Rural TV show focuses on local area

The camera crew of Country Calendar, one of New Zealand’s best loved rural TV shows, has recently been seen in different parts of our coverage area seeking out material for two shows which are very different in essence, yet typical of the variation in grassroots Kiwi farmers.

The first show aired last Saturday evening centred on Waipu where Lachie McLean runs the family farm on The Braigh milking his herd of Jersey cows probably as a relaxing sideline.

Though educated at Auckland’s Kings College, farming and music were to vie for his affections through the remainder of his working life. He is renowned for his involvement in a number of musical productions not just locally but nationally as well.

Further to these two very different pastimes was the ‘reclaiming’ of family land. Over a hundred years and through different circumstances the smaller farms of old have been subdivided, sold off and used for different purposes.

Lachie is noted for his direction of local musical performances of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Cats but even moreso for the Waipu Grand Pageant depicting the history of Waipu from the landing of the Scots which was first presented in 2003 and again this year.

Recently however, Lachie, together with cousins Grant McLean (who farmed nearby) and Grant’s brother Jack who has developed a penchant for dairying, have formed a three-way partnership, purchased adjoining land that was owned by the McLean forefathers as far back as the 1850s and reunited the family farm to form a single dairy unit.

It’s an interesting story and one which attracted a widespread audience from both a rural and historical aspect.

■ Missed the Lachie McLean Country Calendar feature? See it online and Ondemand at www.tvnz.co.nz/video.

 

The Country Calendar cameras also focus on Dargaville couple Alan and Kim Vuletich, a name synonymous with Dargaville. They have their own 160 acres in the Hoanga district where Alan, pictured, is something of a local hero, well-known for his ability with a handpiece having shorn sheep all over the world (often accompanied by Kim in a rousies role) his ability with handling horses, and his work as stock manager on 4000 acres. Kim’s background is one of dairying, beef, showing cattle and casual milkings in the district though she recently qualified with a Bachelor of Nursing so now has ‘a real job’. Alan, a little rough around the edges and rarely seen without his characteristic black singlet and Stetson, is a no-frills farmer seldom happier than when on horseback, surrounded by his pack of dogs and working a mob of cattle – but there’s even more to the man. Regular watchers of Country Calendar are in for a treat with this show which will air later in the series.