GABRIELLE Saliba, Gulgong, has taken out the coveted Golden Stencil in the 2015 AWEX/TAFE National Graduate Woolclasser competition at the Sydney Royal Show.
Gabrielle has just finished her Certificate IV in wool at Dubbo TAFE and was shocked with the win.
“Dad’s a woolclasser and I work in the wool industry,” she said.
“But I didn’t expect to win, it was all so stressful.”
Gabrielle grew up on a mixed Merino sheep, cattle and cropping property “Glenbah”, 20 kilometres north of Goulburn, and went to TAFE to gain her woolclassing qualifications.
“I love (working with sheep),” she said.
“Growing up on a wool property you work up in the sheds.”
Gabrielle now wants to start working as a classer in her local area.
Her teacher, Frank Roberts, said she was a pleasure to have in the classroom.
“She’s always really happy and bubbly and keen to learn,” Mr Roberts said.
Reserve went to Grace Delahunty, Invermay, Victoria, with third place going to Candida Johnson, Minhamite, Victoria.