Six shearers set for challenge
Preparations for the third instalment of the ‘24hour shear madness’ event are underway as six Victorian shearers plan to raise money by shearing for 24 hours straight.
This year the shearing team will be raising money for LETS TALK, which advocates for the need to discuss mental health and break the stigma of seeking support.
The first ever Shear Madness ‘Shear-a-thon’ was in 2018 with shearer Roger Mifsud and his son Corey, of Stawell, shearing 1542 sheep to raise awareness and funds for muscular dystrophy.
A total of $45,000 was raised and shared between the Gillian Boys Foundation and Save Our Sons Duchenne Foundation.
In 2021, the shearers were back at it again, this time with brother Brody joining the team.
Together, the three Mifsuds set out to beat the previous event’s tallies, shearing 2822 sheep and raising $78,252 for Merri River School in Warrnambool, Skene Street School in Stawell and programs for carers of children with special needs.
The fundraiser was in honour of Corey’s son Levi, who has autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, ADHD.
This year Josh and Brandon Bone, of Nhill, and Phil Edwards, of southwest Victoria, will join the Mifsuds on the stand for 24 hours on December 8 and 9.
Volunteers
Shear Madness committee member Brooke Siegle said the team was aiming to raise $100,000 for LETS TALK.
“We have a crew of 35 people, who are all volunteers, doing everything from selling raffle tickets to pushing the sheep up, and everything we use is donated,” she said.
“We use the Warrnambool Showground shearing pavilion and have the event plus a goods and services auction and raffles.
“We are in discussions about having it live-streamed again.
“We are shearing the same sheep as last year and the farmer will pay the shearers, like any contractor.
“One of the roustabouts buys and sells wool, so she will sell it and donate the money back to the cause.”
Ms Siegle said Josh and Roger would start the shear-a-thon like an eight-hour workday and aimed to shear 400 sheep in that time.
“While the two shearers are going for eight hours, the other four shearers will be rotating on a third stand every half hour,” she said.
“Once the eight hours are finished, the shearers will work in teams of two and rotate on the three stands. At the very end, they will all get up there with the roustabouts to finish with a bang.”
This year the organisers are also planning ‘meet and greet’ events before the shear-a-thon, to allow sponsors and the community to meet the shearers and the wider team. The events will also be an opportunity to learn more about LETS TALK and the work the foundation does.
Ms Siegle said people and businesses interested in sponsoring or supporting the event could contact the team at 24hrshearmadness@gmail.com
“It’s going to be a big weekend and the team is working hard to make sure the shearers will be able to get up there and shear for 24 hours,” she said. • If you, or someone you know, needs help phone Lifeline on 13 11 14; in an emergency phone 000.