Willow Drive South Suffolk Stud was created in 1993 by Suzanne Shalders at the age of 18.
Suzanne, being brought up on her fathers farm in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, where she had taken a keen interest in the farm. Barry, Suzanne's father had used South Suffolk Sires over his flock sheep for quite a number of years, and Suzanne urged Barry to buy her some Stud ewes.
Eleven South Suffolk Stud Ewes were bought off the Nindethana Stud, owned by Mrs Wyn Goodwin in Vic. These ewes were in lamb when they were bought.
A Stud Ram was bought off Milswyn Stud, Vic, owned by Ms Helen Morgan for the 1994 lambing.
Barry and Suzanne started to show their sheep at the local shows with some success. They took sheep to Portland, Tyrendarra and Warrnambool Shows in South West Victoria.
The Stud bought a young Ram that had done well at a lot of Shows, including Melbourne in October 1995, from the Edyndale Stud, owned by Mrs Lyn Kent of Vic.
The Stud bought more Stud Ewes; in 1995, 4 being bought off Mooralea Stud, owned by Mr Noel Price in Vic. In 1996, 4 ewes were bought off the Kameroo Stud in NSW, owned by Mr Ted Gain, 2 ewes bought from the Circle i Stud from Ted Gain also at the same time.
In 1996 the Stud took sheep to, Henty (NSW), Albury, The Hamilton Sheepvention, Heytesbury, Warrnambool and Colac Shows (Victoria). As you may have guessed Suzanne's father Barry is now quite involved in the Stud. At the Hamilton Sheepvention the Stud was awarded Champion South Suffolk Ram, Ewe, and in the 13 short wool breeds lineup, the Studs group came second , the judge commenting he" liked the sheep" and " they were all muscle".
The Colac Show in 96 was a feature for South Suffolk breed, our Stud did very well with the young sheep we had bred, winning 1st in the Ram under 1 1/2, Ram lamb, Pair of Rams. Our Stud also awarded Reserve Champion Ram, with the new Ram bought off Edyndale Stud.
The Stud has now used Willow Drive Rams over the Stud's ewes, 36 in all to date being Registered South Suffolk Rams.
The Stud has also bought 21 ewes from Edyndale Stud in 1997, and 18 ewes from the Kameroo Stud.
In 1996, Suzanne moved to Melbourne for work, and then married in 1999, she is still very involved in the running of the Stud, attending what Shows she can, and getting those hands dirty again, so to speak. Update on Suzanne; she & husband have now moved to Derrinallum to live.
Barry has shown the sheep the Melbourne Show (02/03/04 & 05), Australian Sheep & Wool Show (02/03/04 & 05)
Our Stud is on its way to breeding what we think is a quality, true to type South Suffolk Sheep.
We like to think that we are embracing the breed standard for the South Suffolk stated in the in the Australian Stud Sheep Breeder's Association's Register.
More information on the Stud and the South Suffolk Breed can be found on other pages of this site.
Suzanne with Show Ewe, Willow Drive Dora
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