ITALIAN millers Vitale Barberis Canonico (VBC) hosted a dinner in Sydney this week to celebrate the craft of Australian superfine wool-growing families.
The Manning family of "Miena", Lemont, received the VBC Wool Excellence Award for their outstanding wool clip in the 2014-15 season.
The family, led by 92-year-old Desmond Manning in partnership with children Michael and Marie and grandson James, have produced wool in the southern midlands of Tasmania since 1953.
Marie Boadle (pictured with son James) collected the award of behalf of the family.
"Des loves what we does so much and would be very proud to accept this award," Mrs Boadle said.
"As a family we love how soft Saxon wool is - we love it's elasticity and density. Our country is clean and the animals thrive there."
Today, "Miena" consists of 3,550 hectares and runs 12,000 superfine Saxon sheep.
They're currently in drought and have been hand feeding the ewe portion of their flock for the last year.
The Mannings received a monetary reward of $50,000 based on the delivered value of over 175 bales purchased by VBC in the 2014/2015 season and will travel on an all-expenses trip to the Italian mill.
The runners up for the award were Daryl and Irene Croake, "Oak Hills", Pyramul via Mudgee, and Everard and Matthew Linke and family, "Glenholme", Tarrington, Victoria.
All three families are preferred suppliers of VBC, which produces high-end fabric for globally renowned fashion houses.
Jessie Davies
Journalist for The Land.
Journalist for The Land.
