After eight years advocating for his community, fourth-generation Cardrona Valley farmer John Scurr has stepped down as chairman of the Cardrona Residents and Ratepayers Society, a term which has brought its share of triumphs and frustrations and left him with a sense of "unfinished business".
At last weekend's society AGM, the inaugural chairman urged the Cardrona Valley community to continue with its "working for the common purpose culture" in fostering local development.
Mr Scurr's objective was always to drive development in the valley and one of the highlights of his chairmanship had been "working with the people that have great vision and entrepreneurial spirit and that want to see some growth in Cardrona.
"There's a tremendous amount of scope [in Cardrona] and I think it's fantastic that there's investors that see that opportunity as well and that we support their continued enthusiasm."
However, not all his goals as chairman were accomplished, he said.
"I would liked to have thought ... we would be further ahead with investment in the Cardrona Valley, but it will come.
"I would dearly love to be entering Cardrona in 10 years' time and seeing that progress."
He also hoped for a resolution soon on the valley's wastewater systems and the realisation of more ambitious proposals such as gondolas - linked by monorail - connecting the skifields to the Cardrona village.
"If you're not having that off-the-wall thinking and discussion, you're not going anywhere."
Despite the many and varied rewards of the chairman's role, it was not without its down-side.
Losing Cardrona's "iconic" bra fence through "silly local politics" was a definite low point of Mr Scurr's leadership.
"That knocked us around a little bit, because ... the humorous, light-hearted part of the town was gone."
He had become "excessively frustrated" over the years dealing with people who did not have a vision for a growth strategy.
"But you must deal with everyone at the same level and I hope that's been one of my skills. I've felt my role has been about keeping the Cardrona people ... working together on the issues and working alongside the people who are wanting to invest in Cardrona."
Mr Scurr reluctantly sold his own Cardrona Valley property, which had been in the family since 1941, three years ago, after growing tired of "having to deal with bureaucracy in order to set my own family up".
Sam Lee, son of Cardrona Valley entrepreneurs John and Mary, has been elected chairman of the association, a move applauded by Mr Scurr.
"It's time to let the younger generation show their leadership and express their own passions and interests and skills within the community . . . I think it's in very capable hands with Sam Lee."
Mr Lee also praised John Scurr's "rejuvenation" of the Cardrona Valley over the past few decades.
"What he's done for tourism in the district through his own vision and determination ... I've got a huge amount of respect for the leadership and drive and tenacity of John along with the other people who have supported him."
After signing off on his chairman duties, Mr Scurr feels ready to concentrate on his new life in Richmond, where he and wife Anne have been living part-time for the past three years.
"Cardrona will always be home to me. My roots are here and I'll always be coming here, but we just have to take some space from it for a while and just let the air around us clear and come back with some fresh thoughts."
