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

Book was awarded to Stephen John Holgate in 1891 for first prize in bookkeeping. Stephen (D.O.B. 09/07/1877) entered the college on 27/01/1890. The original registry notes parent as Stephen Holgate from Miners Rest and Stephen's previously school is noted as 'Home Tuition'. Other family members noted as attending the college are Harold, George, Edward, Robert and Thomas. Archives also hold war memorabilia for Edward and George Holgate.Presbyterian educators placed great value on a classical education matched with diligence in study. Book prizes were highly regarded and academic success admired. In the school’s early years prizes were ordered direct from London and had the school crest embossed in gold on the front or back cover. Many of the prizes given in early years were returned to the school to equip the Weatherly Library when it opened in 1936. Connection to college war memorabilia and war heroes.Bound in soft red calf with gilt lettering and college crest embossed on front cover and gilt lettering on spine. Floral end papers, foxing on pages, black and white illustrations throughout. 595 p.Book plate inside front cover: College crest/ Bookkeeping/ V Form./ First Prize. Awarded to/ S. Holgate/ Christmas, 1891.stephen-john-holgate, 1891, book-prize, miners-rest, harold-holgate, george-holgate, edward-holgate, robert-holgate, thomas-holgate.

Wooden ruler 12 inches very well worn advertising the Bendigo Business College. Shorthand, bookkeeping, typewriting, accountancy.bendigo, business, bendigo business college

sunshine technical school, technical school, athletics, student

Pupil Teachers, Examination Papers, Part 1. Arithmetic and bookkeeping. For Pupil teachers and Scholars of the Fifth and Sixth Classes of State Schools. Certificate of Competency and Admission to Training.J. J. Burston, H.T. Violet-Street State School, No. 877victoria, history, education, teacher training, education, teacher training.

Wire spike for storing bills etc. Has a curved spike on a three clover ring stand.commerce, bookkeeping

Used by Grant Mattingly when he first started work in as Book-keeper.Round black ruler with imprint of rings on end. Used in an accountants office for book - keeping.Round rings imprinted on each end.commerce, bookkeeping

Business Reference L. Prout dated 25 July 1902 - from Bella Gallnan, Principal of University College, Forest St. Bendigo, relating to her bookkeeping qualifications.person, individual, employee, lillie prout, bendigo co-op distribution society, university college, bella gallnan

Built on a cast iron base the machine is designed for Sterling currency with a full-keyboard that has five decimal columns for pounds, three columns for shilling and pence, one column for the 10 and 11 pence keys and three farthing (1/4 penny) keys. The machine was imported and distributed by Chartres Pty. Ltd, Capel Court, 375-377 Collins Street MelbourneHand operated comptometer or adding machine with side handle. Sterling currency with full-keyboard with columns for Pounds Shillings and Pence'Chartres Pty Ltd/Capel Court/375-377 Collins Street Melbourne/23359'commerce, office equipment / stationery, bookkeeping

This book was a prize awarded to Janet Shade in 1926 by Warrnambool High School. The donor of the prize was Miss Merrett who was a Shorthand and Typing teacher at the school. Janet Shade, born in 1913, was the daughter of James and Gert Shade. She married Stewart Lindsay in 1935. George Langley was the Head Master of Warrnambool High School from 1924 to 1940 This book is of interest because of its association with Warrnambool High School and Janet Shade, George Langley and Miss Merrett. This is a hard cover book of 143 pages. The cover is dark blue with gold lettering and ornamental gold scrolls on the spine and the gold initials of ‘M.B’ on the front cover. There are two book plates inside the front cover and on the first page. They are printed in white and gold tonings and have been filled in with handwriting in black ink. The pages are gilt-edged.‘Nil Sine Labore, Xmas 1926, Warrnambool High School, 2nd in D Form, Shorthand and Bookkeeping Prize, Janet Shade, George Langley, Head Master, Gift of Miss Merrett’. janet shade, warrnambool high school, history of warrnambool, george langley

Gertrude Perry was born in California Gully in 1917. Her singing skills were recognized at an early age. She later sang with local choirs and sang on radio. She was involved with the Bendigo Operatic Society for many years. Gertrude began her working life in sales. After studying bookkeeping, she worked at the Bendigo Ordnance Factory during WW2 and then worked for local solicitors and accountants. Gertrude was involved with many community and sporting organizations.Gertrude Perry Collection - Black leather wallet marked in gold Commissioners of the State Savings Bank of Victoria, with initials G.E.P. Leather wallet is bi-fold with one pocket for notes.banking, state savings bank