A DAY intended to raise money to support mental health and suicide prevention is on hold after a disagreement between the two groups involved.
The Blades of Glencoe shearing demonstration day was scheduled to happen in March next year at the National Trust’s Glencoe Woolshed, outside Mount Gambier.
The initial idea was based on a similar day at Glencoe in 2015, which relived the days of old-fashioned blade shearing, as well as a Ducks on the Pond day at Harrow, Vic, which raised $30,000.
A contingent of shearers had approached National Trust about hosting the day, and said they had negotiated to share the proceeds 50-50 with the woolshed’s committee.
But they say they have been told the committee plans to retain 75 per cent of the proceeds, leading them to seek another venue.
In a statement they said the had approached National Trust Glencoe Woolshed marketing and events manager Laurie Dacy to assist in putting a campaign together.
“Mental Health in rural areas is such a hot topic that a network was quickly formed around SA Health, Wattle Range Council, the Suicide Prevention Network, LifelineSE, mental health services and the shearers,” they said.
“SA Health granted $10,000 to support the campaign. Unless the dispute is resolved, this grant may now have to be returned.”
“The Glencoe committee made this decision to breach the arrangement in my absence,” Mr Dacy said.
“I support the shearers and sincerely hope this can be settled before we lose all goodwill.”
A statement from the Glencoe Woolshed branch committee said the claims about a dispute was not correct.
“The committee, or any representative, has not been in discussion on any such matter with anyone,” it said.
“(Claims) that there is a dispute between any shearing group or organisation, and the Glencoe branch of the National Trust, (have) been manufactured outside of any knowledge or contact by phone or correspondence with the Glencoe committee.”
The statement said the rest of the committee had not been consulted about hosting the event or agreed to the split when initial statements were made about it in February, suggesting an “equal partnership”, worth as much as $20,000.
In a meeting in May, the group decided it was too difficult to anticipate costs or income on an untested event, so it would be best-placed to suggest a modest split initially and reassess it later.
The statement from the shearers group said was seeking a new location and volunteers to assist in administration and set-up.
