Picture: BROOKE LITTLEWOOD
A BLADE shearing event in Glencoe has raised around $30,000 for beyondblue, while shining light on the often dark topic of mental health and suicide.
Sixty shearers from across Australia and beyond picked up their clippers and united at Sunday’s Blades of Glencoe Shear-a-thon, held at the town’s historical woolshed.
Organised by the Blade Shearing Historic Foundation, the event relived the golden era of blade shearing with demonstrations and hosted some of the biggest names in the industry including one-armed shearer Josh Talbot, the second best blade shearer in the world Allan Oldfield and top female shearer Jill Angus Burney.
Senior shearer and foundation committee member Janine Midgley said she was overwhelmed by the support Blades of Glencoe received from the public and shearers.
“It was amazing, it was just such an awesome thing,” Ms Midgley said.
“Everyone came together and was on such a high about the event.
“It is something that we will have with us and will remember for life.
“Honestly the whole day was a dream come true and it feels so surreal.”
Ms Midgley said participants were left stunned when the last sheep of the thousand was shorn.
“Everyone was kind of in shock,” she said.
“I was walking around and the last sheep was out and everyone was just stunned.
“I think we ended up shearing around 25-30 sheep each, some did more and some did less.”
“We all really have the same end result in mind when it comes to the event, it is not about the money, it is about raising awareness,” Ms Midgley said.
As well as blade shearing demonstrations, the event’s agenda included a Tales of the Tailgate celebration on Saturday night, which gave people the opportunity to share their personal battles with mental health.
Around 70 people attended the evening and Ms Midgley said the response was “amazing”.
“People opened up and talked about their lives,” she said.
“There were a few tears and a bit of laughter.”
Shearers from as far as Germany and the United Kingdom arrived in the Wattle Range region in the lead-up to the shear-a-thon and organisers were kept busy preparing the 1000 sheep, which were donated by Member for MacKillop Nick McBride.
Foundation commitee member Lance Degenhardt said hailed the day a success, adding the wet weather did not dampen the spirits of those attending.
“We are very happy with the turn-out of the event and how the day went,” he said.
“We have estimated that around 1200 people came through the gate, despite the weather hampering us earlier on.
“I would like to thank all the shearers, volunteers and the general public who came along to support the event – it was a spectacle you probably will not see again for a few years in the South East.
“A lot of people put in a lot of hard work to raise the money that we did and we definitely achieved what we wanted to achieve.
“It was not only about raising funds and awareness for mental health and suicide, but it was also about making people aware about what is going on in pastoral industries.
“We will continue to raise awareness.”
Mr McBride joined Member for Barker Tony Pasin in pulling on a blue singlet and trying their hand at blade shearing, enticed by a $600 donation from the general public.
“They know mental health and suicide is a part of every Australian,” Mr Degenhardt said.
“Everyone that I spoke to was well aware of what the day was about, however I was surprised there was not a lot more younger people there as I think that is where the problem is lying.
“Everyone will experience mental health issues, we just have to keep battling and make sure we say ‘how are you mate, are you alright?’
“And if we do not hear from our friends then we should give them a call.”
Mr Degenhardt has already been approached to organise another blade shearing event next year in Broken Hill when the drought breaks.
As part of the event there was also live music, food, beverages and a variety of stalls and activities including art classes and wool spinners.
Raffles and an auction were held with prizes donated from business and individuals including accommodation in Renmark and a Kelpie dog.
Funds were further raised after one of the shearers – Luke Robottom – sacrificed his beard to the blade clippers for the cause.
