Our daughter was living in Perth, Western Australia.  We made so many visits I’ve lost count of the number of times we went to this charming city.

         When visiting Australia I frequently got asked to look at farms when people learn I had been a Farm Advisor.

         On one visit I was asked to look at a farm managed by the husband of one of Lynette’s friends, a New Zealander named Barry Walsh.

         I was collected early one morning and we headed for a region called Bullsbrook located in the city of Swan on the outskirts of Perth.

         I was disappointed to find an ordinary-looking farm, but what I found on it was hard for me to believe.

         Barry said; “We had better have a look at the bathroom in the cottage. It’s recently been upgraded.”

         We inspected a bathroom. It had gold-plated taps and Italian marble walls. The upgrade had cost $75,000, an outrageous amount at that time.

         He said; “While you are here I will show you the pool. “

         I have seen a few swimming pools in my time,  but never one like this. There was a three-million-dollar heated Olympic pool nestling among some trees.

         It had a sliding roof, a music stall, and a Finnish-type sauna. One side had a glass fence showing a beautiful forested area.

         The cost of heating the pool for a weekend swim was $800.

         I asked Barry for an explanation and he told me he was the Property Manager for Hancock Prospecting and this was Gina Rinehart’s weekend retreat – Australia’s wealthiest women.

         Another day  I was collecting our grandchildren from their South Perth school. I arrived early and was chatting to the ‘Lollypop man’ waiting to stop the traffic so the children could cross the road.

         He told me he had served in the merchant navy. I told him I had served in the Royal New Zealand  Navy, on the Achilles. He said, “That was the ship that stopped us in The Mediterranean and search us for illegal Jewish immigrants.“

I said, “I was on was on board her that day.”

What a small world!  

           Another day I walked to the South Perth shops with our daughter to do some grocery shopping. I was given the job to look after their dog ‘Muffin’ while she went into the shop. I sat on a seat outside next to an elderly man.  He said, “Where are you from mate?” I replied “New Zealand”  

         He said; “See this watch. I bought it from a New Zealander – the cheapest watch I ever bought.”

         He then told me this story.

“I was the rear-gunner on a Stirling aircraft. We were mine laying in the strait between Demark and Sweden, and a bloody cold job it was too!

         We were shot down over Germany. Only two of our crew survived.   After a spell in hospital, I ended up in a POW camp.    We were half starved then one day I received a Red Cross parcel containing a cake of chocolate.

         I said to a Kiwi prisoner what do you want for your watch? He said,  20 cakes of chocolate. I said if you give it to me I will give you every cake of chocolate I receive for the rest of the war. We made a deal. I got the watch and do you know I never got another cake of chocolate. It’s the best watch I ever bought.”

         On every visit to Perth, I visited the University of Western Australia. I would call on Professor ‘Harry’ Schapper. We would go for a walk, have lunch, and reminisce.

         Harry, as he was called when he was my scoutmaster in Hawera,  became my mentor and started me on my career in agriculture.

         When working for the Farmers Coop in Taranaki as one of their estate farm managers he cadeted me to work on farms.       He moved me around to gain wide rural experience.  I was only 16 at that time when I started as a cadet in 1942. Later on, I joined the Royal NZ Navy in the last Fleet Air Arm class, F29.

         After the 2nd World War finished  I attended Canterbury College to study for intermediate science exams to let me study for a professional agriculture degree.  

         At that stage, Henry was a lecturer at Lincoln College and living in Christchurch. When I was struggling he always gave me support and encouragement.  I often went for meals at his home on Sundays.

         I have had a good career and worked in many countries and I owed Henry a great debt.

         Henry made a major contribution to Australian agriculture. He set up the first farm improvement clubs in Australia. The first advisers all needed a Lincoln College Valuation and Farm Management diploma to get a job.

         The University of WA is situated well out of town on the edge of the Swan river. One of my highlights was walking back to South Perth, through the Kings gardens and along the river bank. It was a  beautiful walk with two rests on the way, one for ice cream, and another for a coffee break.

         One event  Henry was proud of being asked to give a paper at an international conference in Chile at the Human Scale Development Seminar in 1996. His paper was titled “From Capitalism to Civilised Society”.

Here is an extract –  it says much about the man.

” All citizens of a Civilised Society would

         -have the freedom of equal personal autonomy,

         -have access to satisfiers of all fundamental

         human needs,

         – have equitable access to opportunities beyond such satisfiers for the continual enhancement of their quality of life and personal well-being,

         – be assured of an ecologically sustainable environment and community that conserves its natural biodiversity and ensures freedom from environmental pollution and renewable resource deterioration.

These are the categorical imperatives of Civilised Society. A good life is possible for all only when these are operational ……”

         He died on 27 April 2010 leaving this world a better place.

Geoffrey Moss(mossassociates.co.nz)