Struan Hulme
Stencil: A525
The New Zealand Wool Classers Association has accorded Life Membership on only a very few occasions and has much pleasure in recognising Struan Hulme as being highly worthy of this honour. Wool classing has been an underpinning skill to the many roles that Struan has taken on in a distinguished career. Perhaps one of the highest personal qualities of a wool classer is the willingness, and the ability to pass on their knowledge to those entering the profession and building up their skills. Struan has achieved this in spades, but a great deal more besides.
Recognition is due to Struan for his wider service to the wool classing profession. It is a privilege to be able to acknowledge his service to the two organisations that have worked to set standards and to oversee them. This includes time with the association’s predecessor body known as the “CRAIG Committee” (the Classer Registration Advisory Registration Group which operated under the auspices of the New Zealand Wool Board. For a period Struan worked as the Registrar managing the registration of classers and administration of the standards’ including providing input to the CRAIG committee deliberations and implementing any changes accepted by the Wool Board. More recently he became a director of the New Zealand Wool Classers Association board as a processing sector representative appointed by the wool processing sector. In this role he has provided valuable input particularly as the thrust of the NZWCA purpose is to ensure that clips are prepared to a high standard reflecting the needs of those businesses working further along the value chain.
Struan Hulme started in the Wool Industry over 50 years ago, his father was a Wool Merchant based in Ashburton, so Truant (known to many as Stru) had an early introduction to the industry spending time in the shed during holidays.
He attended Massey University in the mid 70’s and graduated with a Diploma of Wool and Wool Technology. He became a wool lecturer at Lincoln University but only for part of the year as he had a real passion for Snow Skiing and became a qualified instructor,
Struan’s hands on classing career began in the Mid Canterbury area where he classed several Corriedale and Mid Micron sheds. His first big shed was Glenmore owned at the time by Jim Murray. He also spent time in McKenzie Country as a private buyer but spent more time classing than buying.
Struan then joined the Wool Board and was a key member of the commercial division specializing as a senior valuer. This was in the days of price intervention. Truant was also the classer registration officer and farmer liaison officer.
Struan started with Canterbury Woolscourers in 2007 in the newly created Production Coordinator role. He had the responsibility of ensuring that all scouring documents were delivered to the staff for each line, including any special requirements. Truant also liaised with clients, inspected their greasy wool, gave feedback on quality, and viewed, appraised and sent away the scoured samples for each line.
Struan had a keen eye for detail and was skilled at detecting any abnormalities or faults with the wool quality, both greasy and scoured; this information was relayed back to the client, a recommendation was made and a solution was found. He spent hours and hours looking at bales for clients determining if they could go into lines or if they needed to be left out. He was held in such high regard by the clients for his classing skills that not once did they disagree with his assessment.
He also had a passion for teaching and passing on knowledge. Truant spent time with new staff and made time to support existing staff asked for advice. He had a great way of demonstrating tasks and ensuring that you understood each time. His passion for the industry was strong and he was determined that the next generation coming through should have the same knowledge that others possessed who came before them did. Truant spent hours mentoring staff through the Certificate in Wool Technology course and he had great pride in presenting them their certificates when they had completed the course.
Struan spent 16 years with Canterbury Woolscourers until he stepped back to focus on his health. Such high regard Truant was held in by his colleagues that there was clear emotion in the room when the news of his diagnosis came through. His volume and quality of work was so high that it took multiple staff picking up different pieces of his role to carry it on.
Struan also gave regular feedback to colleagues in Canterbury Woolscours and the wider industry on NZWCA matters during his time on the Association board, ensuring that the industry was kept up to speed with developments form the Association.
