In that year his 15 year old dad, bought stud Southdown ewes at a Telford sale, to withering comments from other buyers that he was too young to know enough.
Nearly a century later, the Hooper's Clear Hills stud, sells towards 100 rams at an annual auction, for an average of better than $1500 each. Some Charollais cross rams, another breed at Clear Hills, maybe becoming Graeme's favourite when crossed with Southdowns, sell for about $2500 each.
A telling story for Stock and Land participants was when Graeme said his father was almost imprisoned during WWII, for wanting to join the army. Twice he was rejected, the second time with a warning that if he tried again, he would be incarcerated. The reason: he was a talented shearer and was desperately needed to keep wool flowing into soldier's uniforms.
Pioneer John Hooper settled in Goorambat towards the end of the19th century; the latest Hoopers, three grandsons of Graeme's, are the fifth generation there. “Hopefully at least one of those will carry on with the stud sheep,” Graeme said.
Commercial Southdowns are at Clear Hills too and the Hoopers sell half lambs, ready to cook, for about $250 each.
David Palmer