June 2020

We are back.... time to get out there....

Lockdown due to the Covid - 19 pandemic has been and gone...

In this issue you can read Pam Phaups trip report covering the social trip to Mt Cook Station..

A big thank you to Pam and Owen for arranging this event

Photos from this trip has been loaded to the club web site, thank you to Shirley Taylor for sharing them with us

Check below for the schedule of upcoming events, the 2 trips detailed -  a local area one and a winter safari are a fantastic opportunity to shake off the winter blues...

The events of the past 4 months will have effected each and everyone of us in different ways.....

Some say Humour is the best medicine... so I have included a few humorous Covid 19 related 'memes' stolen from FB

Ian Vercoe - Club Treasurer

Vice Presidents Narrative..

Hi everybody,

With travel and group size restrictions due to the Covid 19 behind us we as a club can restart our outdoor activities.

Thanks to Owen and Pam Phaup for organising the social trip to Mount Cook station.

Noel Bain has another 'local' trip organised for July the 5th, with the recent snow falls in the mountains the scenery should be great.

Russell Thompson and myself have organised a safari to the Marlborough Sounds for late July.

Please organise your accommodation as per the details listed and let us know of your intentions to come along. This promises to be a great trip as there is plenty to see and do up that way, especially the famous mail boat run through the sounds to D'Urville Island.

The clubs Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday night July 21st. All members are encouraged to attend.

Current club president Stan Dorsey has advised he will be standing down from the role.

Current treasurer Ian Vercoe has advised he will not be seeking reelection as treasurer, a role he has held for 10 years.

This is your chance to have a say in the administration of the club. The meeting will be followed by a supper.

Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Vice President Les Weir

Club web site address

To view the club's web site click on this address     www.no4wd.co.nz

Upcoming events..

July 5th - 3 Pass's plus

Departs Waitaki Transport Yard, 9.00am

Please advise Noel or Barbara (03) 4371849 or 021 281 9001 of your intentions to attend

Standard club vehicle requirements and recovery gear

Being winter time - subject to weather

July 21st - Annual General Meeting 7.30pm (Notice of meeting)

July 27th - Destination D'Urville

5 day safari to the Marlborough Sounds area

Based in Havelock for 5 nights

Daily excursions include trips to French Pass, mail boat trip visiting D'Urville Island and other inlets, sight seeing

Accommodation options -

Havelock Garden Motels (preferred)

3 studio units (2 with queen beds and 1 with 2 singles) rate per night per unit $95

4 one bedroom units (all with queen beds) rate per night per unit $110

1 one bedroom unit (with a king bed or 2 singles) rate per night per unit $110

3 two bedroom units (with a queen bed and 2 singles) rate per night $130

1 two bedroom unit (with 2 queen beds) rate per night $130

All one bedroom and two bedroom units have a sofa divan in the sitting room.

All rates quoted are for 2 people occupying a unit, additional guests are charged at a rate of $10 p.n.

Havelock Motel

4 x queen Studios @ $99 per night

1x Family unit with 2 queen beds and a single with a mezzanine floor @
$99 per night based on 2 people $15 per person  for any extra people in
this unit.

2x Family unit with 1 Queen and 3 Single beds 1 room has a mezzanine
floor. @ $99 based on 2 people $15 per person for any extra people.

2x Luxury Spa units super king bed @ $145 per night.

1x Luxury studio unit super king beds @115 per night.

Motel bookings are members responsibility

Mail Boat runs on Wednesday and Friday Winter rates $125.00 pp

book via Garden Motels get a 10% discount

Trip departs Waitaki Transport Holdings yard at 9.00m Monday 27th July

Please advise Les and Chris Weir ph (03)4342367 of your intentions to attend
 

From the archives #1 June 2019

In June last year the club members enjoyed a great week in Westport

From the archives #2 June 2010

10 years ago - Land Rover Owners Otago Club trial grounds at Waitati - Russell Thompson enjoying a ride in Stu Robbie's custom built trials rig

