April 2004 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand

8/9/2019 April 2004 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand

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Strengthening Rural Communities Page 1

O F F I C I A L J O U RN A L O F RU RA L W O M E N N E W Z EA L A N D I S S U E N o . 2 , A p r i l 2 0 0 4

Floods of compassion

Schools under review

Branch line

Submissions and issues

in this issue...

As public attention gradually recedes withthe flood wa ters, Rura l Wome n New Zea landmembers continue to support the heart of

flood-damaged communities.

For anyone flying over the lower North Island in late February,

the view from the air was sobering indeed. Vast expanses of

shimmering lake existed in place of the normal green patchwork

of farms. From high in the air, the extent of the floods was

astonishing, for those on the ground it was devastating.

When families started leaving their homes, rural women were

opening their doors to local refugees. One such woman is KarnBurke, the wife of a Rangitikei farmer, who took in over 40 people

during the worst of the floods. Even with the power off, she and

her helpers managed to feed between 50-100 people a day.

At the same time, Karn would make a trip down to Scotts Ferry

every day with a tray of jellimeat to feed the displaced cats and

dogs. At the height of the floods she recalls people worrying

about their domestic animals, which frequently disappeared in

fright as homes were evacuated. Thanks to her care, these

homeless cats and dogs have slowly been reunited with their

owners.

Then there was Dawn Nitschke, the Minister of the historicScotts Ferry Church who played Camp Mother to the local

evacuees. Since the flood water started receding, she has moved

barrow loads of silt out of her church, and set up services at the

local school while the old building dries out.

After living at Scotts Ferry for fifty years, Dawn has seen it all before. But she never fails to be heartened by the power of

community spirit to transcend the worst.

These are only two examples of how women in flood stricken

communities throughout the region have helped to take care of

details and keep the goodwill flowing. There are many more like

them, mucking in and providing support in ways that dont grab

the headlines, but are necessary nonetheless.

Rural Women New Zealand recognises that people will need to

draw on the strength of their communities to help them through

the long months of recovery that lie ahead. The Red Cross has

donated funds to support community gatherings organised byRWNZ. These social events provide the opportunity for a

collective debrief, enabling people to talk about their troubles

and share their experiences.

The first of these gatherings was a Thanksgiving dinner held at

Opiki on the Manawatu river, attended by around 200 locals and

cleanup workers. Among the helpers were army personnel who

became valued members, albeit temporarily, of this community

and many others. Speeches and thanksgiving prayers reflected

the goodwill that these people now share.

Rural Women members from throughout New Zealand have also

rallied to help flood affected families. A flood fund totallingover $36,000 (as at 31 March) was accumulated through

donations from individuals, branches and provincials around the

country. This money is available for those in the lower North

Island and Marlborough regions seriously impacted by the

February storms.

Whangaehu River - Wanganui area: Photo by Jeanette Hicks

Floods of compassion


2/8Strengthening Rural CommunitiesPage 2

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l by Ellen Ramsay, National President

It is ironic that, while

some areas in the

South Island are in

varying stages of

recovery from the

impacts of a

prolonged drought,

families in the lower

North Island are

suffering from the

enormity of the

affects of widespread

flooding.

This flood has left much devastation in its wake and,

as many families come to terms with the consequences

of this event, we are very grateful for the high level of

moral and financial support our members have given

to assist families as they get back on their feet.

Members have clearly demonstrated concern for the

welfare of rural families. Ongoing support will be needed for

some time to come.

Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is relieved that the School

Reviews are on hold but has some sympathy for communities

caught in an irreversible position now.

The Governments promise of better resourced schools does not

mean better education for students - particularly rural students. A

new computer only provides information. A student requires good

education in order to use information properly.

Our Paper on how communities still facing school reviews may

go about influencing the outcomes has been valuable and sought

after by many groups, including one interested in conducting

research on the effects of school closures on children.

In February a group of members, mostly those who had recently

accepted positions of responsibility in their Regions, came

together in Wellington to participate in the annual Wellington

Experience. This opportunity provided participants with a taste

of how RWNZ operates at national level.

