THE country’s sheep stations have long been heralded as a breeding ground for industry managers, leaders and innovators; many of whom got their start through traditional jackaroo and jillaroo programs.
While properties fostering jackaroo and jillaroo training programs have become something of a rarity, they were still valued programs that remained relevant according to jackaroos from the NSW Central West.
At Haddon Rig Merino stud, Warren, there are two jackaroos involved in the livestock enterprise – first year jackaroo Nick Spora, 18, from Gulargumbone, and second year Dave Henderson, 19, from Louth.
Nick has bucked the trend of a lot of people his age and opted to work with sheep rather than tractors. After he completed his secondary education in 2013 he headed home to the family farm at Gulargumbone but in October last year decided to join the jackaroo ranks at Haddon Rig, “to get away from tractors”.
He had previously worked at Haddon Rig as a roustabout when he was at school as he had completed his wool classing certificate as part of his studies. He planned to work for two years at Haddon Rig before heading north for the “ringer from the Top End experience”. He would like to work his way up the ranks to becoming a manager, before returning to the family property.
Despite his passion for livestock, particularly Merinos, Nick hasn’t managed to get away from the diesel completely – given his cropping knowledge he was tasked with sowing the oats for sheep feed. Nick is also studying his Certificate III in Agriculture through Dubbo TAFE.
Haddon Rig stud groom and second year jackaroo Dave Henderson, should have a good handle on the sheep he’s working with given his family has been buying rams from the stud for nine years.
Dave is keen to learn from Haddon Rig’s stud manager and classer Andy McLean and stud overseer Shannon Mitchell about running a property before he heads back to his family’s 50,000 hectare Merino, goat and cattle property between Louth and Tilpa.
“I would like to stay here as long as I can to keep learning the tricks of the trade,” he said.
“I knew a lot of the basics of stock work but my old man is a traditional man, so it’s been good to think outside the square and get different perspectives from Andy and Shannon that I can take home to improve what we are doing.”
Dave planned to study his Certificate IV in Agriculture through TAFE NSW before undertaking his Diploma in Agriculture at Emerald Agriculture College, Queensland.
Warren local Pete Brooker, 20, is carving out a career for himself in the sheep industry, and like Nick also defied his family’s tradition to do so.
Pete’s father Alex and brother Tim were both agronomists, but Pete is on track for a career in the sheep industry.
When he was still at secondary school Pete completed two months of work placement at Haddon Rig at the end of his year 11 studies when shearing and artificial insemination were on.
At completion of year 12 in 2012 he started jackarooing at Haddon Rig – and stayed for two years – the second year as stud groom.
This year Pete started a three-year Agrifood Systems degree at University of New England, Armidale.
“Everything I do at uni I can relate back to what I’ve done at Haddon Rig – the animal husbandry, sustainability and low stress stock movement,” he said.
Pete also returned to Haddon Rig during the Easter break to help out at shearing. He planned to undertake more work experience during university holidays with the likes of Australian Wool Exchange, Australian Wool Innovation, Australian Wool Network and on other woolgrowing properties across the state as part of his Australian Wool Education Trust scholarship.
After university Pete would like to be an overseer at a Merino stud or manage a large scale mixed farming enterprise.
In time, Pete would like to follow in the footsteps of Mr McLean and get into stud classing.
