Rugby, rams and reflections
A former Manawatu¯ rugby player has been lauded for his life of accomplishments off the rugby paddock.
Kevin Nesdale holds the record for playing 63 consecutive 80-minute games for Manawatu¯ but it is his global success in another field that was celebrated at a community awards ceremony on Thursday.
Nesdale, also known as KJ, became the largest ram breeder in New Zealand and genetics from his Kimbolton farm are sold around the world.
Born into a family with seven brothers, Nesdale says he could just about shear a sheep before he could walk.
Also mad on rugby, Nesdale served a 14-year apprenticeship as a front row res- erve to his brother before playing for Manawatu¯ in the 1960s and overtaking his record of consecutive 80-minute games.
Nesdale was stunned by the Turbos latest triumph over Canterbury but believed the team had the right mix of youth and experience to make a lateseason resurgence.
‘‘That was marvellous,’’ he said of the Manawatu¯ ’s 32-29 victory in Christchurch on Thursday night.
‘‘The Turbos have done some marvellous things on occasions and they are very capable.’’
On the farm, Nesdale’s cheviots are known as a dual purpose sheep and could be crossed with any breed.
Lambs are born small, have rapid growth rates and mature quickly.
This means they are great for breeding with young yearling ewes, called hoggets, which were lambing for the first time.
Nesdale also created the moorfield cheviot, best known for withstanding high, cold hill country, alongside their perendale breed.
Nesdale served nine terms on the Kiwitea County Council and says, even at 88, he can’t get away from the farm.
‘‘I can only say I have found no better place to go. I have been very happy here.’’
While on the council, Nesdale created the Kiwitea water scheme, which is still pumping gravity fed water to about 25,000 hectares of farmland.
It was the first system of its kind in the North Island and it took 12 years to lay the pipelines.
Also recognised at the Manawatu¯ District Council awards were Feilding rotarian David Young, former councillor Margaret Giles and Rongotea Lions Club stalwart Barry Bowler.
Bowler has missed one meeting in his 44 years with the club.
He also mows the lawns around the Rangiotu Hall and the church at his own expense.
Giles served two terms and became known as the ‘‘toilet councillor’’ after successfully advocating for the installation of public toilets at Sanson and at Himatangi Beach.
Former accountant David Young has lived in Feilding his entire life and has been a member of Feilding Rotary for more than 30 years.