Vale Bill Mildren - wool industry mentor

With his death, Bill's knowledge of Merino sheep and his connection with many of the great sheep breeders of the past will be preserved by his many protégé's including Angus Munro.

"We have lost a massive link to the past and wealth of knowledge to our sheep industry," he said.

Another who gained from his association with Bill and paid tribute was Chris Bowman, former manager Uardry, Hay, and current sheep classer who recalled Bill's absolute commitment to those he worked with.

"Bill's experience gained over 65 years in the Merino industry was invaluable and his knowledge of marketing and promotion was second to none. His enthusiasm and positivity were contagious, and particularly inspiring for the many young people he helped along the way with their careers. He always looked to the future, recommending the adoption of practical technology to promote the Merino and Dohne breeds", he said.

Bill's brother Joe also noted his willingness to share his knowledge with anyone who wanted to learn.

"Many of these people are now leaders in the Merino and Dohne breeds today," Joe said.

William Landsborough Mildren was born in Townsville, QLD, on 3 August, 1939.

A war baby who grew up on Eulolo Station, McKinlay, QLD, where his parents Ned and Vivienne managed for the Collins family, Bill's schooling commenced in 1945 with correspondence lessons supervised by his mother.

Wendy recalled we are all fortunate to have known Bill - if it was not for the care of his dog, Joy, he may not have made it to the age of 2.

Living at Eulolo outside McKinlay, the story goes that Bill ventured off with Joy unnoticed by anyone and reached the bore drain, flowing with very hot water. When he was found his clothes were ripped and torn where Joy had obviously kept him safe by pulling him away from the drain.

He was sent away to boarding school at Charters Towers aged nine and later aged 13 years he attended Brisbane Boys College as a boarder for two years before he was schooled at Thylungra, Quiplie, where his father had been appointed manager for the Australian Estates.

Bill completed his education at Scots College, Warwick, QLD, where he was the SP bookmaker for the school and acquired a nickname of 'Scoop' for his ability to tell yarns.

Upon leaving school, he attended the Quilpie police station to be tested for his driver's licence, where Bill was asked if he could drive - to which he replied "How do you think I got here?".

The Thylungra homestead, centre piece of the 400,000ha sheep station was 126km from Quilpie, and it was not unusual for bush kids to be able to drive from a young age.

In 1957, a career with Merino sheep seemed the logical course for Bill: and with his swag, a dog, some tobacco and a ten pound note from his father, he took up a jackaroo's position at Raby, a Merino stud at Warren then owned by Australian Estates.

After three years on Raby and wishing to further his knowledge with Merino sheep, Bill ventured further south to the Riverina to jackaroo on the FS Falkiner and Sons' properties Zara, Wanganella and Boonoke, Conargo.

On that famous Merino property, Bill was following in his father's footsteps as Ned Mildren had been a jackaroo there under legendary studmaster Otway Falkiner.

Bill then secured the overseer position on Cooinbil, near Coleambally, in 1965 and where he married Neridah.

During that period Scott was born in 1966 and Jane in 1970, each in Griffith.

In 1974, Bill took on the stud overseer position at Haddon Rig, Warren: and ambitious to further his association with Merino sheep, Bill aged 37 commenced his career as a professional sheep classer, based in Warren, where he started a Ram Motel preparing rams and ewes for show and sale.

He was passionate about Merino sheep and always looking for positive improvements he would often quip - you can't learn to be a sheep classer from a book or any tertiary education.

It is knowledge learned from experience and Bill was fortunate in having many mentors throughout his career, which in part underscores his willingness to pass on his knowledge.

Scott Mildren recalls his father was always happy to help and provide a positive attitude to those young people with an ardent interest in the wool industry, and especially through the 'dark time' after the floor price was removed.

in 1976, Bill was nominated the inaugural secretary of the Macquarie Merino Field Day committee, alongside an old mentor Norman Volk, manager of Raby who was the president.

As his career horizons expanded, Bill moved his family to Dubbo where he added to his workload by taking on the stud stock agent's position with AML&F.

He was proud of the number of rams he would collect for the various sales and he held the record at the Dubbo Ram Sale for having penned over 450 rams for AML&F.

Bill and Neridah's third child and second son Jamie was born in Dubbo in 1978.

As his classing network extended mostly across the Riverina and Victoria, Bill moved his family to Wodonga, where the children also had the opportunity for better schooling.

Among many of Bill's clients, Rodger Mathews thought Bill was a very special type of person who taught him about the right skin which grows the best wool for his Borambil Poll Merino stud, Corowa..

"He had an amazing memory and travelling with him was inspiring," Rodger recalled.

"We would be driving through SA and as we passed by properties he would say - I classed there or I sold rams to that place - and when we came to a road with a little sign post, he would often say - turn here, this is a shortcut."

But most of all, Rodger held Bill in high esteem for his passion and wealth of knowledge with the talent to pick the right skin, and for his interest in the next generation.

"Bill was so proud of the Merino industry and his association with the older breeders, he was keen to pass that affection to the next generation."

Angus Munro met Bill when jackarooing on Uardry in the early 2000's but through his father Ian and uncle Hugh, his family connection was older as they all knew each other from growing up in Queensland.

"Over the last two years we have spent a lot time with the handing over of some of his NSW and Queensland clients as he was starting to wind down into retirement," Angus said.

"Bill was always a true gentleman, showed a great enthusiasm and passion for improving and refining sheep over his career.

"Bill always had an inquiring mind and thirst for learning, helping gather his vast knowledge over many decades.

"He once told me you are working for the client and to place the client as number one.

"This over time proved very successful for him and helped their sheep businesses greatly.

"Bill had been a great encourager and mentor for young people in the industry including myself.

Some good memories with Bill, was the many trips with him to various ram sale and shows including Adelaide.

"Bill was always great company recalling many stories of the past, including jackarooing at various sheep stations and of many esteemed sheepmen he had worked with such as Tom Culley, Wonga, Jerilderie.

"Bill our good friend will be greatly missed by all in the wool industry."

Bill's other passion was race horsing which he shared with his parents and his brother Andrew (Joe) who said "Bill and I shared the same passion for race horsing, we were always discussing the form together and I will miss these calls."

Bill Mildren was a proud family man, always talking about them and their achievements' and is survived by his sons, Scott and Jamie and daughter Jane Brice, along with grandchildren Emily, Georgina, Ben, Noah, Ari, Dusty and Kit.

His brother Andrew 'Joe' and sister Wendy Saclier who remembered Bill as a very generous and kind man.

- STEPHEN BURNS, SCOTT MILDREN

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