Shearing life and other yarns

In conversation

Richie Shanahan
Bill Barraclough

Recorded: 2012
Length: 26:56

“If you wanted to test yourself, there was always someone to accommodate you.”

About this conversation

Former shearers, Richie Shanahan and Bill Barraclough, reminisce on their days of drinking, dances and pub fights.

Old friends, Richard (Richie) Shanahan and Neville (Bill) Barraclough share stories about what it was like to work in the sheep industry around the New England region from the mid 1940s - early 50s onwards. They reflect on aspects of the industry, including: the changes from narrow-tooth to wide-tooth shearing combs; the introduction of daylight savings; the fluctuating prices in lambs, and the difficulties farmers face when trying to source workers today. They tell stories about the knock-about lifestyle and recall the antics of the country dances and life in country pubs.

Transcript

Transcript coming soon.

We’re transcribing these conversations one by one. In the meantime, you can listen to the whole recording.