Jane Ellingham, left, and Theo Henricksen, both of Dannevirke, with Bonnie Miller from Auckland and farmer Brian Hales with merino wool donated by CP Wools Dannevirke for use in the slippers.
Jane Ellingham, left, and Theo Henricksen, both of Dannevirke, with Bonnie Miller from Auckland and farmer Brian Hales with merino wool donated by CP Wools Dannevirke for use in the slippers.
A historic, rustic Wimbledon woolshed was ringing with chatter and laughter last week as 23 teachers, educators and crafters came together as part of the Slippers in Schools project.
As farmer Brian Hales' karakul flock were penned up alongside, grinding their teeth and chewing their cud - a sign theywere happy to give up their wool for the project - the women learned how to make felted slippers - a new skill to take to schools around New Zealand.
Xanthe Sommerville of Owahanga Station on the East Coast, works her wool into the shape for her felted slippers. Photo / Christine McKay
Bonnie Miller had travelled from Ardmore, keen to try her hand. "I was in teacher's training college with Brian in 1967, 68 and 69. He's the epitome of once a teacher always a teacher," she said.
Leigh Buchanan and fellow staff members, Peter White and Jane Ellingham from Dannevirke South School appreciated the effort Mr Hales had put into the free training day.
Completed felted slippers in Brian Hales' woolshed at Wimbledon. They have merino inners and karakul wool on the outside.
"I've never done felting before. It's exciting," Leigh said.
Norsewood's Kathryn Mulinder said it was an awesome day.
"I was blown away by the generosity of Brian and Melissa [Fryer]," she said. "Brian is such an asset for our community, generous and with a wonderful community spirit."
Under the guidance of tutor Melissa Fryer from Feilding the women used Mr Hales' merino wool as a lining for their slippers, with the karakul wool, the sturdy outer.
"My goal now is to have the Slippers in Schools project go wider and for the children to make their own," Mr Hales, a former school principal said.
"It's about keeping them healthy and they can learn to turn fibre into a fabric."
Dannevirke South School teacher, Jane Ellingham watches as fellow teacher Peter White makes a template for Leigh Buchanan's foot.
Passionate about the wool industry Mr Hales said the project is also a great promotion for the use of wool.
"Last year Melissa and I travelled to schools throughout the region and made 250 pairs of slippers, but now it's time to teach the teachers.
Mr Hales has 11 flocks of exotic sheep, alongside a flock of 1000 conventional sheep and 100 breeding cows.
The karakul, the fat-tailed sheep of Mongolia, were discovered by Marco Polo and are doing well in Wimbledon, along with a karakul goat.
"Goats are the Mongolian shepherd's income. They don't get paid, other than what the goats return to them," Mr Hales said.
Brian Hales' karakul flock looks on anxiously as the felters get to grips with their slippers. Tutor, Melissa Fryer of Feilding,(centre).
Although Mr Hales donates all the wool to the Slippers in School project, he's been helped by a generous donation of merino from Dannevirke's CP Wool. It will be washed and carded and put into 50 bags to be distributed to schools.
