IF past history is to be a guide Wagga firmly has it’s position cemented as an ideal training ground for young auctioneers.
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Shannon Wicks, 23, is originally from Scone in the Hunter Valley and he started his career as a livestock agent in Emerald, Queensland.
Now he is a regular face with the team from Landmark Wagga and is planning to further develop his skills as a livestock agent and auctioneer.
He said the opportunities in the Riverina and at the Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre were enormous. The combination of big numbers of stock and the fact Wagga had two sales a week made it a great centre.
Mr Wicks said the region also encompassed some excellent and diverse farming operations. He said the difference between enterprises on the Hay plains in the western Riverina through to the hills at Tumut gave great depth and variety.
He arrived in Wagga in January and recently participated in young auctioneers training instigated by the Australian Livestock and Property Agents (ALPA) at the Wagga Livestock Marketing Centre.
It was his second ALPA course and he said the event was helpful.
“It helps us build confidence … and also get better at selling,” he said.
“I want to sell because it adds value to yourself and for your clients … it is one of the tools of the trade.”
Liz Summerville of ALPA said 18 people attended the Wagga training school. She said the participants traveled from as far way as Dubbo, Young, Griffith, Parkes, Albury, West Wyalong, Hillston, Crookwell and Gundagai.
She said ALPA holds three young auctioneers schools throughout NSW each year. And the December training event is the one where participants have the opportunity to gain a place in the young auctioneers competition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show in the following year.
“The aim of our mid year schools are to teach agents how to be auctioneers … we are very fortunate that our schools have very experienced agents/auctioneers to facilitate them,” she said.
“We are also assisted by two speech pathologists who have assisted at ALPA schools for more than 20 years,” she said.
“The speech sessions are a vital part of the learning as an agent’s voice is one of their most important assets.”
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
Rural journalist with Fairfax media based in the Riverina.
