News

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Geoff Garratt — former AMS President, pioneering macadamia grower, and a much-loved figure in our industry — who passed away peacefully on 6 June at the age of 102.

Geoff was a passionate advocate for macadamias and a steady guiding hand during key moments in our industry’s development. His leadership, generosity, and unwavering commitment helped laid the foundations for the strong, united industry we know today.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Ursula and the Garratt family during this time.

Geoff Garratt led an extraordinary and full life, marked by resilience, innovation, and service — with nearly fifty years devoted to the macadamia industry and the Australian Macadamia Society (AMS).

His adult life began with bravery and commitment, serving as a navigator in Lancaster bombers over Europe during World War II. He often credited his survival to the skill of his pilot — a remarkably experienced "old hand" at just 23 years of age. 

Upon returning home, he settled in Grafton as a trained watchmaker, where his strong sense of community and natural leadership saw him elected Deputy Mayor.

After moving to Sydney and working in real estate, Geoff’s entrepreneurial spirit flourished. He developed a lasting connection to macadamias through his friendship with Paul Mendels from The Nut Shop — a family business that still roasts and sells macadamias to this day.

Never afraid to take risks, Geoff pursued a variety of ventures over the years. Some, like his prawn trawler and a brewery project in Timor, faced unexpected setbacks — including the latter being cut short by the Indonesian invasion. Yet, Geoff’s ability to pivot and persevere, was a hallmark of his character. Fortunately, he was able to retrieve some of his losses by selling the brewery plant to the Philippines.

In Gympie, Geoff dedicated 18 years to Skill Centred, an organisation supporting disadvantaged individuals through employment and training. He went on to serve as Board Chairman, and in recognition of his service, a new section of the organisation was named in his honour.

In 1976, convinced of the potential of macadamias, Geoff purchased ‘Macadamia Integrifolia’ from Bernie Mason in Gympie — an orchard of 1000 trees originally planted by Italian internees after WWII.  In the late 1950’s and 60’s, it was among the largest macadamia-producing orchards in the country. Geoff topworked many of the trees, embraced organic farming methods, built a processing facility using equipment he designed himself, and successfully marketed his own kernel. He actively worked the orchard well into his late 90s, only stepping back in 2020 at the age of 98.

Geoff’s contribution extended far beyond his orchard. He joined the AMS in its early days and was elected to the Management Committee in the late 1980s. In 1994, he stepped into the role of President, guiding the Society through a particularly difficult period. Known affectionately as the People’s President, Geoff led with wisdom, humility, and a deep commitment to unity. He helped professionalise and stabilise the organisation, ensuring it represented the entire industry and was well-positioned for future growth. 

His quiet strength, wisdom, and genuine kindness made him a respected leader and a true friend to many. In the Gympie community, he was fondly known as "Gentleman Geoff" — a reflection of the warmth and integrity he brought to everything he did.

He served on the AMS Board for nearly a decade and remained an engaged and valued member of the macadamia community long after his formal leadership ended.

Geoff’s passion for the macadamia industry never faded, and his influence continues to be felt across the orchards, businesses, and people he inspired. He will be deeply missed and remembered with great respect and gratitude.

A memorial service to honour Geoff will be held at 2:30 pm Saturday 19 July at the Gympie RSL. All are welcome.