Pictured: Robbie Gibson (left) and his wife Chrissy (right).

Like most kids born on a farm, Robbie Gibson was helping out and mucking in from earlier than he can remember.

 But it wasn’t a chore - he never wanted to do anything else. And as the years went on, Robbie was able to learn everything he needed to know about merino from his father Bill Gibson who, at 97, is an Elder Statesman of the Merino Industry of NZ. 

Pictured: Robbie Gibson (right) with father Bill Gibson (left).

“Dad has always been a modern thinker and from a young age, he always gave me an opportunity to ‘have a crack’. And when you’ve got someone backing you, it gives you confidence to try different things out. We’ve worked closely over the years and have always got on extremely well,” recalls Robbie. 

Last year Malvern Downs (located just outside of Tarras in Central Otago) ticked over its centennial celebration and it offered the family and their friends an amazing opportunity to look back on what had been achieved over a whole century. And there sure has been a lot. 

“It was huge to think we could acknowledge 100 years of our stud and breeding sheep, and it was great that my mum and dad could be a part of it. We were also honoured to have Wal Merriman come over from Australia. 

“He is the grandson of Sir Walter who dad bought his first ram off in the late 1940s, and we’ve had an association with the Merryville merino stud ever since. These sheep do well in the New Zealand climate, due to our higher rainfall, and their bloodlines are still here at the farm today.”

Robbie spent some time in Australia himself, with Bill sending him off at 18 to learn about merino and stud sheep from a renowned merino stud property in Goolgumbla, NSW. 

“I learnt the ‘Australian-way’ when it came to things such as breeding, AI, embryos and transplanting. It was great to gain this knowledge from someone new, and it really helped me to prepare sheep for shows.” 

In the early 1980s, it was time for Robbie to officially take over the farm from his father, with Bill moving permanently to Wānaka. However, that didn’t stop him from commuting nearly every day for the next 10 to 15 years to continue helping out. 

“He is still in Wānaka now and even at 97 he comes over and looks at the rams. He’s great at bouncing ideas off.” 

But even with a ‘changing of the guard’, Robbie wasn’t too interested in doing things a new way, just because. 

“I mainly kept to what dad had been doing because at the time, it was pretty successful. I think if it isn’t broken, it doesn’t need to be fixed. I stuck to our blood lines and it was about continuing to fine tune what we were doing whenever the need arose.”  

 And even today, Robbie says they stick to what they do well when it comes to genetics, even if technology has played its part in transforming some aspects of the industry.

“For me, a good conformation and constitution is really important, before you look at the figures of other traits. At the end of the day, merino is all about wool first and foremost, so I still concentrate on that. 

“We’re paid premiums for good, fine wool and while I’m not against different traits, it can’t be to the detriment of the most important aspects for merino. 

“We know what we do well with our genetics, and remain true to that for the most part.” 

Looking back on what he, his dad and his grandfather achieved at Malvern Downs, Robbie has plenty to reflect on, and while being able to keep the farm in his family for 100 years is certainly an incredible milestone, he is particularly proud of Bill’s introduction of poll merinos. 

“When dad brought them in in the 1950s, they weren’t very popular and weren’t as prestigious compared to the horned sheep. But now, everyone wants them. I think he was instrumental in helping to develop that. 

“I also see all of our wins over the years and at the Wānaka A&P show in particular, our successes are still up there with the best of them. 

“At the show the other week we took out Grand Champion Ewe and Reserve Grand Champion Ram, as well as Champion Superfine Poll Ram and Ewe, and the prestigious Woodchester Cup for a team of five sheep - three rams and two ewes. While our breeding might not be as scientific as some places, our results are proof that we’re still doing something right.

“I’m also very grateful that we have been able to do what we do for more than 100 years. I don’t think we’ve done any better than anyone else, but I’m proud of what we have achieved.” 

What Robbie is also thankful for is the relationships he’s built with the wider community around him. 

“We have a long association with PGG Wrightson, right from day one when it was Wright Stevensons. We’ve always had solid support from their team, as well as Craig Smith from Devold who we’ve been supplying our fleece to for a while now. 

“They have done a wonderful job sourcing the wool they need and are like us in many respects - passionate and proud of their family business. We have a lot to do with them and it’s a great partnership.

“It’s certainly rewarding to be able to produce what your clients want and see them doing well in the commercial sector.” 

Pictured: PGW wool rep Graeme Bell (left) with Robbie Gibson (right).

Someone who has known Bill for almost as long as Robbie is Graeme Bell (often fondly referred to as ‘Ding’). Because while he’s been the PGW wool rep for Malvern Downs since 2013, he’s actually known the Gibson’s a lot longer than that - 64 years in fact. 

“I first met Bill when I was 10 years old, when he was a judge at the inaugural Alexandra Show and ever since then I’ve associated with the family in many different capacities - from playing rugby with Robbie to shearing and wool classing and even when I was district and regional councillor. I was actually there just yesterday buying rams!” Says Graeme. 

“So to be invited to their 100 year celebration was an honour to represent not only my various ways in which I have been involved with the farm, but also as a PGG Wrightson representative.” 

Looking back on his time knowing the Gibsons, Graeme recognises it a special connection and says that Bill was always keen on encouraging and supporting anyone interested in the industry, and that he was good at giving them a strong foundation to go forward. And at 97, he still is. 

“I’m off on holiday to Australia next week and Bill has introduced me to a few people and organised me to go see some studs. He’s made sure all the plans are in place and is looking forward to my reports back on what I see and do. Bill really is a true gentleman.”

As for Robbie, he and his wife Chrissy are very happy at Malvern Downs and while he doesn’t know exactly what the future holds, it’s probably much of the same. 

“I think it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you enjoy what you’re doing.”