Many stories start in unexpected places. This is the story of how a young boy’s passion can become something bigger than anyone can imagine.
It started in the Manning Valley –on a wandering fertile strip of land either side of the Manning River. It was on the banks of the Mighty Manning, on a verdant property once the historic township of Wingham, "Bungay", that young Peter Matuszny and his parents, Alex and Chris and sisters Sally and Jane appreciated and enjoyed a good farming, family life together.
Growing up in idyllic surroundings, with the Manning River providing a changing and sometimes challenging existence Peter grew to love the country in all its climatic states, blue skies and grey, summer thunderstorms, winter frosts, dry spells, floods and blistering winds.
Nevertheless in the Manning Valley it is mostly lush and mild. Pure water, fertile soil and low levels of pollution characterise the rolling farmlands where crops and herds thrive, and so do chickens.
Peter’s interest in poultry began as a 12 year old and continued unabated till his parents finally succumbed to a handsome flock of birds at the Sydney Royal Easter Show when he was 14. Less than a week after the show, Alex and Christina had collected the small flock and the rest of the cackle from a farm in Western NSW.
The hens thrived under the perfect Manning Valley conditions and in gratitude for the new lease on life produced eggs at a phenomenal rate. Without too much fuss, a commercial venture was emerging. The local community quickly accepted the eggs and the concept of Manning Valley Free Range Eggs- Nature’s Intention was conceived. The whole Matuszny family became egg collectors, packers and distributors.
Manning Valley Free Range Eggs grew under the careful scrutiny of Alex and Christina. In the beginning the produce was distributed to local quality outlets in the Manning, Great Lakes and Hastings areas. With such a good product the Matuszny’s were heartened when interest went much further a field. Today Manning Valley Free Range Eggs are sold throughout supermarkets in NSW and ACT.
Peter finished school and then his building apprenticeship. As a qualified builder, Peter’s interest went to building state of the art hen sheds on the family’s newly acquired property at Upper Lansdowne. The chickens are now able to free range during the day combined with state of the art, secure efficient sheds for night accommodation.
These days, Peter and his parents have many thousands of free range hens, producing huge numbers of eggs. They employ many local people on the farm, in the packing sheds, more in freighting and distributing and sales reps within and around Sydney. They also have imitators, a sure sign that they have done something right.
Peter’s hobby and interest in chickens has led the family into an emerging and dynamic marketplace- towards fresh free range and organic produce. Armed with their mission statement "Preserving the past, protecting the future" Manning Valley Free Range Eggs will undoubtedly reach their ultimate goal- of achieving large scale free range and organic farming.
It was Peter’s passion for chickens that started all of this. He now runs the business with his parents - that’s why 12 years later he is called the "Amazing Egg Boy".
