Trent Oats

After completing high school at Sunbury’s Salesian College, Trent developed a great passion in all areas of sheep production. This led to further studies at Melbourne University, where he undertook a Diploma of General Studies.

Trent participated in the South Australian Sheep Expo competition in 2019, winning the major prize which was a study tour to New Zealand.

Trent is relishing in the opportunities the Jackaroo program at Avington is providing, enjoying the hands-on animal husbandry and day-to-day stock work. Trent is certainly one to watch in the future of the Australian sheep industry.

When he’s not working at Avington, Trent runs a small Corriedale sheep stud and attends shows thoughout the year.

Trent at Avington

Breeding Leadership – Clare, SA

In February, Farm Operations Manager Kyle Cordy attended the Australian Wool Innovation’s Breeding Leadership program which was held in Clare, South Australia. Kyle was selected to attend this five day program along with 24 other promising young leaders from across the country. 

Kyle Cordy, Back row, third from the left with the other promising young leaders

Summer at Avington

The summer of 2019 was very different to 2020. In 2019 the rainfall in January–February was 39mm. In 2020 the rainfall in January–February was 190mm, plus a further 80mm so far in March.

Last year we were feeding out hay and grain at this time, now we have green pasture growing. The sheep are in great condition and are not as stressed by heat as they were last year.

We are looking forward to increasing our stock numbers later this year, and to a successful lambing season in May/June, followed by shearing in October.

Artificial Insemination

Our annual artificial insemination program took place on farm over two days on 22 November and 9 December, kicking off our 2020 breeding program. This demonstrated a commitment to continued improvement in both our Ultrafine and Superfine flocks into the future, with 800 ewes inseminated in this year’s program.

Responsible Wool Standards

At Avington we are a proud supporter of the Internationally recognised Responsible Wool Standard. As part of the accreditation we underwent our annual surveillance audit in December, passing without a single non-compliance.

2019 Shearing report

October saw the start of Avington’s annual shearing process. Our staff spent 4 weeks carefully preparing the years clip alongside the skilled team of shearers and wool handlers from Radstock Rural Services.

This year’s clip saw a decreased wool volume from 2018, largely due to a reduction in livestock numbers in February as a drought management strategy. Summer drought conditions and a late start to autumn also influenced overall tensile strength across the clip.

Kyneton Junior Football Club Sponsorship

Avington Merino was proud to be the major sponsor for the Kyneton Junior Football and Netball Club’s major fundraiser in 2019. The star attraction was AFL star Tom Hawkins from the Geelong Cats. Hawkins ran training sessions with the players and attended a question and answer session on the night, helping raise funds for the club while providing a great experience for the junior players.

Australian Sheep and Wool Show

In July, Jackaroos Damien Goodman and Emily Webb-Ware attended the Australian Sheep and Wool show held in Bendigo. Forming an integral part of the Jackaroo development program at Avington, Damien and Emily participated in the merino stewarding program. This was a fantastic opportunity to learn from the best merino sheep judges from Australia and New Zealand.

Introducing our new staff members

During late 2018 we welcomed three new full-time staff members at Avington. Three farm residents include gardener Nadine Stanton, along with two new Jackaroos Damien Goodman and Emily Webbware, who also joined the team and are settling into work and life on the farm.

Damien and Emily have joined our jackaroo training program as part of our commitment to training young people who want to work on farms and focus on sheep and wool production.

Local Nadine Stanton, has been promoted from the role as gardener to full time farm assistant, now residing on our Baynton road, “Balboora” property with her three daughters ;Matilda (10) and twins Ruby and Maggie, both 8.

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Kyle Cordy 

In June Kyle Cordy took on the role of farm operations manager, Kyle has a key role in the day-to-day operations of the farm, focussing on livestock, pastures, plant and equipment, property maintenance and development, as well as team performance.

Merinos have always been a passion that Kyle’s family share. He grew up on the family farm in Harcourt, where the focus was on growing superfine wool. Kyle studied a Bachelor of Agriculture Business Management at Charles Sturt University in Orange.

