Chapter 12 - Final Thoughts

I believe I became aware of it in my days in the Arno Young Farmers’ Club when my father, Cecil Wright, was the Senior Advisory member. A club member might suggest something and Dad would come up with an alternative approach which he presented in such a logical way we, the YFC members, had to ask ourselves why we did not think of that.

At Lincoln College our two main lectures were Albie Flay and Dick Bevan, themselves graduates of Lincoln who, after graduation, worked for the Department of Agricultural in Tasmania. The farmers over there had a negative view of farming and needed to be re-educated and given a positive outlook and to change up from the despondent out look on farming because of the dry summers.

Much of our class work at Lincoln, notably in the final year, involved visiting various farms within two hours drive of the College, besides tours of the North Island and south of Timaru, going south as far as Invercargill, as well as a number of days in the high country in the Waimakariri River Valley.

So often there were problems not obvious to the casual observer and if we missed them it was a negative mark against us. We never took anything for granted and it was a stock joke that I would casually ask “what is peculiar about this farm?” I suppose it was because of my philosophy that I would always look for alternative management methods. That outlook has carried on through my life, together with the inclination to distrust many of my seniors even if they are so-called “pillars of society” and regardless of their seniority or acceptance by the general public.

A very good example of this outlook at a higher level has been recently recorded in the Sunday Star Times of 30 December 2007. Simon Botherway, a shareholder in Fletcher Challenge, had the apparent audacity to challenge the Chairman, Bill Wilson, when he asserted at the AGM of Fletcher Challenge that the company was in a robust state. Mr. Botherway is now on several Boards and has founded his own watch dog company Brooks Investments.

Having read books by Earl Nightingale, Dale Carnegie and the Life of Henry Ford, I have been impressed by their philosophy “Always Be Positive” – and no doubt some of that brushed off on me.

The Crafar family, who now own 24,000 dairy cows on at least 14 farms, as well as eight supporting dry stock units, acknowledge my input in getting them started. Also David Pritchard, Managing Director of the Pritchard Group a major development company operating throughout NZ and in Australia, openly acknowledges that I am the man that got them started by virtue of the valuations early in the establishment of their business at Otaki.

I will be forever grateful to those many clients, employees, class mates, neighbours, contemporaries and members of the community with whom I have made friends and still call them friends. I also sincerely thank those people who had faith in me and guided me on the Rural Field Cadet Course which, in turn, led me into such diverse employment. I regret that they are not here today to personally receive my thanks.

I thank Heather for becoming my wife, so many years ago now. She has stood by me in all my vicissitudes and has always been there for me and our two sons Gregory and Fraser. They have earned my love and thanks.

When I thought of the idea of writing a book I really had no idea what it would entail. One memory would lead to another and yet another, it was difficult to know when to stop. Sometimes it was hard to sort the memories out and I now know the value of keeping diaries. But the end has been reached and I hope that everyone who reads this book enjoys it as much as I have enjoyed writing it.

May your God go with you.

Bless you all.

William R Wright

122 Winchester Street

LEVIN

June 2009

LETTER TO GOD

Dear God

I had the urge a book to write

About the life of William Wright

I started it aged eighty one

And really didn’t get much done

I found I had lots and lots to do

When I reached the age of eighty two

I bravely wrote of farms and trees

And suddenly found I was eighty three

The book is finished, but I am sure

I will be able to write more at eighty four

Dear Lord, I hope that I am still alive

And you will let me enjoy being eighty five

And I am sure there will be things to fix

When I reach eighty six

I know it is wonderful up there in heaven

But could I stay here until I’m eighty seven?

I agree I shall get slow and always be late

But I know I would enjoy being eighty eight

We all would be happy and it would be fine

If I were to stay here until eighty nine

Yes Lord, I know I am pushing my luck but it would be mighty

If you gave me the Call on the day I am Ninety.