Gympie macadamia grower Brice Kaddatz has taken out the Australian macadamia industry’s most prestigious award for his outstanding contribution to the world-leading industry.
Mr Kaddatz received the the Norm Greber Award for his long-standing commitment to helping Australian macadamia growers improve their productivity, as well as the pivotal role he has played in the conservation of macadamias in the wild.
The Norman Greber Memorial Trophy is named after industry pioneer, Norm Greber, who was the first person in Australia to successfully graft macadamias.
Macadamia Society Chief Executive Officer Jolyon Burnett said Mr Kaddatz was an invaluable asset whose diligent work has helped advance the Australian macadamia industry in a myriad of ways.
“Brice is an industry stalwart, full of unbridled enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge,” Mr Burnett said.
“He has inspired hundreds of Australian macadamia growers to strive to improve their on-farm practices and his dedication to each individual grower is to be highly commended.
“He is also a great ambassador and advocate for the wider industry, especially new and prospective growers, overseas delegates and visitors, and has helped shape the future of the Australian macadamia industry via his role on the Australian Macadamia Society Board over the last four years.”
Mr Kaddatz’s career in the Australian macadamia industry began in 2002 at local processing plant, Suncoast Gold. He spent 13 years there as a field/grower liaison officer, getting to know almost every macadamia grower on the east coast of Australia before his retirement in July.
Born and bred in Mackay, the former business owner, sugar cane and cattle farmer kick-started the macadamia industry in his home town by conducting the first ever open forum on the macadamia industry there in 2003.
In more recent years, Mr Kaddatz became well known for his passionate work in the conservation of macadamias in the wild and is currently the Chairman of the Macadamia Conservation Trust.
Mr Kaddatz said the award was a great privilege.
“This is a great honour that has been bestowed upon me,” Mr Kaddatz said.
“I am humbled by the fact I was considered worthy to stand alongside some of the other recipients of this award.
“The Australian macadamia industry has given me so much more than I’ve given it and I am much richer for it. I look forward to working in the industry for many more years to come.”
In accepting the award, Mr Kaddatz paid tribute to long time friend and macadamia historian/grower Ian McConachie, also from Gympie.
“Ian’s enthusiasm is contagious and there is no greater enthusiast than Ian,” Mr Kaddatz said.
“He has been a source of absolute inspiration for me.”
