June 2008 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand

8/9/2019 June 2008 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand

1/8Strengthening Rural Communities Page 1

O F F I C I A L J O U R N A L O F R U R A L W O M E N N E W Z E A L A N D ISSUE No.2 June 2008

New! Enterprising Rural Woman Award 2009

School Transport Safety campaign

National Conference pix

GPS on horseback

in this issue...

President Margaret Chapman and Past President Sherrill Dackersfank Assoc. Pro. Cord Heuer and Dr Jackie Benschop at thepresentation o RWNZs lepto cheque

Researchers rom Massey University had been warnedabout the strength o Rural Women New Zealand, but werequite unprepared or the $87,500 cheque presented to themat our National Conerence, ollowing RWNZs year-longundraising campaign or leptospirosis research.

I apologise or under-estimating you,said Assoc. Pro.Cord Heuer, adding that he and Dr Jackie Benschop wereabsolutely overwhelmed. He expressed his heartelt thanksto all those who had contributed to the campaign.

The unds raised will enable Masseys EpiCentre teamto employ a ull time PhD student to conduct urtherresearch into leptospirosis - New Zealands mostprevalent occupationally acquired disease - which ispassed on to humans rom bacteria shed in the urine o

inected animals.Recent studies have shown that sheep, bee cattle anddeer pose more o a risk in passing on the disease tohumans than previously thought.

One study showed seventy percent o bee herds areinected, with every second animal testing positive. Eightypercent o deer herds also tested positive or lepto with anequally high number o animals being positive.

I you translate that into shedding, about every thanimal is shedding leptospira,said Heuer. There is a huge

amount o shedding o this organism in rural areas.

While meat workers are now heavily protected romexposure to the disease during their work, armers, vetsand service personnel working in other areas may beextremely exposed, he said.

The economic viability o vaccinating sheep, bee and deerwill orm part o Masseys uture studies into the disease,along with urther research into transmission pathways.

The backing o Rural Women New Zealand has helpedattract other contributors to the research project

including the Alma Baker Trust, the New ZealandVeterinary Association, three veterinary pharmaceuticalcompanies, William Barlow Fund, Wairarapa VeterinaryClub and the Ministry o Education through MasseyUniversity, raising total unds to over $400,000. Massey

is also applying or urther unding rom the SustainableFarming Fund.

Earlier research by Massey University into leptospirosisunded by Rural Women New Zealand (WomensDivision Federated Farmers) in the 1970s and 1980s ledto the development o vaccines or dairy cattle, leading toa huge decline in the number o reported cases amongst

dairy workers.Rural Women New Zealands leptospirosis undraisingcampaign was re-launched at our 2007 NationalConerence by past-President Sherrill Dackers, ollowingnews that a meat worker had died rom the disease.

During the year RWNZ branches throughout the countryhave held many undraising events including rafes, quiznights, ashion parades, garage sales, garden parties,cooking demonstrations and coin trails.

Members have also handed out hundreds o inormation

sheets and held community inormation eveningsinvolving doctors and veterinarians to raise awarenessabout the disease and how to limit exposure to it. Ourkey messages are to wear protective gear, vaccinate stockand control rodents, which may carry the disease.

RWNZ presents jumbo cheque or Leptospirosis


2/8Strengthening Rural CommunitiesPage 2

Editorial- by Margaret Chapman

Rural Women New Zealand welcomes news o an extra $79

million unding in the recent Budget to improve child andadolescent oral health services.

At our recent National Conerence, North Auckland membersexpressed grave concern about the lack o dental services in the

district. Members in other rural areas have also written to tellus o children who have not been seen by a dental therapist

or over a year, and o parents having to drive long distancesto access services in town.

One school principal says the school dental service has been

stretched to the limit and the result or primary school childrenhas been decayed teeth and repair work that is becoming

major dental work instead o being xed at an early stage. Itappears to be the ambulance at the bottom o the cli scenario

once again.

