Greg attended his first Royal Agricultural Society of the Commonwealth conference in 2006 representing the Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand. The conference was held in conjunction with the Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada. While fellow delegates from NZ were few indeed, Greg wasted no time in making many friends, friends he would remain in contact with from then on. Greg instantly saw the value of the RASC and the opportunities it offered to the next Generation of Farmers to take on roles and develop their leadership skills. Greg was a great contributor from the outset.
After having such a worthwhile experience in Canada, Greg travelled as a member of the RASC’s first “Understanding and Assistance Mission” to Zambia in 2007. Greg was an integral part of the team of young people from throughout the Commonwealth whose goal was to exchange ideas and knowledge with their Zambian counterparts and to help them with the staging of an agricultural show. As part of the program, each member gave a demonstration of a farming practice that might be a new concept to local farmers. Greg caught a stray dog and used it to demonstrate the basics of beginning to train a dog for farm work and the qualities you look for in a good farm dog. His presentation was by far the most popular one that was given that day and there were many lining up wanting him to help train their dogs afterwards!
After Zambia, Greg was appointed as the RASC’s Next Generation Facilitator to lead the NG Forum in 2008 at the Commonwealth Agricultural Conference held in Christchurch. It was here that Greg’s outstanding leadership qualities truly came to the fore. Greg was a fantastic host and an outstanding and passionate rural ambassador. Young delegates from throughout the Commonwealth returned home from New Zealand filled with energy to make a difference, just like they had seen Greg doing.
In 2011 Greg joined the RASC’s Next Generation Mission to Singapore and India, rekindling friendships with diverse people from throughout the Commonwealth and again making a difference in a developing country through sharing hands on agricultural expertise. Greg’s gentle nature and keen eye for solving on farm problems again made him an ideal person to make a difference on the mission.
Greg was a true champion of New Zealand and indeed global farming and an outstanding leader and role model to young people across the Commonwealth.
Greg had a wealth of agricultural knowledge, but we will remember him fondly for his cheeky sense of humour & infectious grin. Also, we will remember him for his great adaptability to connect with people of all ages & walks of life, making everyone he encountered feel important.
Thank you Greg for such a significant contribution to Agriculture on a global scale, but also for the deep friendships on a one-on-one level.
From Greg’s many friends at the RASC.
