LOCAL LIFE
Click go Caleb ’ s shears
by Greg Martin
You keep hearing and reading about recalcitrant youths and then , just when you are tending to believe Gen Zedders are a bunch of no-hopers , along comes someone like Caleb Swift .
This intelligent , affable , energetic , enthusiastic and indefatigable young man – he celebrates his 18th birthday later this month – is , well , to use an old Aussie term , is a bloody marvel .
Just ask any of his many satisfied customers who have had the pleasure of crossing his path and having their animals tended to by this , well , budding gun shearer .
Since attending an intensive Australian Wool Innovation shearing school at Deniliquin in March 2023 , where he and fellow students learned to shear under gun shearer , Mike Pora , Caleb Swift has swiftly moved from being a total novice to a highly respected shearer .
If you live in the Hawkesbury and surrounding local government areas and have sheep to be shorn , sure as eggs-is-eggs , Caleb has become the go-to man .
Not only does he shear sheep and alpacas , Caleb also trims hoofs , does drenching , docks tails , castrates testicles and tends to goats ’ cloven hoofs .
“ I take pride in leaving all animals I shear as clean as I can – that is , not making any cuts on the sheep which obviously cannot be avoided entirely because the sheep and I are continuously in motion ,” Caleb said .
Caleb has been earning a good quid at shearing since kicking off his own part-time business in October 2023 .
“ I was doing jobs after school and on weekends , and through word of mouth ( from satisfied customers ) and advertising on the internet , business kept increasing ,” Caleb explained .
Caleb retired the clippers when the 2023- 24 summer shearing season ended and put his energies into attaining high HSC marks at Arndell Anglican College .
Which he did , ensuring he will commence a Bachelor of Agriculture degree at Wagga Wagga ’ s Charles Sturt University .
“ As it is my aim in life to buy my own farm and put that agricultural knowledge to good use ,” Caleb said .
And to that end , this livewire of a young man will also be studying diesel mechanics – after all , these days , mules and donkeys don ’ t do all the hard yakka on farms .
Caleb ’ s journey in sheep shearing began when he was introduced to Mike Pora , the husband of Cindy Robinson , one of Caleb ’ s father , Norm ’ s , staff members in the banking game .
“ During a work experience stint in Year 10 , I worked as a farmhand on a Cowra property , and loved it ,” Caleb explained .
“ At the end of that year , I was invited to be a shearing shed rouseabout , and worked on properties in Dubbo , Canowindra and Cowra which led to me attending that Australian Wool Innovation course .”
Since completing his HSC exams , Caleb has been flat out like a lizard drinking , clicking those shears ( OK , that don ’ t click nowadays ) for a burgeoning and satisfied clientele .
“ Apart from sheep , alpacas and goats , what are you other interests ,” I asked the young man .
“ All our family – mum ( Charmaine ), dad , my
Click go the shears boys , click , click , click . Wide are the blows and their hands move quick .. .. .. Job done ! The gun shearers , pressers , tar-boys and rouseabouts of yesteryear would love to have had Caleb Swift as a member of their team .
younger brother , Dalton and I - are keen water skiers , I played soccer until I was 12 , switched to rugby league with North-West Magpies , and I still play cricket with Pitt Town ,” he said .
Caleb Swift – remember the name !
THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT theindependentmagazine . com . au HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ISSUE 176 // JANUARY 2025 11