The Merino Country Song | Behind the Scenes

Singer and songwriter, Josh Arnold is from the bush and we've known him for years, often using his music behind our videos for social media and following his career. 

When Josh Arnold first suggested writing a song for Merino Country years ago, we loved the idea but didn't really think it was for us, however, when he suggested it again this year, it felt like the right time to celebrate our journey and we said YES!

Josh is an award-winning country singer and songwriter from Queensland, well-known for his Small Town Culture projects, where he works with communities and schools across regional Australia to write and record songs that celebrate their stories. His roots are firmly planted in the bush, growing up on the Darling Downs and, so he truly understands the connection between country life, wool, and hard work.

Owner of Merino Country, Kerrie Richards, first met Josh in 1997 when he performed at the Des Cook State of Origin Memorial Shears in Queen Street Mall. 

State of Origin Shearing Competition in Queens Street Mall

In 1997, we coordinated the “Queensland Festival of Wool” showing the importance of of all aspects of the sheep and wool industry to not only the Queensland economy but also to local communities from shearing, transport, local shops right through to manufacturing locally.

As part of this we ran The Des Cook Memorial Shears - QLD vs NSW Ste of Origin Shearing and Wool Handling competition in the middle of the Queen Street Mall! Des Cook worked for Heiniger Shearing equipment and after a meeting where we were organising the logistics of having 300 head of sheep delivered into the middle of Brisbane, Des was tragically killed in a vehicle accident and the competition was named in his memory. 

Shearing Competitions can last for some time and it's always great to have some entertainment to keep the energy levels up and Josh with his country style music and involvement in the shearing industry was the natural choice. We had a special pirate style, Merino shirt made for Josh and have memories of him standing up on the classing table getting the crowd cranked up, bringing a whole lot of country to the city!

Celebrating 30 years of Merino Country with the Shearer's Dream Wool Parade

Over the years we kept in touch with Josh and in 2023 when we celebrated our 30th birthday with a wool parade called "The Shearer's Dream", Josh narrated the show and sang his Woolshed Song. Josh suggested then that we should write The Merino Country Song but we weren't quite ready!

This year we finally did a video for the Australian Made Campaign and Josh happily supplied some fabulous sheep and shearing footage for it and again suggested we capture the Merino Country story in song. Mal and I knew this was the right time and it was the perfect way to celebrate our journey since 1993.

We wanted it to be upbeat- something that would capture the spirit of the wool industry, the people behind it, and the pride in being Australian Made. Josh took that vision and worked it into lyrics that tell the story of Merino Country from the paddocks, pens, and shearing sheds all the way through to the finished garments we make today.

“Right across this land from the paddocks to the pen
From the boards to the bales, from the fleece to the skin
All Australian made and proud to be
Merino Country, Merino Country

Born in Western Queensland
From the yards and sheds on the stations
Then out through the farm gates
To the hearts and homes of the nation

The real deal, strong and true
Aussie tough, through and through

”Right across this land from the paddocks to the pen
From the boards to the bales, from the fleece to the skin
All Australian made and proud to be
Merino Country, Merino Country

In early September, Mal and I joined Josh and Jason Millhouse from Recordworks to record the song. Watching the Merino Country Song come to life was amazing and the experience of recording in a studio where some really famous people have sung was a pretty special experience. 

Josh encouraged us to get involved too – so you’ll hear a few claps and even some backing vocals from us right at the end of the track (we know why we make Merino clothes and Josh sings and makes music - we won't be getting a call from The Voice, that's for sure!).

For me, hearing the finished version gave me goosebumps. It’s more than just a song - it’s our story, our community, and the wool industry we’re proud to be part of. We’ve been making 100% Australian Merino clothing since 1993, and this song feels like a celebration of everyone who’s been part of that journey. From the farmers and sheep in the paddocks to the machinists in our workshop, and of course, our customers who wear Merino Country every day around the world.

We’ll be sharing the song in our videos, online, and hopefully far and wide. It’s a way to connect people to where their clothing comes from and to remind everyone that Merino is not just a fibre – it’s a story of resilience, quality, and being proudly Australian Made, through and though.