Presented to Joyce Hucker for articles entered in the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association 1975 Show.Presented to Joyce Hucker for items entered in the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association 1975 Show.Australian Sheep Breeders' Assn, 1975 Showagricultural shows, hucker, mrs joyce

Only writing on back of photograph, "Form 1B?" Paper list with photographs reads, "High School - Bedford Rd. Ringwood. Photo Pupils Form 1B. Reading from Left to Right. Back row boys: 1. Peter Hodges, 2. Peter Fry, 3. ??, 4. ??, 5. Terry Knight, 6. Ron Young, 7. ??, 8. ??, 9. Darrell Pyke, 10. Gordon Schultz, 11. ??, 12. Neil Reid. Boys sitting front: 1. ??, 2. ??, 3. Ken Baker, 4. Bill Mann".

One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.Crochet Samples Crocheted from Border Leicester fleece wool Medium hook Fine hook Border Leicester Wool. Treble Crochet & Shell pattern Medium Hook Fringing. Corriedale Wool. Medium Hook Macrame - Medium Hoook & Chain Stitch Romney Marsh Woolcrochet, hucker, mrs joyce

One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.Knitting samples Merino - size 11 needles Moss stitch and stocking stitch Corriedale - size 9 needles Lacy patter Corriedale - size 6 Needles Stocking Stitch Perendale - Size 9 needles. Cable Stitch Size 8 Needles Commercial Wool and Unspun fleece wool (Corriedale) combined. Fair Isle with Commercial wool Mohair An Unspun Fleece Wool (Corriedale) Combined Mock Fair Isle using lifted stitches and limited Fair Isle (unspun) Fleece Wool . Size 10 needles Tubular Knittingknitting knitting - fair isle, hucker, mrs joyce, knitting, knitting - fair isle

One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.One of several sample boards used by Joyce Hucker during crochet and knitting demonstrations and classes.Knitted Bias Bindingknitting crochet textile mills textile mills, hucker, mrs joyce, knitting, crochet, textile mills

Presented to Joyce Hucker for objects entered in the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association 1972 Show. Hucker began working with unspun wool and making dyes from the natural sources from her garden and the farm trees around her. From knitting and croceting articles, she progressed to felting and a 'wrapping' technique, always using unspun wool. She was a successful exhibitor at many craft shows and was always willing to pass on her experience and knowledge to others, often travelling widely to help groups requiring a demonstration.Presented to Joyce Hucker for items entered in the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association 1975 Show.Australian Sheep Breeders' Assn, 1975 Showagricultural shows, hucker, mrs joyce

Presented to Joyce Hucker for objects entered in the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association 1972 Show. Hucker began working with unspun wool and making dyes from the natural sources from her garden and the farm trees around her. From knitting and croceting articles, she progressed to felting and a 'wrapping' technique, always using unspun wool. She was a successful exhibitor at many craft shows and was always willing to pass on her experience and knowledge to others, often travelling widely to help groups requiring a demonstration.Presented to Joyce Hucker for items entered in the Australian Sheep Breeders' Association 1975 Show.Australian Sheep Breeders' Assn, 1975 Showagricultural shows, hucker, mrs joyce

Conatiner made with the 'wrapping' technique developed by Hucker. She began working with unspun wool and making dyes from the natural sources from her garden and the farm trees around her. From knitting and croceting articles, she progressed to felting and a 'wrapping' technique, always using unspun wool. She was a successful exhibitor at many craft shows and was always willing to pass on her experience and knowledge to others, often travelling widely to help groups requiring a demonstration.Toy (container and pig) crocheted by Joyce Hucker.crochet, hucker, mrs joyce

A certificate issued to Dulcie Saker to certify she has been accepted into membership of Junior Legacy Melbourne, and has undertaken to accept it's obligations. The junior legatee Dulcie Saker, later called Dulcie Cedaro, had a long involvement with Legacy. She would volunteer during badge week and help with the disabled dependants outings. Photo TBAA record of the formalisation process of Junior Legacy membership in 1944.Printed Junior Legacy Membership Certificate on cream card under glass in wooden frame.Inscribed to Dulcie Saker, dated 26th August 1944 and signed T. M. Cosh (Legacy president in 1944)junior legatee, membership, girls' club

Mellier State School, No 3500, situated on Hucker's Corner (Norbank Road). Pupils standing at the back, from left: Maud Wills, Glad Hucker, Marjorie Geddes, Don Davidson, Lewis Wills, Doug Hucker, George Hucker, Jean McInnes. Front: Roy Davidson, Stan Hucker, Marion Moreton, Dulcie Hucker, Grace McInnes, Honor Moreton, Zara Gillies. lake bolac, mellier school, no 3500, norbank road, davidson, geddes, gillies, hucker, mcinnes, wills.

