Smales Farm’s Fantail & Turtle bar and eatery has become a destination on the North Shore since it opened in 2018.
The person behind Fantail & Turtle is Travis Field. Travis is a big personality and known as a real giver, factors that have played a big part in the success of the business over the past four-plus years. While he lives on the southern side of the Harbour Bridge, Travis has quickly immersed himself in the North Shore community and added a great deal. Travis Field is also the Chair of a wonderful not-for-profit called Big Buddy, which is all about building confidence and resilience in the lives of boys (aged seven to 14 years old) whose fathers are not around. He’s been a trustee of Big Buddy for 12 years and chair for the past six years. Aidan Bennett profiled Travis and his new business in Channel Magazine just over four years ago as it was opening, in late 2018. During March he caught up with Travis to talk a little bit of business, but mostly about Big Buddy. He was particularly keen to talk about an event coming up in August – The ‘Big Buddy Big Night Out’, their inaugural gala dinner to be held at the Auckland Town Hall.
The name Fantail & Turtle has a connection to Travis Field’s involvement in Big Buddy. “Turtle” was the nickname of his best mate. Sadly, Turtle passed away 15 years ago after an illness, leaving his twin eight year-old sons without their dad. Big Buddy played an important part in the lives of those boys in the ensuing years. Travis witnessed the difference the organisation made, so got involved.
Under Travis Field’s chairmanship, Big Buddy has continued to grow and make a difference. A recent milestone has seen the organisation reach 1000 Big Buddies.
“Over 1000 good men have stepped up and as a result over 1000 Little Buddies have been matched with Big Buddies since 1997,” says Travis Field. “We have seen the positive contribution that Big Buddies have made to the lives of the boys they are matched with. It's not just that they get to do more ‘blokey things’, the Little Buddy's confidence grows, they smile more and become happier.
“A telling statistic for me was from Judge Andrew Becroft, who was the children’s commissioner from 2016 through until 2021. He reckons the number one statistic of boys in front of judges was no father in their lives. That’s not to say all boys without a dad around turns to crime, but men are over-represented in bad mental health, violence, incarceration, and suicide statistics. A good man showing up at a pivotal time in a boy’s life can be medicine to prevent those statistics and to create a happy, healthy man for our country.
“We have a good number of Big Buddies on the Shore. In fact we had over 60 at a BBQ we had at Long Bay recently.”
Together the ‘Buddies’ enjoy the simple things in life – like walking the dog, throwing a ball around, spending time together. This regular contact and genuine interest in a Little Buddy’s life provides a real anchor for him as he grows up.
“Travis gives so much of himself as the Chair of Big Buddy and in one sense is a ‘Big Buddy’ to me as CEO,” said Big Buddy CEO Paul Burns, when we approached him to discuss Travis Field’s contribution. “Trav balances a big, caring heart for boys who don’t have their dads with his business acumen and governance skill to inspire and motivate everyone around him. His creativity, humility and commitment to reach more boys has strengthened Big Buddy during his many years as a trustee and the last six years as Chair.”
Fellow tustee Mark Talbot says that Travis is one of the most inspirational and genuinely passionate leaders he's ever worked with. “He truly ‘walks the talk’ with his thoughtful, considerate and wise approach to his role as Big Buddy Chair. The growth of the organisation during his tenure as Chair has been exceptional.”
Travis is one of four trustees who make up the governing entity, the Big Buddy Mentoring Trust. All four have a North Shore connection. Amanda Wilson and Mark Talbot both live on the Shore and Emma Butcher was head girl at Long Bay College. The organisation is also supported by the fundraising efforts of the Big Buddy Foundation, those members include Jeff Meltzer (Chair), Grant Fox, Rachel Calcinai, Clare Wilson, Grant Porteous. Travis and Mark Talbot are also members.
Travis says that he’s constantly busier with Big Buddy than business these days, but this is clearly something he’s passionate about and he’s not known for doing things by half.
“I’m taking a lead on our inaugural ‘Big Buddy Big Night Out’ gala dinner in August and would love the support of the North Shore community in both attending the dinner as well as supplying much-needed goods and services. This is going to be a big celebration of our 1000 milestone and will be a fantastic evening. We want to celebrate this significant number of Big Buddies stepping up.
To relax, Travis Field enjoys golf, drinking beer, wine and whiskey. I’m surmising that what he enjoys most are the people he’s sharing those pastimes with. Travis and his wife Sue have a daughter Bella (25), and son George (22), and enjoy getting away to their cottage on Waiheke as much as possible now that the youngsters have ‘fled the nest’.
Travis is clearly a real leader and we congratulate him for the contribution he makes to Big Buddy and all the community things he supports – and what he has brought to the North Shore since opening Fantail & Turtle. It’s not surprising that he also works in the leadership consultancy space, offering a unique perspective having led in business, community, sport, charity, whanau and the military.
Big Buddy offers its services in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga and the Wellington regions with plans to expand in the future. The safety and happiness of the Little Buddies is paramount. Therefore the Big Buddy selection process is known to be the most discerning of any agency or club in New Zealand.
For more information visit bigbuddy.co.nz
