Martin Oppenheimer

5th Generation farmer at Walcha, NSW, Australia. Poll merinos (NM RWS 6 months shearing) Angus cattle, Kelpies. Need more solar. Daughter is coming home!

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

@g_gubbins Nice to see some green!

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Sowing more trees & shrubs.😊

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Last chance to vote by 10am today for AWI’s future.
Will it change & survive?

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

The old saying “all chiefs, no indians” is inappropriate these days, no doubt.

But with AWI being controlled by stud breeders for at least 15 years & wool production decreasing by more
than 30% in the past 10 years…

More stud breeders on the AWI Board = less growers.

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

The old saying “all chiefs, no indians” is inappropriate these days, no doubt.

But with AWI being controlled by stud breeders for at least 15 years & wool production decreasing by more
than 30% in the past 10 years…

More stud breeders on the AWI Board = less growers.

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

AWI 2025 board election candidate Paul Swan on innovation focus.
VOTE FOR MIRAMS UREN SWAN AGAINST Humphries Chapman https://t.co/vl0EW2PLsX

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Last chance to vote online by 10am EST Wednesday 12 November, for the AWI AGM.
Vote FOR increasing production,
AGAINST more decline (>30% last 10 years under current Board)

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Voted for AWI AGM

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Voted for AWI AGM

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Love your passion @steve_noa
But I will be voting for
Mirams, Uren, Swan.

Voting for the others will mean MORE of the same: more decline in production.

[Steve Noa @steve_noa]

Good evening WA woolgrowers. I’ve resurfaced after naively thinking that "wool was back" just a month ago, only to find us back in a situation where prolonged weak demand has extinguished what turned out to be a firecracker rather than a rocket. Fact is that less and less people are wearing wool and despite the belief that merino ticks all the boxes in a renewable, natural 'world' it's simply not resonating with a younger consumer. After five years of running TheMerinoPolo I can tell you I rarely make a sale to anyone under 28. Something HAS to change. Our marketing needs to move into this century, embrace social media and every day wear (instead of wool dresses for men).
As wool growers, you have rare opportunities to have a say in how AWI is run. I am a strong supporter of 80% of what AWI/Woolmark do, but am very critical (as are other merino label founders) of their neglect to engage with young consumers, trendsetters, influencers and just have plain fun in flogging merino wool.
Did you know in the last AWI director elections, less than 1500 (out of 40K) growers got off their arses to take 10 minutes to cast a vote. This is actually a high paying position that has been dominated by certain sectors of the industry that has a real influence on the operational decisions of AWI. Never more important (IMO) with where we are at, a lower budget and with the search on for a new CEO.
YOU HAVE UNTIL NEXT WEDNESDAY TO GET YOUR VOTE IN.
It's not that difficult and can be done online (I believe...) otherwise fax or EXPRESS mail
https://t.co/mbf9IE9XeC

We are very lucky to have Neil Jackson representing WA. We will have a new chairman being voted in but also the opportunity for some new blood.
So who to vote for....
I'm sure they are all passionate about our industry and want to make a difference 😉. I don't know all the candidates but there are three that I believe have a 'grasp' on what I talked about earlier.
They are
1. Michelle Humphries - who is up for re-election but having had several conversations with in last six months, was keen to explore ways to engage younger people.
2. Paul Swan. I've known Paul for a long time. He worked for AWI and recognises the culture and the direction it needs to take. He will bring a huge diversity of skills, experience and opinions to the board. An absolute must (IMO).
3. Drew Chapman. I met Drew for the first time at Katanning this year. Experienced in both the merino industry but also in business. He listened and preempted the frustrations I have with where we are heading. He gets it.
Apologies to the other candidates... but in the words of Ricky Gervais... I just don't care... I want change.

So why take my opinion on board? Because I've been in this industry for 35 years, in most sectors. I've put everything I own into a (high risk) business that I believe has a massive opportunity for merino to infiltrate. The corporate / casual / streetwear market, which would provide reliable year on year demand for our main merino production.
And I'm f#$%ing angry.
So dig out your voting information, have a say in how the industry, that you bust your arses each and every day, is run and VOTE!
Please share if you are a woolvolutionary. And buy a bloody wool T-shirt 😡..from anyone... or
https://t.co/JuY7Pd2Dp6

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Wool growers need fresh people to save AWI:
Vote FOR MIRAMS UREN SWAN Vote AGAINST Humphries Chapman https://t.co/iSbrgJbDjS

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

AWI 2025 board election candidate Paul Swan on innovation focus.
VOTE FOR MIRAMS UREN SWAN AGAINST Humphries Chapman https://t.co/vl0EW2PLsX

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

AWI Director Election Make your levy benefit all growers….
Vote FOR Mirams Uren Swan Vote AGAINST Humphreys Chapman https://t.co/CEHLZmBrXS

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Paul Swan should have been first pick for the AWI BNC: Experience with wool research, extension, genetics, wool’s carbon credentials for 15? years. Plus he is independent, a rare thing for AWI Board members.

[KBolto @k_bolto]

@Martin_Opp Why Swan?

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

AWI Director Election Make your levy benefit all growers….
Vote FOR Mirams Uren Swan Vote AGAINST Humphreys Chapman https://t.co/CEHLZmBrXS

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

AWI director election:
Vote for the future:
MIRAMS UREN SWAN https://t.co/CEHLZmBrXS

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

AWI director election:
Vote for the future:
MIRAMS UREN SWAN https://t.co/CEHLZmBrXS

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

@schulzlivestock One of the reasons wool production is in decline…

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

@todd_venning @schulzlivestock @DavidSandow1 @James_Stacey_ You should be a sheep classer, very helpful advice. Maybe AWI could employ you to run workshops & continue the decline…🫤

[💧simon holmes à court 🦋 @simonahac]

i got one prediction hopelessly wrong:

i honestly believed there was no way the coalition could achieve #fission before 2045.

☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️☢️

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

@schulzlivestock Wrongo 😆

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

Anyone know what this is?

[Martin Oppenheimer @Martin_Opp]

@BradW00ldridge @pbl1972 Pretty simple program if you do not need to drench sheep for 1 year, or 2…