TOP SIRE 2026–2027 HALL OF FAME NSW SMBA inducts Ross and Graham Wells to the NSW Stud Merino Breeders’ Association HALL OF FAME The journey for the Wells brothers began at a young age – Ross at 16 and Graham at 14 – with the support of their father Alby, who helped them purchase a draft of Glendonald stud ewes from Paddy McDonald, Nhill, Victoria. Impressed by the boys’ enthusiasm, Paddy graciously gifted them two blade-shorn show ewes. The two ewes were show prepared and entered at the Melbourne sheep show in 1956. Graham recalls Les Faulkiner was the judge and sent one back to the pen without inspecting her. The other won her class, which was the first award for the fledgling One Oak stud. These ewes would prove pivotal for the new stud and go on to produce incredible results. Also in 1956, they purchased a Buttabone Stud Park sire and joined these ewes to it in an out of season joining. Lambs dropped in January onto lucerne pastures and an outstanding ram lamb was born. Named Donald Mac, this ram would go on to achieve significant accolades. Donald Mac was first exhibited at the Australian Sheep Breeders’ Association (ASBA) sheep show in Melbourne in 1960, winning the medium wool championship. In the same year, he also won Grand Champion ram at Hamilton, becoming the first medium wool sire to beat a fine wool champion at this event. Donald Mac continued to impress, cutting 40lbs of wool at the end of the show season, and repeated his Melbourne Show success in 1961, again claiming the medium championship ram award. The growth of the One Oak business saw the Wells brothers leave school in their early teens. Both brothers had incredible work ethics, along with their father Alby who was constantly seeking to acquire land and sheep to grow the business for the family. Graham went shearing, from which he attributed his knowledge of skin types through the experience of different bloodlines and how they performed. Ross acknowledged his father Alby’s influence on them and remarked, “I think both Graham and I inherited our keenness, ability and competitiveness from our father. He was a quiet man, but he really liked to win, and at times if he didn’t win, he was sure the judge was wrong!” The late 1960s and 1970s were transformative years for the Wells brothers who took enormous strides – and plenty of risks – in growing their business. In an era before mobile phones and other technologies, their relationship with agents Denny Lasselces Ltd, who financed their growth, was critical. They purchased Ardgour Park at Jerilderie, now the home base of Ross and Irene Wells and the Willandra Merino Stud, followed by the purchase The Wells brothers, Ross and Graham, are recognised for their contribution to the NSW stud Merino industry over a 60-year period as breeders and industry advocates of the highest level. Ross and Graham Wells– talking at the One Oak stud dispersal sale in 2014. – 38 –
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