Entries are open for the 17th Australian Fleece Competition. The prestigious competition has a total prize value of more than $16,000 and encompasses all main wool types – including Merino, Dohnes, Polwarths, Corriedales, British and other breeds.
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The competition will again have a Merino Performance 6 to 8 Month Shearing classes.
Candice Cordy works for Landmark, one of the competition’s key partners, and after having been involved with the competition for years will be its convener for the first time. The other key partners are the Australian Wool Testing Authority Ltd (AWTA) and the Australian Sheep Breeders Association, which hosts the Australian Sheep and Wool Show (ASWS) in Bendigo.
Ms Cordy was excited to announce The OTIS Foundation as the selected charity this year. Participants can chose to donate the proceeds from the sale of their fleeces to the chosen charity, and between 2001 and 2016, more than $127,000 has been raised for 16 charities.
The OTIS Foundation provides retreat accommodation to those living with the challenges of breast cancer. Representatives Rachel Mason and Carlie Ryan said they were thrilled to have been be chosen this year.
The OTIS Foundation was established in Bendigo and has grown to have 36 properties in five states and territories, of which 35 are in regional or rural locations. Some of these are owned by The OTIS Foundation, including a recently opened one at Redesdale which was made possible when a farming family, the Campbells, donated 28 acres. Most of the properties are underutilised holiday rentals and Ms Mason said most of the people they help and their families travel from within about a three-hour drive radius, so they can still be close to medical services if needed.
“Last year, we were able to help almost 800 families and provide almost 4000 nights of accommodation across our network,” Ms Ryan said.
Ms Cordy said with a fantastic season, the competition team was hopeful to see some very good quality fleeces.
She highlighted that getting both objective measurements and subjective measurements, from an exporter and a wool broker, could be a “really good learning experience” and it would be “fantastic” to have as many fleeces donated as possible.
ASWS chief executive Margot Flaconer said the Australian Fleece Competition was a “huge contribution to the show”. The winners are announced at the Saturday night’s breeders’ dinner.
Ms Falconer said the preparations were “all go” and the team expected another bumper year of sheep and fleece entries. She said they had joined with the RASV to use their online system for those entries. Another change, is this year’s Ram Sale will be held on Sunday.
