Top woolhandler dies

Joanne Kumeroa.
Joanne Kumeroa.
Wool-handling legend Joanne Kumeroa died this week after a three-year fight against cancer.

From the Whanganui River area, but particularly well-known around the woolsheds of Otago and competition scenes of Balclutha, Alexandra and Gore, Ms Kumeroa (45) won more world, Golden Shears and New Zealand titles than any other competitor.

She won several world individual wool-handling championships, six Golden Shears titles and six New Zealand open championships.

Her last Golden Shears Open final two years ago, when runner-up to Joel Henare, was tinged with emotion, occurring during her cancer treatment,  and as she fought to raise women's awareness of cancer.

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