Business & Rural
22 July, 2026
Youngster’s ‘really great’ experience at Sheep and Wool Show
Matilda said it was a “really great” experience. “I learnt a lot about how they judge the different wool types,” she said.
WHILE many other her age spent their weekend hanging out with friends or at home, Matilda Polkinghorne spent hers learning from some of the top judges in the wool industy.
The 17-year-old was lucky enough to spend time as an associate judge at the Australian Sheep and Wool in Bendigo.
And she said it was a “really great” experience.
“I learnt a lot about how they judge the different wool types,” she said.
“Like with John [Crawford], we did the medium wools and he judges them mostly on the texture of their wool, the crimp and body structure, so how they stand and width and depth of the sheep.
“With Peter Rodgers I was doing the medium/fine wools and he judges those on mainly based on their wool and a little bit on structure. “With Joe Callan I was doing the ultra fines. They have really fine crimps and he judges them on the softness of the wool and their structure.
“It was mainly learning how each judge judges. They all have different ways of looking at things and how the different wool types should be judged. And different breeders have a different preference on their wool type that they like to breed.
It was also a way for Ms Polkinghorne to be immersed in the industry.
“I met a heap of great people who taught me a lot,” she said.
Read More: St Arnaud