THE cream of Australian superfine woolgrowing was recognised at a golden celebration with all the style of Italy in Sydney last week.
The occasion was the 50th anniversary of the Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Trophy, an annual award instigated by leading Italian luxury men's retailer Zegna Group in Tasmania in 1963.
The company's intention was to reward growers for excellence in the production of the lustrous superfine fibre so important to Zegna's business and which is utilised in 60 to 70 per cent of all garments it now produces.
As a mark of respect to growers and in acknowledgement of its ongoing relationship with the Australian wool industry, Zegna Group CEO Gildo Zegna and his cousin and company chairman Paolo Zegna travelled to Sydney to host the two-day extravaganza, supported by Australian Wool Innovation.
In tow were 200 reporters from 31 countries representing all media platforms who were brought down under by Zegna Group to help spread wool's unique message to the world.
Their tour included visits to Merino wool producing properties around Armidale, New South Wales and a gala anniversary wool awards cocktail function attended by 1000 celebrities, industry personnel and wool growers.
Following a fashion show of Zegna's autumn-winter collection paraded by 60 male models on one of the longest catwalks assembled for a fashion event, the winners of the 2013 Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Awards were announced on stage by Paolo Zegna.
Once again it was the Hundy family, 'Windradeen', Pyramul via Mudgee, NSW, that shone brightest in the spotlight.
Twenty nine-year veterans of the competition Ed and Jill Hundy, with their son Andrew and his wife Penny, went one better than last year to win both categories in the prestigious awards.
Their names were first called in the Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Trophy category, the award on which the 50th anniversary celebration is based, for unmulesed, unprotected fleeces of 18.5 micron or less.
That announcement was immediately followed by their win for the third year in succession in the Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum category, introduced in 2002 for unmulesed fleeces of 13.9 micron and finer, with an 11.5 micron fleece.
The Hundy's fleeces were off three-year-old wethers shorn in November 2012 and while their flock is based on Merryville bloodlines, they continue to breed most of their own rams.
Ed Hundy said he loved the challenge of pitting his knowledge and his product against other growers in what was a great benchmarking opportunity.
"Everything needs a high point and this competition is a real high point for our industry," he said.
"Zegna puts so much work into it and so do the growers.
"We have done extremely well out of Zegna with prizes including two trips to its woollen mill in Biella and also to Shanghai, China," Mr Hundy said.
This year's results made the Hundys one of the most successful entrants in the history of the awards bringing their record to seven wins in both categories.
But it was a close call with just 0.54 points separating them and the second placegetters in the Vellus Aureum, David and Susan Rowbottom, 'Rowensville', St Helens, Victoria, and another 0.95 points to third placed Geoffrey and Heather Phillips, 'Currawong', Tatyoon, Victoria.
The 50th Zegna Trophy was even closer with just 0.4 points to second placed Allan and Carol Phillips, 'Glen Stuart', Deddington, Tasmania and a further 0.8 points to Mary and Warwick O'Connor, 'Windfalls', Campbell Town, Tasmania.
A total of 138 fleeces, 76 in the Vellus Aureum and 66 in the Wool Trophy, were entered this year by growers from NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and WA.
Judges were Sydney-based Schute Bell Badgery Lumby woolbroker Robert Ryan and Viterra wool buyer Scott Sealy, with organisation and overseeing by G Schneider Australia managing director Don Belgre.
p Wendy Gould attended the Ermenegildo Zegna 50th Wool Trophy celebrations as a guest of Zegna Group.
