SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc was proud to announce the 2023/2024 Victorian Ambassador team at the recently held St Arnaud Sport Shear. Megan Etherton from Western Victoria was awarded the Fox & Lillie Rural Woolhandling Ambassador position. The Shearing Ambassador roles were awarded to Jack King and Joseph Knoll.
Megan Etherton, 25, grew up on a small farm at Yanac, in Western Victoria and has worked on various farms across Victoria, starting her career at Luv A Duck in Nhill, and went on to work for a horse trainer and in horse agistment before ending up working at Woodlea in Kyneton. It was at Woodlea where Megan found her love of the shearing sheds and started to rousabout with Roket shearing, helping out whenever an extra hand was needed. In April earlier this year, Megan moved to Bendigo to start a fulltime position with Roket shearing and finally being awarded the Fox & Lillie Rural Woolhandling Ambassador role.
SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc’s Ambassador Teams are selected each year out of 100 woolhandling students and 150 shearing students in Victoria, chosen for their work quality, team player attitude, willingness to learn, presentation and overall work ethic.
It is the second consecutive year that Fox & Lillie Rural have sponsored the Victorian Woolhandling Ambassador role, as part of the company’s ongoing support to promote training in the shearing sheds and showcase the various career opportunities in woolhandling and harvesting.
Glenn Haynes, SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc’s Executive Office said the ongoing sponsorship and support from Fox & Lillie Rural was extremely valuable to the organisation.
“We see the importance of industry collaboration from the grower right through to the processor to promote professionalism and quality, and we feel the ambassador program plays a fantastic part.” said Glenn.
The Ambassadors are mentored by trainers from SCAA Shearer Woolhandler Training Inc and provided with sponsorship support to compete at competitions such as Sport Shear competitions and the Golden Shears in Masterton, New Zealand.
The Ambassador teams aim to promote professionalism in the wool harvesting industry, providing role models for the next generation of employees entering the industry.
The Victorian program has been so successful that is has now been replicated in New South Wales, Tasmania, and Western Victoria.
