Linda Hall: Food fanatics sadly missed

Patricia Small

My first reaction to the news that Food Hawke's Bay would be closing its doors was shock. Then I felt really sad.

I have worked closely with its manager, Patricia Small, for the past year or so.

She and her co-worker Adele Fitzgerald, were always looking for ways to promote their members, as I'm sure all employed by Food Hawke's Bay were.

Patricia has been writing a popular weekly column for our indulge magazine, highlighting the wonderful and diverse local companies either in food production, processing or supply and service.

Her columns were always interesting as she went beyond the faces of the industries and told of their history, philosophies, people behind the scenes and loads of interesting little titbits.

Every time I spoke over the phone to Patricia she had new ideas about ways in which to promote members.

It is such a shame that these organisations are going to lose the support of such passionate people.

Food Hawke's Bay has organised the successful Hospitality Awards for years and this year, it introduced The Best Brunch in the Bay, which was a great success.

I'm sure there was a heap more to come from these people.

Unfortunately the fight for the dollar is tight in all industries and Food Hawke's Bay chairman Phil Pollett said the number of organisations and agencies offering support to businesses in Hawke's Bay had grown over the years and "there is stiff competition for support funding from Government and local councils, and for sponsorship investment from private sector businesses".

"In this environment, Food Hawke's Bay has not been able to offer a sufficiently differentiated service to sustain the level of membership it needs to remain viable, or to attract funding from other sources."

So, sadly the lack of funds couldn't result in anything else other than the closure of the organisation.

I hope its members manage to find someone or something that will give them the level of support they received from Patricia and co.

I wish all the team at Food Hawke's Bay the best for the future. I'm sure that with your skill and knowledge of all the good things that grow here, you will "pop up" somewhere very soon.

Look out for Patricia's final column in this Saturday's indulge magazine.

Well, the eyes of the world are on the Rugby World Cup and, while I have to admit I'm not a big rugby fan, I do know some of the big star's names.

I'd guess that if you asked 100 school kids who Richie McCaw was, they would all get it right. Ask the same 100 who John Key was and some might struggle.

I don't recall an All Blacks team ever being in the public eye as much as this one.

They, along with Rugby World Cup news, have been on the telly every night for what seems like months.

So even I gasped yesterday morning when I read that Japan beat South Africa after a winning try by former Bay man Karne Hesketh.

The unexpected is always far more interesting than the predictable, for the winners anyway. I might just have to follow a lot more closely.

There will be some glum faces (dare I even say it) if the All Blacks don't live up to the expectations of hundreds of thousands of fans.

Go the All Blacks.

-Linda Hall is assistant editor at Hawke's Bay Today.