The WPA annual general meeting was held in Perth last week.

Brent Finlay joined the WPA leadership team, being elected unopposed to the position of vice president.

Don runs a mixed farming operation in partnership with his brother near Nyngan in the central west of NSW.

He was elected as the president of WPA in October 2007 and is the immediate past chairman of the NSW Farmers Association (NSWFA) Wool Committee, also a director of the Australian Wool Testing Authority (AWTA) and the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX)l.

In his address to the annual general meeting, Mr Hamblin reported on the activities and achievements of the organisation over the past year.

Some of the achievements noted included:

• Introduction of the National Wool Declaration (NWD).

• Launch of a nationally consistent Sheep Health Statement.

• Commencement of a new national management plan for OJD.

• Completion of National Standards and Guidelines for Transport of Livestock.

• Release of WPA guide to mitigating the risk of exotic breeds.

• Election of WPA President as Chair of the IWTO International Woolgrowers Forum.

• Launch of a new national quarterly sheep health and welfare newsletter for grower.

• Completion of the code of practice for housed sheep.

• Commencement of the development of the national code of practice for sheep.