Memorial planned for when Covid levels ease
The family of Kerikeri veterinarian and community member Roger Barnard are planning a memorial that can be held without Covid-19 restrictions.
Barnard, 70, died on October 26 from melanoma, and his funeral was held on November 1 under strict Covid rules.
He first arrived in Kerikeri as a veterinary surgeon in 1980, moving from Kaitāia – where he first practised out of Massey University – because of its attractions, including sailing.
Barnard started at the Kerikeri Animal Hospital with David Clarkson, practising there for two years.
In late 1982, he went out on his own to form the Kerikeri Veterinary Clinic, first run out of a packing shed on Hone Heke Rd.
Although Barnard often had other vets working with him, the after-hours calls meant many interruptions from home and family life. However, he was adamant the hardest part about being a vet was putting animals down, especially when they were not old or sick.
Around 1983, Barnard got involved with the local pony club, organising a riding track next to the Kerikeri River, alongside other events.
Another passion of Barnard’s was rowing, after making a plywood rowboat in a friend’s shed, later replicating it with a fibreglass version through another friend. He spent many a night rowing to islands or areas in the bay, having a barbecue on the beach, and finishing with a fine port. The New Year’s Day rowing race also became a tradition.
In 1987, Barnard took angora goats by plane over to England, having the experience beforehand of taking a boatload of angus cattle to South Korea.
On May 1, 1988, Barnard had a serious horse accident, suffering a head injury and other less serious injuries. Overexerting himself resulted in a collapse, which meant he could not drive for a year. During this time, he met future wife, Maria.
Four years to the day after his horse accident, Barnard opened up his purpose-built vet clinic on the corner of Hone Heke and Kerikeri roads, with a trademark large white cat sign.
In his time as a vet, Barnard became known as being oldschool, personable and friendly, giving people and their animals attention to detail. Many clients, animal drug representatives and staff became lifelong friends.
The operating/consult table had many other uses at times, including storing food for evening talks, or calving up a sheep carcass for the freezer. Rainy days resulted in fish and chips for lunch – the only complaints from staff were of the risk of putting on weight.
Friday evenings involved the 1M club, which stood for single malt whisky, while surgery time could be entertaining with notes of ‘‘day-o, day-o’’ heard in or out of key – from a song by his favourite singer Harry Belafonte.
Barnard practised until the end of 2019, when he was diagnosed with melanoma cancer. For years he was very careful to prevent sunburn by always wearing a hat and long sleeves, but one never knows the long-term effects of youthful exuberance.
On a side-note, Hospice MidNorthland was amazing, and well worth community support, allowing people to be cared for at home among loved ones.
Barnard was very involved in the community as a Rotarian in the Kerikeri Rotary Club – obtaining their highest distinction, a Paul Harris Fellow award, in July 2019. He was appointed a justice of the peace in 2007 and later became president of the Far North JP Association.
In 2014, he was involved in organising an annual national conference at the Copthorne Hotel in Waitangi, marking 200 years since the appointment of New Zealand’s first JP, Thomas
Kendall in Russell.
This was not the only conference Barnard had a hand in at Waitangi. In 1988 he helped organise an annual conference for Rotary District 9910 – covering northern and western Auckland, Northland and the South Pacific – which was also a tremendous success. Unfortunately, he never got to attend, due to the injuries from his horse accident.
Other community involvements were helping set up the Kerikeri Indoor Rowing Club, which later became part of the Kerikeri Striders Multisports Club. Barnard was also a member of the Kingston House Trust Committee and the Kerikeri Ratepayers’ Association.
Barnard was very involved in the Northland Branch of the NZ Veterinary Association, rarely missing a meeting and always happy to mentor younger vets in the area. Mentoring was also a big part of his own veterinary practice.
Barnard is survived by his wife Maria and their three children.
Those interested in attending a memorial to be held when Covid19 restrictions ease can email Maria Barnard on rmbarnard@ xtra.co.nz.