Gordie McMaster is a legendary sheep classer, story teller and eternal optimist on a 65 year, and still going, love affair with Merino sheep and Kelpie working dogs.
He has now added a second book to his repertoire with: “Gordie walks with legends” edited by Stephen Burns and published this year.
Launching the book at this year’s Australian Sheep and Wool Show, Mike Harvey, said “Gordie walks with legends” was no literary masterpiece “but a Merino love story with inspiring legends and their great achievements, dogged determination and humorous escapades”.
The one missing legend in the book was most likely the author himself
- Mike Harvey
Mr Harvey, a former general manager The Land, said the book recognised generations of proud “station men”, their wives and families who worked on sheep stations and bred outstanding Merino sheep.
Gordie’s legends from Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa are major contributors to the development of Merino sheep, the Dohne and Australian White sheep breeds and Kelpie dogs.
There is also a sculptor/artist with an oxy torch, Shrek the super long wool Merino wether, Zabeel the supreme thoroughbred stallion and Gordie’s favorite Kelpie working dog and sire Seany
“The Shrek chapter is a curious one-sided, beer fuelled interview with short questions from Gordie and very long answers from the sheep,” Mr Harvey said.
“By definition a legend is a notorious person or object and notorious is a famous or well-known person with some bad qualities or deeds.
“Gordie’s legends have no such bad qualities or deeds although Shrek appears to have an inflated ego and Seany a touch of arrogance demanding to ride in the front seat rather than back of the ute.”
“The one missing legend in the book is most likely the author himself, Gordie McMaster, with his mastery, influence and contribution to the Merino industry in Australia and overseas.
“Then there is his irreverent, loud and boisterous bushman personality that is capable of offending without being offensive, scathing but not nasty, dogged in pursuit of a goal, readily available to tutor and guide the next generation and direct expression of opinions and concerns,” he said
Gordie’s current concerns include plain bodied, thin skinned, light cutting Merino rams and ewes and over use of measurement figures.