Sierra Park”, VICTORIA VALLEY Vic 3294 Mr Bill Crawford Phone: 03 5574 0241 Email: [email protected] Mudgee Address: “Killarney”, 1750 Hill End Rd, SALLY’S FLAT via MUDGEE NSW 2850 Mr Murray Price Phone: 02 6335 1003 Email: [email protected] New England Address: “Riverton”, 1392 Grafton Road, ARMIDALE NSW 2350 Mr Mark Waters Phone: 02 6775 3788 Email: [email protected] Address: “Monterey”, PO Box 347, SEAFORTH NSW 2092 Mrs Catherine Hayne Phone: 02 9948 0612 Email: [email protected] Tasmania Address: “Macquarie Hills”, 963 Mt Joy Road, LONGFORD Tas 7301 Mr Ian Thirkell-Johnston Phone: 03 6398 5128 Email: [email protected] Address: “Patterdale”, PO Box 1448, LAUNCESTON Tas 7250 Mrs Carol Westmore Phone: 0419 344 883 Email: [email protected] Address: “Glen Stuart”, 411 Bryants Lane, DEDDINGTON Tas 7212 Mr Allan Phillips Phone: 03 6398 6115 Email: [email protected] Address: “Kingston”, CONARA Tas 7211 Mr Simon Cameron Phone: 0411 125 622 Email: [email protected] Western Australia Address: “Misty Hills’, KOJONUP WA 6395 Mr Russell Meaton Phone: 08 9834 1030 Email: [email protected] 4 Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association inc. Annual 2016-2017 There were many excellent aspects to the year just completed. They included our Launceston Conference, The Future for Traditional Superfi ne Report, increased participation in fl eece competitions, more co-branded selling, the positive outcome of the Knit-Extra Project, close co-operation with AWI and a good fi nancial result. President’s Report 2016 The Future for Traditional Superfine Report evidence that some textile manufacturers are prepared to accept lesser quality wool to avoid retailer and consumer criticism. Given It was The Future for Traditional Superfi ne Report that was the that the market for luxury clothing is sound in regions such as most important undertaking in terms of the Australian Superfi ne Europe and North America and growing in China and India there Woolgrowers’ Association. This project led by Paul Vallely is a future to be had for ASWGA members and other growers objectively set out some cold hard facts about our sector of the prepared to match customer expectations. There is also greater wool industry. It also provided us with feedback from key mill potential for the ASWGA itself in representing growers of not just customers for traditional superfi ne wool giving us guidance for traditional superfi ne wool who are also prepared to meet the the future of our association if that is the path members and standard and wish to be part of a group that already has direct potential members wish to take. links with manufacturers. The Report confi rmed what many of us suspected, that traditional Follow-up to the Report has already commenced. Initial data on superfi ne enterprises are currently the least profi table of the animal welfare practices by members indicates that we are well most common types of wool production options. Holmes Sackett above the industry average for not mulesing and for the use of provided the analysis reviewing data from traditional superfi ne pain relief where mulesing is used. fl ocks, non-traditional superfi ne fl ocks, all other wool fl ocks and dual purpose fl ocks with an average micron of less than 18. Ermenegildo Zegna Fleece Competitions Traditional superfi ne enterprises returned, on average, $4.14 per DSE whereas for dual purpose ones it was $16.67. The conclusion The Ermenegildo Zegna fl eece competitions were the most is one for all members to consider carefully. contested for a number of years. David and Susan Rowbottom achieved a hat trick in the Vellus Aureum with their third win in a The other main learning from the Report was confi rmation in the row and making sure of the result by taking fi rst and third place. reduction of supply of traditional superfi ne wool. Peter Morgan, For the fi rst time ever the leading fl eeces were below 10 microns. with assistance from AWTA reviewed the test data for superfi ne The Unprotected Fleece Trophy went to Ed and Jill Hundy, also wool, 18.5 micron and fi ner, for the last four years. Again the frequent visitors to the podium. The level of participation saw the result was what we suspected but having the information Association exceed the performance target set by Count Zegna objectively provided gave it the credibility we as individual and thus receive a very generous incentive payment for which we wool growers could not. In summary the higher the degree of are very grateful. It was an important factor in the solid fi nancial curvature the steeper the decline in supply from 10% for 70- result for the year. 75 degrees per mm to 67% for 90+ degrees per mm.