City slickers go bush

20 Nov 2013

Normally a bunch of city slickers, the members of Baulkham Hills Ladies Probus Club were given a rare opportunity to experience a taste of real outback Australia when they visited Tobruk Merino Sheep Station at Maroota NSW.

Spanning more than 70 hectares on the hills above the magnificent Hawkesbury River, it is a fully functioning working sheep station – and only just over an hour’s drive from the Sydney CBD.

On arrival, the group was greeted by the whip wielding stockman host Nick, who learnt his skills on his grandfather’s farm at Cowra. Then they were taken to the stockmen’s hut and were soon enjoying the warmth of the camp fire while drinking billy tea and eating authentic camp oven cooked damper.

Through interactive demonstrations, Nick and his two fabulous dogs taught members about the life of a stockman, from mustering the sheep, to drafting and sheep dog training.

At the shearing shed members learnt about the history of the various shears and then watched a shearing demonstration. This was followed by a wool room presentation in which they learnt about wool classing.

After a tasty home-style cooked lunch, everyone had great fun learning how to throw a boomerang and crack a whip.

All up it was an authentic and very educational experience where the group learnt firsthand how our rural neighbours live.