Super fine effort to win grand champion fleece against tough competition

The Land, 15/05/25

Champion wool growers Daryl and Irene Croake, 'Oak Hills' at Mudgee, flanked by fleece

committee member Mark Waters, Riverton via Armidale and Australian Superfine Wool Growers

Association federal president Russell Hartwich, Kelseldale at Ballyrogan during the ASWGA

annual presentation. Picture supplied.

A history of fine wool production continues for Daryl and Irene Croake, 'Oak Hills', Mudgee, after they secured the Australian Council of Wool Exporters and Processors Grand Champion Fleece at the association's annual presentation dinner recently.

The honour is their second, having won the same in 2019.

Growing quality fleece is a feature of their enterprise, backing up on their double win at the Sydney Royal Show.

These days, the couple takes a back seat to commercial production, instead letting their son Mark and daughter-in-law Karen do the heavy lifting at Oak Hills, but they maintain an interest in the job and run a small flock to grow show fleeces.

Their true desire is to produce those rare bales, classed as being of superlative quality and soundness by the 1PP judging panel, and first achieved recognition for their work as young growers in 1985 when they were presented in Edinburgh, Scotland with Lumb's Golden Bale award by then HRH Prince Philip.

"That got us going," recalled Mr Croake, who advised potential champion growers to consider the effects of environment on genetics. "You need the right climate to do this," he said. "It doesn't work in other places."

At Oak Hills, all sheep are paddock run on native pastures.

Ewes are selected on type and wool lustre, not estimated breeding values, with super-fine rams sourced from Hillcreston Park in the Bigga valley.

Throughout their career, the elder Croakes have earned 50 1PP bales going to select markets in Italy, the United Kingdorm, Korean and Japan with fleeces typically in the 15-16 micron range with a 75mm staple, good strength, traditional crimping style and a bloom to the wool that "hits your eye" as Mrs Croake described it. "We employ one shearer and poke along. It's enough for a few at a time," she said. "Some years we have no 1PP bales. "Drought years can be magnificent for wool, provided you hand-feed stock and do things properly. "It can be the luck of the draw."

The next generation of Croake wool growers, Mark and Karen and family, have stuck with the Merino breed but select for broader micron and don't have the time to coat wethers to grow 1PP bales.

"Unlike in our time, the inputs have gone so high, particularly with drench and vaccines," said Mr Croake. "We non-mulesed our sheep and complied with the SustainaWOOL requirements but to run a commercial flock today it's not feasible as there is more and more resistance to chemicals. "There is so much cost and less reward."

At Sydney Royal Easter Show, the couple earned two first places in speciality classes, for best in quality and type but at their local Rylstone Show they were pipped for the top spot by Mark and Karen Croake.

"We have led a very blessed life," Mrs Croake said.