MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Magallanes Corriedale pioneer dies in Punta Arenas.

A leading farmer and Corriedale pioneer from Magallanes Region died this week in Punta Arenas of respiratory complications at the age of 87.

Kenneth MacLean Pettersen, son of a Scotsman and Norwegian mother was born in Santa Cruz province where his father worked in an Anglo-South American bank agency.

After seven years studying in Scotland he returned to Patagonia to make true his dream of farming in spite of his parents insistence he dedicate himself to a more "profitable" and less demanding profession.

Mr. MacLean began working as a cadet in a farm belonging to the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego; he went on to manage a big farm in Rio Verde and later was able to have his own spread, El Trebol in the island of Riesco to fully dedicate himself to Corriedale breeding.

"I always wanted to work in the camp, as a child I even played with animals simulating they were sheep. Actually I became the black sheep of the farm because my parents wanted me to become a doctor", confessed Mr. MacLean in an interview published in La Prensa Austral a few years ago.

In 1997 he described himself as a "Magallanes citizen, 100% Chilean", emphasizing how proud he was to have chosen Tierra del Fuego and Magallanes for growing a family and farming.

At his funeral after a service at Punta Arenas British School Anglican Church four people praised Mr. McLean for this dedication to farming and community affairs: Patricio Almonacid spoke in the name of the Corriedale Breeders Association; the president of Magallanes Region Cattle Breeders Association, Mr. Mario Vega recalled his dedication to farming; farmer Rodolfo Concha from Rio Verde in representation of the Magallanes Regional Council and for the people of Rio Verde the local Mayor Tatiana Vázquez.

A delegation from the British School was also present and the band from the Salvation Army since Mr. McLean was a leading member of the Punta Arenas British Corporation which manages the school; founding member of the local chapter of the Salvation Army and a contributor to the Anglican Society of Punta Arenas.

Mr. McLean leaves his wife Mayo Boyd, four children Rodrigo, Robin, Gillian and Anne, plus eleven grandchildren and four great grand children.

Mr. MacLean had many friends in the Falklands.