I'd like to pay tribute to All Black #563 Robin Archer who passed away recently at the age of 87.
Robin was a family friend and possessed one of the sharpest business and sporting brains I've ever had the pleasure of conversing with. Smart enough to graduate from Otago University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in Mathematics, Robin made his fortune in the family building business.
He told me many years later the key to his success in the building business was not due to any prowess on the end of a hammer, rather it was his ability to price major projects more quickly and more accurately than his competitors, thanks to his mathematical bent.
He played two tests against Australia in 1955 and two against the mighty Springboks in 1956, in arguably the greatest test series of all time. His final test match (though he went on to play another nine games for the All Blacks in 1957) was the infamous '56 third test against South Africa at Lancaster Park.
The test was notorious because of Kevin Skinner and notable because of Don Clarke. The former New Zealand heavyweight boxing champion Skinner famously sorted out the menacing Springbok prop forwards, Koch and Bekker, while DB Clarke kicked the big goals when they counted.
My father raised me on boyhood stories of the pugilist legend of Kevin Skinner and the mighty boot of DB Clarke. So when I got to know Robin several years later, it was natural the conversation turned to a test series that took place three years before I was born.
I'll always treasure the memory of spending an evening sitting alongside Robin Archer at a basketball dinner and reliving every moment of a rugby game I've had a life-long fascination for.
His eldest daughter Susan, wrote the following in her obituary:
"Arguably, Robin's finest moments came in the Southland jersey he wore 91 times, including as the captain of the disciplined, tightly knit team that defied all expectations to lift the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki in 1959.
Robin was named Southland's Sportsman of the Year in 1961, but his first-class rugby career was not yet finished. Five years later, at the age of 35 and after deciding to play on for the sake of his beloved brother Wattie, by then suffering motor neurone disease, Robin was the outstanding general of the Southland side which stunned the touring 1966 British Lions side in their opening match with a 14-8 victory."
If I'm honest I always had a soft spot for Robin Archer because he once selected me to play fullback in the 1984 Southland Country side. And if I'm equally honest, he only picked me because Brent McKenzie, father of current All Blacks whizz kid Damian and himself a Junior All Black, was unavailable for selection.
Speaking of 1984, it was a memorable year. George Orwell definitely got it wrong in his futuristic novel of the same name. Not only did a former All Black and hero of mine pick me in his footy team, I also bought my first farm, at the tender age of just 24 years.
It was a lesson in learning how to grow up quickly, stand on my own two feet, work hard and run a business. It stood me in good stead for later business ventures.
Eight years later in 1992 I sold that farm when the (then) Rural Bank turned me down for a $90,000 loan to buy a neigbouring 40 hectares. They probably did me a favour because I fell into radio, admittedly more by accident than design.
It was bitter-sweet leaving farming behind. My fondest memory was the after-party of the clearing sale. Four great farming mates and neighbours – Billy Mackay, Rohan Horrell, Barney Blakely and Maurice Fisken – were the last men standing.
I write this column on the eve of heading down to Southland for my cousin Billy's clearing sale. He helped me in 1992. Twenty six years later, I'm repaying the favour.
He's the last remaining Mackay farming at Kaweku, sitting between the Hokonui Hills and Riversdale, and his departure to Queenstown closes the chapter on three generations and more than 100 years of our clan farming in the district.
The 1980s were the toughest business years of my life but I look back - probably through rose-tinted glasses - with great fondness at farming alongside Billy, my younger brother Don and older cousin Kev.
Sadly, the latter two are no longer with us. I miss them terribly. Those were our young years. Our wings were flying in the sun [Dragon 1989].