Shearing course ‘a morale-booster’

Gisborne speed shearer Catherine Mullooly is a great role model for Gisborne Girls’ High School student Greer MacKay who is learning new skills shearing sheep.

A group of Gisborne Boys’ High School students took part in a practical hands-on shearing course designed to boost morale and give the students a practical skill that can potentially bring them an income.

The course came about after GBHS Gateway and Trades coordinator Sara Evans applied for funding from the Ministry for Primary Industries to pay for instructors and transport costs.

“After Cyclone Gabrielle I felt like our students needed a morale boost and wanted to do something positive as we have found they have been hit by the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle,” Sara said.

“We have had students who have been displaced and I’ve found there is a lot of anxiety due to loss of livelihoods/income for families. With the cost of living skyrocketing, I thought it could be great if the students could go out shearing in the holidays to earn extra money for themselves and their families.”

MPI approved the funding, recognising the shearing course was a way to teach the students a practical skill and improve mental health and wellbeing.

The course was led by Noel Handley from Elite Wool Shearing who came up from Christchurch to take the four-day programme. It started with the students learning how to crutch a sheep and then went on to shearing, with two female shearers Catherine Mullooly and Birttany Tibble also helping as instructors. Two female students also joined the course, one from Gisborne Girls’ High School and another from Campion College.