Page 134 - Hereford Magazine 2022

A proud legacy:

Colin & Fay King

Words: Steph Dew. Photos: Supplied.

olin King had already owned two vehicles and
purchased his first farm by the time he turned
21. Married to Fay, they were just beginning their
journey. Hard work and determination were
Ccharacteristics Colin would carry on throughout
his life and are what brought him much satisfaction and
success. Passionate Hereford breeders, they were stalwarts of
the beef industry in the south throughout their lives.
Colin died in August 2019, aged 84; sadly Fay was soon to
follow in April 2020, aged 83. They had been married for 61 years.
Colin left school when he was 14 to work on stations
throughout the lower South Island. This included working
in a ‘flying gang,’ a group of musterers continuously
mustering several neighbouring properties. One such job
saw Colin and five others on a job for eight months, working
seven days a week. Another memorable job was doing the Top: Willgoose Fearless was the Kings’ first live import from
last muster of the Hollyford alongside Jack Jenkins. This was Australia. Above: Married for 61 years, the late Fay and Colin King
no small feat, spending six weeks in the bush mustering were passionate Hereford breeders.
over mountains, through rivers, and drafting the required
125 head. Then it was 13 days on the road getting them to from this with Colin, in time, judging throughout New Zealand
their final destination, the Lorneville freezing works north and overseas, including at the English Royal Show. It was a
of Invercargill. pastime they both enjoyed and did alongside their children
Greenhills was the first property Colin and Fay bought. Fay and grandchildren in later years. They could still be seen
milked 14 cows while Colin worked at the wharf and the Ocean supporting at shows when they were in their 80s.
Beach freezing works. Even though Fay had grown up a city Eleven years later they moved to Castlerock, which would
girl in Invercargill, she had always wanted to marry a farmer; be home for nine years before they purchased Waiau in 1976.
she took to the lifestyle like a natural. They had milking Located in the Lillburn Valley in Western Southland, the Waiau
shorthorns on the 160 acres [65ha] and this is when they stud was started by Ted Edmonds in 1954. Ted had raised his
became involved with showing cattle. Judging followed on deposit for the 3600-acre [1457ha] farm selling rabbit skins.

132 HEREFORD MAGAZINE Year 2022