After graduating in 2013, he spent two years as a Jackeroo at Avington, and then a further two years before having a year away to gain other experience. This year he secured the job of Farm Operations Manager.

The management team’s continued push for growth as an industry leader in farm management and ethical treatment of their sheep appeals to him, and sees that Noel and Lyndsay show a real passion for the industry as a whole. He enjoys embracing new challenges and seeks out opportunities to grow the business while continuing to help develop best practise quality and procedures.

A keen sportsman, Kyle enjoys playing cricket in his spare time.

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Damien Goodman 

Originally from Traralgon, Damien developed an interest in dairy cattle from an early age, however it wasn’t until he went to the National Merino Challenge in Adelaide at the start of 2018, that he developed an interest in Merino sheep. He found that working with sheep came naturally to him, and he enjoyed learning about wool.

Damien studied a Diploma in General Studies at Dookie and later moved onto studying a Bachelor of Agriculture at Melbourne University. The Jackaroo role at Avington caught his attention because he wanted more hands-on experience working with sheep and wool production, along the comfortable accommodation, management team and staff that he would be working with.

When he’s not working, Damien actively works on projects at the farm, such as building a dog kennel, always keeping himself busy. 

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Emily Webbware 

In 2018, Emily graduated from Melbourne University with a Bachelor of Agriculture and began looking for somewhere that she could gain more practical experience. She saw the Jackaroo position at Avington advertised and knew that the highly-regarded education program would suit her needs perfectly. Having grown up in Yea on a property specialising in Angus beef cattle and prime lambs, she allready had experience in the meat industry, but was interested in wool production and wanted to discover more about merino farming.

Emily knew that the jackaroo program at Avington was well-established, and there was an opportunity for hands-on learning, so she applied for the role and was successful.

Emily has many hobbies, including distance running and rogaining (an orienteering sport of long distance cross-country navigation). The Jackaroo role is great for her fitness and keeps her outside where she is happiest. She has joined the local womens’ football team in Kyneton and enjoys the friendly community, along with the great coffee on offer! 

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Nadine Stanton  

Nadine grew up in some of the small towns of north-west NSW and has always been interested in sheep and cattle. Her passion in farm work and country life stems from her rural upbringing. 

On leaving school, Nadine trained in administration and worked in the financial industry, where she eventually became a financial adviser. Having always lived on, or been involved in farms, she developed an interest in gardening.

This became an aspect of rural life that she really enjoyed. 

The gardener role at Avington was advertised in 2018, when Nadine saw the ad she immediately got in touch with Noel and sent in her resume. One thing led to another and before long she found herself in full-time employment at Avington as their gardener. Living off-farm at Baynton, a mere ten minute drive from the farm, also appealed as the role is fairly flexible and accommodates her young family.

Due to the changing and seasonal nature of farm life, so too is her role. Her daily routine might involve mowing the verges of the extensive lane way network which runs throughout the property, mulching driveways on a tractor, maintaining the homestead’s established garden, tending to the 14 bed organic vegetable garden grown and nurtured by principal Lyndsay Henderson or hands-on farm work during busy times of the year, such as shearing. The varied nature of the role is what appeals to Nadine because it combines both her passions–farm work and gardening.

Marzotto and Schneider visit

Marzotto and Schneider visitors reviewing show fleeces

On the same day as the Uni students visit, Avington also had visitors from Marzotto Group (one of the largest wool weavers in the world) and G Schneider (a large global top maker).

Both these groups are Italian based and the visit was led by Giorgio Todesco ( CEO Marzotto Wool Manufacturing Company) and Jeffrey Losekoot (MD G Schneider SA).

The Italian visitors were introduced to the Avington traceablity system in the wool shed and as well mixed with the Uni students and inspected the rams.

Melbourne Uni Students

Jackaroo Damien Goodman demonstrates the use of technology in sheep selection.

Delegates from Marzotto explaining the finer details of wool selection to students from Melbourne Uni.

Avington hosted a group of 15 Agricultural Science students in May in the lead up to the National Merino Challenge.

A master class was conducted by Ron Creek, AWN, in sheep classing with all students given the opportunity to actively participate with the sheep in both the Yards and the Ram Shed