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| Dutch Courage Leads to a New Life in Circular HeadJeamba and Monique Van Melick with
Olivia, Matthew and Pip Cunningham | When Matthew and Pippa Gunningham two years ago employed Gerard Mulder to manage their Mawbanna dairy farm, they had never met him. But the Gunninghams knew firsthand that uprooting a family in Europe and starting a new life across the world proved firm commitment to a job.
“Gerard had good references, we talked on the phone and he made a good impression,” says Matthew. “And we knew as English immigrants ourselves that you don’t come all this way for nothing, so we gave it a whirl. It turned out very well – the Mulders did a great job, and became great friends as well.”
The Gunninghams were so happy with the experience that they sponsored another Dutchman to replace Gerard. This time Matthew had actually met and interviewed Jeamba van Melick but the main reason for employing him was again the level of commitment he showed to the job – transplanting his family from Holland.
To help the transition in farm management and settle the van Melicks in, Jeamba had six months working with Gerard at Mawbanna before Gerard’s two years were up.
“It meant that we had continuity in the process, and things have gone very smoothly,” Matthew said.
The Gunninghams are also an immigration success story. Disillusioned with dairying in England because of red tape, high costs and other factors, they visited New Zealand and Tasmania to view opportunities and bought at Mawbanna. Since moving in 2000 they have expanded that farm and bought two more in Circular Head, milking almost 2,000 cows altogether with plans to grow further.
Expansion made labour an important issue, and when a local manager did not work out at Mawbanna and chance led to Gerard Mulder – through Dutch neighbour of the Gunninghams – sponsoring someone from overseas made sense.
“It provides surety as they sign a two year contract,” said Matthew. “The Mulders had told us that they wanted their own farm in the end so we could plan around it. Everyone wins.”
Sponsoring was much easier second time around as the Gunninghams had gained a sound grasp of the paperwork. Chance again played a part when the Englishman Matthew had lined up for the job fell through and Jeamba was found at short notice by an agency.
Also happy with this are the Gunningham’s children, Henry, 8, Millie, 7, and Olivia, 3 – they now have four playmates living on their farm in the van Melick brood.
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