Geoff and Gill Brann had no experience in forestry before they bought their property at Roydon Downs in 1963 but today they are being honoured for their work in the industry. Source: Bay of Plenty Times
The couple has received the Queen’s Service Medal for their contribution to forestry and the community as part of the New Year 2015 New Zealand Royal Honours.
“I think there’s a lot of other people around that are definitely more deserving. It’s definitely an honour anyway. We were both a bit taken aback by it,” said Mr Brann, 73.
“We’ve got an award for just doing what we enjoyed doing.”
Mr Brann had a background in farming but struggled with major erosion on their land when they moved to the region, which prompted them to plant trees to combat it.
They became involved in Scion’s early research trials of agroforestry – the simultaneous practice of tree and pastoral farming on the same property.
Their property was a key demonstration area monitored by Scion and the farm was used by the Bay of Plenty Regional Council as a showcase for wise land management.
Mr and Mrs Brann are members of the New Zealand Farm Forestry Association and Mr Brann served as national president.
The Branns also developed their property for free recreational use with huts, confidence courses for children, walking tracks and horse trails alongside the river.
Mr Brann’s father built a hut for their children, which they and their friends continued to stay at regularly as they grew up.
“We could see there was a need for it so we built another three huts then converted the wool shed from there,” he said. “I think the Bay is desperately short of those sort of parks.”
A couple of months ago, the couple sold the remaining 121ha and moved to Te Puke.
Mr Brann was also involved with mountain safety, has been part of Land Search and Rescue and now volunteers to clean, plant trees and do maintenance at McLaren Falls Park.
The couple has also run life skills tramping trips for youth in the Urewera Ranges.
Mrs Brann, 69, was involved with the Brownies for many years, is a driver for Meals on Wheels in Te Puke and, in 2007, established Women on Wheels, a social cycling club that now has more than 100 members.
