![TRUSTED CONFIDANT: Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson co-founder Peter DeGaris, Penola, is retiring at the end of June after nearly 50 years in the game. TRUSTED CONFIDANT: Thomas DeGaris & Clarkson co-founder Peter DeGaris, Penola, is retiring at the end of June after nearly 50 years in the game.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/38Deqn27HisdktPPRtKmxju/1d7cc0ad-0976-431f-8dd8-bb3d9be4bb16.jpg/r0_305_2848_4261_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
As a fourth generation stock agent, Peter DeGaris was born for the role.
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And almost 50 years after he became one, he is putting down his notebook and calculator. In this time the Penola-based agent has earned widespread respect among his clients, fellow agents and the buying fraternity.
He has also served on numerous committees, and was national president of the Rural Marketing Agents Association – a network of about 140 independent agencies Australia-wide – from 1999 to 2003.
As a child, Peter remembers his father Jim constantly on the phone to clients. He would often go with him and remembers getting up early to drove sheep up the main street of Naracoorte before anyone was about.
He has vivid memories of his father selling stud rams, cattle and pigs at the Royal Adelaide Show.
It was a natural progression when Peter started at Elders Naracoorte in 1966, where his father was the manager.
This was followed by a stint at Elders Bordertown, before two years’ national service including time in Malaya and Vietnam from 1968-1970.
On his return he was based at the Loxton branch and then Peterborough, Strathalbyn and Meningie.
It was at Elders Strathalbyn in 1973 that he would meet his wife Valmai.
The following year they were married and he secured a transfer to Elders Penola, living on their Killanoola property where they raised a family.
In 1988 Peter and Elders manager Ron Thomas decided to go out on their own and approached David Clarkson to manage the internal side of the business.
Thomas DeGaris and Clarkson was born.
The early years were challenging with sheep almost worthless after the collapse of the wool Reserve Price Scheme and Elders canvassing heavily, but he says it was humbling the number of farmers who gave TDC a go.
At the time, the major pastoral houses were pulling staff out of the regions.
Close to 30 years later, TDC has a strong foothold in the SE and western Vic with 23 staff covering livestock, real estate and insurance, including a valuation arm Southeast Property Valuers at Naracoorte
Among them is son Mark – a real estate agent and TDC director.
Throughout the years Peter has travelled extensively, buying sheep from northern SA, VIC and NSW markets, and cattle at the Vic mountain calf sales and Tas.
His greatest job satisfaction has been the client relationships he has built.
“You get very close to people,” he said. “We are the first ones to hear when grandma dies or someone is in a car accident or someone wins the lottery.”
Approaching his 70th birthday, Peter says it is time to retire at the end of the month to spend more time with Valmai, who has been a tremendous support.
He is looking forward to more time on the farm, which is being run by daughter Kerry.
“I will probably still duck off to the odd bull or ram sale with a few clients but my day-to-day operation of TDC is history,” he said.