Rural Women New Zealand has written to the Director-

General o Health citing examples o the problems beingexperienced and asking or urther inormation on how the

$79 million Budget boost will be spent.

We also welcome the announcement o unding or a urther

26 second year medical students to have the opportunity toexperience a training rotation o three months in rural practice,

which will hopeully provide encouragement or them toconsider rural medicine as a career.

Post-Breast Cancer MammographyConcern was raised at National Conerence that a

woman had been required to pay or mammography

ollowing treatment or breast cancer by one DHB.This has been ollowed up by Sherrill Dackers, our

representative on the screening consumer reerence

group, who has provided the ollowing clarifcation:

- Mammography within the frst fve years o a breast

cancer diagnosis is covered by the community

radiology service specifcation, a publicly unded,

DHB-based service, which is administered

individually by each DHB.

- DHBs cannot opt out o providing services under

these community service specifcations

- Some DHBs choose to subcontract (and thereore

und) these services through a private radiology

provider, but this doesnt alter the act that the

service remains ree to the women accessing it.

- Asymptomatic women become eligible to rejoin the

breast screening programme fve years post diagnosis.

Call or Prostate Screening

Not forgetting our menfolk, Rural Women New Zealand has also

written to the Minister of Health asking for free prostate screening

every two years for men over the age of 45 and a national registerto be set up. This call to action is a result of a remit passed at

National Conference.

The Ministry of Healths current policy does not support screening

for prostate cancer.

Concerning Rural Health ...

National Conerence was awonderul chance to challenge,motivate and inorm attendeeson all matters concerningRural Women New Zealandand about issues aecting

rural communities. I hope all went home with a passionand really enthused to make adierence in their own patchto make RWNZ the must

join organisation or all ruralwomen. We ARE needed and

we MUST be there to speak out on issues that aectrural amilies and communities.

A revised Maniesto was re-launched at the NationalConerence. This is a high level document which outlines ourpolicy stance on our our portolio areas o education, health,

land use and social. This will be a very good tool to use laterthis year when discussing issues with candidates hoping to beelected to Parliament. Prospective politicians need to be awarethat while the population o those living in rural communitiesmay be less than 16% this does not mean we should beunairly disadvantaged, especially given our contribution tothe national economy.

Just imagine i all candidates were conronted by an RWNZmember wielding a Maniesto and asking the hard questionsabout their knowledge o rural issues and their stance on theseissues they would soon take notice. We would be a orce tobe reckoned with. Copies o the Maniesto are available rom

national oce.

It was also wonderul to be able to present a cheque or $87,500on behal o Rural Women New Zealand members to Dr JackieBenschop and Assoc. Pro. Cord Heuer o Massey UniversitysEpiCentre Unit or the ongoing research into leptospirosis.

I dont think anyone envisaged when the project wasannounced at National Conerence 2006 in Rotorua that we

would be able to raise that amount o money in twelve months.Congratulations to everyone or such a magnicent eort.

Massey University has indicated it will not deduct its usual20% ee or administration rom the donation, and the ull

amount will go towards research. RWNZ members will bekept inormed o the progress o the research.

Our new national award, the Rural Women New ZealandEnterprising Rural Women Award is an exciting new initiativesponsored by BNZ. In launching this award, RWNZ is keen tosupport and encourage small rural businesses and to celebratethe success o rural women entrepreneurs.

We belong to a wonderul organisation, an organisation thathas had a strong voice working or 83 years or sustainablerural communities.

A challenge I threw out to members at conerence was thati every one o our existing members went out and ound onenew member this year we would have 8000 members. I wedid the same next year we would have 16,000 and in three

years we would have 32,000. Sounds quite achievable doesntit, when broken down like that and just think what a orce tobe reckoned with we would be then!

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Wanted! Passionate rural women entrepreneursAmid great anare Rural Women New Zealand launched an

exciting new Enterprising Rural Woman Award during ourNational Conerence in Blenheim.

The Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Woman Award 2009 will be presented to an outstanding rural

businesswoman running her own enterprise.

I you have taken an innovative idea and made it work andare passionate about your business, you could be our rstEnterprising Rural Woman Award winner said National

President, Margaret Chapman.

In launching this award Rural Women New Zealand is keento support and encourage small rural businesses and celebrate

the success o rural women entrepreneurs.

The award puts into action our aim o strengthening rural

communities, as well as oering great opportunities to promoteRural Women New Zealand,says Margaret Chapman.

The three award nalists will be presented with their prizesat a high prole ceremony to be held in the Grand Hall o

Parliament on 15 May 2009, in conjunction with our nextNational Conerence.

The winner o the inaugural Enterprising Rural Woman Award

2009 will receive $1500 prize money, the opportunity to attenda BNZ Women in Agribusiness course and a trophy. The rst

runner-up will receive $500 in prize money and $500 in printingor design work rom Precise Print & Design, Paraparaumu.

The second runner-up will receive $500

worth o marketingrom a company o their

choice.

This is also a great

opportunity or rural women entrepreneurs

to gain media exposureor their businesses,

and the inalists willhave the right to use

the award logo on theirpromotional material and stationery or one year,

says Margaret Chapman.

Rural Women New Zealand would like to thankour major award sponsor, Bank o New Zealand, along with

Access Homehealth Limited, Propaganda, Precise Print &

Design, TGM Design and Rural News Group.

We urge our members to promote this award amongst riendsand acquaintances who are running small businesses in their

homes, on their arms or in retail or commercial premises.To enter, the business must have been operating or two

years, be based in a rural area and have less than 10 ull-timeequivalent sta.

Entries close 16 February 2009. Finalists will be notied by 16March 2009 and interviewed by a judging panel in April 2009

prior to a winner being chosen.

Promotional fyers or the award are available rom RWNZsnational oce. Entry orms and inormation sheets can be

downloaded rom our website www.ruralwomen.org or byringing 0800 2 JOIN RWNZ (0800 256 467).

Star questions or three hour stroke window

Fast recognition o

a stroke can mean amuch better outcomeor victims, as getting

medical help within therst three hours is crucial

to reversing its eects.

Here are three simplesteps to help with stroke identication known as STaR.

S - Smile - Ask the individual to smile;

T - Talk - Ask the person to speak a simple sentence;R - Ask him or her to raise both arms.I he/she has trouble with any one o these call 111

immediately.

Amber Quinnell,

Marketing Manager

o ch i e Awa rd

sponsor BNZ with

RWNZ National

President Margaret

C h a p m a n a t

the launch o the

Enterprising Rural

W o m a n A w a r d

2009

School Transport Saety CampaignRural Women New Zealand is continuing its campaign toimprove the saety o rural children travelling to and romschool. We have written to Transport Saety Ministery, HarryDuynhoven calling or a reduction in the speed limits outsideschools between 8am and 9.30am and 2.30pm and 4pm,ollowing strong support or the

idea at National Conerence.

We are also continuing ourpush or a nationwide campaignto increase awareness andenorcement o the 20kph speedlimit when passing a stationaryschool bus in either direction.Rural Women New Zealand is organising a meeting ostakeholders such as Land Transport New Zealand, SchoolTrustees, Bus and Coach Association, SaeKids, ACC and othersto nd practical solutions and ways o implementing them.

We are also talking with Total Span, a company which launcheda project at the Fieldays to set up partnerships with ruralcommunities to erect bus shelters or the saety and comorto bus passengers. This is an exciting project and we arekeen to see how we can work together or the benet o ruralcommunities,says RWNZ Executive Ocer, Noeline Holt.

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fe

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Wow! What an amazing conerence with something or

everyone. The launch o our exciting new award, a hilarious

celebrity debate, a let-your-hair-down Kiwiana dinner,

our jumbo lepto cheque presentation, stirring speakers,

supportive sponsors, serious stu, un stu and even hot stu

- (no, not Cheeky Hobson - but a fre alarm that turned out

to be the real thing)



Fantastic Fundraisers

.

