Sheepshit on the Brain: The Trials and Tribulations of a Would-Be Gun Shearer by Ken Prato

Book Description

Secondhand. Very good condition. Minor wear to book corners. Scratch to bardcode on back cover.

A light-hearted volume describing the lifestyle of a sheep-shearer plying his trade on the outback shearing stations of Australia.

The main theme throughout the book is the spirit of competition that exists between the shearers as they toil away at their craft, day after day, often in very trying conditions. This spirit of competition creates an atmosphere that changes what could become a very monotonous job into something to look forward to each day, the ambition to shear more sheep in the day than his workmates creating an atmosphere of intense concentration. For a smaller person, cunning must be employed much of the time to out-manoeuvre a bigger, stronger adversary in this struggle.

This volume contains tales of Ken's experiences as he battled to "Keep off the chain". Being on the chain, i.e., the slowest shearer in the team was not a place anyone wanted to be.

There are also descriptions of the enjoyment to be found, wandering the outback wilderness, enjoying the freedom of the life and the companionship of good mates. A glossary is included to help the reader understand the language of the sheds. (Trove)