The Flinders Discovery Centre has been drawing visitors from all age groups with the introduction of sheep shearing demonstrations for the 2017 winter tourist season.
‘Shearing the Stragglers’ is shearing display which has been brought to life by Flinders Shire Council with live shearing to show everyone, young and old, how experienced shearers ply their trade.
Each session several sheep are expertly shorn by Warren Wall, who explains the process and types of wool, and shares stories about the characters and the events that happened in the local area during shearing’s heyday.
In its first weeks, the demonstrations have proved popular with young families as a way to show children where wool comes from and demonstrate a practical but increasingly rare skill in today’s world; even local families are bringing their children to the display to given them an idea of what their grandfathers did on the land.
For many of the older visitors, it offers a touch of nostalgia as well as an opportunity to share memories of their own with their fellow audience members. It is even opening a window to new friendships, with several instances of visiting ‘grey nomads’ from all parts of Australia seen to be bonding over shearing tales before heading for the nearest pub.
With the exception of an early escapee from the shearing pen that decided to take an impromptu tour around the main streets of Hughenden, the sheep have been well-behaved for their audience.
Most days the sheep waiting to be shorn have failed to register that a fibre glass kelpie that serves as part of the museum exhibit is not the genuine article, and initiate somewhat one-sided staring competition. It goes without saying that the fake kelpie always wins.
The live shearing demonstrations are held on Tuesdays and Thursday at 11am and 3pm at the Flinders Discovery Centre, 37 Gray Street, Hughenden, from June to August.