Waitahuna brothers Murray and Willis Paterson run a busy farming operation on a property called Ayrdene, but their work has not stopped them from being heavily involved in many organisations around their community and beyond.
The Paterson brothers were nominated for Year of the Farmer for the work they have done in their community.
The nomination states: “Murray is the chair of many organisations, he has spent 15 years developing and leading cycle trail construction from Roxburgh to Waihola, and has contributed more than 30 years to the Lions Club and the Waitahuna Volunteer Fire brigade.
"Willis has been everything rugby; A life member of the Lawrence Rugby Club, chair of Otago Country Rugby Board and he is also involved in the New Zealand Century Farms."
Ayrdene, a sheep, beef and deer property, was bought by the brothers’ father, Sandy Paterson, in 1951.
The farm is 1000ha of flat and rolling paddock country which runs 5500 ewes, 80 cattle and 500 hinds and finishing stock.
Both brothers are humble and it is clear neither is comfortable talking up their farming enterprise.
They have been working on the genetics of the ewe flock to improve performance and now run a predominantly Romney flock with “a flick" of Perendale Texel through them. They also lamb 800-odd hoggets with results “anything between a disaster and OK", Murray said.
While some brothers would prefer to go it alone and may opt to split the home farm into two, Willis says the duo have “just got on with it".
Good communication has been key, and each brother has a natural affinity to different aspects of the operation.
“I am more involved in the stock side of things and Murray oversees anything to do with machinery and agronomy.
"I suppose having quite different personalities works in our favour," he said.
Getting involved in organisations off-farm, both brothers agree it has been important to have their own passions and areas of focus.
For Murray, being the chairman of various community organisations over the years, he has learnt how to get the best out of people to see that things get done.
“I guess it’s about targeting people’s strengths. Everyone has got them so it’s knowing what they are."
He has been involved in the creation of the Clutha Gold Trail. The cycle trail goes from Roxburgh to Lawrence and has very recently been extended to Waihola.
The creation of the cycle trail has at times been all-consuming for Murray and he is pleased to see the final section to Waihola complete.
He hopes in time it will bring further economic benefits to his community like the Otago Central Rail Trail has done for the small, rural townships dotted along that trail.
“There are new hospitality and tourism opportunities here now, which didn’t exist before but setting them up doesn’t happen overnight. It will take time," he said.
Experiencing a bad car accident when he was young, Willis suffered a head injury which prevented him from getting serious about playing rugby.
“It was a bit of a wake-up call. I was 18 and full of intelligence as all young ones think they are."
The accident did not keep him from the game altogether and he has spent his adult life heavily involved in rugby governance and coaching.
He has been the president of the Lawrence Rugby Club and enjoyed coaching the Lawrence senior team to several wins. He has also coached representative age-group teams and spent time as the chairman on the board for Otago Country.
As far as highlights go, there have been many and it is hard for Willis to single out just one.
“Just the people I have met along the way and seeing players progress in their own game. That would be what I have enjoyed the most," he said. — Alice Scott