Members rom Franklin, Rodney and Kaipara gathered at theAuckland Botanic Gardens in early April to help the Franklinmembers celebrate the 59th birthday o their district.

Goosey Goosey

The drought took a break during

the recent Rai Valley A&P Show,but the much needed rain didnt

dampen the spirits o RWNZRai Valley branch members

as they held their inauguralSmallholders Auction.

Following good pre-show

publicity, 50 auction lots were received ranging rom

Highland cattle to turkeys,peacocks, chickens, ducks,

rabbits and geese. Thepuppies and a miniature

pony were hotly contested bybidders, though the pigs and

sheep proved less popular. The Rai Valley women are alreadyplanning their next auction or 2008.

Party games, quizes and scrumptious lunches provided byMurchison members to other members and riends havebeen a un and painless way to help a good cause, saysShirley Blakemore o Murchison Branch. The group recentlypresented a cheque or $1,000 to the Nelson Region Hospice.The money will be used to buy our light-weight wheelchairsor patients.

Unstoppable RWNZ members continue their strongrecord o supporting rural communities through

undraising eorts.

North Auckland Provincial Executive recently gave$5,000 to the Bay o Islands hospice. Presentingthe cheque to the hospice Treasurer is ProvincialPresident, Judy Nesbit pictured above with pastProvincial President Marilyn Hutchings andProvincial Treasurer Val Driver.

Our leptospirosis undraising eorts received abig push leading up to the cheque presentationto Massey University at National Conerence. InSouthland, Hedgehope, Makarewa, Dacre and Rimubranches joined Woodlands branch which hosted aLight Lunch and Learn to Bowl aternoon at the WoodlandsBowling Club, while Central Taranaki branches held a quiznight. Great support rom local businesses ensured the 29teams were in to win a wide range o prizes and rafes.

South Otago Provincial produced a beautiul calendareaturing pictures by Tahatika member and photographer

Angela Wylie to raise unds to send members to conerence, aswell as promoting RWNZ. Such was the success o the calendarthat Tahatika branch is planning another or 2009 which willbe on sale in time or World Rural Womens Day in October.

Finding and keeping Point Three oa teacher an impossible taskThe urgency o RWNZs call or the Minister o Education tound two teachers in all rural schools was underlined at our

National Conerence when parent Monique Godsi told othe problems acing Waitaria Bay school, the most isolated

school on mainland New Zealand.

The problem, in short, is that the school is allocated 1.5 days

a week in release teaching unding but cannot use this becauseteachers are not prepared to drive ve hours on uncomortable

windy, narrow and partly unsealed roads, and accommodatethemselves or a night, just to work or 1.5 days.

Over the last three years seven teachers have tried and all

have resigned. This has had very serious implications or theprincipal and the Board

o Trustees. The last twopermanent principalsh a v e l e t t h r o u g h

workload pressuresand the Board is acing

ongoing employmentissues due to the lack o

teaching support.

Having a sole chargeprincipal isolated and

alone leaves the childrenvulnerable in the event

o intrusion, accident orsudden sickness. Our

extreme isolation renders a ull time role, enabling the teacherto live in the area, the only practical solution,says Monique.

Waitaria Bay is one o about 100 sole charge schools in NewZealand that receive unding or 1.3 teachers. The Rural

Education Reerence Group, chaired by Jacky Staord o RWNZcontinues to press the case or two teachers at all rural schools

with the Minister o Education.

