" here we are in NSW, shearing sheep as big as whales,
with leather necks and daggy tails.."

I have seen a lot of sheep, but never one with a tail. All the ones I ever saw had an elastic put around tail at base to shut off circulation and make tail drop off when they were lambs. Can it be the Kiwis can't afford elastics?
(Joke - no offence intended. Maybe they have so many they think it is too much work.)