increase font size
Colin Finlayson
When it comes to arranging the sound system at Northland Field Days, no one does it better than Colin Finlayson.
The 72-year-old tradesman has been setting up the sound system at the field days for 40 years.
Finlayson holds the distinction of being the only person to have served on the committee from day one. The first field days was held at Dargaville Racecourse 40 years ago.
For Finlayson, the biggest change has been the way the venue is set up for the annual event.
"Well, the infrastructure is easier to set up on our ground, because out at the old ground, the racecourse, you had to run all the pipes on the ground," he told Rural News.
"All the power and stuff, we had to leave it flat, so we had to put all the posts in and take them all out.
"It was much harder work back then because nowadays all the power, all the posts just stay in the ground where they are."
Finlayson feels proud to have served on the organising committee for the past 40 years.
He says buying a greenfield site to run the field days was a turning point for the Northland Field Days committee.
"Back then, there was discussion that we had overgrown where we were.
"Also, we had to pay a sort of a lease thing to the racing club, which went up every year, as things do.
"The then president, Dave Phillips, elder brother of the current president, suggested that we just buy our own, and put the money into that."
Finlayson is looking forward to the 40th field days this month.
He's also looking forward to playing his part in the organising committee - putting up the poles and getting the speakers going.
Finlayson's task has been increasing over the years.
He recalls putting up eight speakers during the first field days. This month, he will be putting up 32 speakers at the 33ha site.
OPINION: As the Northland Agricultural Field Days celebrates an impressive 40 years, Northland Regional Council (NRC) extends its congratulations to the current and past organising committees for reaching this milestone.
Northland Field Days patron Ross Newlove remembers the inaugural field days he attended 40 years ago.
For forty-year-olds, there's no excuse to miss this year's Northland Field Days.
A 40th Anniversary event to remember.
Can-Am will be using the upcoming Northland Field Days (Stand E6) to give farmers the opportunity to see the Defender HD 10 for themselves.
Northland Field Days patron Ross Newlove remembers the inaugural field days he attended 40 years ago.
Southland farmer Murray Donald has been appointed as chair of Safer Farms, the industry-led organisation focused on reducing harm, injuries and fatalities in the agricultural sector.
National Lamb Day returns this Sunday, 15 February, with Beef + Lamb New Zealand Inc calling on Kiwis to fire up their barbecues and celebrate the people and the product that put New Zealand on the world map.
When it comes to arranging the sound system at Northland Field Days, no one does it better than Colin Finlayson.
A 40th Anniversary event to remember.
The Mountain Warrior Shane Cameron is coming back to his roots as key note speaker at the East Coast Farming Expo Property Brokers Evening Muster in February.
