NZW Fellows: Sir Sam Neill Remembered for His Deep Love of New Zealand Wine
Sir Sam Neill made an extraordinary mark on the world, and on the world of New Zealand wine.
"We are very fortunate to have had his wise counsel and resolute support for so long," said his son Garth, in his eulogy to almost 300 mourners.
"His belief was that it was his duty to support his community in any way he could. He never sought leadership but was always ready to lead when he saw a need. His service to his community was a source of great enjoyment and satisfaction to him, it enriched his life and he made many lifelong friends through these associations."
Alan's grandfather, Henry Wilcox, arrived in New Zealand in 1869 and settled at Harrisville, south of Pukekohe. His father, Bob, was one of four sons to become farmers, and Alan came home to work on his dairy farm at 16 at the beginning of the Second World War. He joined the forerunner of the Pukekohe Vegetable Growers' Association (PVGA) in 1943, and was elected to its committee five years later, becoming a life member in 1985.
His younger brother, Graham, joined him on the farm towards the end of the war, and they expanded into vegetable production to supply troops serving in the Pacific. Alan married Peg in 1948 and they enjoyed 72 years of marriage. They had two sons, Rob and Garth.
Deciding that vegetable production offered better returns that dairying Alan leased land in Bombay to grow early season potatoes, before buying land there and building a house. In 1958 Graham returned to dairy farming but Alan continued growing vegetables, joined by his two sons in the 1970s. They gradually built up to cropping over 160 hectares with Alan being one of the firxt growers to adopt the use of forklifts and bulk bins for handling potatoes and onions as part of his ongoing interest in new innovations to improve productivity.
They traded as Wilcox Brothers, and Alan also registered the Pinnacle brand, later taken over by Garth and his son, Simon, which operated until 2007.
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Alan held many industry positions over 40 years. In 1958 he was a delegate to the very first conference of the New Zealand Vegetable and Produce Growers' Federation. He became chairman of its South Auckland association in 1964 and in this role was closely involved in national wage negotiations and talks to control direct settling. He was appointed to the Onion Export Committee on its formation and led three grower tours of the Japanese market. In 1981 he was elected to the executive of the Potato Growers Federation, becoming its vice-chairman in the following year. In 1988 he served for a short time on the Horticulture Export Authority (HEA) before it was disbanded.
He was a director of Turners & Growers from 1973 to 1985 and through this became interested in growing kiwifruit as a semi-retirement project. After a 16-year involvement the vines were pulled out in the early 1990s when the industry hit hard times with the land returning to vegetable production once again.
In the wider community Alan belonged to the Pukekohe Rotary Club and Men's Probus Club and was a Justice of the Peace for more than 40 years. He was a member of various political, sports, and church organisations and still held a current driver's license.
He's survived by Garth, four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
