7 February 2001

Media Release
Farming Media & Daily Media Farm Pages

Shearing trainers to cover country

WoolPro has just signed up two new full-time shearing instructors – one on the North Island’s East Coast and one in South Otago – with the aim of making shearing training accessible to all.

Willie Power is no stranger to the shearing industry – he’s been on the scene for about 33 years. He’s best known as an organiser of shearing gangs and events on the East Coast of the North Island, from his base in Wairoa.

Bruce Walker, formerly a WoolPro provincial part-time shearing instructor, went full-time at the end of 2000. Walker is based in Owaka.

Shearing since 1973, and as a provincial instructor since 1994, Walker has worked in the North and South Islands, shearing Merino and crossbred sheep.

From 1990, he’s been employed in Ronny Davis’ Balclutha-based gang.

Power started work earlier last month.

WoolPro shearing services manager Gavin Rowland says the new instructors will help ensure shearing training is delivered to all regions.

Along with the existing shearing staff – Bill Birdsall, Peter Taylor, Russell Knight, Colin King and Gavin Rowland – Walker and Power are offering in-shed training to groups organised by farmers or shearing contractors.

They also have information about Woolnet, the Fernmark Quality Programme, and WoolPro’s newest training initiatives – the Wool in Schools programme and Modern Apprenticeships Scheme.

Walker and Power are keen to meet more of the contractors in their area, and encourage anyone interested in in-shed training to make contact with them.

Contact Bruce Walker, tel 03 415 8417, or Willie Power, tel 06 838 6071.

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For more information, contact WoolPro shearing services manager Gavin Rowland, tel 03 343 7935, or 025 325 450.