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Industry Award For EIT Lecturer

May 23, 2012

Brian Calcinai delivering a GROWSAFE course on EIT Hawke’s Bay campus.

Winning the Joe Bell Trophy for services to the fruitgrowing industry came as a complete surprise for EIT lecturer Brian Calcinai.

Attending this year’s Hawke’s Bay Fruitgrowers Association Industry (HBFGA) function, Brian wondered who would get the award.

Chris Herries of Skeltons then presented him with the trophy.

“I’ve won a lot of awards over the years,” Brian says, “but to be honoured by your peers is really special.”

Brian owns a kiwifruit orchard near Taradale with wife Sue, a former head of school at EIT.

His long list of services to the industry include HBFGA executive member from 1989-93, secretary/treasurer from 1991-93, chairman of the kiwifruit sector from 1989-93, director of New Zealand Fruitgrowers Federation from 1993-1999, a trustee of New Zealand Fruitgrowers Charitable Trust, a representative on Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated Hawke’s Bay, grower representative on Kiwifruit New Zealand Board and a trustee on New Zealand Agrichemical Education Trust.

Much of his work has involved resource management issues, and he was a member of the New Zealand Pesticides Board and other government committees.

Brian graduated as a biologist and worked overseas before returning to New Zealand in 1983.  He teaches horticulture, particularly environmental issues involving the use of agrichemicals, and, as a GROWSAFE trainer since 1992, works with growers and farmers, rural supply and chemical company staff.