Formed in 1990, we actively contribute to improve Suffolk sheep breeding, purity safeguarding, publicity. Working with breeders from around the world for the betterment of the Suffolk sheep Breed.
The Australian Suffolk Association (ASA) was formed 1990 when Suffolk sheep breeders in Western Australia left the Australian Society of Breeders of British Sheep (ASBBS). The reason for forming the ASA was that breeders wanted an association that solely promoted the benefits of the Suffolk breed of sheep.
The first flock book of the ASA was printed in 1991 with 54 members. The Association has since grown to over 70 members in four states of Australia with increasing interest from Suffolk breeders outside of Western Australia.
The main objectives of the ASA are:
To encourage the breeding and improvement of the Australian Suffolk sheep.
To Publicize the merits of the breed.
The safeguarding of the purity of the breed.
To work with other Suffolk sheep breeders from around the globe for the betterment of the Suffolk breed.
The Australian Suffolk Association is managed by a president, a committee, and volunteers.
The office bearers contact details can be found on the Contacts page
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50th BIRTHDAY OF THE ASSOCIATION OF SUFFOLK BREEDERS IN W.A.
Fifty years ago Suffolk Breeders of Australia met in Melbourne when the decision was made to form “The Suffolk Sheep Breeders Association of Australia. Mr W.G.Burgess of the “Tipperary Stud”, Burgess Siding near York felt that it would be most advantageous to form a Branch here in W.A to promote the Suffolk Breed of sheep. He was extremely enthusiastic about the qualities and potential of the breed and felt that those with a personal interest in the breed were best able to promote it.
He immediately set about forming a Branch here in Western Australia and after getting a quote of 23 Pounds for a paid secretary – an amount he considered exorbitant – he approached Mr Dick Padbury, “Koojan”, Kojonup requesting that he accept the position of secretary if a branch was formed.
Five breeders attended the first meeting and three sent apologies. Mr Burgess was elected President and Mr Padbury secretary and the branch was to be known as “The W.A.Branch of Suffolk Sheep Breeders”. It was to remain affiliated with the ASBBS (Australian Society of British Breeds of Sheep) who were responsible for registrations and the production of a Flock Book, but would be responsible for promoting the Suffolk Breed here. At the end of the first year of 24 breeders in W.A . 13 had become financial members.
Mr Burgess remained as President until his death in 1962 when Mr P Rose took over the position and held it until 1968. Mr Padbury remained as Hon. Secretary for 4 years with a break of one year, due to pressure of work, when Mr E. Butcher, of Pithara took over. Mr P Sullivan took over as secretary in 1964 and held the position until 1968. Mr J. Moore was elected President and Mr R.Peake Secretary in 1968 and they held these positions until 1976 when Mr Padbury was elected as President and Mrs Judith Plant as Sec/Treas.
In 1978 Mr R Crabb was elected President and Mrs Plant remained Sec/Treas. The decision was made to become an incorporated body and have a solicitor draw up a simple constitution.
Members were to be levied per number of ewes mated as a means of raising finance for promotion of the breed. A portion of the subscription was forwarded to the Federal Association each year. At this time there were 110 breeders in W.A. of which 73 were financial members.
Feature Shows and Field Days were held each year to help new breeders and the breed enjoyed a fair amount of popularity.
W.A. was represented at the A.G.M of the Federal Association held at the time of the Royal Show in Melbourne from 1981 until 1989 and in 1987 Mr Reg Crabb was elected President and Wendy Veitch Sec/Treas of same, for a two year term.
For quite a few years our membership had been declining and members were questioning the reason for having to pay subscriptions to the ASBBS as well as the Suffolk Association.
The ASBBS encompassed 14 breeds and the subscriptions paid to them were supposed to be used for the production of the Flock Book and promotion of those breeds. In the other states a portion of those subs per capita was returned to the breed societies for promotion, but in W.A. this did not happen as the Committee decided they would be responsible for all promotion with the monies collected. The consequences of this were that we could not get any finance for promoting suffolks as the ASBBS could not be seen to favour any breed. At that time 2 delegates were flown to the eastern states twice a year to attend meetings and the cost of producing the Flock Book was in the vicinity of $20000.00.
Eventually our membership dropped to 28 and at a $30 subscription with $5 per head going to the Federal Body we were in dire straits.
We raised the matter at the Federal Meeting in Melbourne and it was decided to do a survey of all members to gauge their feelings on the matter. David Watts, President in W.A. Reg Crabb and Wendy Veitch were asked to do a feasibility study on the cost of running our own association. This was done and the figures were disputed when we put them forward during a phone link-up so we were asked to repeat the task which we did with the same or slightly better results.
Finally the other states decided not to support us and as a survey of all members here had overwhelmingly supported the change, we decided that if we wanted to survive we had to do our own thing.
Early in 1991 we formally withdrew from membership of the ASBBS and re-named our organization the “Australian Suffolk Association (Inc)” which would encompass members from other states who had indicated that they wished to join us.
We knew that things were not going to be easy but we didn’t expect the animosity and headaches that took place.
Things had been running in the same manner since the ASBBS was first formed and there was no intention of making any change.
We were actually confronted by several people from other breeds accusing us of ruining there association and then we were barred from showing sheep at the Royal Show and transfers of sheep were not allowed.
The phones rang hot till all hours and the costs to the few of us involved were unbelievable with numerous trips to Perth to meetings always ending in a deadlock.
Eventually Northam agreed to host our Feature Show each year and even they were threatened with disaffiliation if they did so.
Our first Feature Show at Northam was a tremendous success and the support given by all of our members who attended and purchased sheep was the best reward any of us could have ever hoped for. We all felt very grateful to our members for this.
When the late Alan Jarman, a prominent Poll Dorset and Texel breeder judged the rams at Northam in 1993, he stood back and surveyed the line up of 32 under 11/2 year old rams and before judging them said,”The Suffolk was always considered a fairly minor breed of little significance, but now you are a force to be reckoned with and have the other breeds on their toes,” but the look on his face said more than his words.
David Watts remained as President for 5 years to see the new Association accepted and operating well, putting an exceptional amount of time effort and money into its success.
Alan Duff accepted the position of President, with Helen Watts as secretary, and the association continued to flourish. Alan held many successful Field Days at his property and worked hard to keep the progress of the breed advancing.
Finally in 1997 we were invited back to the Perth Royal Show and since then all has faded well into the past with most of todays members having no idea of what occurred at that time.
Sadly circumstances forced both the Watts’ and the Crabbs’ to disperse their studs very reluctantly, however for anybody who reads their country newspapers they would be well aware of the success both have made of their lives since.
The association has continued it’s success with the leadership of Glenn Cole Sid Walker and John Philipps and secretarys Chris Duff and Ted Czerw and registrars Wendy Veitch, Alan Duff and presently Julie Philipps. Many of these members have also been responsible for promotion and deserving of special mention also must be Muriel Egerton-Warburton, Guy & Joanne Bowen and at present Danni Hewton.
With the young and enthusiastic members coming into the association now one can feel very confident that the breed and association are in good, capable hands.