Rural hero modest downtoearth bloke
Rural stalwart
ROBIN KAIN, known as ‘‘Lofty’’, was typical of anyone credited with heroism — he did not see himself that way.
On July 9, 1959, heroism was something foisted upon him when he and two other shepherds from Beaumont Station, near Millers Flat, rescued six men from two separate plane crashes in the Lammerlaw Ranges.
At the time, Mr Kain was the manager of Beaumont Station, and he and the two other musterers rode on horseback to rescue what they believed were three survivors of a single aircraft that went down in a blizzard.
Little did they know another aircraft with three others on board, two staff from the
Evening Star Company and the pilot, also crashed while trying to report on the first crash.
Son Peter ‘‘Jock’’ Kain said his father was a gentle, humble and saltoftheearth type, who would never consider himself a hero.
Thomas Robin Douglas Kain was born in 1932 and raised at Longslip Station, Omarama.
Mr Kain would take over management of the 10,100ha
Ben Nevis Station at the age of 19 in 1951 before taking over the management of the 29,000ha Beaumont Station five years later. He managed both for his uncles.
He married Phyllis McNamara, better known as Phyl, in Cromwell on January
29, 1954.
In 1967, he bought part of Beaumont Station at Island Block, and the 1400ha was named Spylaw Hill where he lived with his wife, three sons and two daughters.
He remained there until 1986, when he bought 200ha at Millers Flat.
In 2005, he retired with Phyl to Waihola, where he lived until 2017 before moving, following his wife’s death, to live a cottage at son Jock’s home in Milton.
He remained very active in his later years, Jock Kain said.
‘‘He was 83 when he shore his last sheep.’’
Suffering ill heath in his final years, visits to his former stomping grounds brought him back to life as he was warmly welcomed by locals, Jock Kain said.
Daughter Debbie van de
Water said community was very important to her father.
‘‘He was in most clubs and committees in the Millers Flat area.
‘‘He worked tirelessly in his farming life and was a highly respected farmer.’’
He was a friend to many, she said.
‘‘A true good bloke.’’
Mr Kain died on October 14, aged 86.
He is survived by his five children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
— Jared Morgan