Newspaper Article 1984 – Growers to get a Wake-up call

Growers to get a Wake-up call

Orcharding won out over engines of cars

Colin Wake, the new president of the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association started his working life as a motor mechanic.

But after seven years in the trade he decided the capital cost of establishing his own business was too great.

Orchard land had not risen in price then.

Besides, he wanted to work outdoors and there was the opportunity of working on the orchard of his father, the late Archie Wake, in St Georges Rd.

The home orchard was being run as a partnership by Colin’s older brother, Graeme, and his father.

Both have served on the association’s executive with Graeme serving as vice-president before Cor Dames.

Colin struck out on his own after four years on the home property and bought 6.4 hectares in Norton Rd in 1966.

ln 1971 he bought a further eight hectares in Riverslea Rd, where he now lives. and he has since bought a further 4.8 hectares in Norton Rd which last year were planted in apples.

Apples are his main crop, along with some pears grown on his original block and some Golden Queens which go to J. Wattie Canneries Ltd.

More involvement from growers is the aim of Colin Wake, the new president of the Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers’ Association.

He became president last week at the annual meeting of the Association following the retirement of Keith Spackman after a 10-year turn.

Mr Wake had served a 10 year term on the association’s executive.

The second-generation orchardist plans to give growers a greater opportunity to say what they want by extending the ward system of informal meetings.

The meetings, in four areas of Hastings, were introduced during Mr Spackman’s presidency and Mr Wake said he would like to see the association carry on along a similar course to that his predecessor steered.

“I am not proposing any radical change, because Keith did such a good job,” he said.

The first ward meetings in growers’ sheds were planned for next month and would be held at least monthly unless the association or the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation was holding a growers’ meeting.

Each ward meeting provided growers with a forum to raise issues, said Mr Wake. “It’s much easier for growers to speak their minds when sitting in a packing shed than at a formal growers’ meeting,” he said.

The association would particularly like to hear from new growers who had new ideas and could contribute to the industry.

The meetings were also intended to serve as venues for reports from the advisory committee of the federation and the executive of the association.

“Unless we get a feedback from growers, how can we know that what we are doing for them is what they want?” he said.

All that was being asked of growers was that they give up a couple of hours an afternoon a month.

A topic of interest would be introduced at each meeting, he said.

Ward meetings had been well attended when growers had controversial issues such as the hail insurance scheme or the two-tier capital charge levy to discuss.

Lately numbers had dropped to around 20 at best and those attending were likely to be seen at growers’ meetings.

The association has about 460 members.

The meetings are advertised and are held in packing sheds at Havelock North, Longlands, Twyford and Pakowhai.

Photo caption – Colin Wake … he wants to revive grower interest.