The president

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33680, 1 November 1974, Page 10

The president

The president of the Amberley Agricultural and Pastoral Association this year is Mr David A. Wyllie, of Omihi. Members of the Wyllie family have been prominent workers for the show association. Mr Wyllie’s father, Mr A. D. Wyllie, was president in 1952, and an uncle, Mr J. J. Wyllie, held office seven years earlier. Mr David Wyllie’s brother, Mr J. F. (John) Wyllie, was president only two years ago. Mr Wyllie, aged 34, has lived all his life on the 550-acre family farm that he now runs in partnership with a brother, Mr Stewart Wyllie. After being educated at the Omihi Primary School and St Andrew’s College, the two brothers became partners in 1958 with their father, who has now retired. The farm carries about 1100 ewes in addition to the cropping of 120 acres of wheat and barley, several acres of peas and

oats, and some small seed crops. Between 500 and 700 Corriedales and 400 stud Southdowns make up the ewe flock. Mr Wyllie is married, with four daughters: Cilla (18 months), Ingrid (three), Julie (six), and Kim (nine). Mr Wyllie’s other interests include sport (he has played senior Rugby for Glenmark until this year). He is a member of the Omihi School Committee, and the Omihi Domain Board. He sees the possibility of some A. and P. associations being forced to amalgamate because of increasing overheads, which are growing faster than the profits derived mainly from shows and ground use. At present, the 410member Amberley association is in “a healthy financial state,” but there could come a time when the Amberley and some of the nearby associations such as Rangiora (Northern), Oxford, Hawarden or Cheviot would have to consider amalgamation.