Editors Notes
In this issue we provide some detailed information about AWTA Ltd's new management structure. About 5 years ago the Board implemented a succession plan, recognising that a number of senior managers in the Company such as David Ward, Sas Douglas, Murray Mansfield and Peter Morgan were all about the same age and unless otherwise planned, were likely to retire at about the same time. The plan was designed to develop potential successors for the most senior positions in the Company, by providing younger Managers with sufficient experience, exposure and relevant know-how to place them in contention as these long-standing Managers progressively retired.
This planning reached its final conclusion in February this year and in this issue we provide detailed information in our News, Features and Profiles sections about the outcomes.
Another important item in our News section is the announcement that AWTA Ltd is funding a new research program, in co-operation with combers and topmakers, to update the TEAM formula to reflect the current performance of top making mills around the world and to determine whether or not the additional information about fibre diameter distribution and fibre curvature provided by the LASERSCAN technology can improve the prediction of processing performance of mill consignments. Total expenditure on this program will depend upon the number of topmakers and combers who choose to participate, with the funding being primarily aimed at covering any extra costs incurred in collecting the necessary information and returning it to AWTA Ltd. A number of topmakers and combers have already been approached and invited to participate and the level of acceptances is very encouraging. More details can be found in our News and Feature sections.
Ron Myers, Wool Manager _ WA, Wesfarmers Landmark, is the contributor to our Opinion section in this issue. He discusses the controversy, which has accompanied the introduction of the South African breeds of sheep to Australia and in particular in Western Australia. A major concern in the industry is the possibility that wool produced by the crosses of these sheep with merinos, or the interaction of these lambs with their mothers, may contaminate the sale lots with unacceptable levels of heavily pigmented or medullated fibres.
The For Technophiles section considers the challenges confronting laboratories in measuring fibre diameter in the future if breeding programs directed at producing commercial flocks averaging 13-14 microns are successful. A paper presented to the recent IWTO Congress in Shanghai is the basis for this discussion.
The Editor