Remembering the ‘mad cowboy’ of Johnsonville
Roy Kellahan grew up in Johnsonville, in an era when it was affectionately known as Cow Town.
In the 1940s and 50s, stock drovers moved sheep and cattle along the main road to the stockyards, many of the youth had horses as their mode of transport, and the main social entertainment was seeing a movie at the Empress Theatre.
Kellahan was born with a passion for horses, and all things Western and Spanish.
At age 10, he surprised his parents by buying his first horse – a lame old mare from the Johnsonville pound, called Betsy.
At 16, Kellahan started his first riding school from his parents’ house in Bannister Ave, and the direction of his future was established. From small beginnings, he developed what was to become a successful trekking and riding school based in Ohariu Valley.
With the help of four friends, Kellahan built the recreational Spanish-themed Country Club.
It featured two restaurants, tennis courts, a swimming pool, boardroom, billiard room, squash court, sauna, wine cellar and, of course, horse trekking.
Childhood friend Rodney Scanlan said Kellahan was a character.
‘‘His achievements are the result of hard work, the ability to take risks and being willing to face any challenge thrown at him.
‘‘Rarely has anyone packed so much into their life.’’
He was regarded as a gentleman with a highly developed sense of fun and a strong dislike for injustice, bureaucrats and gorse – a good Kiwi with a mix of culture and a bit of mad cowboy thrown in.
In 2020, Kellahan married his partner of 40 years, Marguerite Smith. Four years earlier, he was diagnosed with a rare aggressive form of lymphoma.
As well as the wedding, the couple had another cause to celebrate – after 10 years they published his autobiography, A Long Ride from Johnsonville.
Marriage proved a good tonic for Kellahan, who rallied and lived another 20 months.
He is survived by Marguerite, his four children and four grandchildren.
By Marguerite Kellahan, with additional reporting from Nicholas Boyack.