Learning how the parliamentary process works, meeting Membersof Parliament, visiting Ministries associated with our core

business, spending time with relevant Corporates and discovering

how our National Office functions made for a full programme.

As a result of this degree of exposure to so much information,

members have returned to their Regions armed with fresh

knowledge and enthusiasm that will enable them to be more

effective at local level. Be watching for new initiatives in your

area.

As my term as National President draws to a close I would like to

thank members for your support and for the ongoing commitmentyou have to ensuring that RWNZ remains an effective voice for

strengthening rural communities.

If there is one thing Ive learned from rural living, its to be wary of

free animal offers. When I first moved to the farm, I was surprised

by the speed at which my neighbour offered me a goat to help

conquer the blackberry in our front paddock.

Her name is Myrtle. Shes great - shell eat anything, said Bev

from next door, who went on to explain that Myrtle was an Arabianmilking goat.

Weve never milked her though, Bev quickly added.

I was reluctant to part a family from their beloved milking goat, but

Bev was insistent. The generosity of this neighbourly gesture was

reinforced by the delivery of Myrtle within a matter of hours. I

came home to find a noble-looking animal chained to the fence,

haughtily chewing grass.

Hello Myrtle, I said, pleased at the arrival of my new automatic

weed-eater.

The goat stared back at me with a look of casual malevolence that

haunts me to this day.

I could see from the start that my relationship with Myrtle was

governed by ancient goat-laws I had yet to fully understand. These

laws were based on a social structure determined largely by physical

mass and temperament.

Myrtle and I were approximately the same weight, so we were even

on that score. Where she clearly outranked me was in her

spectacularly bad temper, which she expressed with the aid of her

eloquent horns. Within a short space of time, Myrtle had established

herself firmly as the alpha female and there was nothing I could doto dethrone her from this position. It quickly became clear to me

(a) why Myrtle had never been milked, and, (b) why Bev was so

keen to get rid of her.

On the frequent occasions that Myrtle broke her chain and started

pruning the roses, I had the Mother-of-All-Battles getting her back

on the wire. When she wasnt digging in her toes and refusing to

budge, she would be rearing up to full height on her hind legs with

all the ferocity of a grizzly bear preparing to charge. As intimidating

as this was, I had to admire Myrtles ability to stand her ground.

She was always clear about what she wanted and where she wanted

to be.

After living in the front paddock for several years Myrtle became

strangely endearing to me. The complexity of her goat psyche was

as compelling as it was terrifying. I never knew why she was so

pathologically grumpy, but she did do a great job on the blackberry.

Despite the less appealing qualities of Myrtles nature, I still

mourned when she passed away. Even when old and frail, she

maintained a level of staunch resolve that was admirable in a goat

half her age. From our various battles, I gleaned many lessons of

value to a budding rural woman. Having had the ultimate teacher in

assertiveness training, I can honestly say that few things faze meanymore. And as a role model in tenacity, Myrtle was second to

none.

In short, she prepared me well for rural womanhood.

Margaret Richardson

C onfessionsof a Rura l Woma n


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d r i nk i ng w a t e r g o e su n d e r t h e m i c ro sc o p e

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) has

issued a report discussing the implications of a Health

(Drinking Water) Amendment Bill. This Bill seeks to

regulate the standard of raw water for domestic supply.

It will impose greater controls on source water (and

surrounding land use) for drinking water and put the

onus on farmers to ensure their water supply complies

with international standards.

The level of impact that the Bill will have on land uses

that surround raw water sources will be dependent on

the water quality and the ability of the landowner to

comply with those standards. Depending on what

regulatory controls are imposed, this could mean

compromising productive capacity and/or increasing compliance

costs through resource consent applications.

Federated Farmers and Rural Women New Zealand have joined

forces to lobby MAF regarding the implications of this Bill on

rural landowners. As a result of this pressure, MAF agreed to

issue a new draft of the report on 31st March that takes better

account of the rural perspective. Of particular interest to RWNZ

is the focus on current risk areas identified as:

smaller network suppliers who are not adequately monitored.

self suppliers.

suppliers of tanker water who are not participating in voluntary

registration and monitoring processes.

