Behind the Handpiece: Like father, like son in family firm

Read the latest story from Countryman new three-month campaign, Behind the Handpiece, which recognises WA’s shearers and contractors. Why? Because they keep the industry going, even in uncertain times, writes journalist Bob Garnant. Freelance shearing contractor Barry Ugle has earned a living on the boards of wool sheds for 34 years throughout WA’s Wheatbelt. The Pingelly Aboriginal man was also known for his country football skills, playing for the local team which became the Brookton-Pingelly Football Club in 1996. “I played a lot of footy and was a ruckman for Pingelly and back in those days, I was pretty good,” said Barry, pictured. “Shearing was also a sport to me, but I am starting to feel it in my ankles and knees.” The 45-year-old’s first day as a roustabout at 11 was to help his late father, Barry Graham Ugle, who ran a life-long shearing contracting business. “I felt I could never do it (shear) those big wethers,” Barry Jr said. But at 15, Barry had developed the confidence and was shearing 100 wethers per day, but not without “a few struggles” with the big wethers. “It all came naturally, because the old man taught me,” he said. “I wasn’t fully developed physically, but was determined.” Barry said he felt the necessity to work at a young age so his father’s business could survive. “Some shed workers just wouldn’t show up,” he said. “The money kept me going and I had family commitments and never felt I was missing out.” At 15, Barry not only graduated to taking a shearing stand, but also became a father for the first time. For the next 30 years, he enjoyed a responsible and dedicated shearing career while he and his partner added new members to the Ugle clan which included their three sons, Barry, 28, Keith, 26, Chris, 24, and daughter Taira, 22. “I got my three boys in it (shearing),” he said. “Shearing all these years takes a lot of heart and as a grandfather now, I can shear for a few more, because I love it.” Countryman caught up with Barry at the Warranine Park Shearing Camp, at Brookton, which was training young people in wool shed skills. “When I was asked to be part of the training, I was shocked, I always wanted to teach kids to shear,” he said. “After a week, the kids are learning and getting better.” Barry told the students that if they listened and had a good attitude, they could be “taught the right way”. “We all have one opportunity, so grab it by both hands,” he said. “You’re never too old to learn, I taught a few very experienced New Zealand shearers how to shear our big wethers.” The trainees all gathered around Barry to witness his shearing skills as he picked up a hand piece and shore a Warranine Park Merino ewe in 2 minutes and 20 seconds. “Sheep can get to you if they start kicking around, you have to learn and understand that some are easy and others want to do their own thing,” he said.