AustrAliAn superfine Wool Growers’ Association inc. AustrAliAn superfine Wool Growers Association inc. AnnuAl 2015-2016 www.aswga.com 1 | Annual 2015/2016 Australian Wool Innovation On-farm tools for woolgrowers Get involved in key initiatives such as: • Join an AWI-funded Lifetime Ewe Management group to lift production - www.wool.com/ltem • Join your state’s AWI extension network - www.wool.com/networks • Benchmark your genetic progress with MERINOSELECT - www.wool.com/merinoselect • Reducing wild dog predation through coordinated action - www.wool.com/wilddogs • Training shearers and woolhandlers - www.wool.com/shearertraining • Enhanced worm control through planning - www.wool.com/wormboss • Getting up to scratch with lice control - www.wool.com/lice • Flystrike protection and prevention - www.wool.com/fl ystrike VR2224295 www.wool.com | AWI Helpline 1800 070 099 Disclaimer: Whilst Australian Wool Innovation Limited and its employees, offi cers and contractors and any contributor to this material (“us” or “we”) have used reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in this material is correct and current at the time of its publication, it is your responsibility to confi rm its accuracy, reliability, suitability, currency and completeness for use for your purposes. 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CONTENTS Executive Committee and Council List 4 Message from the President 5 Europe Tour 6 Zegna competition winners 13 Member Profile – Lesley Prior 15 ASWGA Fleece Competition 17 Market Analysis: Supply and Prices in the 20 16 Micron Market ASWGA Fleece Competition Winners 22 Fine Art Prints and Gate Signs 25 Photographic competition winner 26 Photographic competition entry form 28 New England Wool 30 – Sustainawool Integrity Scheme Roberts Ltd 150th Anniversary 34 ASWGA Region reports 35 Obituaries 40 Malcolm the Weaver 41 Invasive Animals CRC 43 CRC for Sheep Industry Innovation 45 AWEX e-Bale Project 47 Minimum bale weight to 120 kg 49 – 1 January 2016 A new Loro Piana Excellence 50 Carbon neutral Farming at 51 Talaheni, Yass Valley NSW AWI WOOL4SCHOOL 53 Australian Superfine Merino by Cleckheaton 54 – A year on Hamilton 1PP certification 55 ASWGA Dinner & Seminar 2015 57 Glenara gets 1PP 60 ASWGA BDWG 60 Top to Bottom: Nosey Ram - Nella Price, In The Paddock ASWGA membership form 62 - Heather Phillips and The Coats Returning to their Paddock The Schnitzerling Family. Cover Photo: 2015 ASWGA Photographic competition winner - Alicia Hawkins of “Oakwood” Mudgee – Image title “Extra Help” ISBN: 978-0-9944442-0-2 Annual 2015/2016 | 3 AustrAliAn superfine Wool Growers’ Association inc. ExecuTivE COmmittee aNd MembErS Of COuncil 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: “Kingston”, CONARA Tas 7211 Mr Simon Cameron Phone: 0411 125 622 Email: [email protected] Vice President - Victoria Address: “Glenara”, DUNKELD VIC 3294. Mr Trevor Mibus Phone: 03 5573 3212 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 - Tasmania Address: “Macquarie Hills”, 963 Mt Joy Road, Longford TAS 7301 Mr Ian Thirkell-Johnston Phone: 03 6398 5128 Email: [email protected] Treasurer Address: Halls Creek Pastoral, “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] Secretary to the Executive Address: “Avondale”, 141 Dunn’s Road, WONWONDAH Vic 3401 Mr Kevin Dunn Phone: 03 5383 8220 Email: [email protected] Members of Council: Ararat-Barunah Address: “Currawong” 124 Phillips Bros Road, Tatyoon VIC 3378 Mr Geoff Phillips Phone: 03 5354 0590 Email: [email protected] Address: “Avondale”, 141 Dunn’s Road, WONWONDAH Vic 3401 Mr Kevin Dunn Phone: 03 5383 8220 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: “Cookmundoon”, Wee Jasper YASS NSW 2582 Mrs Helen Cathles Phone: 02 6227 9634 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: “Kildara”, CUMNOCK NSW 2867 Mr Richard Keniry Phone: 02 6367 7849 Email: [email protected] New England Address: “Riverton”, 1392 Grafton Road, ARMIDALE NSW 2350 Mr Mark Waters Phone: 02 6775 3788 Email: [email protected] Address: Halls Creek Pastoral, “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: “Winton Estate”, 22 Riverdale Grove, Newstead, Launceston TAS 7250 Mr John Taylor Phone: 03 6343 3020 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 9434 1030 Email: [email protected] 4 | Annual 2015/2016 AustrAliAn superfine Wool Growers’ Association inc. MessagE frOm ThE President John Taylor There have been a number of very comprehensive President - ASWGA submissions made to Government during the last 12 The recent lift months. in wool prices has A detailed submission to the Agricultural led to some renewed Competitiveness Green and White Paper and to the optimism amongst Senate inquiry into Agricultural Levies was compiled woolgrowers in general by Executive members. Other submissions include and superfine wool growers in particular. input into the AWEX review of Code of Practice and There have been substantial rises for growers and Appraisal Guidelines and the AWI Wool Selling increasing premiums for special superfine and Review. ultrafine lots. Italian processors are becoming The finances of the ASWGA continue to be a real increasingly concerned about the looming shortage of concern mainly because of lower membership and these wools. bale levies. Following communications with the AWIS Although these prices are encouraging there is still a Chairman a meeting was held with AWIS staff to need for them to be sustained and increased to keep better understand AWIS services and look at ways superfine woolgrowers viable. to save costs. An Executive report was prepared following this meeting to put before Council. The Ermenegildo Zegna Fleece Competition received a tremendous boost this year with a revamping of the The ASWGA has reinstated a Production and Market unprotected section rules to allow more entries for Report for circulation to our mill members. These members and to be paid for their fleeces as they are reports along with graphs and charts outline seasonal for the Vellus Aureum. conditions and wool production volumes in each micron category. Paolo Zegna’s most generous initiative to reward our Association a substantial figure for each multiple It is hoped this information will be useful for potential of 50 fleeces entered resulted in an outstanding buyers and processors to better understand the display with numbers exceeding 150 entries. The current changing profile of the Australian wool clip. awards for 2015 were presented to the winners at The establishment of a QA/animal welfare a special dinner at the new Ermenegildo Zegna certification system by New England Wool under the premises in Melbourne. SustainaWOOL Integrity Scheme brand has been This year’s ASWGA Fleece Competition awards were a positive initiative for the superfine wool industry run in Melbourne with the help of AWN and judged by and fills the requirement increasingly requested by Kelvin Shelley and Jason Rothe. overseas processors, retailers and consumers. A good number of excellent quality fleeces were Grower members are encouraged to seriously look at exhibited. this alternative so they can comply with the growing demand to fill special overseas orders. Awards for this competition were presented to the winners at the annual Dinner/Seminar in Armidale. The ASWGA Business Development Working Group ASWGA is most appreciative of the sponsorship and has met a number of times during the year. support received from Australian Country Spinners, Issues discussed at the most recent meetings Roberts Ltd and AWN to help run this competition. include the viability of superfine wool, woolclassing This years Dinner/Seminar was successfully run standards, QA, and falling membership. Other items in Armidale with the help of the New England discussed include the web site, the KnitExtra project, Committee. and topics such as superfine definition and curvature/ definition and also a review of the AWIS work load. There was a good line up of speakers and positive feed back from those who attended. This event was In August and September we travelled to Europe via also very well reported by the rural press.