ABOUT AN ALPACA

ISSUE 9
APRIL 13, 2012
THE ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF NSW
FROM FARM TO FASHION
ABOUT AN ALPACA
Carlos Bruinsma
Alpacas, also known as the sheep of the Andes, have been
domesticated by native inhabitants for over 6,000 years.
From the Moche peoples of South America to our own Aussie
farmers, alpacas are becoming the backbone of fleece products.
The main difference between sheep wool and alpaca fleece
is the texture.
Eighteen-year-old Glenn Dawson (pictured below right)
has been handling alpacas since he was ten, when his parents
decided to breed alpacas at their Orangeville farm.
“Alpaca fleece is lighter, softer and warmer than sheep
fleece,’’ he said. “It’s different, new and my parents saw it as
a market.’’
Only introduced to Australia in the 1980s, the creatures have
adapted to the Aussie environment with incredible proficiency.
Unlike their woolly counterparts, alpacas have a bit of a kick
to them.
Models strut their stuff at the Woolmark Fashion Parade
Christina Zhou
In the spirit of this month’s International Wool Week,
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) kicked off its annual
Woolmark Fashion Parade yesterday at the Sydney Royal
Easter Show.
The parade showcased a variety of Merino wool garments,
from great chunky knits to sleek superfine suits for both men
and women. There were even some evening dresses in the mix.
To illustrate the process of ‘farm to fashion’, the fashion
parade was preceded by a Merino shearing display, where
shearers demonstrated their skill and invited kids up onto the
stage to have a go.
Kate Muir, the spokesperson for Woolmark, said it’s the
coming together of two very iconic displays, the fashion parade
and the shearing of sheep, which makes this event special.
“The demonstration shows the public that these garments are
made from the fleece of these sheep. It couldn’t be more literal,”
she explained.
To further create the country atmosphere, the models strutted
down the hay bordered runways, amid the sheep displays in the
Sheep Pavilion.
the Australian Wool Fashion Awards alongside garments
from mainstream designers such as Tawfa, M. J Bale, EMU,
Kookai, OBUS, Sportscraft, Farage, Sabatini and Ellery.
There was an assortment of colours, cuts and accessories
on display, highlighting the versatility of the Merino wool to
be cut and dyed.
Designer Danielle Chiel, who launched her brand at the
fashion parade, said Merino Wool is the best wool to knit
with.
The brands exhibited at the parade are all participants in
the 2012 Campaign for Wool.
While the fashion parade is a celebration of wool in
fashion, it is only a “sneak preview” of what is to come later
in the month.
“The Campaign for Wool is a big rally to get retailers
to help us spread the message of wool and raise consumer
awareness,” Kate said. “This is our opportunity to tell people
that if they love this, there’s more to come.”
“They’re used as herd guards, so they protect other animals
like sheep and chickens from predators like foxes,’’ explained
Glenn.
Their fleece is just as thick as that of a sheep, and it can be
used in the same products. From socks, to quilts, to jumpers
and shawls; it’s all supplied by over 250,000 Australian alpacas.
Tony Burnette (pictured third from left) and his company
have utilised alpaca fleece to create an outstanding doona. The
company has been in the quilt business since 1930, but has only
recently made the transition to alpaca fleece.
“It breathes more than regular wool,’’ he said. “It doesn’t get
bedbugs and people won’t get allergic to it.’’
In celebration of their latest product range, The Australian
Alpaca Quilt Company is giving away an authentic alpaca quilt
to one of The Bush Telegraph’s lucky readers.
To enter, simply write in 100 words or less why you need an
alpaca-fibre doona to cuddle up with to.
Email
your
response
and
contact
details
to
[email protected] by midnight Sunday April 15.
The Woolmark Fashion Parades will be held daily in the
Sheep Pavilion until the close of the Show.
The fashion parade featured winning handmade designs from
A KICK START TO EDUCATION AT NRL DAY
Kate Burke
Young rugby league fans had the chance to learn from the
best yesterday, when NRL superstars hit the Sydney Royal
Easter Show.
“It is great for kids to come down here and meet their
favourite NRL players. They get an introduction to the world
of NRL, learn some skills and have a bit of a laugh.”
The cattle judging lawns were transformed into training
fields, where kids could brush up on their skills with Rugby
League Academy Clinics or take part in the Rugby League
Reads program.
The former captain of the Bulldogs hopes the players can
also encourage kids to read.
Community ambassador and former NRL player Andrew
Ryan said the day was about having a bit of fun and getting kids
interested.
“The guys all love coming down here to the Show and
interacting with the fans,” he said.
“We have our Rugby League Reads program, where the
players read stories with the kids. We get the kids interacting,
get them reading and hopefully get them interested in
learning,” he said.
The day was a huge success, with legends and up-andcoming stars from a range of Sydney teams kept busy by
their young fans.
The Bush Telegraph Editorial Team
The Royal Agricultural Society of NSW is proud to provide
up-and-coming journalists from universities across the country
with the opportunity to report on the Sydney Royal Easter
Show.
Editor: Alexandra Malfroy, RAS
Journalism students: Bernadette Burke, UTS; Carlos
Bruinsma, Deakin; Christina Zhou, UTS; Danielle Edwards,
UTS; Eloise Wilkinson, CSU; Kate Burke, CSU
Photography student: Tristan Strong
Editorial Phone: 9704 1301
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WILLIAM SHAKESPEAR
Danielle Edwards
Eloise Wilkinson
Crazy Bob outside his popular attraction Hollywood Horrors
Screams and shrieks echo throughout the grounds of the
Sydney Royal Easter Show, with Hollywood Horrors scaring all
those who dare to enter.
