Newspaper Article 1999 – Buddies leave colourful legacy

Two of the great personalities in the Hawke’s Bay stock industry died this week, leaving a wealth of memories but few of the colourful characters of the past to replace them. Jim Aurisch and Jeff Russell were described by colleagues as knock-for-knock bosom buddies through their many years in the industry. JOHN HART has been talking to colleagues and family about the colourful pair.

Buddies leave colourful legacy

James Eccles Aurisch was just a teenager when he landed his first job in the mercantile industry in Canterbury back in the late 1920s.

That job was with Canterbury Farmers and a few years later he moved to New Zealand Loan and Mercantile and transferred to the Waikato.

The move set him on the path to a career in the livestock industry which eventually led him to Hastings and a place in the records as one of the most colourful characters in the industry.

He moved back to the South Island in the mid-1940s. In the early 1950s, when farming was booming, he joined Hawke’s Bay farmers in Waipukurau.

In 1956 he joined Williams and Kettle in Hastings and stayed there until his retirement in 1970.

Former W and K livestock manager Neil Evans described Jim Aurisch as a real personality as an auctioneer.

“He was a bit of a showman and was well known for his quick wit and fast quips.” Mr Evans said.

“And God help anyone who tried to outquip him during an auction. He would stop the whole show and let you have it. It was sudden death.”

His trademark at stock sales was a walking stick which he waved with great vigour, using it to point out the virtues of the stock he was selling.

One of his coups was getting television to turn up at the Stortford Lodge saleyards in 1967.

“Relda Familton arrived in the car park at Stortford Lodge with a truckload of equipment and staff. It stopped the show,” Mr Evans said.

In retirement Mr Aurisch and his wife Yvonne moved to Taupo where Jim became time-keeper and whistle-keeper at the saleyards. But they returned to Hastings in the mid-1980s.

“He was one of the characters of the stock scene. The pressures of business mean we don’t get people like that in the industry now, which is a great pity,” Mr Evans said.

Mr Aurisch, who was 88, is survived by his wife Yvonne, daughter Dianne and son Wayne.

Photo caption – JIM AURISCH in full cry at Stortford Lodge in 1966.

When Jeff Russell landed a job as a junior stock agent he knew little about livestock. He had spent some time at Massey University but gave it up and returned to Hawke’s Bay when he was offered the job with mercantile firm de Pelichet McLeod.

Jeffrey Stanley Russell died this week aged 71 after spending his working life in the stock industry – and loving it.

Colleagues described him as a great personality who would do anything to help his clients, and anyone else who needed some help.

Mr Russell was born in Hastings and went to kindergarten and primary school at Havelock North, then Hastings Boys’ High School. His chance of a job with de Pelichet McLeod came with the help of the manager at the time, Gerald Klingender.

Mr Russell worked for Hawke’s Bay Farmers then moved to Wright Stephensons, where the local branch manager was Ron Trotter, later to head Fletcher Challenge.

In the early 1960s he went to the Tomoana works and stayed there until his retirement about 1995.

But retirement did not last long and he was soon back in the industry working for Richmonds, where he stayed until about a year ago.

“Jeff Russell was a great personality and he was very good with people,” colleague Terry Goldstone said. “He was a good stockman and a real people person. Jeff would bend over backwards to help his clients,”

His reputation for helping people went outside the world of livestock and Mr Russell had a reputation among those who knew him of being ready to help anyone who needed it.

Mr Russell had his own farm in Rosser Road which he grazed and cropped over the years.

He had a 52-year involvement with the Hawke’s Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society and was closely involved in organising show events.

He also entered his own sheep in the show competitions and had some notable wins.

Son Mike Russell said his father was a Hawke’s Bay man through and through. “He loved Hawke’s Bay passionately,” he said.

Mr Russell is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Anne and son Mike.

Photo caption – STOCKMAN and farmer Jeff Russell, who died this week.