NZOH Jock Murdoch Tribute

NZOH Oct/Nov Issue
with my tribute to Jock Murdoch

Jock Murdoch 1925-2013

I've had a great month interviewing Southlanders for the article on Jock Murdoch. Jock was involved in the deer industry from the Internal Affairs days - early 1950s, when he started as a government culler, through to the very successful venison recovery and deer farming era in the 1970- 80s.

Its been a wonderful opportunity to talk to those that came after Frank. Late 1960s and the early 70s was a time of great adventure with the advent of helicopters and the export venison market hitting a high. 

I've always wanted to talk to people such as Jeff Carter and Dick Decker. I also corresponded with Sir Tim Wallis who employed Jock with his Fiordland operations.  Jock had a broad knowledge and understanding of deer and their habits, and he acted as a consultant and mentor to many in the industry, including Tim, who told me how Jock gave him the confidence to expand a very successful family company, one that still thrives today. 

One very interesting piece of information that came to light during my research was, that in 1980 while checking some possum lines deep in the Glen Echo Valley, Southland, Jock found the remains of a moa.  To this day its the only specimen of Anomalopteryx Didiformis (Bush Moa) found with skin and feather remains still attached. It's on permanent display at the Southland Museum and Art Gallery, Invercargill. You can read more about Jock's Moa and the man himself in NZOH magazine out 1st October.

Jock was a pioneer in the industry and its fitting to remember him in this tribute. 

Jock Murdoch 1950s.

The A Team

From left: Shaun Barnett, Louise, Chris Maclean and Rob Brown at
Going West Books and Writers Festival 2013

Thanks to Murray Gray, the Director of Going West Festival for bringing us together for the Going Bush session on September 14th. Couldn't have been a better bunch, definitely the A Team!

We are all so passionate about what we do. We shared the stage for 90 minutes the conversation flowed and the audience loved every minute of it. It was so inspiring, the entire weekend was inspirational, as Shaun said, his synapses were firing on all four cylinders, mine too, what brain food, hearing all the other writers speak.

For me personally, meeting Shaun, Chris and Rob has really pulled the whole Frank project into focus. I'm now super charged to get the manuscript completed, and having broadened my network of supporters to include these awesome guys is so exciting, its the best possible outcome I could have hoped for.

Other news:
I'm now officially an associate member of the New Zealand Deer Cullers Inc:

http://www.nzdeercullers.org.nz/


Being the niece of Frank Erceg certainly helps, plus they are very aware of all the work I do relating to Frank and the deer cullers history in NZ. I'm honoured to be accepted into this organisation and looking forward to getting to their next reunion early next year and conducting some on the spot interviews.

This weekend I'm heading down to Whakatane to meet one of New Zealand's foremost representational landscape artists Johnathan White.

http://www.jonathanwhite.co.nz/

Johnathan became close friends with Mike Palmer ex culler and a good mate of Frank's. Mike shared many stories with Johnathan in his later life and I've always regretted not being able to talk with Mike myself, who died before I got into all this. Mike was a very interesting person, he used to carry a gramophone into his blocks and apparently you knew when Mike was around as Beethoven's symphonies sounded through the valleys.

I'm looking forward to meeting Johnathan and will share some of the weekend when I return.

Until then, thanks for stopping by, the billy's on the boil, gotta go...and take care where ever you are.

Louise.

Going West Books & Writers Festival

Exciting news! I'm on a panel at the Going West Books & Writers Festival. Alongside Chris Maclean, author of Stag Spooner, Wild Man from the Bush, also Rob Brown and Shaun Barnett two of the three authors from Shelter from the Storm, The Story of New Zealand's Backcountry Huts.

We will be sharing the stage for 90 minutes, chatting about some of the extraordinary but lesser known characters of the New Zealand wilderness, backcountry huts, rock bivs, camp oven bread - anything wilderness could be thrown into the conversation.  I'll be talking about Frank and his deer culling mates, sharing  anecdotes and stories from my research and interviews.  There will also be visual presentations; so a nice mix of info to sit back and absorb.

Come along folks, to Titirangi Community Hall, 12 -1.30 pm September 14. Here's more about Chris, Shaun and Rob and also check out the other great events and booking details via the links:

http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/newseventsculture/events/Events/Pages/goingwestfestival2013.aspx

http://www.craigpotton.co.nz/store/stag-spooner-wild-man-from-the-bush

http://www.craigpotton.co.nz/store/shelter-from-the-storm


Cheers and I'll be back again soon.
Louise.