Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I take this opportunity to congratulate the Manning family from Lemont, in the Southern Midlands of Tasmania, which is in my electorate of Lyons.

In particular, I would like to congratulate my friend, Mr Des Manning, the 92-year-old family patriarch, on winning the Vitale Barberis Canonico Wool Excellence Award. Along with the honour of such a prestigious award, included in the award is a trip to Italy to visit the factory in Biella to see their own wool transformed into fabrics of the most exceptional quality, plus a $50,000 bonus payment based on the value of the 175 bails supplied to the company in the 2014-15 season.

Three generations of the Manning family work within the family business: Des; his son, Michael Manning; his daughter and wool classer, Marie Boadle; and his grandson—who is also a talented Mount Pleasant footballer—James Manning. Des and his enduring passion for growing superfine Merino wool is well-served by this partnership with Vitale Barberis Canonico and their local representatives, Andrew Blanch and Andrew Raeber.

Mr Alberto Barberis Canonico is the patriarch this 350-year-young family business, which is also built on a tradition of dedication and passion for this most amazing of natural fibres. It is a noble fibre which I, Australia and the world owe so much to.