Women In Wool Career Legacy Award winner, Elders’ Steph Brooker-Jones, right, with Zena Wareham.

WOMEN In Wool celebrated some of the sector’s established and up-and-coming leaders in the group’s annual awards recently.

The group’s most prestigious honour, the Career Legacy Award, was awarded to Elders south-east South Australia district wool manager Steph Brooker-Jones at the WIW annual conference in Ballarat.

Western Victorian grower Susan Finnigan took out the Legacy in Motion Award and Quality Wool’s Matilda Scott won the Emerging Excellence Award.

In typical style, Ms Brooker-Jones congratulated Matilda Scott for her award.

“I believe she is one of the up and coming wool spunks of the industry.

“I’ve seen what she has done in the last few years and I’ve got great faith in her,” she said.

“Susan Finnigan, I’ve known since she lived in Lucindale, so I reckon that’s just fantastic.”

Ms Brooker-Jones said after nearly 50 years since she started wool classing in 1977 she felt “like a really old wool wench, but I do love wool, I love the people , I love the networking .”

“I love it that there is so many positive women out here, not that I’m sexist – we’ve got some really good blokes out there and thank you everyone and let’s keep going forward.

Ms Brooker-Jones also thanked Tianyu, the WIW board and executive director Bianca Heaney.

Women In Wool board member and Tianyu Wool farm analyst Zena Wareham presented the awards.

“At Tianyu, our mission isn’t just about the fibre, it’s about the people, progress and future of the industry.

“That’s why we’re focussed and passionate about the new technologies in the wool and agricultural industry and evolving the current next generation with it,” she said.

“The selection criteria for the award tonight reflects these values, along with the important values of Women in Wool and what they stand for most.”

Ms Wareham said the Career Legacy award recognised a woman with a minimum of 20 years of service who has created an enduring positive impact on the wool sector.

“Tonight’s recipient has spent nearly 50 years breathing the wool industry.

“In 1977 she was one of the first women to receive a professional wool classer’s certificate and hasn’t stopped blazing trails since,” she said.

“From being the first district wool manager at Elders to mentoring hundreds of professional her influence is felt across the entire country.

“She has held executive roles in Sports Shear Australia and has worked hard giving up weekends judging and in executive roles at events across the country.”

She said Ms Brooker Jones has had a lifetime of “selfless mentorship and industry leadership.” In 2018, she was awarded the Australian Wool Industry medal by the Federation of Australian Wool Organisations for shearing and wool services.

Ms Wareham said the Emerging Excellence Award recognised a woman in the first seven years of her career who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and passion for the industry’s future.

Matilda Scott accepts her award from Zena Wareham.

She said winner Matilda Scott joined Quality Wool only two years ago, but has already left a significant mark on the industry.

Matilda moved from her family’s ultrafine wool property in Tasmania, to South Australia and then Victoria, and has embraced every opportunity from wool classing and certifications to training as an auctioneer, Ms Wareham said

“She is also a former national rural ambassador award runner-up and Golden Stencil title winner at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, proving she has the technical skill and the leadership voice our industry needs.

“Her manager described her as natural-born leader with an infectious passion.”

Matilda Scott said the award is a huge honour. She said she loved wool and confessed to being known as “a real wool nerd.”

“The women in this room and all the industry people in this room, you all have such a huge part to play in the future and I’m really proud to be among you, so thank you.”

Susan Finnigan, left, accepts her Legacy In Motion award from Zena Wareham.

Ms Wareham said the Legacy In Motion Award was for a mid-career professional whose contribution is shaping the direction of today’s wool industry in sustainability, innovation and community engagement.

She said Ms Finnigan transitioned from a career in nursing to wool production and environmental stewardship.

“Over four decades she has led her farm Kia-Ora Merinos to become an industry leader in sustainability, being an early adopter of the Responsible Wool Standard and developing a unique ethical framework.

“Beyond the farm, she is a dedicated educator running workshops at local schools and community events to teach the next generation about the wonders of our natural fibre and industry,” Ms Wareham said.

Fashion award finalists, from left, third placegetter Katherine Bain, winner Libby Taylor, and third placegetter Catherine Jurd, with judge Vanessa Bell.

Ms Wareham said Susan Finnigan was given the award for her courage in career evolution and her unwavering commitment to leading the way to leave the industry better than she found it.

Older style wins out in fashion parade

Woollen knitwear designer Vanessa Bell conducted and judged the Women In Wool Fashions in the Shed competition after the conference dinner.

The winner was Libby Taylor wearing a Jude outfit made from Japanese wool suiting fabric with a homemade accessory.  Second place went to Catherine Jurd wearing her grandmother’s French-designed skirt and white woollen tights. Third place went to Katherine Bain wearing her great grandmother’s woollen dress made in Scotland and a Chalk and Cheese jacket.