Family approval will be sought for a proposed award in Australia honouring champion New Zealand woolhandler, shearer and presser Joanne Kumeroa.

Ms Kumeroa died in New Zealand on April 16 after a three-year battle with cancer and organisers of the Romney Shears at Warrnambool, and shearing events at Bendigo and Hamilton, are exploring the possibility of tri-series quality points award.

Ms Kumeroa came from the Whanganui River area of NZ’s North Island and won more world, Golden Shears and New Zealand titles than any other competitor, winning her the title “the David Fagan of woolhandling”.

Romney Shears president Louise Cameron said it has been proposed that the open wool handling events at the Warrnambool Show and at Hamilton next year would form two legs of a proposed tri-series award to commemorate Kumeroa’s contribution to the industry.

Ms Cameron said meetings are being held to determine the criteria for an award to be presented to the Kumeroa family once finalised.

“We’ve got to have a plan to take to the family.

“The idea would be to get approval from the three shows if they were happy to support it if family was right.

“We’ll then come up with a criteria based on best quality points and then present that to the family to get permission to go ahead with it.”

Ms Cameron said the shearing competition organisers wanted to be sure they had something to present to the Kumeroa family before they sought its comment and approval.