ABOUT WASIA

WASIA’s purpose is to lead and promote excellence in practice for shearing industry contractors and workers. We promote knowledge, quality and safety for all associated within the WA Shearing Industry.

During these times of government changes to our industry, escalating costs, decreasing margins, increased focus on compliance, quality and safety and the ever-growing public and consumer sensitivity regarding animal welfare, environmental and sustainability issues, now more than ever a strong industry voice is crucial.

Since 1988, we have provided the best representation and advocacy on behalf of the shearing industry sector in WA. Our representation and membership includes contractors, growers, woolclassers, shearers, shed hands, suppliers and training organisations.

WASIA works for the Shearing Industry in WA focusing on:

Awards and employment conditions
Industrial relations and industry issues
Business support – legal, shearing business and member benefit schemes
Industry training and development
Ministerial, political and government liaison
Education, information and communications
Finance and management

Your support via membership is essential for a strong industry Association – Join Now and encourage your associates and people in the industry that you know to also join up.

2024/25 WASIA Committee

WASIA Code of Conduct

BECOME A MEMBER

There are many benefits of being a WASIA member. Find out how WASIA can assist your shearing business and how your membership makes for a stronger Shearing Industry in WA.

Find out more

FIND A CONTRACTOR

Looking for a shearing contractor? We can provide you with the contact details for our members available across Western Australia. Search by contractor or by area.

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"WASIA is a not-for-profit industry association representing the interests of the WA Shearing industry and providing vital information and support to shearing industry members, including contractors, woolclassers, shed hands, wool handlers, wool buyers and brokers and all interested WA shearing industry stakeholders."

WASIA COMMITTEE 2024/25

Meet your current WASIA Executive Committee. If you are a member and would like to discuss an issue or idea, or you work in the industry and would like to know more about WASIA, you can contact any of these committee members or the WASIA office. Download full committee list.

DARREN SPENCER

PRESIDENT & LIFE MEMBER

Lake Grace
0428 651 339
president@wasia.com.au

2-year term to 2026

I started contracting in July 1991 in partnership with Bill Adriaens who was looking to go do something else. In January 1992 my wife Tania and I took the run over in our own right and started Spencer Shearing Service and have now been contracting for 26 years.

We mostly operate around the Lake Grace area and have a crew that works from quarters in Lake King. I joined WASIA when I started contracting and have been involved as a committee member for a greater amount of the time.

I became a committee member so that I was able to give back to industry and help make the industry better to work in.

MIKE HENDERSON

VICE PRESIDENT

Dongara
0427 304 555
Admin@HendersonSS.com.au

2-year term to 2026

I have been contracting in the Dongara, Badgingarra area since 2001 and have been in the WA Shearing industry since 1981. Prior to contracting I was a shearer and shearer/ woolhandler instructor.

I joined WASIA to keep up with industry standards and regulations and to network with others. I became a committee member to give back to this industry. I believe that WASIA gives our industry a stronger voice.

Mike has been Treasurer for 6 years before becoming Vice-President in 2022.

SARAH BUSCUMB

VICE PRESIDENT

Darkan
0418 445 879
crackerscontracting@hotmail.com

2-year term to 2025

LOWANNA JURY

TREASURER

Kojonup
08 9831 0093
jjury@bigpond.net.au

2-year term to 2025

I started in the shearing industry in 1995 have had Jury Shearing with my husband Jason since 2004. We are based in Kojonup .

We have been a member of the association since 2004 and we joined because it was a great support network starting out as new contractors. The association keeps us up to date with everything we need to know which is why 13 years later we are still members. I volunteered for the Executive Committee to support our Association and help where I can.

Lowanna took on the role of Treasurer in 2022.

EDDIE McELLISTER

COMMITTEE MEMBER & LIFE MEMBER

Narroign
0428 959 803
eddiemcellister@bigpond.com

2-year term to 2026

I am proud to be a Life Member of WASIA and I have served on the Committee for many years as a Vice President. After a few years break and after selling my run I had more energy and wanted to come back and contribute to our Association and our great shearing industry in WA.

KAT CARRIE

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Kulin
‭0488 012 180
kgt.shearing@gmail.com

2-year term to 2026

I’m an Australian shearing contractor from Scotland with a Kiwi partner (Tahae)and a son that’s a bit of all! I came to Australia as a backpacker in 2011 as there was an economic downturn in the UK. I’d only just graduated as a milliner (fancy hat maker) with BA(hons) but nobody wanted to buy a fancy hats when they can’t afford rent. Off on my travels I went! I did see a fair bit of Australia before money ran out.

