Jennifer on John
Growing up on a dairy farm in a small community I had an idyllic childhood. Tree huts and animals filled my day. My grandparents lived just across the paddock.
Being the eldest daughter, with two younger brothers, as a child it was very much Mum and I,
and Dad and the boys. They hunted eels, possums and deer and built boats.
Mum and I were baking, shopping, gardening and sewing. There were wonderful summer holidays on the boat when Dad left the farm and we simply sailed away for four weeks
As an adult I have developed a closer relationship with Dad. When he sold the dairy farm he wasn't about to head to bowls or golf.
Instead, he headed to Tonga on his boat, fell in love with the people and the island of Vava'u.
Before we knew it a vanilla plantation was established with a village.
He asked me, "What can we do with vanilla?"
A man of few words but definitely a man of integrity and action, his vision and passion for Tonga and vanilla has been passed to me, my husband Garth and our two daughters, Anna , 15, and Paige, 13. Tonga and vanilla has very much 'sealed' our adult relationship. Dad has provided me with a project and a passion.
My previous life as an accountant wasn't really "rocking my world"!
As a team we have all the bases covered in building Heilala Vanilla into a global brand. Having seen my brother Geoff's journey with 42 Below (he founded the company), this provides Dad and I with inspiration and a close mentor. It's a family dream team.
John on Jennifer
When I sold the family dairy farm I took my boat to Tonga and fell in love with Tonga and then vanilla. The vanilla farm came about after I spent time helping the community after a cyclone in 2002.
I began researching the crop, travelling to various parts of the world to learn about growing vanilla. I knew that the farm wouldn't be sustainable as a business or in supporting the local community if we simply sold vanilla to global commodity traders, as it would be subject to huge price fluctuations. We had to sell the product ourselves.
Jennifer grabbed the opportunity, visited local restaurants, met with her brother Geoff, and came back and said, "Dad, I think we could create a vanilla brand". Ever since, we have been on this journey.
Now Heilala Vanilla is growing it is definitely more than a retirement project, it is a business.
Being a dairy farmer and also building large boats as Jennifer was growing up, unless she could milk cows or hammer a nail then there was very little father- daughter direct bonding. Now we are definitely bonding over vanilla and Tonga.