Orchardist and businessman Noel Plunkett farewelled

The family farmed a 129 ha mixed sheep and dairying property at Moyhu in the King Valley, and Noel had to walk several miles to attend Moyhu Primary School.

Noel wasn’t particularly fond of school, and there are tales of him disappearing on horseback. He was much happier helping his father on the farm.

Around the age of 10, Noel began trapping rabbits — his first business enterprise. He would leave the carcases beside the railway line, and then after school collect the money the dealer had left in a tin can for him.

An increasing interest in mechanical things resulted in him leaving school and taking up an apprenticeship at Timm’s Garage in Moyhu.

Noel recounts the story of getting his truck licence during this time, and said he arrived at the police station in Moyhu for the test, and the policeman sent him off for a drive while the policeman stayed behind and talked to Noel's father.

In 1964, Noel and his parents moved to a dairy farm in Cornish Rd, Ardmona, to take advantage of the more reliable farming conditions offered by irrigation.

It was during this time that Noel met Margaret Anne Lenne, at a Young Farmers meeting.

Noel and Margaret were married on April 18, 1970, and in 1972 Noel left dairying, and for a short time worked as a mechanic with the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission.

After the death of Margaret’s brother and mother, Noel and Margaret moved to the orchard to care for Margaret’s elderly father Fred.

After Fred’s death in 1973, Noel took over managing the orchard, which culminated in Noel and Margaret buying the family orchard in 1980, continuing the Lenne family's association with the fruit industry for the past 130 years.

Noel quickly adapted to the fruit growing industry, and was able to indulge his love of machinery, heavy transport and irrigation, eventually moving into cool storage and grading.

In 1974 Andrew was born, and Paul followed in 1976.

In the 1970s the orchard comprised mostly of canning varieties grown for the Ardmona factory in Mooroopna, and the off season was relatively quiet, which enabled Noel and Margaret to consider outside business opportunities.

In the 1980s, Noel set up and opened Ardmona Irrigation, with Roger Lenne, which they ran until the 1990s.

The Rodney Motor Inn in Mooroopna was constructed in 1987, in partnership with three other families.

GV Crop Protection, a farm chemical supply store, was opened in Mooroopna in 1994.

Noel was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1998, but thanks to some radical treatment, it was brought under control.

In 1999, the family purchased the Starritt Rd property and began planting the next year. A few years later another property was purchased in Cornish Rd, and then a further property in Starritt Rd in 2010.

In 2004, Noel was importing used Kubota tractors from Japan, and started working with Tom Hogan. They formed a very close relationship, with common interests in mechanics, and buying and selling machinery.

Central Park Produce, a wholesale fruit agency in the Brisbane Markets, owned and operated by Carl and Margaret Rachele was a major customer of the Plunketts, and in 2005 an opportunity arose for the family to join their business.

As production from the Ardmona orchard increased the packing shed slowly expanded, with Noel in the centre of any new building project.

The culmination of Noel’s projects was the recent upgrade of the fruit packing equipment.

Son Andrew, who worked alongside his father for 25 years, said he had been a mentor, a boss, a colleague and a friend, offering good counsel, encouragement and an unwavering ability to keep moving forward.

Fruit Growers Victoria grower services manager Michael Crisera said Noel was a respected figure in the Goulburn Valley who was recognised for his entrepreneurial skills and his capacity for hard work.

“He enjoyed a good reputation as a progressive businessman,” he said.

Noel died at home on February 14, at the age of 78, after a long battle with cancer. He was interred at Mooroopna cemetery on February 23, and a memorial service was held the same day.