Diane Payton, Rai Valley Branch

President

Waitaria Bay pupils and sole charge

principal Odette Roper

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welcome to new members

Ann Robertson - Cromwell

Jill Saxton - Tokaora-Inaha

Margaret Cottier, Jenny Stewart - Amuri Dinner Group

Lisa Dovey, Tracy Wells, Fumiko Green, Mirka Langord,

Joanne Haldane, Dot Rapley, Shelley Palmer - Bainham

Carol Budden - Okoki

Margaret Welch - Hurord-Omata-Oakura

Muriel Grant - Hazelburn

Melva Robb and Verla Smith - Pelorua Sounds

Mieke Witehira, Helen McDonald, Sherry Thurlow, Tanya Bell

- Macraes-Dunback

Janet Callaghan, Frances Wilcock - Rukuhia

Emma Lannigan -Rai Valley

Helen Arbon -Individual

Ali McQuaig, Norelle Shanks, Sam Titter - Meremere/Ohangai

Marion Wilson - Middlemarch

Diane Smith - All Points

Bertha Newman - Pakawau

Anne Heeringa - Maheno

Angela Brown, Judy Borland, Nola Berney, Robyn Watson,

Leigh Gleeson, June Goes, Lisa Drinkwater - Pukeatua

Kathy Harris - Pokuru

Fleur Julian - ArohenaDorothy McGuire - Doubtless Bay

Susan Finlayson, Liz Cates, Corlette Melsen, Jane Firth-

McMahon, Caroline Ross, Janice Mills, Chanel Savage Jocelyn

Cotton - Martinborough

farewell to old friends

Mary Robb - Kapuka-Mokotua

Pearl Jones -Poatiri

Jean Putt -Hurord-Omata-Oakura

Norma Craword -Hazelburn

Zoe McLean - Te Kauwhata

Jean Aitken - OamaruJudith Sturrock - Oruanui-Taupo

Audrey Meuli -Meremere/Ohangai

Joan Bradey- Otewa

Nan Haden-Morris, Gladys Jellyman - Brightwater

Betty Eyre - Mangatangi

Freda Brightwell - Bonny Glen-South Makirikiri

Joan Begg, Lois Gutberlet, Marjorie McLennan - Greymouth

Jessie Wills - Oamaru Evening Branch

Dorrie Hunter - Maheno

Evelyn Jones - Hedgehope

Nella Sears - Riverton

Hazel Collier - Rangiwaea

honours board

Branch Life Membership

Nancy Riddick - Hawera

Kathleen Banks - Mangatangi

Alayne Hewitson - Rimu

Joyce Orr - Midhirst

Provincial Bar of Honour

Elwyn Ford, Margaret Vickers - Central Taranaki

Provincial Life Member

Margaret Buckthought, Vivienne Grigg - Central Taranaki

Congratulations also to Nancy Riddick who received a Citizens

Award or service simply given in the community, refecting animmense amount o voluntary work over many years. HaweraBranch says it is very proud o its very hard working President.

Queens Birthday HonoursCongratulations to members who were recognised in therecent Queens Birthday Honours.

Helen Algar o Oamaru received a Queens Service Medal

or services to health and disability issues. Helen Gordon oTaihape received a Queens Service Medal or services to music

and Dr Olive Webb o Hororata was appointed an Ocer othe New Zealand Order o Merit or services to people with

intellectual disabilities.

Pictured above is RWNZ Past President Sherrill Dackers duringher recent investiture as a Member o the New Zealand Order

o Merit which was announced in the New Years Honours.With Sherrill is (l to r) Gordon Dackers, His Excellency Anand

Satyanand, Her Excellency Susan Satyanand, Waine Dackersand Richard Dackers.

Obituary

Hazel Collier was a foundation member of the Rangiwaea

Branch of WDFF and an enthusiastic participant for 53 years,becoming a Life Member in 1997. She held ofce as branch

President and Secretary, and attended Provincial meetings

and conferences with great enthusiasm. In earlier years she

was also involved in the branchs annual ower show as an

organiser and competitor.

