Christen E. Iversen

Mr Christen Edward Iversen died on September 6th at the age of 60, a few months after he had retired from the College staff on account of prolonged ill health.

He was a Central Otago man, born and educated at Alexandra, which centre was something of a mecca throughout his life. His brother is farming on the original family property.

He took the intermediate course at Otago University in 1924 and then the degree course at Lincoln (1925-28). He continued until he became one of the earliest students to complete the Master of Agric. Science in agricultural economics. Also at that time he was able to qualify for the College Diploma of Agriculture. At the College he was an enthusiastic and successful member of the rugby First Fifteen and in later life continued as a fervid football enthusiast. For a period he was a member of the Management Committee, Canterbury Rugby Union, and in recent years followed and supported College rugby in general.

For fifteen years from 1929 he was a secondary school teacher; at St. Andrew's College, Christchurch, 1929-32; Napier Boys' High School, 1933-36; Christchurch Technical College, 1937-46. In the latter part of this period during World War II he was on active service with the Third Division in the Pacific with the rank of captain.

He joined the College staff in 1947 and served there 20 years, first as a rerer in Agriculture with R. H. Bevin, then as a lecturer in Field Husbandry with J. W. Calder. From 1959 he was Reader in Agronomy, Plant Science Department.

Always close to extension work and farmers, he made a specialist study of pastures and lucerne and his enthusiasm gave impetus to the expansion of lucerne growing in parts of the South Island, especially relating to Lucerne for grazing purposes. He participated regularly in College and District Farmers' Conferences. He was always close to practical affairs on the College farms and was regularly a member of the committees of the College farms. A teacher at the beginning of his career and avowed teacher at the end, students as individuals and personalities were his interest. A host of Old Students have abundant reason to recall their association with him in lecture room and field trip, with pleasure and gratification, for he was one of the general practitioners able to contribute widely to class or lecture.

His interests and influence were wide. He served on the College former Board of Governors as an Old Student representative; also on the executive of the Old Students' Association. He keenly supported the activities of the New Zealand Grasslands Association and was president of that body in 1956, the year the International Grassland Congress was held in New Zealand. He was one of the organisers of the body that became the New Zealand Weed and Pest Control Conference. He served for two years, 1957-58, as a member of the Government appointed Consultative Committee on Agricultural Education, whose important report attracted considerable attention.

Some years ago he spent a year on refresher leave from the College during which he travelled and studied in Australia, Britain, Europe, United States. This experience greatly stimulated his enthusiasm for a number of agronomic projects but all through, it was the students of the College who enjoyed the most benefit from his vitality.

It was therefore all the more regrettable that his health should deteriorate before he was able to complete his, full span of service at the College. He suffered in health considerably during the past three years and his death has saddened this College community and a large number of professional people and farmers with whom he was always on closest terms of understanding and friendship.

He was survived by his wife and a married son who live in Christchurch and a married daughter in England.

Source: P27, 1967 Lincoln College Magazine