Magazine Article 1982 – Woman grower creates a first

WOMAN GROWER CREATES A FIRST

Mrs Barbara Brookfield (nee Maxwell) created a first among Hawke’s Bay fruitgrowers at the Annual General Meeting of the H.B. Fruitgrowers’ Association when she was elected to the Executive Committee.

President Keith Spackman said she was the first woman to stand, as far as he knew.

Mrs Brookfield, a fruitgrower at Clive, won the fourth position for election in a four-way contest.

The other successful candidates were sitting members Messrs Graeme Jones and Colin Wake, Hugh Robertson, a third-generation fruitgrower, farming a family orchard established by his grandfather, Mr A. M. Robertson, who was a Director of NZ. Fruitgrowers’ Federation for a record term from its inception in 1916 until 1945. Hugh’s father Ian continued to run the well-known ‘Bute’ Orchard in Pakowhai Road, Hastings until Hugh took over the property.

Keith Spackman was re-elected unopposed as President for a further two-year term.

The Executive Committee for the 1982-83 year is:-
President: Keith Spackman.
Vice-President: Cor Dames.
Executive Committee: Barbara Brookfield, Ray Cartwright, David Cooper, Brian D’Ath, Rex Graham, Graeme Jones, Hugh Robertson, Colin Wake.