The dairy industry loses a distinguished leader
The Golden Bay dairy industry lost one of its longest-serving and most distinguished leaders with the recent passing of George Bendigo (Ben) Hurst, MBE.
Born in Nelson in 1922 and educated at Nelson College, Ben came to Golden Bay with his wife Belle in 1951. Belle and Ben met during Ben’s service in the Royal Navy during World War II. At war’s end, Belle came to New Zealand from her home in England to marry Ben.
The Hursts bought a 92-acre farm at Motupipi and, in their first season, their herd numbered 45 cows. At that time, a cow was worth 10 pounds, the equivalent of a good week’s wages.
A hard-working and thinking farmer from the very outset, Ben’s interest in the science behind animal husbandry was kindled when he had to cull half his herd because of contagious abortion (brucellosis). This crisis prompted his intitial interest in the Golden Bay Vet Club. In the early days, vets were flown into the Bay to work with farmers’ herds, but with the inception of the Vet Club, Golden Bay’s farmers gained access to resident and on-call professional advice. After joining the committee in 1954-55, Ben became the chairman of the Golden Bay Vet Club in 1957 when the founding chairman Frank Chadwick stepped down. Ben was chairman until 1967 and served another 10 years in the top post from 1971.
Ben was also a prime mover in the development of the first artificial breeding in Golden Bay’s dairy industry, and he encouraged the local dairy company to begin the tanker collection of milk from farms. Until that time, farmers had fed their skimmed milk to pigs and sent only the cream to the factory.
Being a leader and thinker in the dairy industry led Ben into management positions, locally, regionally and nationally. He was chairman of the local dairy company board for 22 years, overseeing its evolution from Golden Bay Dairies to Tasman Milk Products. He believed in the amalgamation of smaller companies as a process by which increased efficiency and profitability could be delivered to farmers. His service to the industry was based on his belief that better returns could be achieved by better on-farm management and by the skilful operation of the manufacturing side of the industry.
After a distinguished career as a director of a number of companies, Ben retired in 1991, by which time he had been made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the dairy industry and the community. He was known as a prudent, forthright, well-informed, determined and forward-thinking manager of the enterprises and organisations he served.
In the 1990s he was awarded a life membership of the Golden Bay branch of Federated Farmers, the only member ever to be given this honour.
When he retired from farming corporate life, Ben retained an active interest in the family farm at Motupipi, taking particular care with the ongoing spraying programme. He especially ensured that any major purchases planned by Michael and David were carefully considered and thoroughly justified. He endured no fewer than nine hip and leg operations. A crutch, a cast and a limp almost became his trademark.
Ben was hospitalised after he suffered a stroke last year. His family paid tribute to the wonderful level of care he received at the Golden Bay Community Hospital and from the doctors at the Golden Bay Medical Centre.
In his eulogy at Ben’s funeral last week, Robin Manson quoted the words of then senior vice-president of Golden Bay Federated Farmers, Graeme Wilson, who supported Ben’s nomination for the Honours List. “We do this with pride, gratitude and appreciation as we enjoy the benefits of the vision and innovation of a man who is, without question, an outstanding leader, a first-class administrator, businessman and a top farmer” read the branch’s letter in support.
Predeceased by his wife Belle in 2001, Ben is survived by his daughters Diane (Sixtus, Takaka), Jessica (Gillespie, Perth)and Christine (Kerrison, Rotorua), his sons Michael and David, eight grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Neil Wilson
