| 33 New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards » Albert Anderson A time to reflect for Albert Anderson Albert and Sandy are looking forward to attending the New Zealand Farm Century award. Aimee Wilson Albert Anderson’s Southbridge farm in Canterbury is about to celebrate 100 years of being in the Anderson family. Albert and Sandy are looking forward to attending the New Zealand Farm Century awards in May, to be held in Lawrence. It all started when Albert’s great-grand parents Andrew and Mary Anderson, sailed from Scotland in 1863 and settled on the Canterbury Plains at Leeston, where they farmed Shanzie. Their fifth son, Albert, who enlisted to serve in the Great War in 1917, purchased Crofthead on his return in 1925 from James Storry, who actually tried to buy it back again three weeks later at a higher price. Thankfully he declined. Over the years, Albert was very active in council and was also involved with 45 different committees by the end of WWII. However, he had to resign from his responsibilities in 1959 due to ill health, passing away in 1961. His son, Albert Robert married Eunice (née Treleaven), a descendant of the Wilsons who arrived on one of the First Four Ships, the Charlotte Jane). Albert and Eunice had four children including a son Albert, born in 1961. They continued to farm this mixed cropping property, while also surviving the difficult economic times of the 1980’s. Growing up, Albert played nearly all his rugby for the local Southbridge club and continues to be a proud supporter. He’s looking forward to celebrating the club’s 150th anniversary over Easter weekend. Rugby also featured strongly during his three years at Lincoln College in the early 1980’s. He said there were no cellphones in those days so sport was a way to be involved socially and to find out where all the parties were. A 6’6” lock, Albert then played for Canterbury at a provincial level, going on to become All Black #847, while also continuing to work on the family farm. There could be three games a week while at Lincoln College for both Canterbury and the All Blacks. Albert says farming and rugby were a good mix for him in the 1980’s when he was only a farm worker and not the farm owner. Being young and committed, he found there was no problem balancing training, playing and working on the farm. Due to good fitness, recovery was also quick unlike today at age 65. T. 03 3243 030 E. office@lays.co.nz www.layassociates.co.nz Leeston Rolleston Lincoln Ashburton Proud to be associated with Albert Anderson With 34 years of irrigation expertise and as Reinke dealers since 2000, Ray Mayne Hose and Fittings, based in Ashburton, offers design, sales, installation, and maintenance for all your irrigation needs. As CropX distributors for the South Island, we are bringing cutting-edge soil monitoring and irrigation technology to farmers, shaping the future of agriculture. Advancing Irrigation with Innovation and Expertise 03 308 6022 30 JB Cullen Drive Ashburton Business Estate offi ce@raymayne.co.nz www.raymayne.co.nz Our Reinke systems are known for durability, utilising high-Tensile steel and innovative features like the Hook & Receiver Joint. With weather-resistant control panels, Reinke sets the standard for quality and longevity. We proudly support Albert Anderson with his irrigation needs. Fortunately he didn’t sustain too many injuries during his playing days. Albert played 25 matches for the All Blacks including six internationals between 1983 and 1988 and was a member of the victorious New Zealand squad at the 1987 Rugby World Cup. He also captained the All Blacks in four matches on the 1988 tour of Australia. By the mid 1990’s, when farming was doing a little better, Albert purchased a share of Crofthead with the help of his mother and three sisters. He currently runs the farm as an arable unit growing wheat, barley and white clover. No outside staff are required as Sandy helps out during harvest. Albert’s daughter Stacey also played rugby, firstly for Southbridge, then later as a lock for the Canterbury women’s provincial team. She currently lives in Southland on a dairy farm. Albert sometimes wonders if he should have converted to dairy, but confesses he may be too lazy as he’s always maintained he doesn’t dig spuds, shear sheep or milk cows.
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