IF THERE is a woolshed in the far south-west Wimmera, there's a fair chance Richie Foster has shorn there.
The Apsley shearer has had a phenomenal career in the industry, stretching in excess of 50 years.
Since leaving school at 14 and going shearing in 1965 Mr Foster calculates he has shorn more than 750,000 sheep and crutched a further 200,000, and been bent over the hand piece for 60,000 hours, which equates to nearly seven years.
All this after he was told at the ripe old age of 32 he was finished in the game.
"I went to the doctor as I had a bad back, there were no shearing slings in those days, and he advised me to give it away.
"Anyway, I've been going another 33 years and I reckon I've done another 500,000 sheep, so I probably proved him wrong."
And while he says he has eased off a little of late, he is by no means finished.
Indeed, in his spare time, Mr Foster is one of Victoria's leading blade shearers and will compete at the upcoming Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show.
"I got into blade shearing in the 1970s and I think it's a fantastic way of preserving the old traditions that would otherwise be lost.
"It's a good way of shearing, it does a lovely clean job, and it's a lot more peaceful than having the handpieces buzzing."
Mr Foster says the industry has changed markedly during his 50 years of participation.
"When I started, there were 60 local shearers all within an eight mile (13 kilometre) radius of Apsley, it was difficult for me to get a start as not many people wanted a learner."
"Those numbers just aren't there now."
Mr Foster said shearing provided a great way for a young person to put together some money with which to buy a farm.
"Initially I was only doing about 30 a day, but within 18 months I was up to 150 a day, which works out at around $450 a day in today's rates, so pretty good money for a teenager.
"The money was around $18 per hundred sheep shorn when I started, so it doesn't sound like much, but you could get a lot more for your money too."
Mr Foster said at his peak, he could shear more than 50 a run, or 200 a day, a figure he maintained for around 10 years until his deteriorating back forced him to ease down slightly.
"The most I ever shore was 2366 in two weeks, which today would be over $7000 worth of sheep, it was a lot of money for a 21-year-old."
The proceeds of shearing allowed Mr Foster and his wife Leanne to buy his great grandfather's original block, to the north of Apsley.
"My great grandfather was one of the original selectors in the area and now we are on the same block."
While many shearers embark on the yearly migrating to the large stations in NSW, Mr Foster has largely contented himself with shearing locally.
"It is good to get home at night and I also found it too hot up north!"
But travelling has come into his career later in life, as part of his blade shearing.
"I've shorn in Ireland and New Zealand -- we regularly travel around Australia following blade shearing competitions.
"It's been a marvellous way to meet like minded people."
Shearing has not been Mr Foster's only passion.
He is well-known around the district as a horseman, having trained racehorses for more than 40 years and also been a noted horse breaker.
"I trained quite a few winners across the years, including a Nhill Cup when I was just 18, I've always loved horses," he said.
His last winner came in the Western District in the early 2000s before he decided to hand in his licence.
"I still keep horses on the place, I have some Clydesdales which I use for ploughing demonstrations, but I have stopped with the gallopers, I'm pretty busy with the shearing and local history and other interests."
Between racing and shearing, spare time was always at a premium at the Foster household.
"I used to get up well before dark to work the horses and then it was off for a day's shearing.
"There was never any time to get into trouble," he said.
