My Grandad, Les Hooper
by Jane Hooper
I walk into the lounge room at Grandad's, a room of familiar smells and objects. Something seems different. I look around the room noting the mantle piece wall where I'm reassured to see that his show ribbons are there, the special ones.
Champion and Reserve Champion rosettes, Most Successful Exhibitor ribbons, assorted plaques/ trophies and photos of Southdowns, grace the wall, covering it from ceiling to waist level. Not all the ribbons he's ever won, otherwise every wall in the house would be covered and then some. What is it that's changed?
That's it -he's had an air conditioner installed. NO! The Perth Champion ribbons have had to be taken down to make room. Quickly I recheck the ribbons; Perth are the only ones missing, of the others some are a bit worse for wear after the many years on the wall, all need dusting. This is my Grandad's life.
Grandad's era with Southdowns began in 1928, success soon followed with the winning of Champion Ram in 1929 at the Benalla Agricultural show, back in the days when he travelled to and fro in horse and dray. The Southdown was very popular back then and competition was very strong, with many local breeders exhibiting their sheep. Thus began a prestigious show career.
He registered his flock in 1934 after purchasing registered ewes, then increased his flock dramatically when he purchased his uncle's, Mr Boyd Bickett's, entire registered flock in 1938.This expanded his existing flock with many sheep from the well known Badcock bloodlines. And so began the entwined lives of Les Hooper and Southdowns.
Showing was one of the highlights of Grandad's association with Southdowns mainly because of all the people he met and the many friends he made. An example of his dedication was his first showing at Albury in 1956 when it took all day just to get there and it had been so wet that he got bogged in the middle of a bitumen road, but he got there in the end.
Grandad exhibited Southdowns across North East Victoria for many years before being encouraged to compete at the Melbourne Royal. He started showing there in 1959 and had his last show last year, 1999, only missing 2 shows the entire time.
When grandad started breeding Southdowns he had a vision of taking the small dark dumpy Southdown and making it the modern Southdown of today - he succeeded, but not without some criticism. After showing at Melbourne from 1959, it took until 1961 when a judge had the courage to choose the Clear Hills type of sheep, 10 firsts were the result and Most Successful Exhibitor. That record was beaten the following year with 11 firsts and Most Successful Exhibitor.
He won Most Successful Exhibitor at the Melbourne Royal for 20 consecutive years. However his success wasn't only in Melbourne. Grandad has shown successfully across 5 states of Australia ranging from Perth to Sydney, Brisbane to Tasmania; Champions, Reserve Champions, Supreme Champions, 1sts, 2nds, 3rds, Most Successful Exhibitor etc.
Apart from winning every Ram and Ewe class at the Melbourne Sheep Show, two other shows stand out. The 1988 Southdown feature show at the Melbourne Royal where he brought home a new set of sheep yards and the World Sheep Congress in 1989 where he won Supreme Champion Ram.
But he didn't achieve his success without a lot of hard work. With an eye for sheep and a memory like an elephant he slowly bred into Southdowns the traits we see and take for granted today. He used all the resources available to him, NZ blood such at Whitegate, Punchbowl, Gatton Park and more recently Tuanui. Tasmanian blood from Basil, Kevin and Dale Moore, culminating with the purchase of 'Supremo', 1992 Supreme Champion, Melbourne Royal, for the record sum of $6000. He also incorporated quite a bit of Southern Pastures influence and the Chandpara all-rounder type.
He has not only sold sheep throughout Australia to all states bar one, but has also exported sheep around the world. He took a few chances, but his hunches were right and I think that today's Australian Southdown is a great example and representation of his life's work.
But Grandad's life didn't only revolve around his own sheep, he officiated in many roles at shows both big and small. He was honoured to be asked, and quick to take up the offer because he loved the contact with so many fellow breeders of sheep, not just Southdowns. A few of you out there may have been privy to a few not-so-well-kept secrets. I know that he cherishes the people he got to know over the years and the friendships he made both nationally and internationally. I think that's what he misses most now.
Unfortunately an era has now come to pass, not to an end mind you, as Les Hooper hands the reins over to his son Graeme. But the Clear Hills name rings on and continues to breed the fine sheep it is renowned for.
Under Grandad's watchful eye of course.