Past Students Now in Industry

NSW DPI, Graduate Program, Orange NSW

Allie Jones

I graduated from the University of Queensland, Gatton in 2009 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Animal Production, I completed a Masters in Agriculture, specialising in Sheep and Wool, through the University of New England at Armidale. I completed all 4 of the wool units and thoroughly enjoyed my wool studies, I found them very challenging and rewarding. At the beginning of trimester 1 2012, I was successful in obtaining an AWET wool scholarship.  I am actively involved in my partner's family Merino and prime lamb enterprise situated at Nindigully, QLD.  I am passionate about the sheep and wool industry and the future it holds for the next generation of dedicated producers. From late 2011 until mid 2012 I was temporarily appointed as the Sheep Extension Officer with the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Bourke. From mid 2012 until early 2014 I secured a contract with the New South Wales Department of primary Industries to work within their graduate program in Orange, NSW. I am still working predominantly within the sheep extension unit and loving my job!

Technical Officer, Sheep CRC, Murdoch University

Elise Bowen

I grew up on a sheep farm in York WA, where my family breeds White Suffolk, Suffolk and Maternal Composite rams for the prime lamb industry. I have always been interested in breeding sheep, and chose to study Animal Science rather than Agricultural Science, because of its greater emphasis on livestock.

I was the recipient of an Australian Wool Education Trust scholarship for each of the four years of my degree. I completed a Bachelor of Animal Science at Murdoch University in 2011, which included an Honours project investigating the effect of dietary manipulation of starch and fat on fertility in breeding ewe lambs.

In fourth year I studied two UNE wool units: Sheep Production and Clip Preparation and Marketing. I really enjoyed the Sheep Production unit, and I found Clip Preparation and Marketing very eye-opening, having not grown up on a wool-production focused farm.

After finishing my study in November 2011, I had the opportunity to work at the Department of Agriculture and Food WA for four months as a Development Officer in the grains industry. While I learnt a lot about grain production from both a producer and research perspective, I remain passionate about sheep production.

I am currently working for Murdoch University as a Technical Officer on the Sheep CRC Maternal Efficiency project. My job includes field work, taking data such as live weights and blood samples, and organising the data into spreadsheets for statistical analysis.I really enjoy hands on work with sheep, and I got to implement my clip preparation knowledge when I attended a shearing school last December! I am still quite involved with my family's sheep enterprise in York, and I really want to maintain my involvement with farming in the future.

Landmark Wool Rep, Walgett NSW

Brett Smith

I work for Landmark as a Wool Rep based out of Walgett, NSW covering North West NSW and parts of Southern QLD. I work with woolgrowers to help them market their woolclip to achieve the best price possible. This includes advising on clip preparation and putting together marketing strategies. I also assist with ram selection and advice on animal health at the request of clients. I am beginning to do more with nutrition through the facilitation of Lifetime Ewe Management groups, all as a service to my clients.

I studied Agricultural Economics at UNE, when I first started studying the wool units and then went on to complete a Graduate Certificate in Rural Science, majoring in Agricultural Consultancy where I completed the remaining wool units.

I thoroughly enjoyed studying sheep and wool at UNE, as the information I gathered I use regularly and the contacts I made during the residential schools I also found great. I certainly recommend the wool units to anybody interested in sheep and wool and also to anybody who wants to gain an understanding of the industry and broaden their studies.

Wool craft enthusiast

Claire McCrory

I loved the Sheep and Wool units at UNE and found the Uni to be the most supportive and organised I have come across; (I chose to do all of the units, even though my UTAS scholarship would not cover them). I did not pursue the Sheep and Wool units in order to get a job in the industry and my family farmed beef; therefore I had no background of sheep. I was interested in them because I have a genuine passion for the fibre itself; I enjoy knitting, felting, dyeing and spinning natural fibres and I wanted to learn all about the apparent and non-apparent characteristics of the fibre which makes it behave the way it does. I could draw relevance to my arty-pursuits from every single unit I studied, not just Wool Processing.

Wool Processing was my favourite unit and even allowed me to travel outside Australia for the first time. It was fascinating to see the industrial scale at which wool is being processed, spun and manufactured into outerwear, carpets and hosiery.

Wool Biology and Metrology explained the chemical and structural composition of the fleece and how it is measured. This unit explained how the fibres are charged and how dyes require a mordant in order to 'stick'; and being able to quantify characteristics of the fleece allows it to be categorised so it can be used to it full potential. Whether that is in fine next-to-skin apparel, piano felt, futon stuffing or upholstery to name a few.

Sheep Production was an interesting unit that delved into the variable nature of wool and its responsiveness in quality and quantity to the environment, stress and physiological state of the animal. This unit was useful and encouraged me to think of how I could modify the farm to make it sheep friendly and the potential of using sheep and the cows at home in rotational grazing systems.Wool Marketing and Clip Preparation equipped me with up-to-date knowledge on the many wool marketing campaigns conducted by Woolmark and AWI and gave me the skills to interpret subliminal messages that are within each advertisement. I am now familiar with the vernacular used to describe the prestigious fibre. On the clip preparation side of the unit, the class was lucky enough to watch and participate in the shearing of a young flock of AAA superfine at Stanley Vale. Here we got to shear sheep, skirt and class the fleece, test the fibre using Laserscan, press and even stencil bales. As you can see I thoroughly enjoyed all the Sheep and Wool units offered by University of New England and they have assisted my understanding and work with natural fibres in the Sheep industry.

Farmer and part time Uni Lecturer

Dr Fiona Starr

I have been very lucky to be involved with the AWET units and scholarships for a long time now and would recommend them to anyone considering them.

I work with my husband on my family's commercial fine wool property in central west NSW as of January 2014. This has been a very exciting change and is giving me the chance to explore starting my own business in farm consultancy (focusing on livestock production).

I studied Rural Science at the University of New England from 2005 to 2008. This was where I discovered my passion for sheep, wool and research. During my second year I was a recipient of the AWET Undergraduate Scholarship. I will always be grateful for the opportunities and contacts that this scholarship provided including the chance to complete work experience and an honours project with the AWTA in the final year of my degree. I graduated from Rural Science with first class honours at the beginning of 2009 and started a PhD at the University of New England that same year. My PhD was on "Self-medication by grazing sheep using medicated feed blocks against gastrointestinal nematodes". During my PhD I often assisted Dr Emma Doyle, the UNE wool lecturer, with marking, residential schools, research and the promotion of the wool units and scholarships at universities across Australia.When I submitted my PhD for marking the opportunity arose to fill in as the UNE wool lecturer for 6 months. I coordinated two units and managed the scholarships. I thoroughly enjoyed this experience and I learnt as much as (or more than) the students.

In 2013 I worked for the Livestock Health and Pest Authority (now part of Local Land Services). During which time I coordinated a research trial on "barbervax" a breakthrough sheep vaccine for Barbers pole worm developed by Moredun Research Institute in Scotland.

The AWET units are unique within Australia and throughout the world. Together they comprehensively cover all aspects of the sheep and wool industry in Australia. The AWET scholarships are very generous and genuinely open doors to industry jobs. To any students or potential students; don't let the opportunities that these fantastic units and scholarships provide go to waste!