Museum raises the baa with flock

FLEECED: Young record participants with pompom sheep behind.

THOUSANDS of participants have helped Geelong’s National Wool Museum muster the world’s largest flock of hand-made pompom sheep.
The museum thanked “pompom drovers” from around the region, across Victoria and interstate for wrangling 13,652 sheep, smashing the previous UK record of 8998 and surpassing the museum’s target of 10,000.
The record attempt culminated on Sunday when 300-plus visitors from as far away as China joined Shaun the Sheep for a counting of the flock.
“Ewe should have seen it,” quipped councillor Andy Richards, who holds council’s arts and culture portfolio.
“Counting sheep was never so exciting. This is a Guinness World Record-breaking event and thousands from across Australia have participated.
“Everyone who contributed by making pompoms, gluing on faces and counting the tally are all part of this Australia-wide effort.”
The museum said artist-in-residence Melissa Peacock was instrumental in the record after introducing the idea to Geelong.