New Golden Shears judge 'honoured to be asked'

Dawn Ratana.

It would be fair to say Dawn Ratana is "on a high" at the moment.

And the Waimate-based woolhandler reckons that will last until she is on the plane heading to this year's Golden Shears in Masterton.

Ms Ratana has been asked to judge woolhandling at the prestigious competition, which is being held from February 28 to March 2, joining fellow South Island judges Fiona Walker and Gail Holmes.

When she got the call, she admitted she was "jumping up and down" while on the phone, such was her excitement.

"I was so honoured to be asked to judge. I thought I'd be waiting another 10 years."
Ms Ratana grew up in the shearing and woolhandling industry; her uncle owned a Wedderburn-based shearing run and her parents were both involved.

Her own involvement began when she was 12, working in woolsheds during her school holidays, and she finished school when she was 17 to work full-time.

There were no regrets; she loved the people and the work and the ability to be independent.

While she worked for other contractors, including in Gisborne, she always seemed to end up back in Wedderburn with her uncle's run.

But then she went to Waimate when she was 20 to babysit her sister's children — "and I never left", she said, laughing. That was 27 years ago, and it had been a great time.
Ms Ratana entered her first competition when she was 16, competing in the woolhandling in Waimate.

She was fortunate that her shearer was legendary Central Otago shearer Dion Morrell and, back then, the shearer was able to tell the woolhandler what to take out when sorting the wool.

Once she reached open woolhandling level, she lost interest in competing, preferring to spend time at home with her children.

But then five years ago, she decided she still wanted to be part of shows, just not competing.

She spoke to another industry identity, Alistair Eckhoff, of Central Otago, about becoming a judge.

He was running a judging school at one of Waimate shearing contractor Warren White's sheds. Ms Ratana works for Mr White's business, Waimate Shearing.

She took part and caught the bug and has been judging ever since.

"I absolutely love it. I wouldn't give it up for the world now."