During the past five years, Hay Inc Rural Education has certainly developed a unique training concept to fill the practical skills gap in the wool industry which was welcomed by industry leader Wal Merriman.
Representing Australian Wool Innovation (AWI), and speaking at the celebratory function held at Shear Outback, Hay, Mr Merriman, also a former AWI chairman and current board member, congratulated the committee and the volunteers who have individually and collectively created the much needed program.
He also welcomed the graduates of the program to the wool industry.
Wool is a good business, Mr Merriman said, but trained staff with practical skills are in desperate need if the production of wool is to meet expected demand.
"We need people who can run the stock," he said. "This course, in my opinion, is very practical and that is the thing which is missing out there in the industry ... young people with stock skills."
This course, in my opinion, is very practical and that is the thing which is missing out there in the industry ... young people with stock skills
- Wal Merriman
Mr Merriman pointed out there are many accountants who can add up, or plenty of station managers who can sit on the verandah when what is really needed are staff with intuitive stock knowledge and experience.
"We need the people that understand stock, that have stock skills to bring sheep and cattle to the production capability to where they can be sold profitably, and with a good fleece on the sheep," he said.
"All of those things are a very special skill set and which has been lacking in the industry due to the demise of the jackaroo system."
Mr Merriman regards as very important the practical training graduates are experiencing through the Hay Inc Rural Education program.
"I'm particularly pleased the program has a dog day ... I would give you a dog week because if you turn up at home and want a job and you haven't got a dog, you aren't much good to me," he quipped.
"So it is very important to have those basic stock skills."
The NSW Stud Merino Breeders Association Ltd also welcomes the Hay Inc Rural Education initiative and president, Drew Chapman, Hinesville/West Plains stud, Delegate, said the association was pleased to back the concept with the offer of scholarships to participants.
"We will provide opportunities," he said.
Mr Chapman remembered the strength of the jackaroo system during his youth in the Riverina when the practical skills were passed down from manager through the overseer or sheep classer to the jackaroo.
"The greatest tools are to observe, to watch and to understand and from that all other things are built," he said.
