SHEARERS, woolgrowers, agents and studmasters are uniting to celebrate the rich heritage connecting the wool industry and Australian football.
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To celebrate the connection between the wool growing community and football an introductory video has been produced.
Launched at the world's biggest sheep event, the Australian Sheep and Wool Show, The Fibre of Football campaign will involve many initiatives.
From placing the natural fibre into football supporter gear, country football wool blend ‘MerinoPerform’ playing tops through to compiling images and stories of woollen playing jumpers and nominating people for the "Ultimate Wool Team".
The idea for our native game came to Tom Wills while on his sheep station "Lexington" near Moyston in Victoria in the mid 19th century and since that time the wool industry and football have been closely connected.
Every football weekend across the nation, every part of the wool industry can be seen at country football grounds as wool industry people and businesses support the game.
Those already nominated for the Ultimate Wool Team include wool classer Anthony Daniher (Sydney Swans and Essendon Bombers), indigenous shearers Phil and Jim Krakouer (North Melbourne) and Merino stud master Ross Ditchburn, Carlton Blues not to mention countless wool industry men and women who have been crucial to their local football club both on and off the field.
The fibre of football celebrates two Australian icons that have supported each other throughout the evolution of our native game and our natural fibre. Both are central to the livelihoods and identities of many thousands of Australians.
As wool classer and football fanatic Darren "Strop" Strawford from Dunkeld in Victoria says; "In country towns the footy club is the lifeblood, we all gather together on a Saturday and we come and watch the football. The wool industry and football are intertwined and they are the most important things going on around here."
Wool, the Fibre of Football and AWI invites everyone involved in the wool industry to join in and celebrate two great Australians.