Vicki & Peter Winley
Devon Hills
In May 2007 we moved from Norwood in Launceston to our 9-acre property at Devon Hills. As I was raised on a 500-acre mixed farm on Flinders Island and Peter had worked a share dairy property at Sisters Creek we were excited to have our own hobby farm.
It wasn’t long before we purchased our first 2 Angora does in August 2007, thought it a bit of fun to try something different from our past. Being new and not knowing very much about the Mohair Industry we saw an article in the Examiner promoting GoatFest at Campbell Town in February 2009 we decided to attend and see what we could find out. Before we know it we had purchase a buck and there our adventure started.
In September 2010 our first doe kid was born, how exciting this beautiful little buddle of joy was, so cute even though she was born with her front feet turned in and she was walking on her hocks. As it turned out her legs corrected and we called her Sophie (Sophie is now our matriarch on the property). Our 2nd doe caused us some grief with a big boy we called Boof getting stuck (lucky for that childhood upbringing) the problem was rectified and once he was delivered out popped his little sister Lucy behind him.
This was our introduction to breeding goats and since then we have shared with family and friends a lot of fun and enjoyment from our stud of Angora’s.
We have connected and befriended a wide range of Goat breeders within Tasmania inclusive of Dairy, Miniature and Boer Goats and share a common interest and assist each other with experiences we all have.
At GoatFest, Mohair Australia (Tasmanian Division) have sourced a different judge every year from mainland Australia to judge our Angora’s, over the years this has proved beneficial to us and other Angora breeders as judges have given advice and education on how to improve our breeding program.
We have befriended Norm and Jean McCrea from Wagga Wagga (Norm judged back in 2013) and due to Peter’s family being from Wagga Wagga, we have visited their property and experienced the different conditions they experience to our Tasmanian conditions. We have purchased goats from Norm and Jean and find how their Mohair changes in the climate we have, just another experience to take into account.
Over the years with advice we continue to strive and improve our bloodlines, something we will continue to do, but at the end of the day when Spring comes along and kids are born what a beautiful way of life to enjoy our hobby (Angora Goat’s).
We currently run 20 Angora Goat’s (that may increase/decrease), we move some onto new people interested in having Goat’s and assist them to enjoy the experience we have.