The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo.Large black bound book with ribbon for fastening containing 12 double-sided blue pages. Pages have several samples of shorn wool mounted and annotated to include information such as specific breeding, shearing faults, and geographical area. The book concludes with four pages without wool samples. Two of these pages relate to plans for a shearing shed and other industry related structures. The final two-pages relate to the anatomy of a sheep. Wool sample books were constructed by Wool Classing students at the Gordon Technical School as examples of what to look for when classing wool. The students were tasked with constructing these books with samples they retrieved themselves from several different farms and animals. The book would serve as a reference point for the wool classers throughout their years in the field, it was always on hand to refresh knowledge. This book was constructed by Stanley Hucker over his schooling at the Gordon between 1936 and 1938Front Cover. Handwritten, White Ink "Stanley Hucker / Samples"90 years wool classing between father & son, wool classing, gordon technical school

Bible presented to Miss Dulcie Graham on the occasion of her wedding by her friend and minister, John D Davies, on 11 June, 1919.Black, leather covered Bible, gold embossed title on the cover and spine and gold coloured edging on the pages. Inscribed on inside cover 'To Miss Dulcie Graham on the occasion of her marriage, 11 June 1919 from her friend and Minister John D Davies, Buninyong.'religion, christianity, bibles, buninyong

Queen Carnival 1936. Carnival held to raise funds for Beaufort Town Band. From left Shirley McDonald, Lorna Anderson, Jean Day, Dulcie Parker (Wattle Queen), Marg Kewley, Audrey Anderson. 0Glossy hand tinted photo of 6 ladies and 3 girls dressed in evening attire and wearing tiarasLeft Shirley Dawson née McDonald Audrey Anderson Marg Kewley Dulcie Parker Jean Day Lorna Anderson Shirley McDonald beaufort, beaufort people

Lake Bolac Debutant Ball (05/08/1938), held to celebrate the arrival of electricity to the district. Men, from left - Lewis Wills, James Geddes, Neil Robertson, Palmer Cheeseman, Ron McKenzie, Lyle Peters, Arthur Cody, Donald Davidson, Douglas Hucker, Richard Geddes, Donald McInnes. Women, from left - Grace McInnes, Dulcie Hucker, Mavis Gange, Joan Sim, Eva McInnes, Phyllis Veale, Gladys Hucker, Margaret O'Rorke, Helen Moreton, Jeani Gange, Marion Moreton, Jean Geddes.lake bolac, debutant ball, electricity, 1938, cheeseman, cody, davidson, gange, geddes, hucker, mcinnes, mckenzie, moreton, o'rorke, peters, robertson, sim, veale, wills.

The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the fifth in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a white cover with blue ink swirls covering its entirety. It has a central sticker label. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about recording and tracking the financial transactions of Sheep Stations and Wool Classers. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about: - General bookkeeping terms and definitions - Practise invoices - Larger multiple page definition of bookkeeping - Assets liabilities - Practise bale bookFront Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten. “The “Gordon Geelong / CASH BOOK / Stanley Hucker / Station + Farm / Bookkeeping / Bookkeeping / Terms 1.2.3 for 1936. 1937. 1938”gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the first in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a cover of black vinyl with a strip of red tape on the spine to give added support. Some of the vinyl has been removed on the cover, revealing blue card beneath. A sticker label is also found on the front cover. It has been damaged. Part of the sticker has been removed, while blue ink can also be found obscuring the text below. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about veterinary studies relating to the diseases, injuries, and treatment of sheep. It is handwritten and accompanied by an occasional hand drawn diagram. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about a sheep’s heart, hind limbs, and reproduction system in ewes. Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten “SERVICE / EXERCISE BOOK / NAME Stanley Hucker / GRADE wool classing / SCHOOL Gordon Technical / SUBJECT Veterinary”gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the third in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a white cover with black ink illustrations and writing. These illustrations have been added to with Pink ink. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about veterinary studies relating to the diseases, injuries, and treatment of sheep. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about blow fly and bacterial diseases.Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten “THE / AUSTRALIAN / EXERCISE / BOOK / Veterinary / NAME Stanley J Hucker / GRADE III / School “Gordon” Geelong” Front Cover. Illustrations, printed. Kangaroo, kookaburra / Map of Australia with state names / Emu, Koalagordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

"Bellevue" Flax Day at Lake Bolac in 1946. Pictured from left are Fred Hucker, Alan Hucker and Sam Hucker.lake bolac, flax, "bellevue", hucker

Mellier State School, No 3500, 13/06/1923. Established 1919. Back - Don MacInnes, Jack Dow, Harold Stewart, Alan Hucker, Ivor Evans, Vivian Evans, George Hucker. 2nd Row - Fred Hucker, Keith Evans, Charles Stewart, Ernie Hucker, Perce Kinnersley, Bon Hucker, Richard Geddes, Miss Isabel M MacKenzie (Mrs SH Moreton) Front - Frank Kinnersley, Marjorie Geddes, Margaret Stewart, Jean MacInnes, Janet Hucker, Maisie Kinnersley, Lily Kinnersley, Mavis Hucker, Gladys Hucker, Donald Davidson.lake bolac, mellier school, 1923. evans, davidson, dow, geddes, hucker, kinnersley, macinnes, mackenzie/moreton, stewart

