A Tribute to Geoff Redden At Christmas time 2008, Mr Geoff Redden informed me that he was retiring from Elders Wool Adelaide in early 2009. I want to thank him for his legacy with wool that he has passed on to me over the past twenty years. During this time, he has religiously looked after the wool sales from my Partnership – McClure & Daughters. When my property sold its annual wool clip twenty years ago, all I was concerned about was preparing for shearing and trucking it to Adelaide. Also I loved wearing it and that’s why I grew it.

Janie with Geoff Redden - Melbourne, May 2007 Through Elders, he crusaded the development of Certified Organic wool.

It was about then that I discovered Geoff Redden firstly wanting to know where our wool was because he wanted to get it tested ready for the upcoming wool sale. I had no idea what he was talking about because I assumed the wool was in Adelaide and why would it need to be tested because in my mind it was good wool anyway. We tracked the wool back to Broken Hill and got it to Adelaide to be tested in time for Geoff’s/Elder’s wool sale.

It was then that I began to learn more about my wool and that although I believed my wool was “good” , the buyers needed to know more. If I wanted to continue to grow wool, it was important to focus on quality and integrity. It was not long before Geoff/Elders introduced “Clip Care”. I could not believe it – why would we have to be sure the shed and yards were clean? Didn’t we have enough to do with our preparation for shearing? In one of my preparations, my biggest concern was the “pet carpet snake” in the Wyloona Shearing shed – I could not be sure that it would not sneak its way into a bale of wool! Geoff’s usual practical advise was to let him know when the wool was to be trucked to Adelaide and he would let the boys know to watch out for it.

However, the past 10 years have definitely been the most rewarding and exciting for me with Geoff/Elders wool. I believe that Clip Care was a prelude to certified organic wool in the Western Division of NSW. There was no perceived premium for Clip Care wool for growers, however processors were aware that it would be uncontaminated.

It was in May 2000 that Geoff, with his Elders Wool team (the boys in red), co-ordinated an inaugural Introduction to Organic Agriculture day for growers at my family property, "Trevallyn", on the River Darling Wilcannia. This day attracted many growers who were made aware that their wool, with a small change in management, could be accredited certified organic and possibly receive a premium; as with lambs and beef.

The following year in 2001, my company Organics for Rural Australia gained a grant from the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR).

Geoff brought his Elders Wool Team to the launching of ORA held at the tiny village of Tilpa. His vision and support for ORA in the following years has enabled many ORA growers to gain a premium price for their wool.

I believe the highlight of my many years of growing and marketing wool with Geoff was at the wool sale held in Melbourne, May 2007. I distinctly remember meeting with Geoff in the Elders room where featured on the wall were photos of Thomas Elder and Thomas Sutcliff Mort – Two grand men who had foresight and vision in developing agriculture in Australia and a big reason that Elders remains dominant in leading Australia’s agriculture industry today. I said to Geoff at the time, “You should be up there with them.” – a tribute of the tireless time and work he had given to the Australian Wool Industry, but more importantly, Elders.

The sale heralded a new beginning for Australia’s organic wool industry. The ORA growers gained a premium which gave them the edge over their fellow growers.

On a personal note, I just want to sincerely thank Geoff for his support and belief in the development of Certified Organic wool.

I wish him fun, happiness and good health in his retirement.

Janie McClure
Managing Director Organics for Rural Australia