ONE of the Upper Hunter’s well-respected and talented campdraft icons Kenneth MacCallum is now making his mark in another arena.
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The 71-year-old, who spends his time buying good quality rams and breeding sheep on his Mandalea property outside Scone, claimed further success at the 2017 Sydney Royal Easter Show – but it wasn’t on a horse.
He captured first and second prize in the Top Making Type Wool category.
“I’m thrilled with the outcome,” Mr MacCallum said.
“I had the same result last year, however I also collected Champion Commercial Fleece.
“I like to support the [Royal Easter] show – and it’s nice if you can win a prize.
“I’m too old for campdrafting these days,” he added with a laugh.
“So, this is an interest for me.
“I pick out something I’m fond of and send it to the show.
“Luckily for us, the judges like it, too.”
Mr MacCallum admitted he owed a lot to the much-loved textile.
“If it wasn’t for wool, I wouldn’t be here,” he said.
“I’ve been growing it since 1948.
“It’s one of my main incomes.”
Despite his success in that category over the past two years, Mr MacCallum fears he might not achieve the “hat-trick”.
“I could be in doubt [in 2018],” he said.
“But, I sincerely hope not.
“At the moment, we’re losing too many sheep due to the wild dog problem – it’s out of control.
“The Local Land Service is making some serious efforts to fix it.
“In fact, they’re putting on a permanent trapper in July.
“So, we’ll see how that goes – it might save us.”
Mr MacCallum has been heavily involved in the Royal Easter Show for many, many years.
Prior to entering submissions in the wool competitions, he competed in campdrafting.
In 2014, at the age of 68, he also contested the World Championship Campdraft at the Sydney extravaganza.
Mr MacCallum has many feathers in his cap and ribbons in his bag accumulated over years of drafting since he debuted at the Rouchel Bushman’s Carnival in 1959 on My Belle – a present his grandfather gave him.
It was on this great mare that he first competed at the show in 1965 when he was just 18 years old.
And, he’s since gone on to follow in his father’s footsteps and compete and judge the renowned event.
