AWN AWN recently hosted a highly successful woolgrowers information evening in Boorowa, NSW, bringing together local wool producers for an engaging and informative session on the latest industry advancements and vital support services.
This event, initiated by AWN’s Wool Sales Manager – NSW, Andrew Combe, specifically aimed to equip woolgrowers with essential knowledge for a more profitable, efficient, and ultimately, sustainable wool production future.
Additionally, our other AWN leading wool experts who supported the event included Craig Pearsall (Sheep & Wool Specialist), Mark Hedley (Northern Wool Manager & Wool Trading Manager), Nick McNamara (Sheep & Wool Specialist), and Phil Jones (Southern – Sheep & Wool Specialist). Notably, the evening drew a strong attendance of 30 interested clients and non-clients, a highlight in itself, according to Andrew Combe.
“Having so many engaged growers attend was fantastic. Craig (Pearsall) provided quality guest speakers and topical subjects that are very relevant to woolgrowers at this current time,” Andrew noted.
A significant focus of the evening was the impending implementation of compulsory Individual electronic identification (eID) for sheep and lambs in NSW. To address this important change, Charlotte Thomas, a representative from Local Land Services (LLS) outlined the critical dates and rationale behind this shift. In addition, Joel Maguire, a local Coopers/Allflex representative provided a practical demonstration of the application process, showcasing redesigned applicators and improved ear tag designs.
Another standout topic was WoolClip, an essential online and mobile app. It simplifies wool specifications, consignments, and NWDs, significantly reducing workload and errors for everyone in the wool supply chain. Crucially, WoolClip works offline, allowing you to capture on-farm data without the internet. It makes building specifications easy, enables team collaboration, ensures secure electronic data transfers, and is ready for e-bale (RFID).
Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) representatives, John Cox and Fiona Raleigh, showcased Woolclip’s system benefits, highlighting how all purchased wool packs will soon feature integrated electronic codes for easy scanning.
Andrew Combe shared a compelling anecdote from the night.
“I spoke with a non-client who had used WoolClip, and he said it made it so much easier to identify any discrepancy in the wool shed before loading onto the truck. He just scanned the top of bales with his iPhone, and it told him exactly what type of wool and the mob the bale came from. He was super impressed.”
This story highlighted the practical value of WoolClip on-farm, a point further emphasised by Craig Pearsall.
“The explanation of WoolClip for growers to set up accounts and its use for bale recording was incredibly well-received. Clients found it very useful and gained insight into how straightforward it is once set up. The biggest takeaway was that WoolClip is not as hard as it seems, and importantly, you can use WoolClip offline, which is a huge advantage for our rural woolgrowers who might not have constant internet access in the woolshed.”
In addition to the above, the Boorowa evening also highlighted AWN’s dedication to hands-on client support. AWEX provided a helpful “cheat sheet” for WoolClip setup, and AWN staff made it clear they’re ready to assist growers. “We told everyone that if they need any help, we can assist them in setting up their account,” Craig added, emphasising AWN’s reinforced connection with their clients.
Despite current market levels, growers expressed quiet optimism about the future of the wool industry. Consequently, the Boorowa woolgrowers information evening provided a valuable platform for networking. It connected growers directly with representatives from AWEX (John Cox & Fiona Raleigh), Local Land Services (Charlotte Thomas), Coopers Animal Health/Allflex (Joel Maguire), and AWI (Mark Scott).
Andrew Combe expressed his pride in the AWN team’s dedication.
“It makes me proud to be a member of the AWN team, sharing information and industry knowledge to make our clients more profitable, sustainable, and efficient.”
The overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees, with comments like “Great night, informative,” and “Very helpful— hope we have more info nights,” confirmed the value of the event. Additionally, this also highlights AWN’s commitment to our woolgrower clients.
Sustainable Wool Production: Why Do Woolgrowers Choose AWN?
AWN stands out as a 100% Australian-owned and operated agriservices company, consistently ranking among the top three pastoral houses nationwide. At AWN, wool is the fibre of our business, and we pride ourselves on being wool marketing specialists.
AWN offers comprehensive wool expertise and diverse marketing solutions. These include auctions, forward contracts, direct-to-mill sales, and specialty bale-to-retail programs like ZQ, ZQRX, and DNA (Direct Network Advantage) Provenance. Furthermore, our private wool buying team provides door trading, on-farm pick-ups, and direct consignment for ultimate convenience.
AWN is the preferred Australian partner for the prestigious ZQ Merino program and holds a significant 10.1% stake in The New Zealand Merino Company (NZM), underscoring our vital role in sourcing this benchmark of ethical wool.
“We go the extra mile for our clients to satisfy their requirements,” Craig Pearsall proudly emphasised.
Connect with our NSW wool specialists from the Boorowa Woolgrowers Information Evening for further information.
Andrew Combe
Wool Sales Manager – NSW
0428 528 180
Craig Pearsall
Sheep & Wool Specialist
0428 253 141
Mark Hedley
Northern Wool Manager & Wool Trading Manager
0408 224 843
Nick McNamara
Sheep & Wool Specialist
0419 643 955
Phil Jones
Southern – Sheep & Wool Specialist
0409 749 502
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