A BIT ABOUT US, OUR FAMILY AND OUR BUSINESS
Shearing Is In The Blood
McSkimming Shearing has been operating out of Kurow since November 2023 when Willy & Tess took over from Grant & Sharlene Murdoch.
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Willy has grown up in the shearing sheds, with sheep shit on the brain. He started as a wool handler at 13 years of age, progressing through the ranks to pressing, shearing, and then contracting. He has also been involved in shearer training as well as a 3-year stint for Heiniger as a technical field rep, so has covered most jobs the industry has to offer! Tess came off a rural King Country farm, into the sheds as a wool handler, has also cooked and done her time on the phone and in front of a computer when the two were contracting in Taumarunui.
Shearing Contracting has always been in the McSkimming family. Willy's father Murray was one of the pioneers in the industry and had a large business based out of Alexandra and serviced Central Otago during the 1960's & 70's. Willy's brother Lane also had a run based out of Taumarunui in the King Country.
Willy & Tess met in the shearing sheds around Taumarunui while working for Lane. In 2005, after a couple of years of traveling around, they purchased the Taumarunui business off Lane, where they remained operating until selling in 2020. Not long after they moved the family back South, settling in Oamaru where the rest is history!
Our Business is Your Business
We love the shearing industry and the diverse range of people it takes to make it all happen! It's bloody hard work but we pride ourselves on creating a hard-working, fun, family-orientated work environment. We have a "No Wankers" policy in place that we expect both management and staff to stick to, on and off the job.
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In any business, communication is key. We will always let you know what is happening and where we're at leading up to your job. Willy can't keep away from a wool shed. If he's not out shearing, he will always be around to have a yarn, chip in around the yards, give the shearers a break from their graft, pen up, or get in the wool handler's way!
The way to anyone's heart is through their stomach and we know that an army marches on it! We feed our staff tasty, nutritious meals, all home-cooked by Tess. She also looks after the admin side of the business, including invoicing, wages, and dealing with those government departments.
After 15 years on the job in Taumarunui, we are a well-oiled machine and have always worked together, to keep all aspects of the business covered between the two of us.
