History of club entwined with district

Collaborators in writing the history of the Waimate Sheep Dog Trial Club, Judith Hayward and John...
Collaborators in writing the history of the Waimate Sheep Dog Trial Club, Judith Hayward and John Foley, are 'delighted' with the finished publication. Photo by Sally Brooker.
The Waimate Sheep Dog Trial Club is the proud owner of its own glossy centennial history.

A book that took four years to complete was launched in the South Canterbury town last week. The event was attended by members, supporters and dignitaries, including Waimate District Mayor John Coles, in one of his last official functions before standing down.

Author and local historian John Foley made sure the book would appeal to more than just dog triallists, by chronicling the club's activities against developments in the district. Hence the title: A Noble Pursuit - The Centennial History if the Waimate Sheep Dog Trial Club 1912-2012 and the Story of the Waimate District.

Mr Foley said it was ''a wonderful privilege'' to work in collaboration with South Canterbury farmer Judith Hayward, both of whose grandfathers were founding members of the club.

While Mr Foley concentrated on the historical context, Mrs Hayward focused on the trial results and dog lineages. She also had access to a large collection of family photos with which to help illustrate the book.

It is her first published volume, although she compiled a family history about 10 years ago.

''It got me hooked. Look what you can do with a computer and a good printer.''

Both authors said they were ''delighted'' with the book.

''It's very satisfying to achieve something that places prestige on the club and brings together the history of the Waimate District,'' Mr Foley said.

Having ''a great interest in sheepdogs'', he had been eager to ''take the opportunity to pay tribute and do honour to the early generations that maintained the club over 100 years and developed the district to what it was''.

Book committee chairman Kerry Swann acknowledged the people who had contributed to the project, for which monthly meetings were held at club life member Roderick Hamilton's home.

Guest speaker William Rolleston, whose great-great-grandfather was the Levels farmer from whom notorious rustler James Mackenzie stole 500 ewes, said the book was a fitting tribute to Mr Foley and the committee.

Although there have been ''enormous changes'' in technology associated with farming, the sheepdog has not been replaced because ''we haven't discovered anything better'', Dr Rolleston said.

The book portrayed the bond between dog and owner, ''set to the backdrop of the ebb and flow of Waimate's fortunes''.

It also depicted the characters connected to the club, including ''the McRae dynasty'', whose ''almost unbroken line of contributions to the club for 101 years'' epitomised its existence, he said.

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