Hanging Up the Handpiece… Maybe
(By Blake Lee)
They say find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life, and for Brian Lea, that couldn’t be more true.
There are not many other places where the Birchip born-and-bred local would rather be spending his 80th birthday than in a shearing shed.
The buzz of the handpiece and smell of wool are no strangers to Brian, who has spent the past 62 years in shearing sheds.
As rain falls on the tin roof, Brian takes a well-earned morning tea break, grateful for the chance to catch up with those around him over cake, sandwiches and a warm cup of tea.
“I always call shearing a social event,” he says.
“Sitting here at smoko, with the people and a good old talk.
“I get a lot of enjoyment out of just meeting other people.”
Although Brian has spent more than six decades in the industry, shearing wasn’t always the plan.
After a couple of years working for the Commonwealth Bank, he returned home, where his mum told him it was time to learn to shear. His father taught him the trade, beginning a career that has now spanned 62 years.
Together, Brian and his father have now shared a combined 113 years in the shearing industry.
“Those first few days in the shearing shed was the worst decision I ever made,” Brian admits.
“But it wore off and I kept going.”
He worked alongside his father for 15 years and says he is yet to beat his father’s record.
These days, Brian says he enjoys shearing even more than he did when he first started.
“I get more enjoyment out of it now than I did back then.”
He is grateful for the changes to shearing equipment that have made the job easier on the body.
“In my day we had narrow combs and you didn’t have a harness… but even now, I wouldn’t mind a wider comb.”
Shearing has also given Brian decades of stories and the chance to combine the occupation with another passion – photography.
Over the years he has documented many of the shearing sheds he has worked in, preserving memories of an industry that has shaped his life.
One of his career highlights came when he travelled to South Australia for the 175-year celebrations at Bungaree Station in Clare.
“I took all my shearing gear over there and Lorraine told the contractor that I wanted to shear a few.
“I shore half a dozen at smoko and then the contractor said, ‘Look, I’m a shearer short on Monday. Would you shear for me?’ So that was a bit of a highlight for me.”
While Brian loves the shearing shed, he also enjoys travelling with his wife Lorraine and visiting family in America.
“I always say I like to go shearing so I can pay for a holiday.”
After 62 years in the sheds, Brian says this will be his last job.
Although he said the same thing last year.
Mary Fielding’s sheep are the biggest sheep he has shorn throughout his decades-long career, and Brian has saved the biggest for last.
Mary laughs: “I always said I was to give up sheep when you gave up shearing them. I’m not ready to give up sheep, so you’ve got to keep shearing.”
“I might shear your lambs,” Brian replies with a laugh.
“You’ve got a wonderful temperament and you’re a good shearer,” Mary says.
It is a trait many who know Brian would agree with.
“I don’t think I’ve ever sworn at a sheep,” Brian says.
“My family reckons I’d probably give it a kiss on the nose if it kicked me.”
Away from the shearing shed, Brian has also been a strong contributor to the local community.
He is currently president of Birchip Probus and has held executive roles on many local committees throughout the years.
Although he now needs a hand dragging the sheep out, Brian is still incredibly fit and healthy; he doesn’t smoke and prefers to finish the day with a can of Coke.
After more than six decades in the sheds and countless sheep, Brian can now enjoy many well-deserved cans of Coke as he hangs up the handpiece. For now, at least.
