IT HAS been 100 years since the "father of irrigation", Sir Samuel McCaughey, passed away.
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Affectionately known today as "Sir Samuel", he died on July 25, 1919 after suffering from nephritis and dying from heart failure at Yanco aged 84.
Originally from Ireland, Sir Samuel was a pastoralist, politician and philanthropist in Yanco where he made his home.
At one point he was in control of the largest flock of sheep in the world, but it was his forward thinking when it came to water and, later on, education, that has ensured his memory continues to live on in Leeton, Yanco and the wider MIA to this day.
In 1900, Sir Samuel bought North Yanco station where he constructed a complex irrigation system with some 322km of channels and used two steam engines to pump water from the Murrumbidgee.
This success persuaded the government to build the Burrinjuck Dam, which was completed in 1927.
Sir Samuel was also passionate about education.
His huge mansion, which he built himself, was given to the state government after his passing to be used for educational purposes.
Today, that magnificent building is home to Yanco Agricultural High School.
Students who pass through the halls and wider paddocks know they are walking in the footsteps of a master mind of agriculture.
Sir Samuel's contribution to the area has always been recognised, but up until recently, there was no real formal recognition of his efforts.
This changed in 2013 when a statue of Sir Samuel was erected and unveiled during a special event at McCaughey Park.
It was also no coincidence the bronze statue's home was designated to be the park named in his honour.
The idea was for residents and visitors alike to be more informed of his work, rather than just the name of a park, and how he really made the area what it is today.
Sir Samuel was buried in the grounds of St John's Presbyterian Church in Narrandera.
However, his hard work did come at a cost, he never married and didn't have a family of his own.
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