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Date: 2 Apr 1998 - 28 Jan 2001 - 02 Apr 1998

From: Past champions oral history project - The Shear History Trust Golden Shears Open Champions

By: Donaldson, Alan George, 1958-

Reference: OHInt-0509/18

Description: Alan Donaldson was born in Taumaranui in 1958. Discusses his family's history in the area and the family farm at Kaitieke. Talks about his education, decision to go shearing, shearing class at Benneydale and a Massey course. Discusses shearing gear, clothing, shed routines, shearing gang jobs such as `sheepo' and `rousie', atmosphere in the sheds, wages and shearing in Central Otago. Mentions Murray McSkimming. Talks about differences between crossbred and merino shearing. Explains his 1980 season's tally of over 70,000 sheep. Discusses shearing in Australia, England and Norway and being in competitions in England and Scotland. Talks about records and competitions in New Zealand and controversy over a particular record which was wiped. Discusses the development of his own contract run including hiring staff, hierarchies, accommodation, food, the contract, ACC, wage rates, the trade union, workplace hazards, shearers employed and relationships between farmers, contractors and shearers. Discusses evening entertainment, `getting along', race relations, group tolerance, substance abuse and sexual behaviour. Mentions bad conditions encountered and the Employment Contracts Act. Discusses the Australian Union, the wide comb debate of the early 1980s and the test match at Euroa. Mentions team members. Discusses New Zealand shearers in Australia. Talks about wool handling, wool classing and competition shearing. Discusses the development of his own shearing technique. Mentions Roger Cox and the Te Whara (Te Whata) family. Discusses the financial viability of shearing and his own goals. Mentions the Tarrant family. Talks about the impact of shearing on his family and their move to a farm near Kikikau. Mentions wife Cathy Donaldson and children Samuel, Thomas and Jessica. Describes farm management, employees, opinions on the future of the wool and shearing industries and influences on his own life. Interviewer(s) - Nikki Dalziell Quantity: 4 C60 cassette(s). 1 printed abstract(s). 1 interview(s). 3.30 Hours and minutes Duration. Finding Aids: Abstract Available - abstracting complete OHA-2514. Photographs of Alan Donaldson, 1983 Golden Shears champion