Passion for Swiss breed pays dividends for Colbrook stud

DEDICATION and persistence have paid off for Colbrook farmers Rob and Julie de Kort, securing the Supreme Champion title at the 2025 Australian Sheep and Wool Show in Bendigo.

The de Korts’ ewe, Gordilly Park Koto, clinched the top award in the Valais Blacknose category, marking a major milestone for their Gordilly Park stud.

The stud, north of Ballan, also placed in the top two of every class it entered – it was first in the Ram Lamb Born in Current Year category with Gordilly Park Miles, took first and second places in Ram Under One Year with Gordilly Park Legend and Gordilly Park Lancelot respectively, and first and second in Ewe Under One Year with Gordilly Park Lola and Gordilly Park Lovey.

In addition, Gordilly Park Legend was named Champion Junior Ram and Gordilly Park Lancelot reserve champion, and Gordilly Park Lola and Gordilly Park Lovey took out the respective Champion Junior Ewe and reserve champion titles.

And as well as being named Supreme Champion, Gordilly Park Koto was also selected as the Champion Senior Ewe and the Grand Champion Valais Ewe.

She placed first in the Ewe Over One and Under Two Years category, from a field of 14 entries.

The de Korts’ journey with the rare Swiss breed began in 2017 while they were hiking near the Matterhorn in Zermatt, Switzerland.

It was there that they first encountered the strikingly unique Valais Blacknose sheep, known for their gentle temperament and iconic woolly faces.

The sheep roam freely through the mountainous Valais region during warmer months, and the couple’s chance meeting with the breed sparked what would become a life-changing pursuit.

“From that moment, we knew we had to bring them into our lives,” said Ms de Kort, Gordilly Park’s principal director.

“It’s been a long road of import logistics, breeding, and learning, but days like today (when the award was announced) make it all worthwhile.”

Koto, the winning ewe, is almost two years of age and is now in lamb to one of the stud’s newly imported rams, signalling a strong future for the enterprise.

“I would like to thank all of the breeders and organisers who have made this event such a resounding success,” Ms de Kort said of the show.

“It takes a lot of hard work and effort to get here and without family and friends to help and support us this just wouldn’t be possible.

“We are so proud of our girl Koto – she typifies the breed qualities we aspire to with our animals.”

Ms de Kort said the result represented affirmation of their vision for the future of the Valais Blacknose breed in Australia.