We’re All in It Together: Why Teamwork is Essential in the Shearing Game

Let’s not beat around the bush—shed work is hard graft. From sun-up to sundown, it’s a high-pressure gig, and every role in the wool chain cops it in some way. It’s noisy, physical, bloody hot or freezing cold, and there’s always someone wanting something done five minutes ago.

But here’s the real kicker: no one gets the job done alone.

Whether you’re a shearer slogging your way through a tough run, a wool handler hustling to keep up with a crew of peelers, a presser buried in bales, a contractor juggling chaos, a farmer with sheep and all sorts of other stress, or the cook who feeds the whole lot—we’re all in the same bloody game.

And before you go giving someone a serve, maybe pause and remember—you’ve got no idea what they might be dealing with behind the scenes.

You Don’t Know What You Don’t See

That fella who snapped back at smoko? Could’ve just got off the phone about a sick family member. That wool handler who seems off her game? Might be running on two hours' sleep after looking after a screaming toddler all night. Even the cocky with the look—he might be one breakdown or unpaid invoice away from snapping.

We all carry shit. Sometimes heavy. Sometimes hidden. So before you dish out grief, ask yourself if it’s needed—or if a bit of patience or a quiet check-in might do more good than a mouthful of sarcasm.

A Walk in Each Other’s Mocs (and Gumboots)

🐑 Shearers:

You’re the ones getting the glory. But it’s relentless—body hurting, mind grinding, and the tally clock ticking. You get home at night and there's gear to grind, papers to set and combs to tickle up before you get up and do it all over again tomorrow! It’s easy to get tunnel vision. Stay sharp, but don’t forget you’re part of a crew, not a solo act.

🧤 Wool Handlers:

You’re on your feet all day too—dodging sheep, flinging fleeces, trying to keep the board clean and the table clear while six shearers are finishing at once. There's wool, humans and animals flying in every direction, the classers telling you to skirt lighter. It's bloody chaos!  And it’s bloody tough when no one notices the effort or thinks the job will get done without you in the shed!

📦 Pressers:

You’re the calm (or chaos) at the end of the line. Bale weights, bins, branding, and everyone's yelling "sheepo" when you're about to start clipping a bale and it's 10 minutes from smoko that you're also trying not to burn. A bit of help or thanks from other team members wouldn't go astray.

👷‍♂️ Contractors:

You're not just the boss. You're the bloody scheduler, counsellor, bank manager, driver, and often the poor bugger in between everyone when tensions are high or things go pear shaped. You wear 10 hats and still get grilled when someone leaves their moccasins at home. It's all go and even if the crew has a day off, that's when you get busy trying to find or juggle clients so the team has work in front of them!

🚜 Farmers:

You’ve got mobs to muster,  staff of your own to look after, and many more dramas in the background.  Shearing time is busy enough, but when it's over and everyone leaves, you’ve got the wool cheque to worry about and have to get straight back at it,  keeping the stock alive and the bank manager off your back until lambing. It's a big picture job, and shearing is only one part of a bloody hectic year. Shearing teams should remember that there is a whole lot more to farming than shearing and quite often you're on your own getting it done!

🍳 The Cook:

Often invisible but completely essential. Whether it’s a feed for 5 or 50, it’s made with care, on time, and usually out of their own kitchen. Hot meals don’t cook themselves, and full bellies keep the peace.

🐕‍🦺 The Shepherds:

These legends get the mobs in, take them away, often in the dark, in the cold and wet, most of the time they're alone, and on bugger-all thanks. If they’re late, the whole job slows down. A nod of respect next time you pass one wouldn’t go amiss.

A Few Tips to Keep the Wheels Greased

For Everyone:

• Don’t be a dick. Full stop.

• A “cheers” or “you right?” can shift the mood of a whole shed.

• Respect the effort and the work that everyone puts in, even if you don’t understand their part of the job.

• If you’re pissed off, take a breath before unloading. Might not be worth it.

