A Genealogy of Success

James White [1844 – 1915]

James White emigrated from Ireland with hundreds of other free settlers in the mid 1800's. He made his way to the picturesque south where he planned his new life in Moriac. In 1874 James heard about land stakes going in the Otway Ranges and so he and his wife Ellen and their six children packed up their belongings and made the journey.
Lot 49B in the Pennyroyal Valley was the beginning of their dreams of growing and harvesting fruit and vegetables from the land. James' son Martin took a particular interest in forging a living from the land particularly in growing berries.

Martin White [1876 – 1956]

Martin and Emma had 9 children and earned a living from the land growing and delivering luscious mixed berries to Lorne and the surrounding areas. Martins' second eldest boy Colin was a quiet, conscientious boy who took a particular interest in tending to the popular berry canes and the weekly distribution of the berries gave him deep satisfaction.

Colin White [1900 – 1974]

As a young adult, Colin White purchased 135 acres of land in the Pennyroyal Valley from his father Martin. He had a wooden home built and positioned on his land, transported all the way from Beeac. His bride Thelma busied herself making the house a home while Colin built milking sheds for his dairy cows and set out the perimeters for his vegetables and precious raspberries.
Colin delivered the fruits of his raspberry canes to the local jam factory for their jams and also to many local farmhouses. As the demand for the berries increased he knew he would need more help picking and tending the berries for the orders. Luckily for him, Colin's two sons and three daughters were willing helpers.

Neil White 1939

Neil, Colin's second son is now the proud proprietor of Summer Sensations Café and Berry Gardens. He uses his mother Thelma's age old, award winning recipes to make the delicious range of jams, dessert sauces and vinegars on offer. Neil also grows strawberries, raspberries, boysenberries, silvanberries, blackberries and loganberries which he sells to the local people who come by the café and to several local fruit and vegetable outlets. He is passionate about providing quality produce and products for his customers who come from far and wide to sample all that Summer Sensations has to offer.
Growing up on a farm himself, Neil feels just as comfortable ploughing the ground to plant another 20 thousand strawberry plants as he does organizing the Golden Plains Food and Wine Festival held on his property each year. Showcasing local produce is something Neil has always been very passionate about.

Natalie White 1969

Natalie, Neil's second daughter grew up on the farm and found her life took her far and wide before she returned to the land three years ago(2004). Natalie runs the Café at Summer Sensations with her mother Diane and together they produce many tasty, wholesome treats using Neil's freshly grown produce. Natalie tends to the berries when the busy season is upon them, picking and packing and filling orders where required but her special talents are creating berry treats for their many customers to enjoy.