F George Clark - 95th birthday tribute

 

George (with the walking stick I made him) age 96 and daughter Helen

Before a well earned retirement to Waihi Beach, George Clark was a Waikato hill country farmer all his life, taking on the challenge with his brother to finish off the development of steep hill country at Te Pahu near Hamilton started by his parents. He is the father of New Zealand's highly respected former Prime Minister Helen Clark.

George was a keen follower and supporter of our work at the Whatawhata Hill Country Research station.

The hills cleared of bush and scrub for productive sheep and beef production by the Clark family over the years .  The pristine Kaniwhaniwha stream flows through the property down from Mount Pirongia

Looking back up the hill – a tribute to F.G. Clark

By Clive Dalton

At 95 and looking back

Past contributions clear to see,

Great service to New Zealand

Is there on George’s CV.

George knew farming was an ideal job

For those with little brains,

Weak in head and strong of back

Would help to reach their aims.

George knew farming was important

As meat and wool were king,

And Muldoon produced incentives

More production for to bring.

He paid George a dollar a ewe

70 million was National’s boast,

But Te Pahu never saw such flocks

Many suspected they were ghosts.

One PM had been a farmer

And a decent bloke to boot,

Remember Keith Jacka Holyoake

George reckoned a decent coot.

George knew to dag and crutch were noble

And hard work held no fears,

Crook backs, stuffed hips and buggered knees

Could be cured by a few cold beers.

He spent each year with mission clear

To clear scrub from a Pirongia slope,

Today’s young men hide out in town

And live on dole and dope.

George battled possums all his life

A challenge long and weighty,

But his bigger pests were bureaucrats

Cos they were resistant to 1080.

He attended all MAF Field Days

To see the latest science map,

But by the time he got back home

He realised it was total crap.

George missed out on the medals

For services to the land,

Today’s ‘face-bookers’ in parliament

Would never shake a farmer’s hand.

New Zealand has changed since George’s day

With rabbits replaced by ‘purists’,

When John Key bailed out he convinced us all

We’d all get rich from tourists.

George has seen farmers’ image die

And be the Greenies targets,

Not one would know what farmers do

As food comes from supermarkets.

George reared the young Clarks on politics

Preaching MPs were weak-kneed charmers,

And his proof came from the highest source

Te Pahu Federated Farmers.

So lets honour George on this great day

From hill country steep and clean,

And give him our best wishes

Till he gets some from the Queen (God Bless Her).

The swimming pool near the bridge on Limeworks Loop road across the Kaniwhaniwha stream where the Clark family used to swim.