Ararat wool classer says she belongs in sheds

So it is not surprising that she was able to win the Victorian leg of the AWEX Woolclassing Graduate of the Year competition at Sheepvention last week.

“I’ve just come to do my best – it is what I love and where I would like to be.”

Rebecca, 25, has classed ten clips since she obtained her ticket in February this year through the University of Ballarat after studying at the Longerenong College.

The young classer scored the highest in the AWEX identification and valuation section in the competition to win by two points from John Thewlis from Willaura, also a UB graduate.

South West Institute of TAFE graduate Kim Joyce, from Mortlake was third in the competition with 79 points.

The change of location for the woolclassers competition led to a jump in entries.

The competition was previously held at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo.

Even organizer Phillip Jefferies said entries rose by 75 per cent.

Mr Jefferies said that they moved from Bendigo due to space restrictions.

“We had no room at Bendigo, and here we can link in with the shearing competition as well which is great,” he said.

“We are now also a lot closer to the institutions that teach woolclassing, so it’s a lot easier for students to get to,” Mr Jefferies said.

“We’re very happy with the turnout -- we’ll be here from now on.”

In the interstate teams challenge held as part of Sheepvention’s WoolShear program, Victoria outperformed the ex-patriate Kiwis, with the Tasmanian team finishing in thred place.

The Open wool handling event was won by Sian Bacon, fromMichelle Walker and Kellie Hazell. The top novice wool handler was Heidi Waitere, ahead of Luke Robertson and James Gill.