29,200 copies distributed monthly – to every rural mailbox in Canterbury and the West Coast.
INSIDE Page 3
Test to aid in manuka quality assurance Page 8–9
Former city boy wins
Page 16–17
Pioneering power scheme
CONTACT US Canterbury Farming 03 347 2314
June 2014
Canterbury farming identity honoured by Queen by Kelly M. Phillips
An urgent phone message from the Prime Minister’s office left Douglas Archbold wondering if something had gone wrong. The call turned out to be good news instead. He and his wife Jill had just returned from a two month cruise around Africa and they were greeted with the news that he had been nominated for a Queen’s Service Medal for services to farming and the community. Mr Archbold has spent most of his life being involved in charities and organisations meant to help farmers communicate with the government. Two congratulatory letters arrived from both Prime Minister John Key and Governor-General Sir Jerry Mateparae. “I don’t know who promoted me but whoever it was, I’m over the moon,” he said. He grew up on a 730 ha sheep and beef farm near Cheviot. The location was isolated and he began school through a correspondence course. He said he was so overwhelmed when he finally started public school that he burst into tears upon seeing the other children. The shyness later faded and Mr Archbold said he loves meeting new people and sharing stories. He attended Christchurch Boys’ High School
as a boarder and was mentored by Sir John Graham who taught at the school. After high school he returned to work at the family farm, later completing courses in dispute resolution at Massey University which he credited with helping him work with farmers. His community service began in Cheviot when he joined Young Farmers and became involved in local sports clubs and civic activities. He was president of the local golf club, played rugby for the town league, served as treasurer at the Anglican church, and was the region’s representative for Federated Farmers. He said he took inspiration from his father who had been president of the local A&P Association and chairman of the school committee and his mother who helped found the Cheviot Museum. His deep family connection to the town dated back to his great-grandfather, John Sinclair who settled there in 1865. He stood to represent North Canterbury Sheep and Wool at a time when lamb prices were low and the beef industry was struggling. In 1992 he was elected to the Hurunui district council and he remained active in the farming
community until a farming accident in 1999 left him with a broken neck and a conviction that his days of farming were over. By that time, his son had become a successful architect and his daughter was a practising veterinarian and actuary which meant there was no one to take over the farm. Within the next two years he sold the farm and settled in Christchurch with his wife. He described the transition from the farm to town as extremely emotional. “I was 57 years old and I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do with myself,” he said. “I worked at building apartments and went from being self-employed to taking orders.” In no time however, he found new ways of helping others. He volunteered with the Red Cross, joined the Riccarton Community Watch, helped fellow members of the Old Boys’ Rugby Club mark the fields at Hagley Park and became a Rotarian. He is also actively serving as chairperson of the North Canterbury Rural Support Trust and recently joined the Dairy Farmer Wellness and Wellbeing Programme which focusses on reducing stress and building
Mr Archbold is surrounded by family portraits and certificates of recognition for his volunteer work
support networks for dairy farmers. After years of concerning himself with the wellbeing of others, Mr Archbold has finally received his own thank
StructureWise DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION You may not want to hang a tractor from your shed, but it would be nice to know you can! TM
• • • •
Commercial, rural or storage buildings From design to completion or supplied (Kitset) Steel, timber or concrete materials Sustainable materials, made in NZ
Station Street, Leeston / www.structurewise.co.nz / Ph 03 324 3392
you from the community he serves. Later this year he will receive his Queen’s Service Medal at an investiture ceremony in Wellington.