Pete was grateful for this great chance to prove himself and it was the start to a successful farming and mentoring career.
The course consisted of 44 characters from all over the world and, for years afterwards, many remained good friends at reunions.
Pete was bright and made the most of the course, forever delving into issues that might progress the farming world, especially in the sheep industry.
After Lincoln, he did his compulsory military training in the RNZAF and was keen to carry on flying, but the lure of the land came first.
He worked for a couple of stock farmers in the Ashburton area before starting a farm-contracting business near Hororata.
He met Nan while at Lincoln. She was a dietician working in Christchurch Hospital but, after she moved to Taranaki General Hospital, their relationship relied on NZ Post.
Pete made many good decisions in his life and on April 15, 1955, he married Nan - his marriage became the most long-lasting and successful partnership of his life. Times were hard but they stuck through many ups and downs in the farming world.
Pete came north and the couple purchased a farm at Toi Flat towards Weber. In 1963, he bought a nucleus Romney stud from the Buchanan family at Mangaweka, as it suited his requirements. Grahame Williams, from Te Uri, was his first major purchaser, as he saw the uniformity of wool and open face rams he required for his high country farm.
The Toi Flat property was the start to buying other adjacent properties and then Andrew, the Smith's son, purchased a block over the road in the 1980s.
Pete also held many shearing courses for locals, which are still being held today.
All these farms were combined into a very successful sheep and bull beef farm of 1750 acres in 2007, including some forestry planted over the years.
Pete then purchased Crosshills at Pongaroa with Brian, another son, where they trialled an east friesian/polled dorset/cheviot/romney cross - the polydale - which became very successful. After selling Crosshills, he purchased a farm at Mangleton up against the ranges near Kereru, which became his breeding stud farm and is now run by Brian. At Wi Duncan Rd, just south of Dannevirke, he had his home block ram sales centre, which flourished over the years.
Pete joined the rabbit board committee in 1964 and later took over as chairman until it was disbanded. With a high reputation in the sheep industry, he was asked to become the auditor of farms for Richmond Meats, assessing farms all over the East Coast and Rangitikei.
He had a great way of handling non-conforming farmers by slipping them a quiet bit of advice on how to bring woolsheds and yards up to scratch, rather than using the big stick.
As a trustee to Harwood Trust Farms at Weber, he made sure the farm ran well and that many young people going into a various types of agriculture, including the veterinarian fields, were properly sponsored.
Outside the farming world, Pete was a great supporter of St John's Church as well as being one of their organists, where he will be sadly missed. A member of the Rawhiti Lodge, he became Master, as well as Supreme Commander, of the Rose Croix Church Lodge, being their organist. He was also a past president of Dannevirke Rotary and a Paul Harris Fellow for being the longest-serving member of Rotary.
Rose Croix Lodge and Dannevirke Rotary members provided a guard of honour at his funeral.
Pete will be remembered as one of life's real gentlemen, a great mentor to many in the agricultural world, a man with a wicked sense of humour, but above all a wonderful family man. In Nan, he had a great supporter for whatever he did in life and achieved.
The couple brought up five boys, who all have worked hard thanks to Pete's ethics in life. All have been successful in their different spheres of business both at home and abroad.
Pete, who died on May 2, at 81, will be sorely missed by the wider Tararua community and by many friends and colleagues around New Zealand.
- Roly Ellis
