IN a few weeks more than 40 years of pioneering work will come to a close for Errol and Candy Brumpton, Well Gully Merinos, Mitchell.
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Widely regarded among the finest of producers in Australia's long and colourful history in the world of wool, the Brumptons are about to sell more than 1700 elite Merino ewes via an online auction on July 29.
The Brumptons are philosophical about the forthcoming sale.
On the one hand they recognise it represents the final chapter in a crusade to convince the industry 18-micron wool could be grown in the harshness of the Queensland outback.
"While studying wool technology in 1973, I was micron testing wool from central and western Queensland and was discovering soundly grown 18-micron fleeces in an area only recognised for growing bread and butter wools (measured under the Bradford system)," Mr Brumpton said.
"With the pending launch of objective measurement and wool being sold by micron in 1974 growers were being educated that 58 was 23 micron, 60 was 22 micron and 64 was 21 micron.
"However, we were measuring samples as low as 18 micron, although they were small samples.
"This sparked an inquiring mind to become interested in the biology of wool growth and genetics.
"As most breeders operate in the phenotype, we needed to look at the genes to make changes for the merino to be competitive in the apparel fibre market.
"We are indebted to the clients who shared our philosophy and many have become close and dear friends."
On the other hand, Mr Brumpton appreciates the sale might provide a golden opportunity for other producers to acquire world class genetics.
"The female genetics are the product of generations of breeding and culling and they might well be the foundation for new operations because the ewe is, in my opinion, the bedrock," he said.
"They have the mothering and nurturing traits and for someone this might be a golden chance.
"When we sell this 2018 drop it will be the end and will close the dispersal plans we put in place a few years back. The 2016 and older ewes were dispersed in 2018.
"I won't be walking away from the industry because I will continue to be involved in a consultancy role.
"But it is time we stepped back."
The "we" Mr Brumpton references is himself and Candy Brumpton, the wife who has stood by his side since the 1990s.
"There will be approximately 650 single lots and multiple pens so all in all we will be selling close to 1800 head of sheep," Mr Brumpton said.
The sale catalogue will show full pedigrees and sheep have been DNA tested showing polled/horn genotype.
There will be current data including micron, SD and CF%, sheep breeding values on growth, fat and muscle and randomly measured sheep for wool softness R to C (resistant to compression).
"With Auctions Plus we intend to offer 1000 lots and Elders are the sole selling agent and it's going to run for a week through two online only sales," he said.
The first sale will commence on Sunday, July 26, at 9am and the timer will take control at 10am on Wednesday, July 29. The second sale will start at 11am on July 29 and the time will take control of the auction at 4pm on Friday, July 31.
It all started for Mr Brumpton in the mid-70s with a flock of about 1000 head.
He was looking to breed a highly fertile, polled merino of unique environmental fitness capable of surviving under sub-tropical, semi-arid conditions and which met the high standards required for apparel fibre production.
Over the years as he toiled away, Australians have seen their way past nine prime ministers with a 10th bedding down in Kirribilli House at present, the conclusion of the Apollo space program and the death of Elvis and the end of Holden and Ford cars.
For Mr Brumpton it has been a timeline of remarkable achievements, including the development of sheep resistant to fly strike and fleece rot, and a desire to help the industry advance.
His distinguished efforts were honoured with the granting of an Order of Australia Medal.
"This is a great industry and we feel privileged to have been part of it for as long as we have," he said.
But that's how it goes for the man behind the sheep behind the Well Gully brand - always thoughtful, always thankful.
Alan Welburn
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
Lover of sport, particularly horse racing and all things Olympic. Have spent my entire working life in journalism, mostly with News Corp on its major metro mastheads. Done plenty of things but the best by far is having a teenage son who calls me dad.
