Shearing in Western Australia

Valerie Hobson:

I was born in Corrigin in 1936. My parents were farming at Babakin - wheat and sheep. I was the middle daughter of three. Primary school was at Babakin - a one teacher school. We got there by the school bus. For secondary school I was sent to board at PLC for five years. I went to Edith Cowan University and by 1999 I had my Master of Arts Local History. In 2002 I published a book on the history of shearing in WA. In 2014 I was awarded the Order of Australia for preserving the history of WA shearing. Now I am in the just released Who's Who of Australian Women.

Kevin Plunkett:

Born in Bunbury in 1931. Is one of the youngest of six brothers and one sister. During the depression years learnt to live frugally. Dad used to ride hurdles in Victoria when he was young. Now I help my niece with and her husband when they take there horses to Broome for the race round so I am back where I started! Father and uncles were all shearers. I took up shearing in 1953 and did that for many years and worked on the weighbridge for the CBH (Commonwealth Bulk Handling) between shearing seasons. Now I am back where I started helping in stables.

Barry Mainwearing:

I was born in Mt Hawthorn on 6 August 1936. I worked with father in building industry when I left school but when I turned 15 went to the Bridgetown area. The next year I went to Broomehill and worked again as a farmhand on a wheat and sheep farm and I had a quick introduction to shearing. From then on I was interested in shearing as a good way to earn money. I eventually took up a CP (Conditional Purchase) block at Morawa and was able to go shearing whenever I needed money. I have good memories of my shearing years and I go the Shearers Reunions twice a year.

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