While he still conducts maintenance work about twice a week, his son, David, who lives nearby across the Hume Highway, has mostly taken over most of the duties.

“I'd like to do a bit more but I've got a fair bit of arthritis. But I’m still very keen in rearing sheep,” Mr Hazell said.

“I’d spray the odd thistle, we're very conscientious about thistles. And of course rabbit control,” he said.

Mr Hazell was born in Boorowa and moved to the 550-acre property in Bookham in 1958 where he began raising sheep, mostly merinos.

Mr Hazell was one of three sons born into a family of farmers.

“My father reared us on about 1000 sheep.

When he began in Bookham, there were about 500 sheep.

“With a struggle, we grew that to about 2000 sheep today. As we obtained subdivisions and reticulated water, it became possible,” he said.

Asked about the most challenging years, he cited droughts as some of the “most trying times” and a bushfire in 1985.

“It was certainly the bush fire in 1985. It was a terrible time and Iremember  the noise of the bush fire coming over the hills.

“It was just a roar, just a tremendous roar of the fire,” Mr Hazell said.

He said they were fortunate to have lived through it.

“Our lives were never threatened, but certainly we lost two-thirds of the property and grass and about two-thirds of stock.

“We recovered and fires like that actually galvanised people together and help each other, to become closer,” he said.

In 1962, he along with Keith Ross and Bill Paiting, both returned soldiers, established the Bookham Agricultural Bureau, an association to advocate for and advance the primary industries in the village and surrounding areas.

“The idea actually started on our verandah here, where we all became office bearers.

“It’s about constantly learning and continuous improvements as a collective,” Mr Hazell said.

The bureau, which currently has about 60 members from 40 properties, also helped established the annual Bookham Sheep Show and Country Fair, in which Mr Hazell and his wife, Noeleen, took top honours on numerous occasions.

Ms Hazell said “I’ve been on the land ever since marrying Bruce in 1960”.

Besides securing the winner’s accolades at the show times, the pair also added first prize from the Farm Inventor of the Year Competition in 2013, hosted by The Land.

Their invention “A Rattling Good Fat Scorer” helps judges the fat and lean conditions of livestock.

On reflecting about the changes to raising sheep between his peak farming days and today’s industry, Mr Hazell said one of the big differences was the change in the merino sheep.

“The model has changed dramatically in 60 years – to put it best, they’re more breeding show sheep for looks rather than productivity in meaning wool and fertility.

“Most of them are more like crossbreds – they are much easier to shear,” he said.

He also said that collaboration with numerous key people over the years was key to longevity.

“I’ve worked with and sought advice from many. One in particularly is Phil Graham, who was an outstanding man in his job,” Mr Hazell said.

Mr Graham recently had a farewell dinner with the Bookham Agricultural Bureau for 30 years of services to the NSW Department of Primary Industries in Yass Valley.

Mr Hazell also thanked Fiona Leech at the South East Local Land Services.

“She’s marvelous, so dedicated,” he said.

In his time off and in between work and shows, Mr Hazell visits Barney’s of Bookham for chats and laughter with other community members.

When asked about National Agriculture Day on Tuesday, November 21, Mr Hazell said it was an occasion to encourage young people to consider a life on the land.

Yass Valley residents can celebrate the event at the NSW Farmers’ Country Connections Canberra launch in Braddon, ACT.

For details and other events in regional NSW: www.agday.org.au