Lincoln University records with sadness the passing of loyal alumnus and former Council member Brian Kennedy Cameron BAgrSc of Ashburton. 

Brian died on 4 December aged 93. 

Brian entered Lincoln in 1952 and thus began a lifetime of remarkable engagement with the university, starting with membership of the Executive of the Athletics Club and debating Club in his first and following years, membership of the Students' Association Executive in 1954 and Presidency of the Association in 1955. 

He was a member of the 1st Soccer X1 in 1953 then switched to rugby and was a member of the 1st XV in 1954. Brian represented Lincoln University in Rifle Shooting and Athletics at NZ universities tournaments and won a NZ Universities Blue in Athletics. He also won a Canterbury championship in hurdles and various Lincoln University athletics championships. 

After graduation, and later in life, Brian went on to be an executive member of the Lincoln University Alumni Association for 10 years and Alumni President for two years. 

In governance service to the university, Brian was a University Council member for 20 years, all in parallel with a deep involvement in a farming career and with his local Mid Canterbury community. 

In 1963 Brian bought his first farm property at Pendarves, near Ashburton, and established a farming partnership with wife Norma, who has always been a stalwart by his side. 

For 25 years he hosted student class visits on his farm properties and was a farm tutor for four years. 

Brian pioneered underground bore irrigation systems in Canterbury, and he sank the first deep irrigation bore in Canterbury (possibly in New Zealand) and became the first farmer in Canterbury to use permanent underground mains. He was a foundation Chair of the New Zealand Irrigation Association and for 30 years chaired the Rakaia Irrigation Association. 

The New Zealand Agricultural Cooperative Association was another area of huge involvement, and he was first Chair when it was formed in 1982. He was regarded as the 'father' of the agricultural cooperatives movement in New Zealand. 

He was too, closely involved in his local Federated Farmers branch and was a delegate to the Mid Canterbury executive. 

Brian was a gentleman through and through, and the last one to draw any attention to his vast and various service to Lincoln University and to farming, agriculture and the land. Lincoln University can be proud of such an alumnus and was delighted to award him the Bledisloe Medal in 2001 for advancing New Zealand's interests and enhancing the university's reputation. 

A Memorial Service for Brian will be held in Ashburton on Tuesday 10 December at 2.00pm.