Page 52 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2018

On Farm

Famous

Herefords

star in

children’s

book

WORDS REBECCA HARPER Moo and Moo and the Little Calf Too tells the story of the cow’s
PHOTOGRAPHS SUPPLIED earthquake adventure and subsequent rescue.

WHEN TWO HEREFORD COWS were breeding cows and replacement heifers the Herefords remain at Waipapa.
stranded on an ‘island’ in their hillside and Romney ewes. All trading stock are Jimmy Murray is my first cousin, so
paddock after a massive slip occurred as finished on the property. Waipapa’s hill we have a strong affiliation with Herefords
a result of the Kaikoura earthquake, they country is balanced with 90 hectares of here in the Clarence Valley.
made international headlines. Little did irrigated river flats. The family farming I was particular that the illustrations
Jane Millton imagine their story would company also has property at Ward and for the book be correct, from a Hereford
become a popular children’s book. Oxford. breeder point of view, that the Hereford
Published last year, Moo and Moo One of the most upsetting things markings and cattle be recognisable. I
and the Little Calf Too, written by Jane at the time of the earthquake was the also wanted the Clarence Valley to be
and illustrated by Deborah Hinde, massive damage to the land I knew correct, Mt Tapuaenuku at the head of
tells the story of the cows’ earthquake so well, and the changes in the valley. the valley and the seacoast uplift to be
adventure and subsequent rescue. Where the cows were was the most noted. Deborah did very well as she had
Jane has recently followed it up with her beautiful, tussock, sea-facing hill. It was never been here.
second book, Moo and Moo and Can surreal to think that hillside had slumped
You Guess Who? This book tells the and was now a shear limestone cliff face
story of the cows 12 months after the with the pasture left rubbled, broken and
earthquake, and the birth of their calves rearranged.
in September. I have always known we live on a
Jane, her husband Derrick and their fault line but never ever thought this
family farm at Waipapa in the Clarence would happen in my lifetime. I now look
Valley, Marlborough, were shook by the 7.8 at the hills and imagine how various
magnitude earthquake when it struck at landforms have been created by previous
12.02am on Monday 14 November 2016. earthquakes.
We have had an enormous amount of
TELL US A BIT ABOUT YOUR help, food packages and overwhelming
BACKGROUND? support from so many people.
I am mid-60s and have spent the majority
of my life living in the Clarence Valley – WHAT IS YOUR CONNECTION
a very special place. After schooling in TO HEREFORDS?
Christchurch, an agriculture degree at We have always farmed Herefords at
Lincoln College, marrying in 1975 and Waipapa; my father particularly loved
farming at Franz Josef Glacier until 1985, his Herefords. We bought our Angus
we had the opportunity to buy Waipapa stud cattle from South Westland. Now Moo and Moo and the Little Calf Too
from my father. Waipapa is a sheep all breeding cows are commercial cattle. author, Jane Millton.
and beef property running Hereford The Angus cattle are farmed at Ward and
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