A 139-year-old family property near Goondiwindi has shorn its first fleece in two decades thanks to the combined efforts of three brothers.
Reverting to sheep production George Sloss was joined by his older siblings Ron, an experienced shearer, and Bob who is a wool classer, as they shore 200 weaners at their family property, Allanbank, last week.
It came about after George re-introduced sheep after the purchase of 450-head of cast-for-age Merino ewes and weaners from Bill Willis, Bullamon Plains, Thallon.
70-year-old Ron Sloss on the long blow.
The 12-month-old lambs were cutting four-kilogram fleeces - producing a pleasing profit for George.
"They could easily shear $40 worth of wool and it nearly pays for the sheep," he said.
At a time when wool prices are hitting record levels, George said it was a smart decision to diversify from his beef operations.
"That's the start of the rise, I hope," he said.
"It needs to go a lot further than this for rural economics to work and I think it might, but it's certainly good getting in [to wool] now."
Sixty-eight-year-old George doubts he'll ever see prices return to when Australia rode on the sheep's back, but he's certain they'll need to remain at a sustainable level for producers to justify operations into the future.
"It needs to get better to give people the economics to stay [on the farm] and to handle challenges like succession and drought," he said.
"And so people can be better carers of their land - they can only do that if they're making money instead of being starved of income and investment funds."
George is the sixth generation to own and work on Allanbank.
Unlike his brothers who've been in the wool industry their entire working lives, George has always worked off-farm to support the operation.
He continues to operate a successful real estate business in Goondiwindi, where his youngest son David is employed.
Wool classer Bob, 74, didn't have too far to travel for the historic event.
His block adjoins onto Allanbank.
Shearer Ron, 70, travelled from his property at Yelarbon to put some long-awaited runs on the board at the family farm.
Despite all three brothers reaching the Australian retirement age, George says they're all happy to keep working their desired fields.
"Why would you want to retire? I mean they [Ron and Bob] love it," he said.
"They just love it and they're keeping active and they're healthy."
