We are continuing our ‘Five minutes with…’ summer series, where we slow down the pace to celebrate some of the people who make our district tick.

We’ve put the same five questions to a range of residents to find out a bit more about who they are and get their unique take on life in our region.

Today, we catch up with Terry Davis, the man behind some epic Central Otago rogaines and adventure races. He also works with the Otago Goldfield Heritage Trust and, this year, he’s part of the organising crew bringing the world’s best gold panners to the region to compete in September. 

1. What was one of your very first jobs, and what did it teach you?

Terry: One of my first jobs was fencing in the Nevis, with my brother Warren, camping up there in a stone hut, cooking over an open fire.

The key thing I learnt was that it's not appropriate to crimp a detonator with your teeth before inserting it into the stick of gelignite (for exploding rock so you can dig out a post hole).

2. When the holiday crowds arrive, where is your secret spot to escape the heat?

Terry: I like to go high to escape the heat - the tarns just below Mt Pisa are incredible.

3. It’s peak stone fruit season: Cherries, apricots, peaches or nectarines - you can only pick one. Which is it and what's your favourite way to eat it?

Terry: Cherries, the second pick cherries - bigger and sweeter. I pop the whole cherry in, eat the flesh off the stone then just swallow the stone (less messy that way).

4. What is a hidden talent or weird party trick that nobody expects from you?

Terry: I can draw. I enjoy drawing trees and rocks.

5. Complete this sentence: "You know you’re a local in Central Otago when..."

Terry: You turn up at a BBQ and someone brings meat they just hunted and someone else brings cherries they just picked off their tree.