Local wool classer recognised in National competition

Craig Lockyer, Stuart Murphy and Tom Lockyer Tom was presented with the inaugural Stuart Murphy Legacy Award

14th Apr 2026

Guyra was represented at the 2026 National Graduate Wool Classer Competition, with local entrant Tom Lockyer earning national recognition at the Sydney Royal Easter Show.
Trained through TAFE NSW by Pauline Smith, Tom was selected as a finalist in the prestigious competition held on April 7th.
Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Tom has a strong family connection to the wool industry and is passionate about continuing that legacy. He plans to use his skills both on the family property and within the industry as a professional wool classer.
While the coveted Golden Stencil was awarded to Dubbo’s Matthew Cox, Tom’s efforts were recognised when he was presented with the inaugural Stuart Murphy Legacy Award, introduced by TAFE NSW to acknowledge a student demonstrating outstanding commitment to their training.
The national competition is regarded as the premier event for graduate wool classers and the only competition of its kind in the world. Finalists from across New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania competed in a series of demanding tasks designed to test their skills across all aspects of wool classing.
These included multiple classing exercises using different wool types, wool valuation, a WoolClip task and an oral presentation to industry judges.
Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) CEO Charlie McElhone praised the high calibre of competitors and highlighted the importance of wool classers in maintaining Australia’s reputation for producing some of the world’s highest quality wool.
For Tom, the experience was not just about competition, but also building on his skills, gaining industry exposure and connecting with others in the field.
His success also reflects the strength of training provided through TAFE NSW and the dedication of educators like Pauline Smith, who continue to support the next generation of wool professionals.

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Local wool classer recognised in National competition

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