Big money in Brewarrina Quick Shears

Left photo: Mark Brown of Brewarrina on the right battles it out against Phil Taylor of Dirranbandi on the left during the last Quick Shear competition. Right photo: Robert Gordon of Brewarrina gets the shears over a merino in the Quick Shear competition. Photos supplied

There’s big money to be won in the Brewarrina RSL Quick Shear competition, coming up on October 19. Shearers young, old, novice or veteran can enter the competition which is hotly contested in the Far West.

This is the third time the competition has been run and organisers are hoping that despite the dry conditions, there’ll be plenty of contenders.

Scott Crowley is the founder of the Quick Shear competition, which began at a Brewarrina Field Day several years ago.

The field day has since ceased, another victim of the drought, but Scott was determined to find another avenue to demonstrate the skill of shearing and give spectators a glimpse into the culture and craft involved in being a top gun shearer.

The Brewarrina RSL took up the cause and is now the major sponsor, providing the venue and part of the prize money for the Quick Shear competition.

The prize pool tops $20,000 in total, with the champion shearer walking away with a handy $12,500.

Scott said the competition is a way to give shearers the chance to earn some much needed extra money but is also an opportunity to encourage young people to consider shearing as a career.

Read more in the printed edition of the Western Herald.