RETIRED champion shearer and first ever Wool Monarch of Sheepvention, David “Daffy” Ryan passed away in Queensland earlier this week, on January 4, aged 76.
Raised at Balmoral, he began shearing at around the age of 15, travelling all over Australia and New Zealand for work and was soon recognised as one of the fastest shearers around.
Mr Ryan went on to challenge the world record at age 32 in 1978, when he officially beat the record of 426, by shearing 466 Merinos at Harrow, before several certified eyewitnesses, which made it to the Guinness Book of Records.
Then in 1979, again before certified witnesses, Mr Ryan shore 501 Merino sheep in seven hours and 30 minutes, using narrow combs, the same year he won the Australian championship.
He was a regular competitor at the Golden Shears competitions and is recorded as having represented Australia on six occasions and was also Victorian state champion numerous times, including consecutively in the years 1979, 1980 and 1981.
In 1981, Mr Ryan was recognised for his service to the wool industry at the inaugural Sheepvention event and was crowned the first ever ‘Wool Monarch’.
Mr Ryan spent two years in National Service which included a year in Vietnam.
He also made a significant contribution to the community as a dedicated member of Legacy for 35 years including with Hamilton & District Legacy where he served as president between 1994-95.
After shearing and competing with narrow and wide combs at the highest levels for more than three decades, Mr Ryan retired in 2000, and moved to Wongaling Beach, Far North Queensland, with his wife, Regina.
In 2019, Mr Ryan was inducted into the Australian Shearers Hall of Fame.
Tributes flowed on Hamilton’s I’ve lived in Hamilton Facebook page following the announcement of Mr Ryan’s passing, that acknowledged he was a legend in this area and many others.
One said, “when I was starting in the shearing sheds as a rouseabout, working for Cecil Clutterbuck, I had the privilege of working with this gentleman and that he was”.
Another said “RIP Daffy what a legend condolences to the family,” and “deepest sympathy to the Ryan family on the sad passing of Daffy, from an old shearing mate Duck Chandler and family”.
He is survived by his wife and two children, Megan and Justin, and three grandchildren.
