Life was for living, on field and off
BERT Haig was a member of a sporting family from South Otago that reached lofty heights in their chosen field.
Younger brother to Bill, a Plunket Shield cricketer, Laurie and Jimmy, both All Blacks, and elder brother to Iris, netball player, there was more to Bert than his deeds with the oval ball. He possessed great drive, enjoyed people and was liked and respected by the many he came into contact with.
He died a few days before Christmas last year, aged 89.
Mr Haig was a fine footballer and came very close to being the third member of his family to become an All Black. In 1951, he played in the South Island trial at Lancaster Park, coming on as a replacement at halfback, his preferred position. He then went to the main national trial at Athletic Park in Wellington and again came on as replacement for the Probables side. But unfortunately he missed out, with others preferred.
He was naturally disappointed but he just got on with it and continued to play well for Otago.
That was his way in life — any setback was only temporary and life was for living.
Mr Haig was born in Dunedin on January 23, 1927, the youngest of four boys; Iris, their younger sister, would come along seven years later.
Parents James and Jane Haig had only just arrived as new settlers from Scotland and the family of Bill, Laurie, Jimmy and Bert lived for a short time in Green Island before moving south to Kaitangata.
The children went to Kaitangata Primary School but left when they were 12 to work in the coal mine.
Coal mining was hard graft with a pick and shovel and the Haig boys worked hard. They earned about £12 a week, £11 of which was given to their mother for board and other costs.
As teenagers, Bert and Jimmy teamed up to set a record for the fastest filling of a coal truck with banjo shovels. Having accomplished that, they approached the manager and asked for adult wages, but the manager thought they were troublemakers and redirected them to the lowest part of the mine.
Mr Haig and his brothers continued to better themselves. Bert took a bookkeeping course and at age 18 moved to Dunedin, where he worked for G& T Young Jewellers and started playing rugby for the Dunedin Club.
He was a not a Catholic but said he played for the club because he ‘‘liked the concept of being able to ask for forgiveness of one’s sins, knowing one could then start again with a clean slate the next week’’.
Mr Haig made his debut for Otago in 1948 and helped the Dunedin Club win its first banner in 1951, beating University A to clinch the title.
Mr Haig played regularly for Otago from 195053 and then came back into the side in 1956. A tough, tenacious halfback who liked to probe the blindside, Mr Haig was a valuable member of an Otago side that was going through a transition following the great Ranfurly Shield era after World War 2.
Mr Haig played 37 games for Otago and played for the Crescent and Lawrence clubs as well as Dunedin.
He married Valma Murray on June 4, 1953 at the Anglican church in Milton.
He had by then become a stock agent. He and his wife moved to Lawrence where they lived in Anthem House.
Mr Haig also took on the role of playercoach at the Lawrence Rugby Club.
He was an enthusiastic coach and the family enjoyed happy years in Lawrence. In 1962 the couple, along with children Murray and Vivien, moved to Mosgiel, where Mr Haig was appointed rural land agent with Wright Stephenson.
He sold farms and covered all of Otago. The ability to get on with people and having time for them was his trademark and he got to know people from all parts of Otago.
Mr Haig was still an avid follower of rugby and when the Sassenachs Club started up in 1973 he was heavily involved.
He was a member of the 25th jubilee committee and was a keen driver of the club. He attended many meetings and was close friends with Ray Bell and Tuppy Diack, other founding members.
Messrs Bell, Diack and Haig were the first three to be acknowledged as life members in 2003, closely followed by former test referee Cliff McAuley the following year.
One Sassenachs issue he felt strongly about was the gold blazer. Many did not like the colour, but Mr Haig was an ardent supporter. As Otago representative blazers were blue, Mr Haig advocated the alternative gold and said it was distinctive.
Over time, a blue blazer became acceptable but, time after time, Mr Haig fought for the gold blazer to be the club’s main one. Eventually it was acknowledged as the unique point of difference for a Sassenachs Club member in the club’s minutes in 2013.
Mr Haig regularly attended Carisbrook when Otago was playing and he loved to travel around the rural areas in his Sassenachs role and get into the grass roots of the game.
An active member of Taieri Bowling Club for years, he also enjoyed watching and following Taieri rugby teams.
He is survived by his son, Murray, and daughter, Vivien, and three grandchildren. — contributed/Steve Hepburn