RWNZ Bursaries AwardedCongratulations to the following who have recently received

RWNZ bursaries:Tertiary bursaries:

Jesse Hutchings - Northland

Carissa Thorne - Nelson

Nicola Priest - Hikurangi

Education Fund:

Phillip Dobson - InvercargillNicki McCormack - Stratford

Susan Wells - Waihi

Text Book and Resource Grants:

Melanie Allen - Hornby

Jessica Fry - Motueka

Amanda Gilchrist - Kaiapoi

Olivia Stewart - North Canterbury

Dayle Gibson - North Canterbury

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Books Galore

A Place in the Sun? Stay at Harris Cottage

Would you like an aordable winter break? RWNZs HarrisCottage on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula north o Aucklandis an ideal place to go. There are eight beaches close by, two

regional parks, a leisure centre and numerous restaurants.Buses or Orewa, Auckland and Waiwera stop at the gate. Visitthe Orewa hotpools or Kawau Island. Go to our website tocheck out the very reasonable rates or or bookings contactFay Keane (09) 428 0471. The cottage is also available tonon-members.

Rural Women New Zealand congratulates the LieEducation Trust as it celebrates 20 years o operationin New Zealand delivering programmes to youngpeople that encourage healthy living and respect orthe environment and others.

Rural Women NewZealand has beeninvolved with LieEducation Trustssince the beginning

when NZ ounderTrevor Grice wastravelling throught h e c o u n t r y s p e a k i n g w i t hcommunity groupsto raise support orthe concept.

The late Jean Sargent,a WDFF member r o m H u r u n u iimmediately sawthat our organisation couldbe a catalyst or encouragingcommunity support.

The Southland LET Community Trust was soon ormed withBarbara MacKay as the educator. A teacher and armers wie,Barbara became a amiliar sight as she drove the large mobileclassroom rom school to school, with her little car towed

behind. Barbara was the Southland educator or 17 years andis a legend within the organisation.

In the last 20 years the Lie Education programme hasgrown. There are now 36 community trusts with 41 educatorsdelivering classes at 1,264 primary and intermediate schoolsto over 220,000 children.

Rural Women New Zealand brancheshave continued to make regulardonations to Lie Education trusts,

while individual members haveserved as trustees.

One such trustee is RWNZ past

president Jeanette McIntyre whoserved on the Southland CommunityLie Education Trust or 10 years.For the last eight years she has beena trustee o the Heartland Otago/Southland Lie Education Trust.

RWNZs 20 years involvementwith Lie Education Trusts

Jeanette McIntyre MBE

In collaboration with The Waikato

Times, Fieldays covers the history of

the phenomenon that is the Fieldays.

It looks at the origins, how it evolved,

key players, Royal family involvement,

competitions, inventions, themes,

international growth/exposure, rural

bachelor competition, AgArt wear,

economic benefits, the organisationtoday and the future. Written by Susan

Pepperell, Assistant Editor at The

Waikato Times, and full of excellent

photographs taken by Waikato Times photographers, this is

a lively memento of an important institution in the farming

calendar.

Cooking Times by Kate Fraser takes

readers on a culinary journey through Kiwi

kitchens from the 1930s to the present day.

The recipes are true to the decade and are

accompanied by anecdotes from the kitchensof engaging ctitious characters, giving a

fascinating retrospective on our culinary

traditions.

While Australians and New Zealanders

have long debated the sticky issue of which

country invented this dessert The Pavlova

Story by Helen Leach tells the story of

the evolution of the three pavlova types,

and the creative and innovative cooks who

have played the most important roles in

transforming a fashionable afternoon tea cake

into an iconic dish. The book includes 12

classic pavlova recipes revised and illustrated

by Leachs sister Mary Browne.

Rita Angus (190870) was one of New Zealands most loved

and respected artists, but until now, Anguss

life has remained a mystery. In Rita Angus

- An Artistss Life, Jill Trevelyan paints

a vivid picture of Rita Angus the person

curious and forthright, staunchly pacist and

feminist, and wholly dedicated to her art.

Stunning artworks, personal photographs, and

insightful letters help bring Angus colourfulstory to life.

