in the OJD battle and council does appreciate all that he has done”. In 1998, Ross Wells was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for services to the Merino industry. With a long period of advocacy behind him, Ross was able to again spend his time focusing on the Willandra stud. Extraordinary Willandra Poll industry sires and ewes would follow. The first to make a mark was the “GP”, which was first identified as having sire potential by Stuart Hodgson, then an independent classer for numerous studs across New South Wales who later became an AWI sheep industry specialist. When exhibited at Bendigo, it caught the attention of many notable breeders and was eventually sold at the Willandra on-property sale for $22,000 to the Ballatherie stud, where it proved to be a sire of champions. Through ET “GP” mated to Willandra “Stella”, a Supreme Ewe at Bendigo, resulting in the outstanding son “Desmond”, much admired by Stuart Hodgson. He went on to have an incredible show career, culminating in being named the 2013 Australian Champion Hogget Ram. It was later sold to Steve Satterthwaite of Muller Station, New Zealand, who remarked, “Desmond ticks all the boxes. His wool, conformation, topline and hindquarters are excellent.” In 2015, Willandra had an exceptional show team and won a number of championships across Eastern Australia. A highlight was winning three out of four of the March shorn medium and strong championships at Adelaide Royal. The success of this team generated significant interest, leading buyers to pay $81,000 for the “Governor General” – an Australian onproperty sale record – and the five special sires averaging $30,400. During this 2026 interview, Ross Wells was asked to reflect on his breeding objectives. He believed the Willandra sheep were universally recognised for their large bodyweight, but that was only part of their success, “It’s the wool quality and quantity when given good management conditions that are able to give extra production that not all bloodlines are able to achieve”. Ross, in summing up his life in the present-day, said, “I am incredibly fortunate to have a family which still allows me to be involved with the Willandra Stud and incredibly proud of my grandson Gus who is having a red-hot go”. The NSW SMBA Hall of Fame recognises the massive contribution Ross Wells OAM has made to the stud Merino industry through his unrelenting advocacy for a better deal for industry members on a range of issues. He served NSW SMBA over a long period of time, including three years as President, and was been awarded a Life Governorship in 2016. For resurrecting a major bloodline in Willandra that may have been lost to industry and for his significant role in the improvement of Poll genetics in recent years, Ross Wells thoroughly deserves his induction to the Hall of Fame. Willandra “Desmond”– Australian Champion Hogget Ram Hay 2013, Australian All Purpose Hogget Ram and Champion March Shorn Medium Wool Ram, Bendigo ASBA 2013. – 45 –
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