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My Grandad, Les Hooper
by Jane Hooper
I walk into the lounge room at Grandad's, a
room of familiar smells and objects. Something seems different. I look around the
room noting the mantle piece wall where I'm reassured to see
that his show ribbons are there, the special ones.
Champion and Reserve Champion rosettes, Most Successful
Exhibitor ribbons, assorted plaques/ trophies and photos of
Southdowns, grace the wall, covering it from ceiling to waist
level. Not all the ribbons he's ever won, otherwise every wall in the house would
be covered and then some. What is it that's changed?
That's it -he's had
an air conditioner installed. NO! The Perth Champion ribbons have had to be
taken down to make room. Quickly I recheck the ribbons; Perth are the only ones
missing, of the others some are a bit worse for wear after the many years on the
wall, all need dusting. This is my Grandad's life.
Grandad's era with Southdowns began in 1928, success soon followed with
the winning of Champion Ram in 1929 at the Benalla Agricultural
show, back in the days when he travelled to and fro in horse and
dray. The Southdown was very popular back then and competition
was very strong, with many local breeders exhibiting their
sheep. Thus began a prestigious show career.
He registered his flock in 1934 after purchasing registered ewes,
then increased his flock dramatically when he purchased his
uncle's, Mr Boyd Bickett's, entire registered flock in 1938.This expanded his existing flock with many sheep from the
well known Badcock bloodlines. And so began the entwined lives of Les Hooper and
Southdowns.
Showing was one of the highlights of Grandad's association with
Southdowns mainly because of all the people he met and the many
friends he made. An example of his dedication was his first
showing at Albury in 1956 when it took all day just to get there
and it had been so wet that he got bogged in the middle of a
bitumen road, but he got there in the end.
Grandad exhibited Southdowns across North East Victoria for many years
before being encouraged to compete at the Melbourne Royal. He
started showing there in 1959 and had his last show last year,
1999, only missing 2 shows the entire time.
When grandad started breeding Southdowns he had a vision of taking
the small dark dumpy Southdown and making it the modern
Southdown of today - he succeeded, but not without some
criticism. After showing at Melbourne from 1959, it took until
1961 when a judge had the courage to choose the Clear Hills type
of sheep, 10 firsts were the result and Most Successful
Exhibitor. That record was beaten the following year with 11 firsts and
Most Successful Exhibitor.
He won Most Successful Exhibitor at the Melbourne Royal
for 20 consecutive years. However his success wasn't only in
Melbourne. Grandad has shown successfully across 5 states of
Australia ranging from Perth to Sydney, Brisbane to Tasmania;
Champions, Reserve Champions, Supreme Champions, 1sts, 2nds,
3rds, Most Successful Exhibitor etc.
Apart from winning every Ram and Ewe class at the Melbourne Sheep
Show, two other shows stand out. The 1988 Southdown feature show
at the Melbourne Royal where he brought home a new set of sheep
yards and the World Sheep Congress in 1989 where he won Supreme
Champion Ram.
But he didn't achieve his success without a lot of hard work.
With an eye for sheep and a memory like an elephant he
slowly bred into Southdowns the traits we see and take for
granted today. He used all the resources available to him, NZ blood such at
Whitegate, Punchbowl, Gatton Park and more recently Tuanui.
Tasmanian blood from Basil, Kevin and Dale Moore,
culminating with the purchase of 'Supremo', 1992
Supreme Champion, Melbourne Royal, for the record sum of $6000.
He also incorporated quite a bit of Southern Pastures
influence and the Chandpara all-rounder type.
He has not only sold sheep throughout Australia to all states bar
one, but has also exported sheep around the world.
He took a few chances, but his hunches were right and I
think that today's Australian Southdown is a great example and
representation of his life's work.
But Grandad's life didn't only revolve around his own sheep, he
officiated in many roles at shows both big and small. He was honoured to be asked, and quick to take up the
offer because he loved the contact with so many fellow breeders
of sheep, not just Southdowns. A few of you out there may have
been privy to a few not-so-well-kept secrets. I know that he cherishes the people he got to know over
the years and the friendships he made both nationally and
internationally. I think that's what he misses most now.
Unfortunately an era has now come to pass, not to an end mind you, as Les
Hooper hands the reins over to his son Graeme. But the "Clear Hills" name rings on and continues to breed
the fine sheep it is renowned for.
Under Grandad's watchful eye of course.
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