The blades will be buzzing near Tocumwal in southern New South Wales this weekend and the Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams will be part of the action.

To celebrate 125 years of competition shearing in Australia, NorthTuppal Station will have its massive 72 stand woolshed operating for the first time in a century as shearers of all ages and abilities come together.

Senator Williams will shear on Friday but is coy about what his final tally will be.

“It is many years since I shore on a regular basis on my property in the New England and before that in South Australia so any more than one will be the first bonus!

Being able to walk properly the following day will be the second bonus!

This is an historic event that I did not want to miss. Seven thousand ewes and two hundred rams will be shorn over Friday and Saturday with a dual world champion and current national champion both lending a hand.

As much as Australia’ prosperity rode on the “sheep’s back” for so long, it has been the shearer who has become part of the nation’s folklore. Some have to travel thousands of kilometres to work in sheds and spend weeks away from home undertaking what is a very tough occupation.

This weekend is a salute to their contribution to rural life and I congratulate the organisers and the hundreds of volunteers who are putting this fantastic event together in regional Australia”, Senator Williams said.