Wig Whale

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 337, 29 May 1990, Page 3

Wig Whale

Hard work wasn't just a way of life - it was a habit for long-time Ohakune farmer Wig Whale, who died last week.

Born in 1912, Feilding, he came with his family to Rangataua at the age of nine. He attended Rangataua School but by age 15 had his sights firmly set on dairy farming and left school to work on the family 's farm. Few, if any, Waimarino people knew him by his christian names, Selwyn Donald, instead referring to him as 'Wig' - a nick-name that has stuck since birth. Working long hours on the farm left little time for recreation, although Wig made time for football and was captain of Rangataua's football team for seven years. During his involvement the team notched up an enviable record, winning 17 of 19 matches played. He met his future wife Lyn while at a ball and they married in 1936. The couple had four children all of whom attended Ohakune School. Wig began his own milking herd with 20 cows that he milked by hand. He purchased a three cow milking plant shortly after marriage then concentrated on adding to his herd. At one stage, it numbered 150 with the milk being processed at Raetihi's milk treatment station for town supply. When the station was closed he turned his attention to breeding beef cattle and sheep. He indulged his love of Charolais cattle and worked on improving his stud herd with help from his son Alan. Their herd boasts around 50 pure-bred and numerous cross-bred cattle that are wellknown in the region. He sold the farm to his son in 1978 at the age of 66, but harboured absolutely no intentions of retiring. Even with the demands of the farm, Wig found time to pursue an active interest in local politics and strived to improve the Waimarino area for future generations. It was he that pushed a submission through Parliament to allow an access road to be built between

Raetihi and New Plymouth, thus opening the area to the city's deep sea port. Twice he visited Parliament to pursue the submission but for all his efforts, it did not transpire. He held the position of chairman of Ohakune Junction's National Party supporters' club and endeavoured to highlight the needs of the Waimarino through this cause. Wig was chairman of the Ruapehu Milk Producers Association for many years, during his dairy farming career, and for good measure served on the Marton Catchment Board committee for 12 years. He also operated as a Justice of the Peace and juggled weddings between milking and tending the farm. His "right arm" was Lyn, who worked alongside Wig right from the beginning when they purchased their farm during the Depression. It was not uncommon for Wig to work solidly all day, stop briefly for an evening meal then disappear outside again until late at night. Such was the habits of a man who loved to work, always striving to improve. Wig and Lyn celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary in 1983, surrounded by relations and their many friends. He was one of a large gang of workers who in 1954 began the arduous task of carving a road from solid rock. Wig devoted every weekend during the summer months to working on the job that became increasingly difficult as the gang dwindled to a hard-core group of five workers. Lyn was frequently called to treat his hands that would be raw with blisters at the end of a day's work. Just what impact Wig made on the community was evident by the great many friends and business colleagues that attended his memorial service held at the Presbyterian Church in Ohakune. Two hundred people stood outside the church that was full to capacity.