Taranaki’s farming community have done it again, raising a whopping $32,000 for the region’s cash-strapped hospice.
Two years ago it was market gardener Eddie Hollard’s, of Dave’s Patch, deep admiration of the region’s hospice which motivated him to grow fields of maize in order to donate all the proceeds.
To do so required not only Hollard’s vision but extensive networking skills to pull together the specialist agricultural companies to help him make it happen. They also donated their services and time thereby ensuring maximum returns to Te Kahu Pairuri Hospice Taranaki.
Growing a healthy crop was very much a team effort, Hollard says. Many of the key players had first hand experience of the excellent support that hospice offered the Taranaki community. In addition to caring for the patient and giving them dignity, the hospice also offered support to the family to help them move on, says Hollard. “Everyone around you needs hospice.”
In 2024 it was an impressive three-and-a-half hectares which was grown on his rich horticultural land in Brixton. At that time he made a promise he would repeat the fundraiser. This year he’s upped it to four hectares.
There was an extra curve-ball to navigate this season. Ex-Cyclone Vaianu was bearing down on the North Island. The key players whipped into action just days before the crop could potentially be flattened.
“It’s a big project,” Pioneer Brand Products’ Alan Bunning said. His company donated the maize seed but the ground had to be prepped then fertilised and planted, he points out. “You have to wait till it grows and then you have to find someone to buy it.”
Oslo’s Dave Geraghty played a big part in donating thousands of dollars worth of fertiliser, Hollard says. Another major job was provided by JCH Contracting. “They did all the ground prep: the ploughing and rotary hoeing,” Hollard says.
Chris Thomas of Westown Agriculture’s team carried out the harvesting and transport – at a time when the price of diesel went sky-high. But Thomas points out it was Hollard who provided the land for the crop and was the main man in making the ambitious project happen. “He had to pull everyone together. It just proves if you band together you can get support for a great cause.”
Everett Park farmers Kelvin and Marie Clince are delighted to purchase the whole crop for winter feed for their cows. They arrived last Thursday to watch the harvester at work and admire the prime 2.4m-high crop.
“We like hospice and it’s good to help out. Everyone’s a winner. How can you go wrong,” Clince says.
Dave’s Patch manager Eddie Sutton, believes the Clince family have purchased an excellent crop. “It’s been a very good growing season. There’s been moisture without the humidity. Everyone’s crops are doing well this season.”
Hollard has again put the crew on notice. “It is something I’d love to do again next year.”
Dave Geraghty (Osflo), Chris Thomas (Westown Agriculture), Eddie Sutton (Dave’s Patch), Kelvin Clince (farmer) with Lucy, Alan Bunning (Pioneer Seeds), Eddie Hollard (Dave’s Patch), Hamish Thomas (Westown Agriculture), Marie Clince (farmer) and Michael Clince.