Committee 2019 - 2020

President: Stan Dorsey     Ph:03 4348610, 0274325740

Vice President: Les Weir    Ph:03 4342367, 02743422188

Secretary: Garth Dovey    Ph:03 4371851, 02102008273

Treasurer: Ian Vercoe     Ph:03 4452796, 0211708030

Trip Coordinator Ron Pringle    Ph:03 4347537, 021476635

Committee members

Greg McFarlane    Ph:03 4372734, 0272294399

Noel Bain    Ph:03 4371849, 02128 9001

Russell Thompson    Ph:03 4343247, 0221914690

Social Convenor: Les Weir

Civil Defence co-ordinator: Stan Dorsey

Trip Advisor: Keith Rowland   Ph:03 4346089, 0276693262

Newsletter co-ordinator: Jennifer Dorsey

Club web site    www.no4wd.co.nz

Trip Report: Mt Cook Station

Mt Cook Station - Notes provided by Pam for the trip participants

Was the last MacKenzie Run to be taken up in 1864 because of its isolation and extreme
weather conditions.
Scottish couple Andrew and Catherine Burnett purchased the property which stayed in the
Burnett family for 151 years.
The land was bare as the Maoris had burned the vegetation in the hunt for moa. The
Burnetts had to source wood from the Tasman riverbed for domestic purposes.
In 1903 Thomas Burnett (TD), son of Andrew oversaw the planting of over 600,000
trees comprising douglas fir, pine, larch and a number of deciduous trees.
In 1941 Donald Mt Cook Burnett, son of Thomas, took over the management of the station
and continued tree planting but unfortuately in the later years the wildings devoured the
once grazed hills. Towards the end of his life Donald was paranoid with the infestation
but unable to deal with it.
Donald and his sister Catriona ran Alpine Saxon merinos on the station, growing ultra fine
merino wool which was acknowledged by Italian Textile Co 'Loro Piana SpA', as the finest
wool in NZ in 1997 and 1998 and finest in the world in 1999, paying $120,000 for a bale
of 13.1 micron wool. In 2002 the sheep were 12.7 micron. When they decided to move
away from the merinos Donald followed the stock trucks to the freezing works to make
sure none were offloaded during transit. Years later Donald built up another Saxon flock
but this time they were housed in the large green shed in front of the homestead.
For a short period in between Donald ran Hereford cattle on the station. The Herefords did
not do well long term as there was never any pasture improvement.
Donald Burnett died in 2010 and Catriona in 2014 and in 2016 the Trustees put the station
up for sale as it was in a dire financial situation. The Gould family purchased it as they
had just sold their station up the road, only to have the purchase overturned because the
sale was deemed illegal. The Public Trust then stepped in and the sale was completed 18
months later but unfortunately the Goulds had to wait out the eighteen months before they
could start improvements.
The property is 2700 hectares and at the moment only supports a few hundred cattle. The
removal of the wildings will recommence in August but in the meantime a few sections have been aerial sprayed.
The Shearers Quarters have been converted to accommodation along with a few huts
around the homestead, which up to now have been used by contractors on the station.
Donald built three power stations on the property, the first in 1953 which was one of the
first privately owned in NZ The three still remain in an immaculate condition.
Donald was an extremely creative person with engineering skills and built hydraulic
operated cattle yards and circular hydraulic sheep dip. He also had a passion for
communications with a telephone in each room of his house and at every power house
with a line running to the dam site.
The Goulds have a long task ahead of them cleaning up after forestry and catching all the
wilding regrowth. It is disheartening driving into the station and noticing the debri each
side of the road but the progress already made is remarkable, the station is still awaiting
council consents to change of land use before the debris is allowed to be shifted.
The family is in the process of forming a museum in honour of the Burnetts.
Unfortunately a lot of their possessions disappeared from the station before the sale.
Todays donation is going towards a display cabinet for the museum.
I hope you all enjoy your day on the station.
Pam

Humour..... the fear of missing a com message...

Humour... you got how many litres to the week...?

Humour... all in a good cause

Humour... time for a new wardrobe...

Humour ... last one...

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