RWNZs intention is to see that rural people in these risk areas

are not unfairly penalised. A submission is being prepared toaddress the issue of increased compliance costs, due 30th April.

h o m e sc h o o l i ng

Every young person between the ages of 6 and 16 must be enrolled

at a registered school. Exemptions are granted in cases where

they can be taught equally as well by an alternative means, or if

special education is required. This puts the onus on the parents

to satisfy the Ministry of Education that the child will be taught

at least as regularly and as well as in a registered school. The Act

does not say that the parents have to teach the child.

Rural Women New Zealand questions whether sufficient standardsare being maintained for children whose parents are either

negligent or too busy to provide adequate supervision.

n a t io n a l o ff i c e a c t iv i t i e s

Rural Women New Zealand is persuing the following issues:

Education

Rural Women New Zealand continues to provide support

for those wanting to influence school review decisions in

their area. See page 4 for more information.

Bulk funding of schools is proposed for special needschildren. Will this system work in the stundents favour?

Health

Are rural women able to access free breast screening?

DHB elections - what is the best way to use the preferential

vote under STV?

Are rural children being seen by Dental Therapists?

How are families coping with drug dependency issues

following the closure of Hamner Springs?

Social

The Government is looking at the feasibility of the paid

parental leave scheme to include self-employed mothers.

It is hoped that financial relief will be forthcoming to assist

rural mothers who do not have the luxury of taking leave

from their workplace when children are born.

Land

How can soil stability be improved through strategic

planting programmes in flood prone areas?

s u b m i s s i o n s

Rural Women New Zealand has recently made the following

submissions:

GE labelling of food through the Australian Senate.

Waitaki Scheme Process of Consultation.

Project Aqua - Meridian.

Submission to Foundation for Research, Science and

Technology (FRST) to fund fire research.

Education Review - Invercargill, Timaru, Matakoa, East

Coast, South Egmont, Wairoa, Taihape, Grey Valley, Hutt/

Stokes Valley.

p u b l i c i t y

m e d i a r e l e a se s - (see ww w.rura lwom en.org)

Rural Women call for improved dental care, 23 March.

Rural Women join Red cross to boost flood morale, 22

March.

Rural Women applaud Mallard U-turn, 24 February.

Rural Women tackle school reviews, 23 February.

Rural Women welcome boarding bursary increase,

12 February.

E-newslet ter

To go on the e-newsletter mailing list, contact

[email protected]

i n t e r n a t i o n a l d o n a t i o n s

It is RWNZ policy to support its own charitable functions,

however this does not preclude Branches and Provincials from

collecting on behalf of other charitable organisations. The

Constitution 3.2.3 states that money donated to outside

organisations should be made out of funds raised for specific

events or out of investments.

n e i g h b o u r i ng so u t h p a c i f ic f un d i n gThis fund is for natural disasters of extraordinary proportion

made on a case by case basis. RWNZ recently donated $10,000

to Niue, channelled through VSA.



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sq u e a k y w h e e l s

When the boarding bursary increase was announced earlier

this year, it was living proof that squeaky wheels eventually

get some oil. Jacky Stafford recalls that National Council

members have been campaigning the Minister for several

years on this issue. If we did not keep on raising these

legimate concerns with Government, our needs would be

completely overlooked. That is why the persistant voice of

Rural Women New Zealand is so important in advocating

for rural communities.

Current National Council from left: (back row) Tini Wetting

(Region 5), Sherrill Dackers (Deputy President - Region 7),

Patsy Gordon (Finance); (front row) Margaret Chapman

(Region 2), Rhonda Riddle (Region 1), Hazel Nicholls (Region

3), Barbara McPhee (Region 6), Ellen Ramsay (President) and

Jacky Stafford (Region 4).

While the National School

Review has been ca lled to a

ha lt, the soul-sea rching

continues in many areas.

