A group of fledgling shearers will learn the finer points of the profession as part of a unique Shearing School at TAFE NSW Primary Industries Centre in Wagga this week.
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It comes amid an industry-wide skills shortage with less than 2500 shearers operating nationwide, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, a figure that has fallen 13 per cent in five years.
Former world champion shearer Bill Kimber is leading the course, a passion he is happy to share with eager students.
"In 1968 I started shearing and have been doing the shearing schools here at TAFE for nearly 30 years," he said.
"Some [students] know what they are on about and some get quite a shock, as it is a bit harder than what they think.