I settled in Kulin as a barmaid and met Tahae not long after, ending up learning to rousy. We took on our shearing run in Kulin in July 2019 and it was pretty daunting going in blind. I wish that we had knew about WASIA at the time. We have been members since soon after in 2019. I joined the committee in 2022 to help new members that were like us and keep up to date with all that is going on within the industry.

WENDY CHANT

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Tenterden
0408261069
chantshearing@gmail.com

2-year term to 2025

My Dad was a Shearing Contractor in NZ for 18 years so I’ve been involved in the industry since childhood, getting those unexpected wake up calls from an early age if a Woolhandler called in sick. In my mid 20s I had the opportunity to come to Australia for 6 weeks work on stations up north of WA, that turned into 23+ years and now I call Australia home. I became a Woolclasser 19yrs ago and my ex-husband and I bought the shearing run a year later and settled in the Southwest WA.

I’ve been a member with WASIA since 2003 and look forward to becoming more active in the Association. The benefits as a contractor, as well as on behalf of our staff, towards building a healthier and more progressive industry are greatly increased as a group. The support and information available from the association has been much appreciated and I’d like to contribute where I can.

ROB CRISTINELLI

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Pingelly
‭0408 902 253
marz1@westnet.com.au

2-year term to 2025

I have been an active member of this organisation now for 7 years. WASIA to me represents a genuine sense of belonging to our great industry. It’s sharing of information to everyday situations within our industry keeps us all informed from pay rates, health and safety information, workers compensation issues, and all other issues we share with our woolgrowers who are a big part of our industry.

Along side my wife Trudi we have been wool industry people all our lives , from the early age of 17 years old. We were fortunate to work in different locations throughout NZ and Australia. From contracting in the late 80s through to early 2000s in Southern WA, then working for TAFE and AWI as industry trainers for a number of years. In 2017 we took on Pingelly Shearing, so back contracting once again.

I say to all people many times, all the industry needs is loyalty and respect.

KEVIN GELLATLY

ASSOCIATE MEMBER

Perth
0427 533 129
nellie077@yahoo.com.au

2-year term to 2025

Kevin has worked in the wool industry for 50 years. Most of his career has been as a shearer in WA and a shearing contractor/trainer. Kevin worked for Heiniger Australia in a R&D role coveting WA, Tasmania and New Zealand advocating for wool sheed improvements, grinding & equipment maintenance.

For 26 years Kevin has offered training and employment opportunities for young indigenous people and has served as a shearer and wool handler trainer for 20 years, introducing many hundreds of people to the wool industry.

In 2020 Kevin received the Australian Wool Industry Medal.

AARON PIPER

COMMITTEE MEMBER

Dinninup
0428 364 395
dinninupshearing@gmail.com

2-year term to 2025

DOUG KENNEDY

LIFE MEMBER, LIFETIME OBSERVER, PRESIDENT 1991-1994
(non-voting)

The Vines
0429 024 106
dekennedy1@bigpond.com

My involvement in the industry was family related as my father, Eric Kennedy was a contractor for 28 years from 1938 to 1966. I was involved from an early age during school holidays and working in the teams I did wool classing. Then after a period working in teams I started contracting in 1965 for 32 years.

I was elected to the WASCA executive where I saw opportunities to change the Federal Pastoral award for WA and subsequently the WA Shearing Industry Award (1993). The Operations Manual was put together to assist all contractors, among a number of other positive changes and variations.

VALERIE PRETZEL

EXECUTIVE OFFICER

0412 227 252
admin@wasia.com.au

WASIA
PO Box 797
CLOVERDALE WA 6985

I was employed by WASIA in April 2017 as the Administration Officer and have been tasked with keeping the Association up-to-date with technology, improving our marketing and assisting the committee with our advocacy role.

I am really enjoying meeting and talking to our members and believe that the Association has a vital role to play in progressing, supporting and safe-guarding the Shearing Industry. I hope to meet you at one of our member events and to assist with any enquiries or concerns you may have.

ABOUT WASIA

WASIA’s purpose is to lead and promote excellence in practice for shearing industry contractors and workers. We promote knowledge, quality and safety for all associated within the WA Shearing Industry.

BECOME A MEMBER

FIND A CONTRACTOR