Vet bows out after 39 years

Wairarapa's own version of legendary television vet James Herriot is calling it a day, after 39 years doing what he loves best, caring for the health and welfare of all creatures great and small.

Rodger Gillett, senior partner of South Wairarapa Veterinary Services, has celebrated his 70th birthday and when the work day ends tomorrow he is heading home to stay.

Mr Gillett is a household name on farms, lifestyle blocks and racetracks throughout Wairarapa, but true to his word, uttered five years ago to the day, is now quitting to pursue other things, especially travel.

"I told my workmates exactly five years ago that I would retire on December 23, 2011, and that's what I am doing."

Mr Gillett has measured his time as a vet in Featherston not in years but in calving seasons.

"I have put in 39 calving seasons here and I have worked with four generations of some families like the Donald family in Ashby's Road," he said.

"I was Bruce Donald's vet, then Alan's then Selwyn's and now Hayden and Mark's."

Originally from the South Island, Mr Gillett holds double degrees and was 27 before he entered the workforce.

He worked for five years as a government vet before coming to Wairarapa.

He worked with vets such as Jack Wedderburn, a big, hefty man who was regarded as pretty rough and ready but who, nevertheless, was a very good vet who could "save the life of a kitten by caring for it gently."

Mr Gillett said by the nature of their work vets see some wonderful things and some terrible things.

The downside to the job was seeing the distress of owners when animals died but likewise the joy was in being able to bring animals back to health.

As a farm vet call-outs are really "just going to see your mates".

"That is one of the best parts of the job. People round the district get to know your vehicle and wave out to you as you go past."

Mr Gillett said he loved working with horses and for many years he has also been racing vet doing swabbing for three racing clubs: Wairarapa Racing Club, Masterton Racing Club, Wellington Racing Club.

One of his most memorable jobs was when he was called on to castrate a huge boar on a property in the Hutt Valley. Upon arrival he found there were no facilities to bail up the pig and do the deed, and there was precious little chance he could capture the boar by chasing it around the orchard block it was roaming in, then hold it down while he earned his money.

Two very large women came to the rescue.

"It was about the time that Aussie Steve Irwin was on television grabbing hold of crocodiles.

"Well, one of the women put down some scraps and then she leapt on the pig.

"The other one then rushed in and leapt on its back end and they held it down while I castrated it."

Mr Gillett said for years he had regularly worked 12- or 13-hour days but come Saturday morning that will all be over.

He is not going to even try to keep his hand in.

Mr Gillett lives in Greytown with his partner, Geraldine, and her two pets Paddy the dog and Mitzy the cat.

Of them all, Paddy is probably in for the biggest shock when retirement comes about as he is Mr Gillett's right-hand man.

As soon as Mr Gillett is called out Paddy bolts for the vehicle. He loves being a vet's assistant and how he will settle to being in retirement remains to be seen.