Ian Wass - a gentle man

A memorial service was held for him on March 3 at Gulargambone's Presbyterian Church.

In the eulogy, Tony Wass worked a thorough outline of his half-brother, blending history with his eloquent thoughts of a man whose intentions and acceptance of responsibilities was second nature - a gentle person.

In 1947 he and younger brother, Greg, bought Wonga, and later appointed temporary manager of Kooba, Darlington Point. After marrying Georgina Coghlan, their first home was Borambola, Wagga Wagga, one of many properties held by her father as a silent partner with Fred Hughes of F.W. Hughes Pty Ltd.

In 1954 Ian and Georgina Wass purchased Warrie, Gulargambone, trading as Warrie Grazing Pty Ltd, as home which suited because it was close to Woodside, the Woodside Merino stud and his aging father.

While at Warrie, property purchases were added including Wallaroy, Warren, in 1960 and Owangowan, Cunnamulla, Queensland; The Lagoon, Bourke, Pine Clump and Bullagreen Park, with some being sold over time.

Ian took over the direct management of Woodside Merino stud on Stan Wass' death in 1960, plus the difficult task of paying probate to hold his family's property together.

But with the dedication of team member Ken Thompson, the two formed a strong working partnership for half a century, Tony Wass said.

In 1983 Ian and Georgina founded their own Warrie Merino stud as a separate outcross stud aimed at combining the magnificent qualities of Spanish Merinos with bigger frames and increased wool cuts.

"Ian loved quality wool, but never felt he had the breeding skills of his uncle Harold which had made Egelabra what it is, Tony Wass said.

"But he was no slouch either. He was a good judge and sought the best advice about the breeding program, and there was success in shows and more importantly, sales."

Mr Tony Wass said in his memory, "Ian loved the sale process. He actually loved haggling over a sale and if necessary would sweeten a deal so buyers went away happy and came back next time."

Given that his grandfather, David, managed Egelabra stud, Warren, from 1900, and management continued by his uncle, Edward Harold, it was no doubt inevitable that Ian Stanley Wass would jackaroo at Egelabra.

This he did for five years from 1942 to 1947 following a boarding school stint at Hurlstone Agricultural High School where he won a full scholarship to Hawkesbury Agricultural College.

However, for Ian Wass, labour shortages caused by World War II, required him to return home to Woodside, Gulargambone, of 2600 hectares from the original Haddon Rig run of Jamie Richmond, which his father, Stanley and uncle Harold, purchased in 1935.

Because of Harold's close interest and attachment to Egelabra as recorded in the Merino industry book "Heritage Merino" written and edited by the late Malcolm McCosker in the late 1980s, it was natural the brothers should select this bloodline to found their own Woodside Merino stud in 1936 with the purchase of 950 in-lamb cast-for-age Egelabra stud ewes. In 1937 they purchased another draft making a total of 2600 ewes and leased several Egelabra sires until 1939 when they began using their homebred sires and occasionally bought a few top sires and more stud ewes from Egelabra, and rams from Mumblebone, the other Warren-based Spanish Merino stud.

A staunch supporter of his local community, Mr Wass was Gulargambone (Bush Fire Brigade) Rural Fire Service captain for 30 years; life member of Gulargambone Jockey Club and Gulargambone Bowling Club; involved deeply in the local show society - slashing the ground prior to each fixture, to name some of his involvement.

Importantly, with friend George Milgate, Mr Wass joined the Coonamble Hospital Board with the sole intention of gaining a hospital for his home town. When this was finally achieved, they both retired off the Coonamble Board.

He was heavily involved in the local Grazier's Association, then United Farmers and Wool Growers Association - NSW Farmers.

The local community acknowledged his dedication by awarding his the Gulargambone Senior Citizen of the Year on Australia Day 1993.

He served an extended tenure as a councillor of the NSW Stud Merino Breeders Association, and was a Sydney Royal Show wool section steward for 46 years and made a champion of the Royal Easter Show in 2014.

Tony Wass provided an insight to Mr Wass in his eulogy through the "prism" of his own experience and observations.

"He was honest, gregarious, good company, great sense of humour, absolutely loyal to those he believed in, particularly his wife, Georgina and family, and would defend his offspring even sometimes when what they had done was perhaps questionable.

"In the words of the hymn "Slow to chide and swift to praise" comes to mind.

"Most of all, he was a genuinely kind person."

Mr Wass leaves half-brothers and sister Tony, Malcolm and Heather, plus sons Philip, Rob and Geoff, and daughter Helen, and grand children, great-grand children and their families.