Spud stalwart receives gong

A Cuthbert farmer's immense contribution to the potato industry was recognised in Perth last week.

Laurie Eldridge, 76, was heralded as an icon and received a lifetime award from the Potato Growers Association of WA last Friday.

Mr Eldridge spent his early 20s picking spuds on Narrikup farms before buying his own property, Mindaree Downs, in 1965, at age 25.

During the past 50 years, he has progressed from hand-picking eight hectares of two seed potato varieties using a hessian bag hooked around his waist to harvesting 40ha of six types straight into half-tonne bins.

Mr Eldridge was PGAWA Albany zone chairman for 22 years, association president for 13 years and responsible for introducing several new disease-resistant English varieties into Australia in the 1980s after a disease outbreak threatened the industry.

Mr Eldridge said he still enjoyed working 12-14 hour days in summer and 9-10 hour days in winter from when planting started around September until harvest ended around May, despite shrinking profit margins and having to adapt constantly to changing seasonal conditions.

"Every year brings something different," he said.

The humble septuagenarian said he was surprised to receive the accolade.

"When I found out I was really humbled and proud," he said.

"I was very honoured and surprised, really, because I never ever expected it at all.

"When I served all those years and put my time in, I never sought any gain for it.

"It is just something I love doing."