NUNDLE'S DAG Sheep Station will host the second On the Sheep's Back Shearers' Festival this weekend.
The three-day event will feature a fashion parade, shearing competition, dog trials and wool-related stalls, beginning with a performance by entertainer Barry Morgan, of Barry Morgan's World of Organs, at Nundle Memorial Hall on Friday.
On Saturday the Battle of the Guns invitational shearing competition will see 32 legendary shearers compete in the historic Wombramurra Shearing Shed for the coveted jewel-decorated pewter belt buckle, not won in Australia since 1999.
DAG Sheep Station owner John Krsulja said the shearers were among the fastest shearers in Australia and were past Australian strong wool and fine wool title champions, Diamond Shears and Sapphire Shears champions, or Australian, New Zealand and international title winners.
"This is a significant, historic, never-been-done-before event," Mr Krsulja said.
"Many of the shearers are coming out of retirement especially for the Battle of the Guns, hosted by the Hills of Gold shearing competition committee."
After the day's competition there will be a Shearing Competition Federation of Australia (SCFA) reunion of 220 shearers, judges, and their families.
The SCFA started in the early 1960s and finished in 1999, producing some of Australia's best shearers on the State, national and international level.
Sunday will be a family fun day with antique shearing and blade shearing demonstrations and Fleece to Fashion parades, featuring a selection of garments entered in the 2014 Australian Wool Fashion Awards.
Utility Dog Trials will be run both days, with handlers and dogs vying for $1000 in prize money.
For more information contact John Krsulja, The DAG Sheep Station (02) 6769 3486 or the Nundle website.