“You have to have a passion for the industry. You have
to remember you’re there as an entertainer and that fear is a
delicate thing,” he said.
Crazy Bob, aka Mr Bob Turner of Ohio, USA, is the proud
host of this popular haunted attraction.
The attraction may be about creating a fun experience,
but it takes scaring safety seriously, and includes security
cameras and emergency exits in case the thrills are too much
to handle.
“I grew up in the United States with Halloween and the fun
of trick-or-treating. I enjoy creating thrills for people with this
interactive experience,” he said.
Hollywood Horrors is not a ride, but a walk through
‘experience’ where visitors are scared silly by props, lighting
and sound effects. There are even real actors dressed as movie
characters hiding throughout the detailed unit.
“The theme was chosen because of its universal appeal with
movie icons, so naturally the unit was made in a Hollywood
special effects place and takes about five days to set up,” he
explained.
For those brave enough to go through the attraction more
than once, they’ll get a difference experience each time. With
12 rooms and over 30 different areas of fright, Crazy Bob is
proud of this unique attraction.
“The bigger the visitors, doesn’t necessarily mean the
harder they are to scare. There are medical conditions that
may be unknown, so all staff undergo intense training to
ensure everyone’s safety.”
Crazy Bob is proud of their achievements, including
winning Gold and Best in Show for the Commercial Exhibitor
Awards last year.
“Winning that recognition was incredible. I am very proud;
especially after doing it for so long,” he said.
“It’s not about creating the scares, it’s about the people.
I’m scaring the next generation, and I get the greatest pleasure
out of that because they keep coming back for more.”
HAIRLESS DOGS FULL OF WINNING TRAITS
One character you may not expect to meet at the Sydney
Royal Easter Show is William Shakespear.
Working the ticket booth at the ride No Limit, our own
Shakespear is British, well-travelled, and like his playwright
counterpart, knows how to tell a good story.
‘Shakey’ was born in Wembley, England, however his
ancestors hail from Stratford-Upon-Avon.
While the Great Fire of London destroyed archive records,
there is a good chance he is related to the real thing.
Will’s father was a talented trumpeter who performed his
act 'Bill Shakespeare and the Talking Trumpet' on the TransAtlantic ship lines in the 1930s and 40s.
Bill lived his life to the fullest, and clearly left an impression
on his son.
“He’s one of the luckiest people I’ve ever met, my father. All
he ever wanted to do in life was play the trumpet and he did until
he was 80 years old,” he said.
“I find that show people are very much like that. Show people
don’t retire. Local people are waiting to retire, show people
don’t. They normally die first!”
Australia’s warm climate enticed Will away from England in
1972 as he has always objected to “this winter stuff”.
After meeting a showman in Melbourne, he grabbed the
opportunity to see more of the country. Since then, he has been
chasing the sun around Australia’s show circuit.
“When we do the show at Batemans Bay, I step out of my
trailer straight onto the beach and look out over the water. I’ve
been all around Australia, and I’ve watched the country grow
up” he said.
He has travelled the world working as a seaman in a merchant
navy, on a shell tanker in the Vietnam War, and as a semi-truck
driver and tradesman.
Twenty years ago he sailed a replica of the Dutch ‘Dyfken’
from Cairns to Brisbane with a crew of 13 men. He likens
scaling the 42-metre high post on No Limit for maintenance
checks to climbing a mast.
“All of my life I’ve climbed tall things, but we didn’t have to
take any safety measures years ago.”
Will works for the Bell family, a well-established show family
who have been travelling together since 1924.
For 35 years he has been a part of a community of show
families, and loves how they all reunite at the Show each year.
Bernadette Burke
Hair not necessary: Xoloitzcuintles, a rare hairless dog breed
Some of the rarest dog breeds in the country competed on the
Dog Lawn yesterday as part of the Purina Sydney Royal Dog
Show.
Jade Morse-Roberts, handler of Pitaya, a Mexican
Xoloitzcuintle who was awarded reserve bitch challenge,
and runner-up best breed, agreed with Mr Elliott.
Chinese Crested dogs have hair only on their heads and feet,
while Xoloitzcuintles have none at all.
“You have to have a relationship with the dog,” she said.
Angela Anderson, an owner and handler, said her Chinese
Crested dog Arianny was a loveable animal with an animated
personality.
“In the show ring she’s excited,’’ she said. “She likes being
a show dog.” Arianny claimed second place in the intermediate
bitch category.
Dale Elliott handled a hairless American Xoloitzcuintle, Taha,
who won both best breed and the bitch challenge.
He said the key was for the dog and its handler to be
comfortable with each other.
“I just spend time and get to know them, so I can get the best
out of them,” he said.
Ian Pursehouse
The dogs are two of just three Xoloitzcuintles in Australia.
The final dog in the trio, Naca, had won the male dog
challenge.
Swedish dog judge Britta Roos Borjeson said desirable
characteristics in hairless breeds included scar-free skin, well
set ears and dark eyes.
Ms Borjeson has been a dog judge since 1979, and said she
has learnt from some of the top breeders in the world.
“The first thing I look for is beauty and soundness,” she
said. “I go for elegance combined with a solid body. They
should look like a little horse when they run – that gives it
the flair and beauty.”
The Purina Sydney Royal Dog Show continues today.