Photo by Jeanette Hicks

The school review process sentwidespread alarm through communities as

lists of schools were earmarked for

merging or closure. Now that ongoing

reviews have been put on hold, Rural

Women New Zealand welcomes the

opportunity to set emotion aside and

determine what is truly best for the children.

Mediators are currently working in areas already

subject to review. To help those who have the energy

left to fight, RWNZ has issued an Education Review

booklet. This information has also been picked up by

Public Health promoters in Christchurch, working closely with

the Mental Health Foundation. They are compiling material to

help adults and children through the period of change and loss

associated with school disruptions.

One of the regions hardest hit from a rural perspective is South

Canterbury. The Timaru district alone contains 34 schools of

which 15 are expected to be closed. Twelve of the schools in

jeopardy are in rural areas, and councillor Margaret Chapman

has been personally involved with two of them. Hilton School

has served our area for 130 years, and three generations of our

family have gone there. Naturally, I will be very sad to see it go.

Having served on the schools Board of Trustees, Margaret

concedes that the roll has seen a decline and many local families

have chosen to send their children into the nearest alternative

school at Geraldine. In a small school, children are often in the

same class as their siblings, and this can create problems in some

cases.

Although staffing has not been an issue for Hilton Primary School,

Margaret says that some rural schools suffer from difficulties with

variable teaching standards, where one sub-standard teacher can

have an impact on children for many years.

As RWNZs Education spokeswoman, Jacky Stafford agrees.

The process to have a teacher removed for genuinely poor

performance is very long and difficult. Rural schools are left with

their children being taught by often that one teacher for several

(if not all) of the years they are at primary school.

The other affected school dear to Margarets heart is Pleasant

Point High, at which she used to be a teacher. Some children

already travel at least 45 minutes on a bus to get to the school. If

it closes they will have to go even further into Timaru.

The Ministry of Education is quick to cite examples where school

mergers and closures have worked in favour of the community.

Rural Women New Zealand is not so sure. The time has come to

take a hard look at where the reviews have worked and where

they havent. In areas where children are forced to travel

unacceptable distances, there are still serious issues to resolve,

says Jacky.

As hard as it might be to accept, Jacky points out that some schools

are genuinely in decline. Communities must now use this

opportunity to be proactive and look at how their local school

network can best be sustained. There is potential to be really

innovative about how these challenges can be overcome.

Rural schools can offer a unique experiences for many children,

on top of a good standard education. In our next issue we will

take a look at what successful rural schools are doing to not only

survive, but to thrive.

s c h o o l

reviews



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wel l ington exper ienceThe Correspondence School (TCS) has played an integral role in

many rural families for over eighty years. With more than 20,000

students, it is now New Zealands biggest school, by far. TCS

was originally set up to ensure all New Zealand children,

particularly those from isolated families, had access to education.

Nowadays, it provides education for students of all ages and

abilities up to secondary level.

TCS caters for a diverse range of students from early childhood

to adults, and those with special education needs. Students are

aged between 3 and 93 years. The scope of TCSs service has

extended to the point where they are compelled to revisit their

strategic plan and take a close look at the nature of their business.

This exercise will involve dialouge with key interest groups

including Rural Women New Zealand, whose long association

with the school gives us a keen interest its welfare and operation.

TCS will be holding discussions to determine what they do

effectively and where they need more support. School funding

will be considered as part of this process.

Correspondence recalled

Anne Finnie is one of many Rural Women New Zealand members

who did her schooling out of envelopes. Based on a sheep and

cattle farm in back-country Wairarapa, Anne attended a small

country school at Mara which used TCS course material to assist

unqualified teachers. Eventually the school closed and Anne

became a full-time Correspondence School student. She recalls

the excitement of receiving new packs in the mail, and the routine

of working through her studies every morning. We had usually

finished our coursework by lunchtime, so after that I was free to

roam the hills. When Anne took to breaking-in and traininghorses, she enjoyed the flexibility that Correspondence studies

allowed.

