Conara agricultural science student Matilda Scott is Australia’s top graduate wool classer.
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Miss Scott, who lives at sheep property Myrtlewood, took out the Golden Stencil title for winning the 2018 AWEX/TAFE National Graduate Wool Classer Competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
After completing TasTAFE’s Certificate IV in Wool Classing Miss Scott was selected to represent Tasmania in the national competition.
Finalists classed superfine merino, medium merino and crossbred clip.
They also completed a timed AWEX-ID appraisal task and presented to judges, Miss Scott said.
“I couldn’t believe it when my name was announced. It was quite amazing. I was ecstatic and I can’t believe it,” she said.
“It’s the first time someone from Tasmania has won.”
Miss Scott is the third TasTAFE wool classing graduate to represent Tasmania in the Golden Stencil competition in the past four years.
Casey Patterson finished third in the 2017 competition.
Her time working on her family’s Northern Midlands farm, her TasTAFE course and work experience at Trefusis prepared Miss Scott for the competition.
“I’ve had so many opportunities working in sheds and being exposed to fleece judging. I had a gap year and worked at Trefusis merino stud and a few other sheds last year to see the different wool types,” Miss Scott said.
TasTAFE wool classing teacher Evelyn Archer delivered the course at Roberts Limited’s wool store at Western Junction so students could gain practical experience and see wool samples first-hand.
“The course was really good. I learnt so much, not just about classing but the processing line. It all linked in really well with the actual wool growing,” she said.
Ms Archer said the decision to put Miss Scott forward was an easy one.
“Matilda is a great all-rounder with a passion for learning about wool. During her studies, Matilda showed a great understanding of wool valuing, which has proven to be a tough section in the competition,” Ms Archer said.
Matilda is now studying a Bachelor of Agricultural Science at the University of Tasmania’s Sandy Bay campus.
“There’s a lot of chemistry and biology this year, which are good building blocks,” Miss Scott said.
She has just purchased a ram and several ewes to start her own merino stud.
As well as studying and continuing her work experience, Miss Scott is planning to compete in the junior fleece judging at Campbell Town Show at the end of May.