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 alpaca@fivestarselections.com.au 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 ‘THE STABLES’ OPEN EVERY DAY 9AM – 7PM *See in store for details. Allan Henry Iconic Ferris Wheel MAIN ARENA ORANA PARADE GRAND PARADE ‘THE STABLES’ HAWKESBURY ST Stockyard Boots $99* Stockyard Single Pocket Shirts 2 for $70* NEW ENGLAND AVENUE HAWKESBURY STREET HAVE THE FRIGHT OF YOUR LIFE A YARN WITH... 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.