GRAHAM Wallace openly admits his Merinos are his first passion.
His old dog comes second and his wife, Maureen, third.
Mrs Wallace laughs and fully supports his devotion, which she acknowledges is all towards her when he's indoors.
The flock belonging to the couple with son Adam and daughter-in-law Sarah at Melrose, Morongla near Cowra, have been long-time Lach River stud clients running 18.3 micron (average) Merinos on their sandy loam country.
The flock has either won or placed second in this competition since its inception in 2018 - second that year, first in 2019, second last year and the winner this year.
Melrose picked up the western sector winning flock and medium wool winning flock, plus the long wool award.
Runner-up flock was the Demondrille blood Karoola flock of the Dawe family, Young, with maiden ewes from their 18.5 micron average flock.
Third placing went to Stephen and Alison Rutledge's Nargong Partnership based at Watervale, Woodstock, and of Lachlan Merinos bloodlines and flock micron average of 18.8.
Encouragement award was presented to Rachel Pritchard of the Dawe family's Karoola flock, Young, for her flock management, especially when her father and brothers are away working at other business enterprises.
Her, and her sister Jackie Osborne, work closely as a team with Jackie busy with bookwork when not outside.
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