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Six months after his family took over what is now Village Berry Orchard, manager Chris Hunt (left) still gets to call on former owner Geoff Meade’s experience and advice
Family traditions continue at historic Gisborne orchard A Gisborne orchard with a family connection going back more than 100 years changed hands in July, but former owner Geoff Meade says while the family name has changed, its heart remains. By Kristine Walsh “We went out to celebrate the sale and to see the new owners’ enthusiasm, and the way they interacted and had fun together,” Geoff says. We knew we had made the right decision and these were the right people.” Geoff’s own connection to Bruce Estate dates back to 1920 when the original settler family, the U’rens, sold the property to John McMillan, grandfather of Geoff's former wife, Kath Jones (née McMillan). The Estate was then passed on to Kath’s parents, Bruce and Melba, who established the two-hectare property just out of Gisborne as a successful vineyard. In 1978, Geoff and Kath took over to allow Bruce and Melba to retire and indulge their love of travel. A year later, Geoff,
a teacher, was out on a field trip with students while Kath and their one-year-old daughter, Kirsten, headed west to Auckland to collect her parents, who were due back from their trip of a lifetime. Then they received the worst news imaginable: Bruce and Melba’s flight – Air New Zealand Flight TE901 – had gone missing over Antarctica and was eventually confirmed to have crashed into Mount Erebus, killing all 237 passengers and 20 crew on board. “It was the worst of times, the most horrible of times, and of course, even worse for Kath,” Geoff says. “That was why we named the orchard Bruce Estate and that is where I put most of my energy over the next few years.” The ORCHARDIST : DECEMBER 2021 37
