In this interview William Alexander “Bill” Sheddan reflects on a lifetime shaped by farming, building, and community in rural Southland. Raised on the family farm at Crookston, he recalls daily farm work, school journeys by horse and buggy, local traditions, and the close-knit communities of the Tapanui district. After developing an interest in carpentry, he completed an apprenticeship and worked on major construction projects throughout New Zealand, including Roxburgh Hydro, Milford Sound, Wanaka, and Benmore. He recounts marrying Mary Priscilla Pelvin in 1955, raising a family, building his own home, and adapting to changing farming practices.