• It’s a tough industry. Be someone others want to work with again.

• Everyone makes mistakes. Yep, even the best! Recognize when this is the case, and if it is you that has made the mistake, learn from it!

Shearers:

• Keep your gear sharp and your ego in check.

• Speak up if you’re struggling—but don’t take it out on the crew, the farmer or animals on the board.

• If the sheep are kicking, there's usually a reason! Take some time to sort it, or the day will just get worse!

• If the rest of the team is struggling to keep up, help out!  We are all here for the same reason, but no one needs to break over it.

• You're not soft if you need 5 minutes to reset or get your emotions in check!

  

Wool Handlers:

• You’re allowed to ask for help. You’re not a robot.

• Stick together—support your mates, even the quiet ones.

• No one's better than anyone else here.  You need the whole team involved to get the job done!

• There is no room in the sheds these days for bullying! Speak up if you are being unfairly treated by other team members.

• We all started somewhere.  Even the most experienced. Nurture our learners, don't scare them off.

Pressers:

• Speak up if the shed or pens are a mess. You deserve a tidy work zone too.

• Ask for help if you are struggling.  You're not soft if you can't do the work of 10 men alone!

• You also need rest and breaks. Sometimes a reset is needed to get through the rest of the day.

• Stretch. Hydrate. You're not just the “bale guy,” you're a very crucial part of the crew.

Contractors:

• You set the tone. A grumpy boss makes a grumpy shed.

• Make time in your whole crew for the mental health yarns

• Make sure you get to talk to someone too. This could be a close friend, a spouse or even another contractor who understands what you are going through!

• Notice your people. Not just the fast ones or the loud ones. All of them. And don't be shy to ask if they are okay, how they're going and if they need anything.

Farmers:

• Tidy sheep, tidy shed, tidy job. Easy! Your prep matters.

• A handshake and a “thanks” are still gold in this game.

• Notice the people in your shed.  They are there to add value for you and how you treat them reflects on the job you get.

• Communicate: If you feel the job isn't getting done properly, go to the team leader or contractor. No one knows if nothing is said!

Cooks & Shepherds:

• Don’t take ‘em for granted. Without food and sheep in the shed, the rest of us are stuffed.

• They are also only human.

• They can only work with what they are given.

• And if you're on the receiving end—say thanks. Every bloody time.

Checking In: The Mental Health Yarn

This industry’s built on hard workers and hard yards. But toughness isn’t the same as silence.

Let’s be clear: this industry’s got a hard streak, and that toughness can be both a weapon and a curse. We’ve all heard “harden up”—but how about we try “speak up” a bit more too?

Ways to keep tabs:

• Ask twice. First, “how are ya?” gets the polite answer. The second one might get the truth.

• Watch for changes. Quiet ones going quieter? Usually chatty, getting snappy? It might be time for a quiet word or a hand on the shoulder.

• Use your breaks. Not just to scoff a sausage roll—take a moment to breathe, reset, or yak to someone.

And remember: there’s no shame in having a rough day.

It’s not weak to speak—it’s strong to sort your shit!!

Check on your team:

• Ask twice.

• Look for signs.

• Use breaks for more than just scoffing your pie.

If someone’s a bit off—ask. If you are a bit off—say something. We’re all allowed a rough day. We’re just better when we look out for each other while we’re at it.

Final Word: It’s a Team Game

Wool doesn’t remove itself (yet). Sheep don’t just walk into the shed. And no one’s above the crew. The shearing game’s not easy—but it is worth doing right. If we each bring a bit of respect, humor, and a team-first attitude, the shed runs better, the work’s lighter, and the season ends with more mates than gripes. We all make this machine run. And if we look out for each other—really give a shit about the people, not just the job—we all walk out of that shed a little stronger.

So here’s to the shearers, wool handlers, pressers, contractors, farmers, cooks, shepherds—and anyone else who helps get the job done.

We’re all in this together. Let’s act like it.