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. Thin sheet of metal with letters cut to produce a consistent pattern for the surface below through the application of ink. This wool classing stencil belonged to Stanley Hucker. It was his first Wool Classing Stencil. It was used on Stanley’s property named “Yohhatnbu” in Willaura. Stanley gained the property as part of the Returned Soldiers Settlement Scheme for his service in World War 2. The role of a Wool Classer is to sort, classify, and grade wool into various ‘lines’ so that it can be sold for best market price. Wool Classers are typically also tasked with the managing and supervising of wool-handling teams. The stencil is used in the final step of preparing a bale of wool for sale. It is branded across the front of a wool bale to indicate the quality of the wool, with the classers number used as a seal of guarantee.Cut letters. “SJH / BOLAC ”wool classing, stencil, 90 years wool classing between father & son

Before loose leaf bailing was introduced dried tobacco was graded then tied in bunches. 300 - 350 bunches went into one bale ready for sale.Tobacco farming began c1960 in the Kiewa Valley and consequently became one of its major industries.Groups of dried tobacco leaves tied at the stem.tobacco, farming, bortolo stefani, kiewa valley

Hay bales are a key food in a grazing livestock production system. The paddock shows the co-existence of native vegetation which provides cover for livestock. Digital photographfarming, hay, native vegetation, agriculture, farm, western victoria

Made from wool sold atThe Geelong Wool Exchange which had just returned to the National Wool Centre (currently the home of the National Wool Museum, formely Dennys Lascells) on Tuesday 13th of October 1987. Lempriere (Aust.) Pty. Ltd. was the buyer of the first bale of wool who also previously brought the first bale of wool at the first wool auctions in Geelong in 1858. The wool was turned into fabric by CSRIO and Foster Valley.Black cardboard backing with Navy Blue cloth sample glued ontop. Wool sample is stapled to the Navy cloth and black cardboard. Contains Nationa Wool Museum logo on lefthand side 1.5 meter navy blue length of cloth same as the sampled glued to the cardboard is included.NATIONAL/ WOO/ MUSEUM Left hand side of display card

Bullock wagon carting "Eilyer" wool in November, 1903. Wagon carrying 72 bales or 13 tons of wool. Team is driven by J E Fry.wool, bullock team, 1903, eilyer,

Nineteen page double sided paper catalogue held with one staple in the top left corner. Pages are blue, yellow and white with black printed text. Cover shows printed text in blue, red, black and white with Dalgety Farmers banner and logo. front: [printed] CATALOGUE / No. G05’g / SEASON / 1988/89 / Dalgety Farmers / WILL OFFER BY AUCTION / AT THE / WOOL EXCHANGE / NATIONAL WOOL CENTRE, MOORABOOL STREET, / GEELONG / ON / WEDNESDAY 30TH NOVEMBER 1988 / 7352 BALES. WOOL.agriculture, wool, sales, dalgety, geelong, wool exchange, national wool centre, auction, catalogue

Used in the farming industry around Orbost to cut silage or hay. Used to cut compacted hay or silage prior to the baling of hay or silage, until the late 1940s.A typical tool from the Orbost farming industry pre 1950.A large coarsely serrated flat metal blade set with two wooden handles.silage-knife agricultural-implemement

A small steel oval shaped headed bale hook or hand grab with three of nine pointed hooks remaining and a turned smooth wooden handle. The metal head is attached through a hole in the handle with a rivet. It was used to assist with handling bagged goods without causing damage. agricultural equipment, farm equipment, bale hooks, hand grabs

The photograph depicts the magnitude of the tobacco industry in the late 1960s to 1970s era when many Myrtleford district growers contributed to the annual tobacco harvest. The impact of post-war migration from southern Europe was playing an important role in reaching harvest records.The photograph reflects the "golden years" of tobacco growing in the district, which continued into the 1970s, prior to later deregulation in the 1980s and 90s and the ceasing of production altogether in 2006. This sales floor attracted local farming families to observe activities off-season in Melbourne, before the sales were conducted at a complex in Myrtleford. A monochrome photograph displaying a large tobacco selling floorInscription: "VIEW OF THE SHOW FLOOR OF DALGETY-NZL's BROOKLYN WOOL STORE ON 27-6-1966 WHEN 15,940 BALES OF TOBACCO LEAF VALUED AT $3,507,000 WERE DISPLAYED. IT WAS THE BIGGEST DISPLAY OF TOBACCO LEAF EVER SEEN IN AUSTRALIA" tobacco industry, myrtleford tobacco selling floor

Black and white photograph of eight men and one woman of the Brown Hill Progress Association Standing left to right: R. Coffield, J.C. Callinan, H. Lugg, G. Stewart Sitting left to right: A. Lakeland, W. Wilmot, E. Ellis, Mrs Bale, C. Eatonbrown hill progress association, thornton studios, r. coffield, j.c. callinan, h. lugg, g. stewart, a. lakeland, w. wilmot, e. ellis, mrs bale, c. eaton

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Ledger with front cover missing and several pages missing. Back cover is loose but stored with item. Front pages bent/folded. Pages are lined and contain hand-written text below headings. Text is organised alphabetically by surname.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-covered cardboard front and back cover ledger. Cover is a pale brown with green spine. White sticker on front cover indicates the year of the ledger. Ledger contains lined pages with heading, below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and associated details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are red. Pale brown torn sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Cover is pale brown and spine is blue. Pale brown torn sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are red. Faded white sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are brown. Faded white sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are black. Pale brown torn sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are dark green. Faded white sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are brown. Pale brown sticker on front indicates the year, some of the numbers are printed in reverse. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are red. Faded white sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Wool broker ledger for an agent working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger tracks information on wool growers who sold with agent working out of the Deenys Lascelles building. Includes name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. Also contains a list of new clients on back pages.Alphabetical wool brokerwool broker

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are green. Faded white sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers are green and spine is red. Faded white sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers and spine are red. Pale brown sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Found in the National Wool Museum, may have been used in the wool brokers office display. Although it is unclear, we believe it may be the original wool broker ledger for one of the agents working out of the Dennys Lascelles building. Ledger contains an alphabetic list (by surname) of all wool growers who sold through this agent/broker, including name, number of bales/fadges/sacks, property address, bale stencil used, stock agent rebate and date of arrival. There is also a list of new clients on the back pages.Cloth-bound cardboard front and back cover ledger. Covers are navy blue and spine is black. Faded white sticker on front indicates the year. Ledger contains lined pages with headings below which is hand-written text in pen and pencil, listing names and details in alphabetical order.

Demonstrates the typical vehicle of the time of the picture. Demonstrated the mode of transport for agricultual goods.Shows the means of transport for agricultural goods in the period.Black and white rectangular picture. Featuring a early truck with tray. The truck is stacked with wool bales and is tide with thick rope. There is a dog curled up on top of the cabin of the truck. A male is leaning against the door with his thumb in his pants, smiling. On the bonnet of the truck the letter "P" can be seen.On back "Ron with the truck & a load of wool on" written in grey lead.

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Tuesday, September 2, 2003. Tall Load: McCulloch carrying company employees take more than 50 bales of wool from Savernake station's merino sheep to the Yarrawonga rail terminal priior to shipment by rail to Melbourne, circa 1936.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were