South-west wool producers’ reaction to the decision of controversial Australian Wool International (AWI) chair Wal Merriman to step down has been as divided as response to his leadership in recent years.
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Penshurst merino super fine wool producer Colin Agar said it had been time for Mr Merriman to move on because the AWI had not been keeping up with the times.
Mr Merriman had been unwilling to address “all sort of (AWI) governance issues” such as those raised by a recent Ernst and Young review that was critical of AWI’s governance, Mr Agar said.
Mr Merriman, who was AWI chairman for 10 years, also copped criticism for observing a focus group of fellow sheep breeders from behind a one-way mirror without their permission, which Mr Agar said was questionable behaviour.
Mr Merriman had been “old school” and not a big believer in the merit of scientific advances in sheep breeding such as genomics, Mr Agar said.
Mr Merriman’s belief that the practice of mulesing sheep should be maintained showed how he was “out of touch” with the market, he said,
Mulesing is the removal of strips of wool-bearing skin from around sheep’s buttocks to prevent the parasitic infection flystrike. It has raised objections from animal rights supporters and some sections of the wool industry.
Mr Agar said Mr Merriman’s successor, former deputy chair Colette Garnsey, would be “a breath of fresh air.”
However she could face difficulty with Mr Merriman remaining on the AWI board, “like having an ex-Prime Minister hanging around,” he said.
Mr Agar, who has been a wool producer for about 40 years, said he questioned Mr Merriman’s claim the AWI had contributed significantly to the rosy patch currently being enjoyed by the wool industry.
“The wool prices go up and down and no one can explain why,” he said.
“It does it in cycles and the cycles keep going,” Mr Agar said.
Cavendish wool producer Rob Lawrance had a different view, saying Mr Merriman had made a lot of positive changes to the wool industry.
While Mr Merriman had been a “polarising” character, “most progressive leadership” was polarising, Mr Lawrance said.
He expected an assessment in 10 years time of Mr Merriman’s performance would give a true picture of his contribution.
Mr Lawrance said he was sure Mr Merriman would be able to contribute more to the industry through his decision to continue as an AWI board member.
He said Mr Merriman had led the wool industry through a turbulent time for prices, marketing and research and development strategy.
Under Mr Merriman’s leadership, the AWI had aggressively pursued market opportunities such as the use of wool in active wear and partnership investments that had benefited all wool producers, he said.
Other positive changes implemented under Mr Merriman’s time were the Lifetime Ewe Management program and WoolQ, the wool exchange portal that facilitates online collaboration between woolgrower, classer, broker and buyer, Mr Lawrance said.
