THE Australian Wool Innovation Board chaired by Brian van Rooyen has been rolled by candidates opposed to the 2010 mulesing deadline. NSW stud Merino breeder, Wal Merriman, is the new chairman.

At the AWI annual meeting in Perth today four of the five challengers namely UK wool processor Laurence Modiano, Dr Meredith Shiel, David Webster and George Falkiner defeated incumbent  directors Dr Chris Abell, John Keniry, Robyn Clubb and Ken Boundy.

Mr van Rooyen was only member of the incumbent team to be re-elected.

Immediately after the vote Mr van Rooyen stepped down as chairman and Mr Merriman was elected AWI chairman.

NSW sheep and wool processor Roger Fletcher who had been touted as possible chairman said he had "too much on his plate for the job".

The four successful challengers, who were backed by the Australian Wool Growers Association, will join fellow directors opposed to the mulesing deadline Roger Fletcher, Wal Merriman and Chick Olsson.

The ninth AWI director Western Australian veterinarian and university Dr Kevin Bell who was loyal to the van Rooyen forces although indicating initially he might resign if the challengers were successful, said he would remain on the board.

The election result, although not unexpected given the downturn in the wool market and increasing concerns among breeders of fine wooled Merino that the mulesing deadline would be too onerous, was a disappointment for WoolProducers  president Don Hamblin.

Mr Hamblin said he had grave concerns for the wool industry as the result was likely to rekindle PETA attack on major retailers who had supported  the industry decision to end mulesing from 2010.

But Mr Merriman re-affirmed that AWI would be sticking with its policy of supporting the 2010 commitment to end mulesing and would continue its research into finding alternatives to surgical mulesing.

As to what he would doing with his own flock if a viable alternative were not available by the end of 2010, Mr Merriman said he would be doing "what’s best for my sheep" 

AWI election results

The successful candidates:

  • Laurence Modiano, 199,273
  • Dr Meredith Sheil, 189,892
  • Brian van Rooyen, 185,006
  • David Webster, 179,589
  • George Falkiner, 174,811

The unsuccessful candidates:

  • Will Roberts, 169,717
  • Dr John Keniry, 162,519
  • Robyn Clubb, 158,664
  • Ken Boundy, 157,957
  • Dr Chris Abell, 155,050

The participation rate or total votes cast was 34.5 per cent of the total eligible vote.