‘‘I've never been a ‘yes' man and I'm not going to start at my time of life,'' former Gore District councillor Fred Sutherland said, reflecting on his three consecutive terms on council, before his ‘‘surprise'' loss at last year's local body elections.
The Ensign caught up with Mr Sutherland and his wife Judith at their home in McNab recently, to see how he has adapted to his semi-retirement.
‘‘I was a bit surprised to get ousted, but I probably took the rap for all the in-fighting that had gone on during the last term of council,'' he said.
Mr Sutherland said he was not one to look backwards and he had moved on from the divisiveness of that particular council.
‘‘What it did do was free me up to do more things for myself and others.
‘‘A lot of people don't realise just how much time council takes up - on average I would have attended 100 council related meetings a year.''
Mr Sutherland admitted to missing the community organisations that his time as a councillor brought him into contact with.
‘‘I got involved with the Historic Society through council which I thoroughly enjoyed.''
Since missing out on re-election last October he said he had managed to keep himself ‘‘pretty busy''.
‘‘I'm treasurer of the local Foundation for the Blind, secretary/treasurer of the Eastern Greenkeepers' Association [outdoor bowls] and just recently I've been asked to serve on the Waipahi Area Stock Water Scheme Committee.''
‘‘We still own some land up that way,'' Mr Sutherland said.
At 74 years of age, Mr Sutherland said it was important for him to keep busy.
‘‘I was a farmer before I was anything else and farmers have to be handy. I'm a very practical person and I think that's what I brought to the council table - a practical bent.''
‘‘That and the finger - look out if I get the finger out and start waving it - that means I'm serious,'' he said.
He said he ‘‘thoroughly approved'' of the new Youth Council.
‘‘It will be a great training area for the young people of the district although they will always have the problem of continuity with the young ones turning over every year.
‘‘It's great they are giving it a go though.''
With family spread all over New Zealand as well as Australia and England, some of Mr Sutherland's semiretirement has been spent visiting his 11 grand-children.
‘‘I get to spend more time with them, which is fantastic.
‘‘I also get more time to tinker around the property, which is my passion,'' he said.
The couple live on two hectares at McNab, where they run 20 sheep.
‘‘They all have names and they come when I call,'' he said.
Well known around the district as a bit of a ‘‘Frank Sinatra'', Mr Sutherland and wife Judith regularly visit rest homes in the Gore district and perform for the residents.
‘‘Judith and I complement each other well.
‘‘She also plays in a dance band, which performs regularly at functions,'' he said.
Mrs Sutherland said having Mr Sutherland at home more was a mixed blessing at times.
‘‘I do get more jobs done around the property - sometimes,'' she said.
Along with bowls, golf and an interest in horse racing, Mr Sutherland said their lives were very full.
He said he had started his life in Gore and he intended to finish it here, enjoying it to the full.
‘‘Life is an occasion - you only get one shot at it so the more you put into it the more you get out of it.
‘‘You can only fool one person in this world . . . yourself,'' Mr Sutherland said.
