Tristan da Cunha News

Tristan's Veterinary Officer Dereck Rogers was awarded a British Empire Medal
by Her Majesty the Queen
in the Birthday Honours List announced on 13th June 2015,
in recognition of his services to the community of Tristan da Cunha.

Dereck has been a keystone on Tristan, and is instrumental in supporting the community; From all his work in the Catholic Church, the charitable endeavours, at Island Council, in agriculture, and as the only Vet on the island – he has been kept continually busy for many years.

I have seen how much Dereck cares for the livestock and pets on the island, being called out night and day to tend to their well being. Dereck has shown real dedication and commitment in ensuring that not only the animals on Tristan remain fit and healthy, but horticultural practices are maintained and sustained on the island for generations to come. (I have also been fortune enough to receive Dereck's expertise in looking after the Residency dog Nelson with much patience!).

Dereck should rightly be admired for his support of the community and his unflagging endeavours to safeguard the island.

Well done Dereck, and I look forward to congratulating you in person when I return.

Dereck in 2015
with his wife Hilary
on the occasion of her 60th birthday.

Soon after Dereck was promoted to Head of the Agriculture Department he was seen driving the department tractor homewards from the Potato Patches on a sunny Saturday afternoon in 1983. In those days there were very few vehicles and only one in private ownership, so 'Decky' as he is always called, led the way to help as many with transport as he could. The man with a blue cap is one of Decky's older colleagues Gabriel Lavarello - and it is a tribute to him that he commanded respect from his elders who he was responsible for managing.

Dereck volunteered join a St Mary's School
Base Molly Study Project field trip in October 1984
and is seen here using professional ornithological pliers
to ring Mollies (Atlantic Yellow-Nosed Albatross)
many years before the creation of a
Tristan Natural Resources or Conservation Department.
The adult Molly is being carefully held
by pupils Clive Glass and Grant Green.

Former Tristan Administrator Sean Burns (now Acting Governor for St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha) added
that he was also pleased to hear of the award of a BEM to Mr Dereck Rogers, in recognition of his services to the community of Tristan da Cunha.

He continued:

Having commenced work in the Agriculture Department at the age of 14 some 43 years ago, Dereck became Head of Department and has been the island’s only vet for over 30 years and so has played an essential role in this remote community which relies heavily on agriculture for its survival. His work in maintaining a healthy and productive breeding stock through good husbandry practices has ensured self sustainability of the community into the future. As the island’s only Vet, Dereck was quite often required to work 24 hours per day, having to juggle his various responsibilities and over the years, has been able to establish his own veterinary care unit.

Development of horticulture has also featured in Dereck’s work, attending the island’s fresh produce in an adverse environment, battling poor growing conditions and invasive species. His work has included working with the younger generation, teaching them to have an understanding of the environment and horticulture and its importance to the community.

Dereck has also acted as a Lay Minister for the Catholic Church for over 30 years, helping to raise funds for the construction of the Island’s first Catholic Church in the early 1980s and was also a member of the Tristan Island Council for a number of years.

Through his services to the Island, Dereck has become a well respected member of the community and I am sure you will join me and the people of Tristan da Cunha in congratulating Dereck on this well deserved award.

Photo of Dereck and Hilary when staying in Dorset in 2005 when visiting Paul and Geraldine Repetto.
Dereck was in the UK to undertake further veterinary training.

Dereck's job as Head of Agriculture
means he has an official role on Ratting Day,
not only to count tales and to measure which one is longest,
but also to ensure there is no cheating.

It was once alleged
that an unscrupulous islander froze some tails
and stored them ready for a later Ratting Day
- but no stale tails get past Dereck!

Editor's Note:
Tristan's farming system is unique. All land is communally owned, and stock numbers rationed to ensure equality throughout the community. All families are farmers, owning their own stock, (cattle, sheep, hens, and ducks), maintaining their Potato Patches, and growing vegetables and salad crops there are around their homes.
In a low-wage economy the Tristan Government also maintains professional Agriculture Department which offers generally free services to assist families with their farming activities, maintaining fences, improving pasture, organising the rotation of pastures, offering veterinary services, advice on feeds, maintaining breeding stock by importing rams and bulls, transporting stock to Sandy Point, The Caves or Anchorstock by sea, organising the prevention of disease (eg through dipping sheep) and co-ordinating Sheep Shearing Day. Dereck is at the heart of all these activities 24/7 and yet, when most people enjoy the relative rest on Sunday, Dereck dons his robes and leads worship at St Joseph's Church.
I well remember having supper one night with Nancy along with my pal Ernest Repetto, his wife Daphne, together with Donald and Joyce Hagan, when there was a knock on the door late into the evening. It was Decky - Donald's cow was about to 'done calf'. So off we processed to the American Fence field where Decky, unassisted it seemed, cajoled and pulled the young calf, live and kicking, out of Donald's cow, as was his routine. All in a night's work for Decky.
Margaret and I spent our last night on Tristan having supper with Dereck and Hilary and will raise a glass to them again on this special day - Saturday 13th June 2015 - when his richly deserved honour, was announced. Well done Decky!