During her home schooling years, Anne was supervised by her

mother, Elfie Thomas, herself an ex-Correspondence School

student. Elfie became a strong advocate in the successful campaign

to see parents receive payment for supervising their childrens

education. At the age of 80, Elfie Thomas is still living at Mara

and remains a member of Rural Women New Zealand.

The Wellington

Experience wasvery stimulating.

I gained a

valuable insight

into the amount

of work put into

s u b m i s s i o n s ,

both by those

submitting, and

by the politicians on the Select Committees.

I appreciated meeting members from all over the country. and

realising that many of the problems they experience in their areas

are matters that affect us all. Witnessing the respect that politicians

and corporate leaders have for our headquarter members was very

reassuring, and impressive.

Margaret Pittaway - New president Central Otago Provincial

(pictured at right with Anne Finnie)

Timon Maxey of The Correspondence School creates

illustrations for use in educational material. TCS rates as one

of the most popular ports of call during the annual Wellington

Experience.

the cor respondence school rev is i ted

Landcorp Farming Ltd has sponsored RWNZs Wellington

Experience for the past 13 years. As a Stated Owned Enterprise,

Landcorp is the countrys largest agricultural enterprise running

1.4 million stock units - sheep, beef, dairy cattle, deer and goats

- on 110 separate farms totalling 369,025ha.

Through Landcorps generous sponsorship, RWNZ members are

able to visit Wellington and gain some insight into legislative

processes and the many organisations that serve rural interests. It

is also an opportunity for members to meet National Office staff

and learn about how the organisation seeks to influence

Government decisions on behalf of rural communities.

Participants: Linda Begg (Otago), Margaret Pittaway (Central

Otago), Margaret Chapman (South Canterbury), Bev Bagrie (Mid

Canterbury), Bella Swarbrick (Hurunui), Elaine OConnor

(Nelson), Anne Finnie (Tararua), Patti-Jean Banks (Rangitikei-

Oroua), Wendy Miller (Tauranga), Joyce Lawrence (South

Taranaki), Margaret Vickers (Central Taranaki), Jennifer Nickel

(Piako-Waikato), Alison Woodcock (Rodney) and Fay Keane

(North Auckland).



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e welcome to new friendsBlenheim: Julia Dawkins, Patricia Dobson.

Cromwell: Carol-Ann Blaikie, Mysie Sutton, Sue

McLean.

Individual: Bubbles Otway - Warkworth, Maureen

McCool - Hamilton.

Kenepuru: Roberta Preddy, Judith Orchard, Pene

Gregar, Adi Watson, Irma van de Linden, Melanie

Ayling, Liz Wheeler, Verla Smith.

Lyalldale: Margaret Fletcher.

Makarau: Alison Todd.

farewell to old friends

Blenheim: Margaret Currie.

Colville: E.M. (Peggy) Goudie.

Kohuratahi: Phyllis Kjestrup.

Lyalldale: Alma Pye.Mangantangi: Ethel Cummings.

Mangapiko: Monica Robertson.

Myross Bush/Southland Prov: Maureen Stenton.

Oamaru Evening: Iris Harvey.

Paerata: Gladys Petherbridge.

May They Rest in Peace

honours board

Branch Life Membership

Hamilton: Wyn Bramley.

Branch Bar of Honour

Cromwell: Claire Davis.

Provincia l Ba r of Honour

Rangitikei-Orua: Dawn Nitschke, Margaret Harris,

Kay McKinnon, Dulcie Powell.

Note: These members were incorrectly listed as Branch

Bar of Honour recipients in the last magazine. (My

apologies - Ed.)

a w a rd w i nn in g t e a m w o r kRural Women New Zealand will reap ongoing benefits from

winning the award for the Best Indoor Site at the Northland

Agricultural Field Days in Dargaville. The organisation, which

won free sites at the 2005 field days, sublets space on two

adjoining sites to rural businesswomen who lack the resources to

participate independently in the three-day event.

Northland members give much of the credit for the win to the

excellent exhibits by the rural businesswomen who shared the

sites. Rural Women New Zealand promoted the work of the

organisation and its Women in Agribusiness groups which aredeveloping a strong following throughout the region.

