STORY - "Not the Mount of Olives ... but Bunna Bunoo"
By Trish Bogan  

“Leaving there, He went, as He so often did, to the Mount of Olives” (Luke 22: 39-40)

The origins of Chris and Irma Iacono are deeply entrenched in Italy , their families came from a township on the island of Lipari , in northern Sicily . There almost every garden grows a few olive trees, somewhat akin to the traditional lemon trees in Australia . So it seems natural that the family tend over three and a half thousand olive trees in their extended backyard in the rolling hills of Vacy.

This multi-talented family have been visiting the area for the last 20 years. As fondness for the area grew, so also did their hopes, a yearning for their own local patch of earth. They initiated a search with simple criteria, “A farm with a cow, a pig and a chook”. They saw a property that looked ideal, but discovered it had several thousand olive trees; there were many misgivings. They viewed fifteen further properties, but kept returning to the original. They thought “We're Italian and we love olives.” so they purchased Bunna Bunoo .

They have quickly adapted to farm life. When he is working amongst the trees, Chris feels he is continuing the experience of his ancestors. “Coming from an Italian background, I feel very comfortable with the olive trees.” Irma sees a striking connection between their olive grove and the ancient practice of olive farming from biblical times. When she strolls amid the olive trees, she recalls Jesus walking a similar path thousands of years ago. “We are doing the very same thing as the olive growers did in Christ's time.”

Chris says, “We were under no illusion when we bought the olive grove, we knew it was a working farm, not somewhere to sit on the verandah and drink chardonnay.” They knew nothing about farming, and Chris admits, “If you had said to me three years ago that we would own an olive grove, I would have said you were crazy.”

Although Irma and Chris have not yet made the complete “sea change”, still dividing their time between Sydney and Vacy, their ultimate plan is to move to the farm permanently in the near future. Meanwhile Greg, the eldest of their four children who had never been to the “bush”, gave up his Sydney position and now manages the farm, having quickly adjusted from city life to this demanding and different work environment.

Being city born and bred, Chris admits it has been an extremely steep learning curve. The Iacono's have educated themselves by attending national conferences, seminars, travelling thousands of kilometres and devouring available information. The challenge of caring for so many olive trees would seem daunting to most, but they were raised with a deep faith and positive attitude and learnt early that great effort earns higher rewards. Although olive farming is labour intensive, Chris says, “We love it here, it is quiet and pristine, it is nature and perhaps I am becoming more of a conservationist.”

The transition has at times been tricky, but they are developing the property into a quality commercial boutique olive grove. They grow five different varieties of olives, two of which produce superior virgin olive oil, and another two exclusively for table olives. They process their table fruit themselves, but the processing of their oil producing olives is done elsewhere, then returned to be stored, bottled, labelled, packed and ‘farm-gate' sold.

Soon they will realise “stage two” of their dream. The farm will be opened to day tourists following completion of a shop, office and facilities. Included will be an outdoor area for visitors to relax, enjoy a ‘cuppa' and admire the exquisite view. They will sell their oils and table olives as well as local produce. Irma's herbs and authentic home-cooked Italian cuisine will be another feature, as well as her beautiful artwork.

There is no doubt that religion plays a significant role in their lives, this generous couple are greatly respected and involved in both their Sydney and Gresford parishes. They believe that they were “led” to Bunna Bunoo. When surrounded by their olive trees, they sense a greater bond to their family, faith and farm. Just as Jesus prayed amongst the olive trees, so too does the Iacono family.

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