It was the end of an era recently when Goon Nure wool buyer James Patterson (pictured) loaded his last truck to Melbourne, ending a 28-year association with local sheep farmers.
Patterson, a fourth generation sheep farmer, has operated his wool buying business for 28 years after taking up the task to supplement his income through a drought with three small children.
Having already done a wool classing and buying course in 1982 and given his hands-on experience with sheep, it seemed a great idea at the time.
At the industry peak there were four buyers in the Gippsland region, Patterson the final one to close his doors. He will now focus his attention on his flock and cropping.
The final truck was transported by Frank Morgan Transport from Myrtlebank and contained 110 bales, each weighing around 182 kilograms.
The value of the bales varied in quality, but each worth between $100-$1000.
A meticulous record keeper, Patterson issued 9500 invoices to his clients and sent in the range of 18,500 bales to Melbourne over the journey.
In peak time (September-March) before dwindling sheep numbers in the district, Patterson would sent a truck to Melbourne every three weeks.
He fondly tells stories of trips to the High Country to pick up and buy, people who have assisted him and worked for him over the journey and how great an invention the wool press is.
Patterson would bring the wool he purchased back from clients and sort it into one of the 48 line bins he had set up in his large and very organised shed, the bale pressed once the bin was full.
Local farmers will now have to rely on multi-national companies such as Elders and Nutrien to purchase their wool, but will have to arrange transport to Melbourne themselves.
And there is the added worry of not having enough wool to fill a bale and the wool having to sit another 12 or 24 months to accumulate enough to send off.
Patterson conceded the day of the private buyer is gone and as a result it’s a sad day for Gippsland’s producers.
Currently 85 per cent of wool in Australia finds it’s way to China, with Italy and Germany among the other countries vying for the remainder.
