AUSTRALIAN SUPERFINE WOOL GROWERS’ ASSOCIATION INC. ANNUAL 2018-2019 www.aswga.com Australianwww.aswga.com Superfine Wool Growers’ Association inc. ANNUAL 2018-2019 1 RUN WITH WOOL INTUITIVE TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT INNOVATION SUPPORTED BY THE WOOLMARK COMPANY VR4364825 WOOLMARK.COM | WOOL.COM adidas Image credit: All rights reserved. Company. © 2018 The Woolmark RUN WITH WOOL INTUITIVE TEMPERATURE MANAGEMENT CONTENTS 5 ASWGA President’s Report 2018 32 Next Generation Tools Support 50 Polyester: A modern day scourge Wool’s Future 6 Mill Visit to Japan 52 Benefits to skin health by 33 ASWGA Fleece Competition wearing merino wool 11 Goulburn Yass Dinner & winners 2018 Farm Tour 2018 53 CRISPR/Cas9 - a revolutionary 34 ASWGA Annual Fleece Competition technology 14 55th Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Trophy 36 2018 IWTO Congress – 54 Sheep CRC 2018 Wool for Future Markets 15 Superfine Women 55 Responding to Stress in Tough times 38 10th World Merino Conference, 20 The Australian Yarn Company 56 AWEX 2018 Uruguay 22 We are in this together 58 New solutions to target pest and Traceability and connecting 42 weed problems 23 Tarrangower Merinos growers and mills Science again backs sleeping in wool Ararat-Barunah Regional Report 60 24 42 Bellevue Park Wool Wool Product Wellness Albury-Wodonga Regional Report 61 25 44 Ross Tully OAM ASWGA Membership form Goulburn – Yass Regional Report 62 25 44 Jill Hundy 26 Tasmanian Regional Report ASWGA Annual Photographic 45 ISBN 978-0-9944442-3-3 Mudgee Regional Report Competition winner 2018 26 Cover photo: Fairfax Media 27 Hamilton Regional Report 46 The Wind that never blue .... 27 South Australia Regional Report 48 The Female Phenomenon 28 Western Australian 49 Sheep and Fleece yet again Regional Report headliners at the Sydney Royal Easter Show 30 New England Regional Report INNOVATION SUPPORTED BY THE WOOLMARK COMPANY www.aswga.com // Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association Inc. / ANNUAL 2018-2019 3 VR4364825 WOOLMARK.COM | WOOL.COM adidas Image credit: All rights reserved. Company. © 2018 The Woolmark EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS OF COUNCIL COUNCIL 2018-2019 Office 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: “Hillcreston Park”, 2615 Bigga Road, BIGGA NSW 2583 Mr Danny Picker Phone: 02 4835 2220 Email: [email protected] Vice President - Vic Address: “Kelseldale”, 280 Mt Challicum Rd, BALLYROGAN Vic 3375 Mr Russell Hartwich Phone: 03 5354 4254 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: “Kingston”, CONARA Tas 7211 Mr Simon Cameron Phone: 0411 125 622 Email: [email protected] MEMBERS OF COUNCIL: Ararat-Barunah Address: “Kelseldale”,280 Mt Challicum Rd, BALLYROGAN Vic 3375 Mr Russell Hartwich Phone: 03 5354 4254 Email: [email protected] Mr Tom Spielvogel Address: “Karalta”, 225 Dolly’s Creek Road, MORRISON Vic 3334 Phone: 0408 861 451 Email: [email protected] Albury-Wodonga Address: “Jemala”, 14 Goulding Close, BENALLA, Vic 3672 Dr Jeff Gill Phone: 03 5762 4949 Email: [email protected] Goulburn-Yass Address: “Cookmundoon”, WEE JASPER NSW 2582 Mr Ian Cathles Phone: 02 6227 9634 Email: [email protected] Mr John Ive Address: “Talaheni”, PO Box 337, HALL ACT 2618 Phone: 02 6258 2661 Email: [email protected] Hamilton Address: “Glenara”, DUNKELD Vic 3294 Mr Trevor Mibus Phone: 03 5573 3212 Email: [email protected] Mr Bradley Venning Address: “Kilmarnock”, 6228 Dartmoor - Hamilton Rd, YULECART Vic 3301 Phone: 03 5573 4565 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] Mrs Catherine Hayne Address: “Monterey”, PO Box 347, SEAFORTH NSW 2092 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] Mrs Carol Westmore Address: “Patterdale”, PO Box 1448, LAUNCESTON Tas 7250 Phone: 0419 344 883 Email: [email protected] Mr Allan Phillips Address: “Glen Stuart”, 411 Bryants Lane, DEDDINGTON Tas 7212 Phone: 03 6398 6115 Email: [email protected] Mr Simon Cameron Address: “Kingston”, CONARA Tas 7211 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 / ANNUAL 2018-2019 Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association Inc. // www.aswga.com ASWGA PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2018 It is my pleasure to give a report on the 47th year of the Australian Superfine Wool Growers’ Association. It has been a great time to be the