Dubbo shearer Cory Nordstrom is proof that it's never too late to be in a career you love after switching from the kitchen to the shearing shed.
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With Australia being the world's largest producer of wool, Cory is encouraging others to consider following the same career path by studying a statement of attainment in wool harvesting at TAFE Dubbo.
"I started my journey in the shearing sheds as a rouse-about and, as I watched my dad and the shearers day-in day-out, an ambition evolved in me and I wanted to do just that," Mr Nordstrom said.
"I'm also a qualified chef and thrive on the high intensity in both the kitchen and the sheds.
"I enjoy being around animals and when the opportunity arose to take part in the shearing course at TAFE Dubbo, I grabbed it with both hands.
"Studying at TAFE helped me learn practical skills and in particular, patterns and positioning of shearing including footwork around the sheep."
Mr Nordstrom, who resides in Uralla but works in Dubbo and across Western NSW, said the skills he acquired at TAFE were "vital in the industry".
"I'm now shearing 30-40 per run in merinos and 40-50 per run in cross-breads for my dad," he said.
"Without the expert knowledge of the industry qualified teachers at TAFE, I would not be shearing at the rate or the quality that I am today."
Mr Nordstrom's father Scott said he could not be prouder of the direction his son took with his career.
"I was so surprised when Cory chose to follow the same career path as me, I never thought it would happen," Mr Nordstrom's father said.
"It has given me more of an incentive to keep shearing.
"I could of taught him, but he would not have the advanced skills he has today if he didn't study at TAFE.
"The industry is growing and changing rapidly, health and nutrition now plays a big role in the industry and shearing is now seen as a sport not just a job.
"Cory has a bright future ahead of him and I'm excited to see where it takes him."
