Obituaries Australia

W. A. Payne, n.d.

from Pastoral Review and Grazier's Record, 15 October 1955

The death occurred in Sydney last month of Mr. W. A. Payne, who had been shearing manager in New South Wales for Grazcos Co-operative Limited since 1929. Affectionately known as "The Tiger" by his many friends and associates, from the board boys to the fastest "gun" shearers, he was respected throughout the pastoral industry for his profound knowledge of wool, shearers, the Shearing Award and conditions, and for his organising ability. Meticulous with details and stern with slackers, he had a ready wit and kindly understanding.

The late Mr. Payne came to Australia from England after serving in France throughout the 1914-18 war, and studied wool classing at the Sydney Technical College. He then became a leading shed overseer and wool classer before joining Grazcos in 1929. During the second World War he served on the Shearing Manpower Advisory Committee, which helped the Federal Government to maintain and control the shearing labour force, and after the war he represented employers on the Shearing Employees' Accommodation Committee, formed to advise the New South Wales Government on rural accommodation.

Apart from his long and close association with the pastoral industry, the late Mr. Payne was widely read and took a keen interest in the problems of the day. For many years he was vice-president of the Constitutional Association of New South Wales.