The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the fourth in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a white cover with blue ink illustrations and writing. It has a centrepiece-coloured emblem of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about wool studies relating to the health and productivity of wool sheep. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about: - Wool scouring - Shearing - Lamb marking - Breeding - Fellmongering - Comparison between wool and artificial fibres - Characteristics of good wool - Wool selling methods - Established studs in Victoria - Award rates (1937-38)Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten. “CORONATION / EXERCISE BOOK / NAME Stanley Hucker / GRADE SUBJECT Wool / SCHOOL Gordon Front Cover. Illustration’s colour, printed. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background.gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

Written in the Melbourne "ARGUS" newspaper on the 17th February 1941 under "COUNTRY SPORTS - TENNIS". In the B Grade contests for the Norman Grills Cup Learmonth No. 2 (E. Blain, J. Blain), W. McIntyre, L. Hucker, The Misses M. Ryan, D. Grills, J. Thomas and D. Dean d. Garibaldi. These players were all from the Learmonth and Weatherboard districts.A sepia photo on cardboard backing 12 x 9 1/2 inches. The photo itself is 7 1/2 x 5 3/4 inches in a landscape shape. There are 5 men and four women tennis players, all holding tennis rackets with a Premiership Cup at their feet.Learmonth No. 2 Country Week Tennis Team. Winners Season 1941. Names L-R Back row. L. Hucker (Vic, Capt.), W. McIntyre (Weatherboard), L. Rasdell, E. Blain. L-R Front row. Miss D. Dean (Mrs Toleman), Miss J. Thomas (Mrs Lyttle. Weatherboard), J. Blain (Capt.), Miss D. Grills (Mrs David Baird), Miss M. Ryan (Mrs Harrison. Weatherboard). Photographer - Thornton, Richards & Co, Ballarat.learmonth. tennis team, 1941, hucker, mcintyre, rasdell. blain, dean, thomas, grills, ryan

Family Group photos from an album belonging to Leslie Beard who married Lois Wright. The donor/relative suggests that the older group would most likely be St Phillips Church of England, Hoddle Street, Collingwood picnics, and the smaller groups of Lois' family. Two photos are marked as at Eltham 2nd November 1920. Photo 5 with fence line is marked as Heidelberg 19209 small black and white photographs with white borders. 2 are cut from a photo album with captions and explanatory letter from Donor Dulcie Mugavinleslie beard, lois wright, beard family, picnics, eltham

Family Group photos from an album belonging to Leslie Beard who married Lois Wright. The donor/relative suggests that the older group would most likely be St Phillips Church of England, Hoddle Street, Collingwood picnics, and the smaller groups of Lois' family. Two photos are marked as at Eltham 2nd November 1920. Photo 5 with fence line is marked as Heidelberg 19209 small black and white photographs with white borders. 2 are cut from a photo album with captions and explanatory letter from Donor Dulcie Mugavinleslie beard, lois wright, beard family, picnics, eltham

Family Group photos from an album belonging to Leslie Beard who married Lois Wright. The donor/relative suggests that the older group would most likely be St Phillips Church of England, Hoddle Street, Collingwood picnics, and the smaller groups of Lois' family. Two photos are marked as at Eltham 2nd November 1920. Photo 5 with fence line is marked as Heidelberg 19209 small black and white photographs with white borders. 2 are cut from a photo album with captions and explanatory letter from Donor Dulcie Mugavinleslie beard, lois wright, beard family, picnics, eltham

Family Group photos from an album belonging to Leslie Beard who married Lois Wright. The donor/relative suggests that the older group would most likely be St Phillips Church of England, Hoddle Street, Collingwood picnics, and the smaller groups of Lois' family. Two photos are marked as at Eltham 2nd November 1920. Photo 5 with fence line is marked as Heidelberg 19209 small black and white photographs with white borders. 2 are cut from a photo album with captions and explanatory letter from Donor Dulcie Mugavinleslie beard, lois wright, beard family, picnics, eltham

Family Group photos from an album belonging to Leslie Beard who married Lois Wright. The donor/relative suggests that the older group would most likely be St Phillips Church of England, Hoddle Street, Collingwood picnics, and the smaller groups of Lois' family. Two photos are marked as at Eltham 2nd November 1920. Photo 5 with fence line is marked as Heidelberg 19209 small black and white photographs with white borders. 2 are cut from a photo album with captions and explanatory letter from Donor Dulcie Mugavinleslie beard, lois wright, beard family, picnics, eltham

Family Group photos from an album belonging to Leslie Beard who married Lois Wright. The donor/relative suggests that the older group would most likely be St Phillips Church of England, Hoddle Street, Collingwood picnics, and the smaller groups of Lois' family. Two photos are marked as at Eltham 2nd November 1920. Photo 5 with fence line is marked as Heidelberg 19209 small black and white photographs with white borders. 2 are cut from a photo album with captions and explanatory letter from Donor Dulcie Mugavinleslie beard, lois wright, beard family, picnics, eltham