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Country Life: Mud, Muck And Merinos - 600 Stellar Stories From Cosmo Kentish-Barnes
Many of Cosmo Kentish-Barnes' 600-plus stories have started with a cup of tea.
The veteran Country Life producer is hanging up his gumboots after 17 years recording rural life for RNZ's rural feature show and podcast.
From tailing to tupping, poultry to pigs and devastating floods to catastrophic earthquakes, there aren't many sounds of rural life that have escaped his two microphones.
With his recording machine - a vintage Sound Device - strapped to his waist, a camera slung over his shoulders and a microphone in each hand, Cosmo has wandered high country stations, kayaked up rivers and sat around many farm kitchen tables having a yarn over a cup of tea.
That cup of tea is essential to getting people to open up, he said during an interview on his last episode.
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Cosmo grew up on a dairy farm in England and has a soft spot for Jersey cows.
He has ranged widely over the South Island as Country Life's lone producer there, researching, recording, scripting, editing and sound mixing each story himelf.
"It's has been an absolute honour to share so many amazing rural stories with our listeners here and overseas."
Sometime he gets pulled into the story, in more ways than one, whether it be on horseback, in the stockyards or even on the ice rink.
Cosmo is planning to work on more creative projects, including a film about a lightbulb collector, and recording people's oral histories.
"Capturing people's stories in their own voices is something I really care about and I believe it could bring real joy and value to families and future generations."
You can contact Cosmo about having an oral history done at: cosmokb@yahoo.com
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.
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