29/08/2026
The Code of Practice is developed for the customer of Australian Wool- this includes the package, or how the bale is pressed. In this case the warehouse and the shipping exporter is the customer. What happens when an overweight bale hits the store? The bale is weight adjusted to meet the maximum gross weight of 204kg. Photo shows 8kg being removed. It is understood that scales are not always accurate or present. Share your tips on achieving optimal bale weight at pressing.
27/08/2026
Master Classer 2026. Four days of wool industry visits and presentations. The group looked at the industry beyond the wool table and through the lens of the broker, warehouse, testing, appraisal and buyer requirements. A feature of the course was a day working on leadership and professional skill development. Lots of discussion, friendships made and a few laughs along the way.
15/07/2026
Not a grey area- It's black BLK. The image shows a black fleece that had been placed in the top portion of a bale. Luckily the fleece was identified before being tipped into the hopper at the mill.
The line of AAAFXLMSY had visual pigmentation which was identified in the description (Y). The wool was purchased knowing that the bale contained visual pigmentation from black points, which had also been noted in the show floor sample. What the mill was not able to tolerate was the concentration of black wool from a complete fleece. The COP 2025-27, page 67, outlines the preparation for black fleece being different to black pointed breeds. This is a good example of customer feed back supporting the Code of Practice and the importance of correctly identifying wool characteristics.
30/05/2026
TAS TAFE Trainer Evelyn Archer being presented with the Trainer Award for the 2025 National Graduate Wool Classer Competition. Fiona Raleigh, Wool Classer Registrar surprised Evelyn at the Campbell Town show today.
22/04/2026
Contamination prevention is a team effort; let’s each play our part in protecting the reputation of the Australian wool clip.
22/04/2026
Who trained in Wool Classing at "The Gordon"?? Established in 1887 as the Gordon Memorial Technical College in Geelong, the institution began as a mechanics institute offering night classes, quickly becoming a premier training centre for the wool, textile, and engineering industries. It officially changed names to the Gordon Institute of Technology in 1921 and became a major TAFE provider in the 1980s. Pictured are Ken Mason, David Wishart and Wesley Pickford at the recent GWSOSA annual get together, being presented with their 50 year Wool Classer registration certificates by Andrew Partridge (AWEX).