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Lucy Ellis
Assistant Agricultural Advisor (Wool)
I am originally from the Isles
of Scilly, where I was born and brought up. After
leaving college I joined a veterinary practise as a trainee vet nurse and
general dog’s body. Whilst there I got to know some Falkland Islanders who were
in the area for a while and when they left to go back after the 1982 invasion I,
on their advice, contacted the FIC about working on one of their farms. I was
lucky enough to be employed as a shepherd at Port Stephens, West Falkland, and
had some of the best years of my life to date.
When Port Stephens was sub-divided in the late 1980’s I went self-employed,
doing any sort of farm work there was and going wherever there was work. Doing
this I found myself in all sorts of places doing all sorts of work including
interim National Polwarth Stud flock manager on Sea Lion Island, road building
at San Carlos, house demolishing at Coast Ridge, kitchen re-building at Rincon
Ridge and general shepherding and farm work in the Stephens area. The worst
stint I foolishly undertook was as a Consolidated Fisheries Limited observer on
a Toothfish longliner – five weeks being heartily sea-sick convinced me that a
life on the ocean waves was definitely NOT for me!
I have been with the Department of Agriculture since 1997 and whilst initially
was involved in all areas of work have latterly concentrated on the sheep and
wool aspect. My main areas of focus are overseeing the Quality Falkland Wool
Accreditation Scheme (QFW), operating and training staff in the use of
ultrasound pregnancy diagnosis, overseeing the core sampling operations, assist
in all aspects of the National Polwarth Stud flock and Annual Ram Sale and will
be undergoing training as an organics inspector for the Biological Farmers of
Australia (BFA).
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