This is the wool classing stencil for Stephanie Evans at Mercunda.
Description
The stencil recognises Steph as a Registered Owner Woolclasser (OC), enbling her to class wool on her own farm.
History
Since moving to the Mallee region of South Australia in the 1980s Steph has been heavily involved in farming activities including stone rolling, harrowing, ploughing, fencing, shearing and seeding. As an Owner Woolclasser (OC) Steph was able to commence classing in the wool shed at Mercunda, the first woman to do so.
About her wool classing stencil Steph says:
I was asked to train for my woolclasser stencil by my father in law around 1985, to take on the job in the family shearing shed. I qualified after training through TAFE and have been classing our wool ever since. I am very proud of my stencil and in my first year I got a congratulatory letter praising my classing skills.
Significance
The stencil is significant as Steph was first female wool classer in the shearing shed at Mercunda. The stencil enabled Steph to participate in another important aspect of the work of her farm.
Leave a Reply