16th World Corriedale Congress
After 3 years of planning the Congress has successfully concluded. We commenced with a Pre-Conference Tour starting in Adelaide on Thursday 12thJuly with a Welcome Dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel. The tour included 4 participants from Peru, 4 from Argentina, 11 from the USA, 2 from W.A., Angus Gibb the Young Ambassador from New Zealand, Graham Jenke, Di Mackinnon and Penny Archer from Conference Design to ensure it all ran smoothly. Friday 13thwe drove to McLaren Vale Distillery for a Master Class and Whiskey Tasting. From here we went to Corriedale Hills the home of Corriedale Hills and Y-not Studs. We were also presented with sheep from Lushford and Wattle Glens. After lunch, we went to the Thornby Sheep feed lot and finished the day at Rydge's Tailem Bend where Paul Leonard from Thomas Industries spoke to us.
The next morning, we went to Keith to the PG Wrightson's Seed Cleaning facility then onto the famous Willalooka Tavern for lunch followed by a Wine Tasting at Majella Wines. From here it was off to The Barn at Mount Gambier for the night via the Blue Lake. Next Morning (Sun 15th) we visited Donovan's Rotary Dairy, then travelled to Nayook Stud to see their sheep. We had a lovely lunch with Wally and Veronica and Leigh Jenkin. From here it was a long drive to Te Mania Angus Stud where Tom Gubbins discussed his business with us then it was off to West Cloven Hills to see the Stud sheep and for a barbeque dinner. After a night in Camperdown we went to Gambier View where Milton Savage had Stud sheep for us to look at and he cooked us Eggs and Bacon for breakfast. From here it was off to Jim and Brenda Venters for lunch, sheep and Irish Dancing. After this onto the Geelong Wool Museum then to Ballarat for the night.
Tuesday 17thwe visited the Ballarat Wildlife Park where the visitors really enjoyed seeing the Australian Native Animals so close. After lunch it was off to Bendigo for the Welcome Reception.
The Welcome Reception was well attended and was a great start to the Conference. Wednesday 18thwas Conference Day with 86 attendees. The day went very smoothly with Georgie Pengilley Facilitating. The speakers were all very interesting and varied. At the end of the day the Presidents or Representatives of each country attending gave a short talk finishing with The Australian Federal President Graham Jenke. That evening we had a Conference Dinner with live music from Nick Cole and his Band. It was heartening to so many young breeders attending the Conference and Dinner.
Friday 20thsome of the tour ladies attended the Women of Wool Luncheon while Geoff Ruppert from the USA judged the Schools section. The next day was Main Judging day with Billy Prime (Peru) judging the Rams, Jim Sama (Argentina) judging the Ewes, and Peter Maclean (Chile) judging the Shorn classes. It was an extremely successful day and that evening most people attended the Victorian Branch Dinner. Sunday 22ndwas junior Judging. The overseas visitors left on the bus at 1.30pm to travel to the airport or Melbourne.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people that had confidence in the Organising Committee to put on a successful Congress and all those who were involved in the planning and implementation of the Congress.
Di McKinnon
