Shearer’s angles key to art

Master shearer and training sensation Kevin Gellatly quickly worked out the angles, contours and shapes of sheep to clip his way into a rewarding industry. The passionate 72-year-old was inducted into Shearers Hall of Fame in 2015 at Hay, in NSW. He continues to make a contribution as a trainer, passing on his knowledge to the next generation of shearers. Before his big dream to become a shearer trainer was fulfilled, Kevin started shearing at his parents’, Angus and Beryl Gellatly, sheep and wheat farm at Perenjori. At 17, Kevin continued farm work as a shed hand at Wanarra station, near Morawa. “I was surprised how easy I adapted to shearing,” he said. “I understood the angles, contours and shape of the animals and had the ability to keep the bottom tooth of the comb down. “This eliminates second cuts and keeps the fleece length consistent.” He worked under shearer trainer Burt Dwyer, a mentor he found easy to understand and whose shearing principles would be used for years to come. At 18, Kevin shore 80 sheep per day and after a matter of months, he was up to 100. “A year later, I went to Mia Mia station and shore 160 a day,” he said. It was at this Carnarvon pastoral station Kevin discovered the extreme working conditions of shearing, with the temperature soaring into the 40s during his six-week stay. After Mia Mia, Kevin returned to Perenjori to start up his own business, Gellatly Shearing Run, servicing clients in the Wheatbelt and Murchison for 24 years. He always had a stand free for those starting out, taking the time to train others as a way to give back to an industry he felt so passionate about. In the off season, Kevin would shear at Pinnacle Station, at Sandstone, with his biggest count of 276 wethers in one day — “one of the fastest of those times”. He also shore 255 rams on double pay, at Shackelton, for farmer Jim Shepherd. While running his own business, Kevin was also winning on the competitive show circuit across Australia. He became a master shearer in 1997 by winning more than 10 open shearing titles. He also placed fifth in the crossbred division at the 1985 World Shearing Championships at Perth Royal Show. Kevin also found fame on YouTube by posting shearing equipment demonstrations while working as a technical support manager at Heiniger Australia — a role he held for 24 years. Qualifying with a Certificate IV in training and assessing from the Kondinin Group in 2003, Kevin began working with the WA Shearing Industry Training Association and taught at Albany and Narrogin. He was later approached by registered training organiser Don Boyle to take up a training position at Rylington Park, at Boyup Brook. He started to train students at agriculture schools, playing an integral part in guiding the next generation of shearers and wool handlers. “Shearing training has taught me the need to be adaptable — any person from any background with some ability, can learn to shear,” Kevin said. Kevin said some students that struggled with reading and writing, had the ability to “shine in the wool shed”. “I began by teaching the students about animal welfare, they need to learn how to care for the animals,” he said. Kevin said shearers did not need to be physically strong. But they needed an ability to “dance with the sheep”, using footwork to adjust the shearers’ body position while gracefully steadying the sheep. While teaching students, Kevin would break down the shearing process into small sections of the sheep’s body and set achievable goals. “I focus on the angles of the sheep, keeping the bottom tooth down and the comb full of wool,” he said. “This basic approach progresses to shearing the sheep complete and getting the best result for the farmer.” Kevin, who currently resides in Forrestfield, was recently approached by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development to train Indigenous youth. With two schools completed at Greg Teakle’s Northampton sheep farm and at Ellen Walker’s Brookton sheep farm, Kevin has labelled them a “success”. Known by all of the top-gun shearers throughout the country, Kevin continues to take an active part in shearing competitions as an announcer. The most memorable competition Kevin called was the 2012 Trans-Tasman Challenge at the Perth Royal Show. It was New Zealand vs WA, with two-man teams of Mouse O’Neil and Tony Costa vs Damien Boyle and Todd Wegner. They individually shore six Merino and six crossbred lambs. “Wegner was out fast, but O’Neil and Costa brought it home, while Boyle shore clean,” Kevin said. Kevin put pressure on a tiring Wegner with cries of “here comes Costa”, which spurred the WA team to victory.