This is the third year the organisation has shared sites with rural

businesswomen, an initiative that ties in with Rural Women New

Zealands aim to strengthen rural communities.

Provincial Bar of Honour recipients from left: Margaret

Harris of Scotts Ferry Branch for her work with Access

HomeHealth; Dawn Nitschke, also from Scotts Ferry, whoruns bus tours for rural women and their husbands; Dulcie

Powell who has been a mainstay of Tutaenui Branch; and

Kay McKinnon, a popular leader of the Rangiwahia

Branch.

Top Team Northland: National Councillor Sherrill Dackers, left,and Mary Dale Taylor on the RWNZ stand which won the bestindoor site award at the 2004 Northland Agricultural Field Days.

rura l womentea m up

Team Walking: The Mid Otago Provincial Team who took part inthe New Zealand Masters Games 10km Walk in Dunedin,

February 2004.

Pictured left to right are: Joan Wilson, Ellen Ramsay, PatMacaulay (manager) Donna ONeill, Lesley Peddie, Liz Keastand Barbara Richards.



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A C W W a p p o i n t m e n ts

RWNZ members Val Tarrant and Jeanette Tarbotton

have been re-elected to their current positions at the

recent Associated Country Women of the World

(ACWW) Conference in Hobart. Congratulations are

extended to these former RWNZ Presidents.

l e a d e r sh i p t r a i n i n g

RWNZ has discussed a proposal with MAF to use

Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF) money for

leadership training in the rural sector. In the past, a

scattergun approach has seen a range of organisations

pursue their own training initiatives with varying

success. The SFF is already supporting a Young

Farmers initiative for leadership training. and is

calling for a coordinated approach between rural

organisations to target resources more effectively and

avoid duplication of effort.

bo a rd room for h i re

The National Office has upgraded its meeting roomand is making the space available for hire. Preference

will be given to charitable organisations who require

affordable facilities for holding meetings and

seminars. For more information contact Lillian on

(04) 473 5524 or [email protected].

i n t he w a k e o f w e l l i n g t o n

Wellington Experience participants are required to complete

a community project of their choosing. We look forward to

hearing about the progress of these initiatives in coming

months.

h o n d a h o u se

Honda House is a popular Bed and Breakfast owned by

RWNZ. Located right next to the National Office in

Thorndon, it is close to Parliament and central Wellington.

For bookings, phone Shirley on (04) 473 7670.

Team Building:

Members at the

Region 5

conference in

Rotorua work

together to

make an egg

fly!

Regional councillor Sherrill Dackers says the win is a fantastic

bonus for the organisation and an incentive to do even better next

year. Our participation in the field days stretches our budget, so

were incredibly excited by the prospect of being at the field days

for free next year.

The Northland event is the second biggest agricultural field day

in New Zealand.

Ever wondered what our esteemed leaders get up to atRegional conferences? President Ellen Ramsay enjoys a foot

massage at the hands of Executive Officer, Jo-Anne Stokes

- Region 5 conference. (Watch out Jo-Anne, National

Councillors will be lining up for their turn next!)

tea ming up for the e nvironme nt

A NZ Landcare Trust Field Day in Oropi, near Tauranga, brought

landowners, landcare groups, community, agency staff and

politicians together in the call for better land management

practices. Rural Women New Zealand also had strong attendance

which was particularly relevant given their historical connection

with the NZ Landcare Trust.

Topics discussed included native replanting programmes and theaffect of riparian planting on water quality and stream life.

In summing up for the day Don Ross, CEO of NZ Landcare Trust,

said: While it was significant for landowners to want to make a

change, it was important to use the support available to them.

NIWAs involvement with some of the Bay of Plenty landcare

groups, the technical and financial assistance available from

Environment Bay of Plenty and the facilitation and networking

skills of the NZ Landcare Trust all help the landowners to get

positive action on the ground.

