TOP SIRE 2026–2027 HALL OF FAME Graham Wells Learning to shear and then applying his skills throughout central Victoria, experiencing numerous bloodlines, gave Graham a great grounding in sheep types and the traits that made up productive Merinos. “While our mates were away at school, we were acquiring land, going from 1500 acres to 4500 to help set us up for the future”, Graham recalled. In 1955, the Wells family seized the opportunity to purchase stud ewes from Paddy McDonald at Glendonald Stud, Nhill, Victoria. This marked the beginning of Graham’s lifetime fascination with stud breeding and his role as a passionate industry advocate. Among the ewes was one that produced “Donald Mac”, which became One Oak Merino Stud’s first major championship winner at the Australian Sheep Show, held in Melbourne, winning medium wool champion in both 1960 and 1961. The stud prefix “One Oak” was inspired by a singular oak tree at the family’s home property – a name that proved a prophetic choice of name as from little acorns major Merino studs grow. Following the acquisition of Ardgour Park in the Riverina, where Ross was to reside, Graham and Alby often visited to provide help. Alby, seeing the potential of the area, promised Graham that if he were to marry, he would buy him a property in the area. True to his word, Alby purchased Tongala at Jerilderie for Graham and his then-fiancée, Mary Emmett, upon their marriage in 1964. Graham, having been around the stud world and with a new property to set up, was a young studmaster in a hurry. The One Oak stud under Graham’s management continued to purchase drafts of stud ewes when they could be accessed to grow numbers. Special stud ewes were purchased from Goolgumbla during the time of Frank Baker and Bluey McMaster’s management, who Graham credits with teaching him the finer arts of show sheep presentation. Additionally, he secured a draft of ewes from the Baratta stud, which had been classed by Basil Claphan, adding significant value. From its inception in 1957, One Oak’s breeding methods were slightly different to accepted practices of the time. Having left school at 15 years of age, Graham’s schooling in all areas of Merino sheep started earlier than most. Graham Wells– with his Australian Supreme Merino Ram at the Rabobank National Merino Sheep Show and Ram Sale in 2013. NSW SMBA inducts Graham Wells to the NSW Stud Merino Breeders’ Association HALL OF FAME – 46 –
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