After only 18 months of shearing, young Tyron Cochrane from Goodooga has triumphed in the Golden Shears competition in New Zealand.

This is the first time the title has been taken by an Australian since 1961, and possibly the first at international level by an Australian First Nation Aboriginal representative, anywhere.

The 18 year old's junior title makes him the toast of Brewarrina Shire, home of the Yuwaalaraay people.

Tyron's trip to NZ was made possible by Dubbo's Regional Enterprise Development Institute (REDi,) who promote career pathways and economic development, particularly to Indigenous people.

REDi brought a small team to the Golden Shears to get a first-hand feel of shearing sports competitions in New Zealand.

Prior to this, Mr Cochrane had barely travelled further afield than from Goodooga to Dubbo. He has been working for well-known western plains shearing contractor, Steve Mudford.

Mr Cochrane and two others competed in shearing sports for the first time at Taihape on January 28. In the lead up, he had been shearing in New Zealand for Masterton contractor Paddy Mason.

Despite the comparative lesser familiarity of the New Zealand breeds, after shearing mainly fine-wooled merinos in Australia, Mr Cochrane qualified for a final for the first time six days later and finished sixth at the North Island championships in Marton on February 4.

He was then third at the Aria Waitangi Day Sports on February 6, fifth at the Southern Shears at Gore, in the South Island on February 18 and again at the Taumarunui Shears back in the Central North Island on February 14 and the Apiti Sports Shears the next day.

All these competitions were won by shearers that Mr Cochrane met in last week's final.

Taught by his dad, Terry, who was also a shearer, Mr Cochrane says he never imagined a win in the sport let alone at the Golden Shears.

REDi deputy chief executive Michael Cooper said Mr Cochrane "hopes the win will inspire other young Australians into shearing, particularly those of the Aboriginal community at home at Goodooga, where he has three sisters."

Mr Cooper said for Mr Cochrane to have qualified for the final was a major achievement on what was a venture designed to give young hopefuls the experience, and be the trailblazers for their contemporaries.

“To win was the cherry on the top,” he said.

Full results of the Golden Shears Junior shearing final:

• Tyron Cochrane (Goodooga NSW) 7min 16.889sec, 27.044pts, 1;
• Jake Goldsbury (Waitotara) 6min 30.912sec, 29.746pts, 2;
• Cody Waihape (Gore) 8min 46.864sec, 31.543pts, 3;
• Emma Martin (Gore) 9min 10.982sec, 32.749pts, 4;
• Dan Rogers (Raetihi) 8min 39.114sec, 32.756pts, 5;
• Ryka Swan (Wairoa) 7min 43.711sec, 33.586pts