Councillor Mary

Dillons closing

comments left the

challenge that

community change

through group action

was achievable and

often through concern

or anger the community

was able to turn their

voices into positive

forces for real results.

Tu Piahana of Ngai Tamarawaho, Dave Lind from Waikaraka

Estuary Managers and Susan Lancaster, President Rural

Women Oropi Branch, examining invertebrates during the

water quality monitoring demonstration at NZ Landcare Trust

Bay of Plenty Field Day.


8/8

see ca ttle in a new light

by Ra e Newma n

women in agribusiness

access homehealthmeeting the board of

Marilyn Hutchings has been involved with Access Homehealth

for many years. She was part of the committee that negotiated

the funding contract with Northland Home Support Trust in the

1990s. This contract marked the beginning of the Home Support

Service in Northland.

As a Rural Women New Zealand member for 43 years, Marilyns

main purpose on the Board is to ensure that the interests of rural

women are properly served. Accustomed to handling business

matters on their 1,000 dairy farm in the Bay of Islands, she also

contributes a healthy sense of business.

During her time with Rural Women New Zealand Marilyn has

held almost every office,

including being on National

Council for 8 years. This has made

her a hardened campaigner on

many fronts.

Marilyn was also a founding

member of the Life Education

Trust in Northland and is very

involved in the Ayrshire BreedersAssociation.

I have done a far wider range of

things with my life than I would

have done if I hadnt been

involved with Rural Women. It has given me many opportunities

and experiences that I may not have had otherwise.

The ability of Northlands women farmers to evaluate cattle took

a giant leap forward when genetics expert Russell Priest spoke at

the regions Women in Agribusiness field days in February.

Mr Priest, the genetics co-ordinator for Hamilton-based Meat and

Wool Innovations, spoke on cattle genetics and breeding at

meetings near Kaitaia and at Mangakahia near Whangarei. Cattle

were yarded so women could put their knowledge to the test.

Ruth Renner, an Angus cattle breederwho hosted the Kaitaia dayat Diggers Valley, says it was a huge thrill having Russell at her

farm especially as she started breeding cattle only eight years

ago and comes from a non-farming background.

It was a perfect workshop and is something Ive been wanting

to attend for a long, long time. Now it takes me three times as

long to walk my cattle anywhere because Im watching them from

the point of view of structural soundness.

Ruth enjoys Women in Agribusiness because it is self directed

and she can nominate subjects that interest her. Its nice to have

a group of women who are in the same industry with the samesorts of interests.

Meanwhile, Daphne Graham, an Angus cattle breeder who farms

near Okaihau, says Russells comprehensive talk made EBVs

more meaningful. The afternoon session tied both strands

together. Hes certainly made me look at our animals more

closely.

She attributes the groups success to RDO Shelley Deemings

commitment, enthusiasm, contacts and the fact that she facilitates

each meeting.

Shelley, a dairy farmer and pedigree Jersey breeder, says she now

knows why animals should look a certain way. I knew legs should

look like this and backs should look like that without really

knowing why.

Kaurilands WiAg groups took a different tack from RWNZs

Women in Farming groups when Northland women wanted to

cater for farmers across all sectors and there werent enough sheep

and beef farmers in the region to run viable groups.

With local businesses providing sponsorship and speakers, the

hosts have gone out of their way to make the days a success.WiAg groups meet about five times a year and attract about 30

women. Subjects covered so far include dog training, accounting,

calf rearing, land access, OSH regulations, beef markets, condition

scoring, selecting cattle for sale and purchase, farm safety and

land care. Women pay $5 per meeting.

The aim of WiAg is to help women realise their potential through

strengthening their choices and opportunities and increasing their

confidence.

Contact: Shelley Deeming on (09) 432 3779.

Official Journal of Rural Wome n New Zea land PO Box 12021, Wellington Tel 04 473 5524 Fax 04 472 8946Email

[email protected] www.ruralwomen.org ISSN no 1171-4425

Editor: Head Office, PO Box 12021 Wellington Printer: Precise Print & Design, Paraparaumu

April 2004 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand

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Transcript of April 2004 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand