MINUTES OF CENTRAL OTAGO OLIVE GROWERS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HELD ON 9 SEPTEMBER 2023 AT 125 SMITHS WAY, CROMWELL, AT 1PM.

Present: As attendance sheet - Loretta & Andrew Bush, Craig Affleck, Andrea Barzotto, Gaynor Miller, Steve & Olivia Morris, Denise Bowen & Des Newfield, Lauren Hope, James Robinson, Tony & Lindsay Agate, Neil & Joyce Jubb, Stefan Billing, Neil Fox, Jess Martin & Chad Butson, Ingrid Adamczyk, Sara Lunam, Win & Henrik Priergaard-Petersen, John & Chris Cockroft, Marilou Graham & Murray Kelsall, Tania Lewis, Rhys Jenkins, Angela Booth, Kate & John Wood, Jean & Keith Morgan

Apologies: Received and noted from: Sandy Black, Michael & Janette Hope, Claire & Geoff Kearsley, Bill & Jane Lancaster, Charlie Carnie, Gill Johnson, Steve & Anna Clark, Mark & Helen Chignell.

Minutes of last AGM held on 10 November 2022: These have been circulated. Agreed these are a true and correct record, Steve/Olivia, carried.

Chairman’s Report: Received from Steve Morris, Steve/Loretta Bush, carried. Attached - Chairmans Report 2023

Welcome to our AGM.
We have got back on track now with events being run regularly, the membership is on the increase as well. People are really wanting to get the benefits of EVOO and have a product that is grown from their land.
The Community Day is growing each year and people finding it very beneficial with the members passing their knowledge to the public. This is also bringing new members to the group as they are sometimes looking at planting trees or wanting to learn how to improve their trees.
We ran some other great events with the Long Lunch hosted by Mike & Jannette Hope, this was an amazing day with multiple courses of dishes that had Olive Oil used in them. The bar has certainly been lifted. The group also did the Wanaka Show along with the Arrowtown Easter Markets. These had good numbers interested in tasting Olive Oils, with the Community Day selling well as people liked the idea of the Day. Then we ran a cooking demo at the Packing Shed host by Bec & Barry, it was interesting to see the different ways you can use it. We have another great year planned and we will run some events over the year.
I must thank our committee that keep this group together and organizing these events. We are always on the look out for new members to join; if anyone is interested, it’s not a big commitment with a few meetings over the year.
Hope everyone enjoys today and gets something out of it. - Steve Morris

Treasurers Report: Received from Craig Affleck, Craig/Lindsay Agate, carried. Attached.

Craig reported that there is a good amount of money in the Bank ($8,600.27). The Olive Fertiliser Mix is no longer available from Ravensdown, but Horticentre in Cromwell have some, which Steve can distribute.

Subscription rate for year 1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024: Agreed this should continue at $50 per grove, Steve/Loretta, carried.

Election of Officers: Steve/Olivia to continue as joint Chairs, Craig to continue as Treasurer, Jean to continue as Secretary.

Committee Members: Sandy Black, Tony Lawrence, Andrea Barzotto, Michael Hope, Claire Kearsley, Lindsay Agate.

Events:

Long Lunch – Venue required, usually 2nd or 3rd Saturday in February.

Community Pressing Day: 18 May 2024

AGM, Field Day & Harvest Dinner 2024: 7 September 2024

Ideas for promoting Central Otago Olive Growers: Everyone asked to let Jean know of any events that we could attend. Jean had tried to attend the Alexandra Basin Winegrower’s event, but was not successful.

COOG will not be attending Wanaka Show in 2024, now too expensive.

General Business

Steve reported that Olives NZ will be holding an Oil Tasting Evening on 21 September 2023, information will be sent out by Olives NZ to members, Steve to send out to COOG members (cost of $60pp for members and $120 for non-members had been suggested by ONZ, Steve talked with Emma to reduce price to $60pp).

Steve, Olivia, Craig & Jean were thanked for their work for COOG.

AGM finished at 1.26pm.

Next AGM: 7 September 2024.

Steve introduced Neil Smith who provides commercial contractor services for Harvesting and Pruning,covering the top of North  Island down to Canterbury, regenerating and reshaping trees.

Pruning – depends on what you want to get out of the trees in 5 years time. It would be mostly hand pruning here. Young trees – small amount of pruning will make trees grow bigger.

Neil demonstrated on several of Steve & Olivia’s trees, and answered questions.

Neil was thanked at the Harvest Dinner for coming to Central Otago.