BSAA Committee

I first discovered Babydoll sheep in 2021 and was immediately captivated by them. It wasn’t long before I had registered my own flock, and since then, breeding and raising Babydolls has become a real passion. From watching new lambs arrive and placing sheep with new owners to exhibiting my sheep at my first show, it has been both rewarding and a steep learning curve. I’ve particularly enjoyed getting to know others in the Babydoll community and working with people who care about this special breed. I feel very fortunate to play a part in continuing the story of these wonderful sheep.

Although we no longer keep Babydoll sheep ourselves, we remain passionate about promoting the breed and supporting its success well into the future. With many years of farming experience in both livestock and cropping, we continue our agricultural interests through our ongoing involvement with the BSAA. As the immediate past owners of the renowned Hillgrove Babydoll Stud, we were actively involved in Babydoll breeding from 2015. During this time, we were proud to achieve a number of milestones, including exporting Babydoll embryos to Sweden, exhibiting at the Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo, Victoria, and expanding our flock from a modest group of around 25 older ewes and rams into a thriving stud of more than 130 Babydoll sheep, many of which were sold to other Babydoll studs and breeders all over Australia.

My wife, Loren and I run ‘Redwaters Stud’, along with our two “future farmers;" Pippa and Peyton, in the beautiful Adelaide Hills in South Australia. We have been breeding Babydolls since 2019 and started with Hillgrove and Gully Green bloodlines. We currently have 29 Babydolls, including our rams, ewes, lambs and grazing wethers.

Dee Nolan and her husband, John Southgate have been breeding heritage Southdowns, now officially the Babydoll breed, at their farm, Gum Park, near Naracoorte, South Australia, since 2014. Dee grew up at Gum Park and remembers these sheep with great fondness from her childhood when her father, Ray, used them as a main terminal sire for prime lamb production. She sought them out to graze certified organic olive groves planted when she returned to the farm after an international career in journalism. Their registered stud is called South Glynde which honours the pioneering vision of English master breeder, John Ellman, who founded the breed over 200 years ago at Glynde in Sussex. Patience and careful selection of genetics have seen the South Glynde Babydoll flock increase to a permanent flock of fifty-plus breeding ewes. Dee works closely with clients wanting to establish their own Babydoll flocks and to ensure a strong and healthy future for these very special sheep. https://www.southglyndebabydolls.com.au

My support for Babydoll sheep is often behind the scenes. I’ve become very involved in our flock and in supporting the BSAA and its commitment to the breed. As the “head stockman” at Gumbuya Babydoll Sheep Stud, I take care of many of the practical jobs, from trimming hooves and giving injections to sourcing hay, cleaning pens and lending a hand when needed. I’m pleased to be part of the Babydoll community and to contribute to the future of this special breed.