The Committee

CHAIRMAN I 2018 EX-SCHOLAR

Joe is the Assistant Operations Manager at Redgum River Pastoral. He has a certificate IV in Agriculture and Wool Handling from Tocal Agricultural College.

Joe received the scholarship in 2018 and joined the committee in 2020.

He is passionate about giving other young people in the industry a helping-hand.

SHADOW CHAIRMAN I 2014EX-SCHOLAR

Ben is the Managing Director of Accelerate Ag, an agricultural management and consulting business. Ben has an Agricultural business degree and many years of experience under his belt.

Ben was a recipient of the scholarship in 2014, joined the Committee in 2015, was elected Vice-Chairman in 2018 and moved into the Chairman position in 2019. Ben stepped back to Shadow Chaiman in 2023.

VICE-CHAIRMAN I 2019 EX-SCHOLAR

Brett grew up in central west NSW. Once finished school and completing his wool classing certificate, he spent 2 years classing in sheds across Australia.

After completing a Bachelor of Business through Marcus Oldham College he now works as the Head of Sales for Kilcoy Global Foods.

Brett received the scholarship in 2019 and joined the committee in 2020 and is keen to ensure Australian sheep meat remains an everyday protein in consumers diets around the globe.

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

With a heart deeply rooted in agriculture, Sarah Weir is the Executive Officer of the Peter Westblade Scholarship.

⁠Sarah's journey began on her family farm, and her love for agriculture has only blossomed further, currently living on a merino farming operation in NSW.

⁠With a background in allied health, Sarah brings her unique skills and passion to the field.

TREASURER

Sally runs her own consultancy business, Sheep Metrix.

Sally has been involved with the Peter Westblade Scholarship committee since its inception in 2012, holding the Treasurers position, mentoring scholarship recipients and until August 2016 carried out the Executive Officer duties.

Sally is passionate about rural communities, agriculture and more specifically the Australian Sheep and Wool industry.

SECRETARY I 2019 EX-SCHOLAR

Based in the Flinders Ranges, SA Chloe has a Bachelor of Animal Science from The University of Adelaide and has worked in both on and off farm roles. She is currently working with the National Farmers Federation in the AgCAREERSTART Agricultural Gap Year Program.

Chloe has a passion for wool, sheep and sharing that passion with young people in agriculture and consumers afar, through her work and also within the various volunteer roles she holds.

Chloe received the scholarship in 2019 and joined the Committee in 2020.

2017 EX-SCHOLAR

Rachael grew up in the rural community of Narrandera, NSW and has always had a passion for agriculture.

Has an Animal Science degree from Charles Sturt University, Wagga and now works at Riverina Wool Testers. She is passionate about encouraging other young people to pursue a career in the Sheep and Wool Industry.

Rachael was the recipient of the scholarship in 2017, joined the committee in 2018 and took on the Executive Officer role in August 2020.

PUBLIC OFFICER

Managing director of Moses and Son

Marty is actively involved in both the wool industry and the community.

Most notably, his work as Director of the Inland Wool Brokers Association, Yennora Wool Brokers, and Director representing Brokers on the board of the Australian Wool Exchange Limited.

In more recent years, Marty has developed a passion for sheep and genetics. Marty works tirelessly supporting the Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge.

2018 EX-SCHOLAR

Anna is an assistant manager on her family property Kelvedon Estate, Tasmania. The property runs superfine merinos and produces premium wine.

Anna’s passion for agriculture, particularly the Sheep and Wool industry, lead her to study a Bachelor of Business (Farm Management) at Marcus Oldham College.

Anna sits on the Executive committee of the Midlands Agricultural Association (MAA) the National Merino Challenge and is a participant of AWI’s grower user group for the testing of WoolQ.

Anna received the scholarship in 2018 and joined the Committee in 2020

Adele’s passion for the Sheep & Wool industry stems from growing up on the family farm at Laggan

She has worked with Moses & Son Wool Brokers for the last 6 years, working her way up from an Admin & Sales Support role, to a Wool Technical Officer and a leading eID Advisor.

Adele has undertaken several industry focused training courses which have given her a solid skills and knowledge base from which she regularly draws on

Adele also aims to encourage all young people that there is a bright future in Agriculture and plenty of career options, so why not jump in and have a go?!

Adele joined the committee in 2020 after being involved behind the scenes for many years

Tim with his wife Rachael, are the principals of Pastora Poll Merinos in Lockhart NSW. Tim is the son of the late Peter Westblade.

Tim has lived and worked on the farm in the Lockhart district all his life and has been involved in the sheep industry since leaving school, doing a few years shearing before returning to the family farm on a full-time basis.

Tim bought his own property in 1996 and worked alongside his father with whom he had a fantastic working/personal relationship for many years building a strong business. He currently classes many Pastora clients’ flocks.

Managing Director of Craig Wilson and Associates

Craig was the Chairman of the Committee since the Scholarship’s inception, stepping down in 2019.

Craig runs a Merino genetic consultancy business based in Wagga Wagga, NSW and services a client base across NSW, Victoria and Western Australia

Craig Wilson and Associates is the convenor of Australia’s largest ever commercial evaluation of Merino genetics, The Peter Westblade Memorial Merino Challenge (PWMMC).

Craig has been involved in merino production and genetic evaluation for over 20 years.

John and wife Traci live at The Rock in southern NSW. John has been a farmer all his life and started classing in 1984.

John worked closely with Peter Westblade and now classes full-time.

Louise is the daughter of the late Peter Westblade and lives in Wagga with her young family.

Owns & operates Plevna Merino Stud with his wife Alex at Trundle in Central West NSW

Boyd has been in the Sheep industry for 30yrs.

Boyd has spent ~20 years teaching Primary Industries at TAFE Western specialising in stock handling and sheep husbandry to a diverse range of students including agricultural schoolteachers, NSW Police Stock Squad and Pastoral companies.

In 2015 Boyd was contracted to AWI to develop Livestock Handling and Sheep Selection Education Resources.

Boyd also volunteers his time to assist with the practical experience of the local school agriculture students with on farm sessions.

He joined the committee in 2020 after presenting at the Wyvern Training Weekend since its inception.

2022 EX-SCHOLAR

Mitchell Rubie, who is employed on the family-owned Lachlan Merino Stud at Forbes, also has a Bachelor of Agricultural Business from Charles Sturt University and was favourably awarded the 2022 Peter Westblade Scholarship.

Mitch has recently started his own classing/Sheep advisory business 'Rubie Livestock Advancement'. This involves classing sheep for clients of Lachlan Merinos and Craig Wilson and Associates as well as developing his own growing client base.

Tash is an Auctioneer and Wool Manager for Gordon Litchfield Wool (GLW) based in Cooma and Yass, NSW.

Tash started in the Wool industry in 2013, finding her feet in the local shearing sheds and then progressing on to getting her Wool Classers ticket in 2015, where she also started working at GLW.

Tash has been fortunate enough to be in her position for the last 8 years; she has learned the ins and outs of the diverse Wool industry as well as establishing her very own ground roots.

Tash loves sharing her knowledge of Wool and Marketing but, she still believes every day is a school day!

The agriculture industry is developing in many ways, opening up boundless opportunity for up-and-coming generations. The rapid growth of technology is also allowing for an expanding Agriculture industry, so let’s get amongst it!