Nudgee Old Boys Win International Award

Nudgee Old Boys and brothers Peter Lee (1964) and Max Lee (1968) have won this year’s prestigious Ermenegildo Zegna international award, contested by the world’s fine wool growing nations.

Peter's three sons Ben, Tim and Jock have also been boarders at Nudgee
with Jock finishing just last year 2002.

Here is part of the media release to announce the award.

ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA VELLUS AUREUM
INTERNATIONAL WINNER ANNOUNCED

Wool, finer than cashmere and vicuna, was produced by Australian ultrafine woolgrowers Peter and Max Lee of "Beulah" Gunnedah, NSW to win the inaugural Ermenegildo ZegnaVellus Aureum International Trophy.

For the first time the Ermenegildo Zegna Awards have included an international award to be contested by the world's major fine wool growing nations Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Argentina.

The awards were presented by Count Paolo Zegna, Joint Chief Executive Officer, of Ermenegildo Zegna Group, Italy, manufacturers of fine quality men's fabrics and clothing, at [ a gala dinner at ] the Park Hyatt Melbourne [on 29 March 2003]

The ‘golden fleece’ entered by Peter and Mark Lee, measuring only 10.3microns, is a triumph for all fine woolgrowers worldwide whose highly skilled breeding programmes, developed through many years of research, have produced an ultrafine wool to rate alongside other rare and exotic fibres such as cashmere and vicuna.

For the past 15 years since, they moved to Gunnedah in the north-west of NSW from their property in Charleville, Queensland, brothers Peter and Max Lee have been dedicated to refining their ultrafine Merino sheep. Their 610 hectare property “Beulah”, Gunnedah presently runs a small flock of Merino sheep with some 380 of these fine, rare animals in sheds.

The winners will receive the Golden Fleece's "weight in gold" and a replica of the Swiss artist Not Vital's sculpture created in 2002 especially for the launch of the Vellus Aureum Trophy.

The Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum International Trophy represents a significant milestone in the long and close relationship which has developed between the Zegna Group, one of the largest buyers of Australian superfine Merino wool and a strong believer in the improvement of its quality.

For a complete copy of the media release, including details of the trophy and of other award winners, CLICK HERE

Count Paolo Zegna, Joint Chief Executive Officer, Ermenegildo Zegna Group, Italy
with winners Judy & Peter Lee, "Beulah" Gunnedah