The industry is facing an increasing standard to the average age of a shearer, and as Mundulla farmer Gary Lock and Willalooka champion shearer Shannon Warnest agree, the average seems to be a concerning 46-50.

The varying factors create a conundrum, with younger generations looking at different careers, with more money offered earlier in mines, New Zealanders obtaining working visas to shear in Australia and the final issue, that the shearing industry is about to grow.

Gary said “When I started I left school at 15 and worked part-time doing shearing while playing football, usually three quarters of the guys on the football team worked part-time as shearers, today it is more like maybe 2.”

Young Australian famers today, are choosing to move to the mines persuing wages in excess of $80,000 their first year and according to Shannon, “a skilled shearer can earn $80,000 a year, but if you are starting out, you earn $30,000 (around about).”

“Some guys I know are getting $130-140,000 a year,but they are obviously the better shearers.”

This pay can vary, as like any job, the effort you put in determines the rewards, Gary said “the pay is one thing, if you sheared say 1000 sheep a week, then an experienced shearer would earn anywhere between $2500 to $3000 a week.”