President of an Association when wool prices have improved to a level where wool growers around Australia are not in a state of shock when they sell their wool. It is my pleasure to give a report on the at the Goulburn/Yass Presentation Dinner During my term as President, I will give my 47th year of the Australian Superfine Wool Seminar in May, where Bendigo Woollen Mills all to represent ASWGA the best I can on Growers’ Association. It has been a great was our major fleece sponsor. the world stage. I urge any stylish wool time to be the President of an Association grower to join our friendly organisation. It I sincerely thank Paolo Zegna and his when wool prices have improved to a level is my pleasure to represent progressive and organisation for their continued fantastic where wool growers around Australia are not passionate wool growers. financial support of our Association. Paolo, in a state of shock when they sell their wool. your award presentation dinners are a In closing, a massive thank you to all the Although prices are recorded at historically highlight of the wool growers’ year. I hope team who have put this edition of the high levels, this is only for the modern era all members can one day make the finalists’ ASWGA Annual together. Jeff Gill, Susan and not taking in the cost of inflation and the list so they can experience such a wonderful Rowbottom, Lyndall Eeg, Simon Cameron, everyday running costs of a farm. I sincerely night. Please support these competitions; Lesley Prior, Vera Taylor and Melissa Mulley hope we are not on a roller coaster ride and they are very rewarding for all who enter - and all others that have helped with wool producers have the opportunity to see whether you are a member of ASWGA, or editorials and photos. Anyone wishing to these current price levels long into the future. are thinking about joining. help in the future, please pass on interest to Melissa. Our Annual Fleece Presentation Seminar I also thank all those who very generously weekend was well run by the Goulburn/ sponsored events throughout the year. Danny Picker Yass branch. Compliments to all who Without these sponsors, ASWGA would not ASWGA President worked to make the event enjoyable for all. be able to represent our Australian wool Congratulations to all our Regional fleece growers, who produce stylish wool to the competition winners, especially Mark and world. We are the only organisation which Lesleann Waters, who took out the champion represents quality superfine wool growers, fleece with a very special 74s type fleece. from grower to end user. We are doing all we can to advertise members wool to mills At the end of May, I had twelve meetings and the end user. with manufacturers in Japan. Their hospitality was very gracious and friendly. In summary, I thank Dr Peter Morgan, who is doing the the Japanese are still very much in love monthly reports on curvature from AWTA with ASWGA members’ wool and wish to Test results and distributing them to all farm do further business with our members, and mill members. especially in cardings and lambswool. I thank AWI for their support during my Unfortunately, their currency, the Yen, is very first year and hope our friendship can only low compared with the US Dollar and they grow. I congratulate Cathy Hayne on her are having trouble competing at auction for continued support for our organisation, not raw wool. But the Japanese are still very only as Treasurer, but her work improving much in business in the carding world and our website and Facebook pages - this will blending with other fibres. Sports wool, always be an ongoing project. babies’ clothing and next-to-skin wear are very much on their radar. I wish to thank all branch Chairs and Councillors for their continued support of It was my pleasure to present Marco the Association. A massive thank you to Schneider with their Mill membership Simon Cameron who has done a marvellous certificate. We thank Marco and Giovani job as President and for what he has done in Schnieder of Switzerland for joining our helping me through the transition stage as Association. It was just as equally pleasurable incoming President. I couldn’t have done it to present a Mill Membership certificate without him. to Colin Walker of Bendigo Woollen Mills. Colin purchased Australian Country Spinners Now a very big hug for Melissa Mulley.