Linchpin of her rural community
EVERY rural community needs a Sue Hore.
The muchloved and respected doyenne of both Stonehenge and the wider Maniototo community epitomised all that is good about heartland New Zealand.
Hardworking, capable, unassuming and blessed with an extraordinary community spirit, she was the ‘‘glue’’ in both her own family and her community.
The outpouring of sympathy — and the massive attendance at the service at Patearoa to celebrate her life — was unprecedented as the Maniototo mourned her sudden death on November 3.
Son Charlie described the response — from both the local community and afar — to such an unexpected loss as ‘‘completely overwhelming’’ and testament to the woman that she was.
Born Suzanne Joan Lake on March 15, 1952, the eldest of farming couple Keith and the late Joan Lake’s five children, she started school at Milton, later moving to Mosgiel then Millers Flat, where she finished her primary education.
After four years boarding at Columba College in Dunedin, she worked at Roxburgh Health Camp before being accepted into Dunedin Public Hospital general nursing training.
She learned she had passed her state nursing examinations on the day she married Jim Hore in Dunedin in July 1972.
The pair met at a rodeo dance at Millers Flat the previous year when Mr Hore was working at Beaumont Station.
Mr Hore’s recollection of the wedding was succinct, as always: the bride was late, the weather was poor and it was also the day the Government agreed to freehold Stonehenge for $69,000.
Charlie recalled his mother was ‘‘in her element’’ as a nurse — ‘‘her genuine empathy and ability to relate and care for anybody shone through’’ — and she also worked for a short time at Maniototo Hospital.
But her main career was that of farmer’s wife, as the newlyweds settled into married life at Stonehenge as thirdgeneration farmers, developing it further into a well respected and successful largescale sheep and beef operation and putting their own stamp on it as each consecutive generation of the Hore family had.
She thrived in that role; she loved to feed people — cooking, preserving and baking — and tended a large and colourful garden.
Her days were filled with chores, a telephone that never stopped ringing, constant interruptions from visitors, orders being barked, and the neverending task of feeding hungry men.
‘‘While Dad worked the stock and the land, the success of Stonehenge would not have been without the hard work of Mum in supporting the running of the farm, ensuring every worker was fed, records were kept, bills were paid, every lamb, calf or hen was fed, any visitors were fed also and anyone requiring a bed offered one,’’ Charlie said.
Family life was a priority in those early years, but tragedy struck with the deaths of their first two children, Megan and James, who both lived short lives.
It was an incredibly challenging time for the couple, but Mrs Hore’s ability to continue on from that was an indication of her strong character, and the couple later welcomed healthy sons Charles and Andrew.
MOTHERHOOD was where Mrs Hore flourished and her two sons were ‘‘treated like kings’’. She had little spare time away from the farm but she loved being an active community member.
She would always make an effort to celebrate other people’s special occasions or empathise in difficult times.
There was always a special touch of kindness, in the way of a gift, card, baking, or her legendary homemade mint or apricot sauce, or mayonnaise.
Son Andrew said it was ‘‘unbelievable’’ what she did, although he acknowledged that receiving birthday cakes in France was a little embarrassing, particularly when he had to sing Happy Birthday to himself in front of his fellow All Blacks. ‘‘After I told her that, the cakes never stopped coming.’’
Charlie Hore said the importance of the friendship and kindness that she offered — when living in isolated, rural communities — should never be underestimated, along with the ability to impact people’s lives.
Patearoa was a community Mrs Hore was immensely proud of, and her family felt it was important she was farewelled in the small community she had lived in for 47 years.
For 45 of those years, she was involved with the Patearoa Collie Club, ever since she was asked to provide a jar of jam for the annual dog trials when first married.
A life member of the club, she declared that 2017 would be her last year at the helm of the cookshop as the next generation took over the farming operation.
Mr and Mrs Hore moved out of the main Stonehenge homestead that year, back to what Mr Hore referred to as ‘‘the learner’s pen’’ — the house they had first lived in as a married couple in 1972.
Her love, support and commitment to her husband never wavered — while they had a ‘‘unique ability to push each other’s buttons, often in a colourful way’’ — that never overshadowed the true friendship they had, Charlie said.
They had transitioned ‘‘somewhat’’ into retirement, Mrs Hore managing to get her husband offfarm sometimes — and not just to a rugby game. Such excursions were supposed to be reward for the many years that she had worked so hard.
Over the past 14 years, she had delighted in another role — as Granny Sue. She adored her six grandchildren and already had their Christmas presents purchased and wrapped.
Just two days before her death, she was on the sidelines of the athletic sports in Ranfurly to support them, cheering them on. CLOSE friend Barbara Newton, who has classed the Stonehenge wool clip for 30 years, said the unconditional support Mrs Hore provided, in good times and bad, extended to her friends and their families.
‘‘Despite her busy life as a wife and mother and the myriad of things she was involved with, she always had time for others.
‘‘It didn’t matter who came knocking at the door; whether a grader driver, lawyer, postie, shearer, accountant, wool representative, stock agent, lamb or ram buyer, seed merchant or visiting fisherman, Sue welcomed them all equally, giving them her undivided attention.
‘‘Sue had a gift and love of nurturing; family, friends, her beloved garden or animals under her care and all the young shepherds taken on at Stonehenge under Jim and Sue’s tenure.
‘‘For some, it was their first job and first time away from home. Sue took them under her wing, keeping them on the straight and narrow and, along with Jim, became second parents for a number of them.’’
Prelamb shearing simply would not be the same without Mrs Hore. Her freshly baked hot scones, accompanied by a pound of butter and a dish of her fruit salad jam, were a smoko highlight.
In 2010, the Hore family celebrated 100 years at Stonehenge and when the
Otago Daily Times visited to record the milestone, the telephone was anchored between Mrs Hore’s shoulder and ear as she spoke to All Black captain Richie McCaw while seamlessly continuing to prepare lunch for six men. It might look chaotic, she said, but most days on Stonehenge were that busy.
Mrs Hore’s sisterinlaw, Issy Thomson (nee Hore), said her hospitality was ‘‘second to none’’.
‘‘Sue oozed kindness and generosity and that touched all of our families’’.
She is survived by husband Jim, sons Charlie and Andrew and their families, and her father Keith Lake.