Ayrshire New Zealand is proud to celebrate it's Centenary in 2009, with the Society having been incorporated in 1909. A number of exciting events are planned, and the year kicked off with the AYRSHIRE CENTENARY SHOW , part of the NZ Dairy Event held at Manfeild Park, Feilding from 28 - 30 January 2009.
The Annual Meeting and Conference took place in Hamilton on 2 - 6 June 2009 at the Ibis and Novotel Hotels, with local sights and herd visits, and Ayrshire Sale and the weeks festivities culminating in a fomal Scottish themed banquet.
Members gathered together on Tuesday 2 June at the Novotel Tainui in Hamilton, and the Conference kicked off with an opening dinner attended by over 140 members and invited guests, incuding representatives of the other dairy breed societies. The Conference was opened by Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock and the Conference Cake was cut by Association President Gordon Glentworth, and the longest member in attendance Joe Corbett of Morrinsville (member since 1946). Entertainment after dinner was from a local hypnotist, and the antics of one of our Australian guests in particular made for a memorable evening, enjoyed by all.
Wednesday 3 June dawned bright and clear, though frosty, Delegates travelled by coach to the Matangi Sports Museum for a warm morning tea and a good look a the sports memorabilia, followed by an exciting visit to Cambridge Stud, where Zabeel put on a thrilling performance, galloping across the paddock to greet us. Lunch at the Kaipaki Hall was followed by wine tastings and a tour of the local winery, Mystery Creek Wines. Then it was on to Kiteroa Ayrshires for a herd visit and the Conference Sale was held there that evening.
Another fine day followed on Thursday 4 June as delegates travelled to Valendale Ayrshires at Gordonton for a frosty and foggy herd visit followed by morning tea, then the coaches travelled to Waharoa and a tour of the Open Country Cheese factory with lunch at Kaimai Cheese. Back to Hamilton for a free afternoon, followed by dinner that evening at Windy Ridge, Ohaupo, followed by light entertainment of a local musician and of course dancing.
The Annual General Meeting was held at the Novotel on Friday 5 June, followed by a formal banquet in the Hotel that evening attended by over 130 members and guests. With a Scottish theme (of course for the Scottish cow), the banquet included pipes, a haggis ceremony, highland and country dancing displays and a fantastic Celtic band for the evening. A highlight was drinking whiskey from the quaich presented to the Association by the Ayrshire Society of UK on the occasion of celebrating 150 years of Ayrshires in New Zealand in 1998.
The Centenary Conference was a memorable week, with almost 160 members registering to attend all or part of the Conference festivities, and almost 200 members and guests involved.
