Local wool classer Paul Evans has achieved an elite milestone in the wool industry and has been acknowledged for his 50 years of continuous wool classing service by the Australian Wool Exchange.
The award honours professionals who have maintained active registration and quality assurance at the forefront of Australia’s wool clip preparation for 50 years.
Maintaining accreditation for five decades requires wool classers to remain registered and meet ongoing quality assurance requirements throughout their careers.
Last week Paul received his Golden Stencil from the Australian Wool Exchange (which is actually green rather than gold), along with a certificate recognising his contribution to the Australian wool industry.
Wool classing is a critical step in the wool supply chain and involves sorting, grading and preparation of wool into uniform lines ready for sale.
Paul completed Wool Classing as a Higher School Certificate subject through Forbes TAFE while he was attending Marist Brothers Red Bend School in Forbes. His final exam results placed him third in the state.
Paul initially qualified with an Owner Classer stencil, allowing him to class his own wool clip.
“In 1975 I was assessed on five different clips and in early 1976 I was declared competent as an Australian Wool Classer,” Paul told The Cobar Weekly.
“My very first wool classing clip was for Keith and Shirley Harbison at ‘Merrylands’ in December 1975.”
Since then, he’s classed at least one wool clip every year.
Paul said some years he has classed only the family’s clip at Tambua Poll Merino Stud, while in other years, he has classed up to 15 different clips.
“Most clips were located in and around the Cobar Shire, but I have done clips as far away as Dubbo and Hebel in Queensland.
“My biggest clip was 600 bales and the smallest was just five bales,” Paul recalls.
Along with using his skills at different sheds, Paul has volunteered with the Cobar Show Society for the past 52 years, starting out as a volunteer in the sheep pavilion, where he later became the chief steward and also as the chief steward in the wool pavilion.
He was awarded Life Membership of the Cobar Show Society in 2013.
It’s believed Paul is the first wool classer in the Cobar Shire to receive the Australian Wool Exchange’s Golden Stencil, recognising 50 years of continuous wool classing service.
