Tonight we’re inducting Walter Gill and Simon Gundry into the North Harbour Business Hall of Fame – a business partnership and friendship that has endured over 50 years.
Gill & Gundry – the business, grew out of two Devonport and Takapuna Grammar lads’ thirst for hard work. They started digging the foundations for what they term ‘sausage flats’ being built on the North Shore in the early 70s. It was work not many wanted to do.
For young Walter and Simon it was more enjoyable than the three month stints they had spent in insurance and herd testing respectively!
Remuneration was 25 cents per hole. They could dig 100 holes a day which returned them $25 a day. It was the start of Gill & Gundry and their main work in the first decade, 1970-80. They worked in subdivisions such as Sycamore Drive, Sunnynook Drive, Maxwelton Drive, Chatswood and built relationships and gained respect that’s helped over decades.
While working hard the duo were increasingly involved in the two sports that they loved. For Simon it was sailing; for Walter it was as a thrower in athletics. Both reaching heights – Simon sailing around the world with Sir Peter Blake on Ceramco and Lion New Zealand, and Walter excelling in Shotput and Discus at a national level.
Walter Gill has put a great deal back into athletics as an administrator, coach and is now just as famous for being the father of Jacko – a Supreme AIMES Award recipient at the age of 15 and more recently a Commonwealth Games medallist.
In the early 80's Gill & Gundry was ready to expand – things got serious. They started employing people, bought diggers and trucks, and in the mid 80s expanded into block work, concrete floors etc. – but kept on digging!
They’re very proud of employing hundreds of ‘good young men’ offering them the opportunity to learn how to work hard and succeed.
Wisely, early on they started investing in their own property portfolios. There is also an interest in a major New Zealand residential home building business.
While they have never shouted about their philanthropy – once they were doing well, Gill & Gundry started giving back. Their generosity to their community has been a constant.
This has been to their chosen sports of athletics, rugby (their beloved North Shore) and yachting – and to cricket, surf lifesaving and many others. They also support Rosmini College and the Wilson Home Trust.
Many of their contributions to giving a hand-up are under the radar, we do know that they’ve been supporting a school in Uganda for many years.
Walter is the unassuming one. Simon says Walter’s happy just getting on and doing things. Simon is the higher profile and the talker of the two, but clearly this is a perfect match in business, with massive mutual respect. They say they don’t socialise a lot together – only around twice a year – but they complement one another in business.
Simon was awarded a QSM for services to the community in 2013 – recognition he says should have been split. He’s also a Life Member of North Shore Rugby Club.
Tonight we celebrate two people who have contributed massively to the North Shore, in business and the community – Walter Gill and Simon Gundry.
