WATSwool NEWs

Cable Conversations: Victoria Watson - For the Love of Wool

Meet Victoria, a mother of three from Melbourne, Victoria. Victoria is the director of Watswool, a second-generation Australian wool business.

Wool has always been intertwined with Victoria's life, from her family's background in the industry to her husband's profound passion for working in wool. After her husband passed away in 2023, Victoria found herself not only a single mother but also at the helm of the family business, navigating a new chapter with resilience and determination. Despite the hurdles she's faced, Victoria remains optimistic about the future of the industry and her role in shaping it for generations to come.

What’s your connection to wool?

I am the director of Watswool, a second-generation, 50-year-old Australian wool business started in 1971 by my father-in-law, Alex Watson.

My mother's grandfather, Bill Burnes, was also a wool buyer when wool was king and Australia's largest export.

I was 21 when I met my husband James. During my first family dinner with James' parents, we discovered his father knew my grandfather from the wool trade. Alex was starting out as a junior wool buyer, and my grandfather was a senior buyer.

James always wanted to follow in his father's footsteps in the family business. He was a true blue "Woollie" and went on to build a successful trading business, exporting wool all over the world.

In 2017, James was diagnosed with leukaemia, and our world changed overnight. I had to quickly adapt to being more present in the business as well as taking on the caring role to manage appointments, treatment and the tough journey that a cancer diagnosis brings.

Unfortunately, James passed away in July 2023. I now find myself as a single mother to our three beautiful girls: Georgia, 18, Chloe, 16 and Millie, 13 while also taking on the role of director at our wool business — navigating a new life without my wingman by my side.

Being involved in the business keeps me connected to James and gives me great purpose in an industry I am passionate about.

It’s a privilege to continue the long family history of my late grandfather, father-in-law, and husband, who were all passionate and strong contributors to the Australian Wool industry.