We have two copies of The Pavlova Story and one copy of

Cooking Times, Fieldays andRita Angus to give away. To go in

the draw write your name and address on the back of an envelope,

stating your preferred book and post to RWNZ, PO Box 12-021,

Wellington.

Congratulations to Ruth Thompson, Janice Smith, Joan van Asch

and Lynn Hill, winners of our March issue book draws.

Its always nice to have a book or author recommended. A

group of Franklin District members have enjoyed one author so

much that they have penned a letter toRural Women endorsing

the books of Rachael Treasure. If your library has not yet

purchasedJillaroo, The Stockmen orthe Rouseaboutagitate until

it does! they say.

Cromwell Vice President, Helen

Irwin presents a copy o Trevor

Grice and Tom Scotts book The

Great Brain Robbery to a local

librarian

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Ofcial Journal of Rural Women New Zealand PO Box 12021, Wellington Tel 04 473 5524 Fax 04 472 8946

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

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

Women in Farming

Having a feld day

Rural Women New Zealand branches looking to the uturecould take the lead rom a long established group on the Otago

Peninsula. Poatiri branch recently set up a Women in Farminggroup under its umbrella to provide educational and supportopportunities or a range o arm related issues.

As more women o all ages become interested in liestyle armingand rural issues, we see a great benet in sharing the experience oestablished Rural Women members,says Poatiri member QuentinFurlong. This encourages a diversity o membership.

The Women in Farming members recently held their rst eld dayat the Pukehiki Hall on the Otago Peninsula. It was a day packed

with great speakers, hands on learning and the chance or womento network and devise smarter ways o acting co-operatively.

By the end o the day the group had worked out a plan or working together to send aecal samples or egg counts todetermine drenching needs, or sharing antibiotics and vaccinepacks as required, and scheduling the vet or group visits tothe community which will be smarter and more economical oreveryone, as well as insuring optimum animal health.

First up retired stock agent Dave Ross and rural supportco-ordinator Irene Scurr, pictured above, talked about stockselection and management. With sheep the prime ocus, Daveand Irene ran through health issues such as ootrot and fystrike, pasture issues rom encing to weed control and use oertilisers, and how to work out your individual needs basedon liestyle preerences, property type and conditions.

The women then got up close and personal with a variety osheep penned up in temporary yards nearby, while Dave andIrene covered lambing and weaning issues, conormation aultsand what to look or in a meat breed.

Later Carol Adams o Agriculture New Zealand ran throughtraining programmes on oer including chainsaw use, ATVbasics and horticulture. Carol will be joining the Poatiri groupand helping members to tap in to some o these programmes.

Veterinarian Paul Evans gave an overview o stock health issues,covering questions on current thinking about parasite andpasture management strategies and vaccination timetables.

But the day wasnt all work. The women enjoyed a shared lunch,contributed to Rural Women New Zealands leptopsirosis und

with a rafe o a painting donated by branch member IsobelSalter and got creative writing a caption or a photo o PeriSpences naughty miniature pony Henry being shod, lyingon his back with all our legs in the air. The winner - Im All

Yours!

GPS on horseback

Ten King Country Women in Farming group members seto on horseback and ATV recently on Sioux Anichs arm

to discover more about the use o GPS technology and itsapplication on the arm.

They took a grid reerence and elevation reading beore

setting out, with urther readings along the way. The group

stopped or lunch under the clis at the back o the armbeore heading through picturesque native bush and backto the start.

En route the women learned o the many uses o GPS aroundthe arm and in the bush. Locations on a GPS can show either

latitude and longitude or New Zealand grid reerences.

This is useul or rescue operations and also or hunters inbush areas where landmarks are not visible,says convenor

Jo Walker. Distance can also be measured, by leaving theunit turned on as you move rom one point to the next. This

is great or calculating the length o ences or pipelines and

the posts, wire or pipe needed.

Elevation is useul to determine the slope o a track or theall rom a water collection point to the site o a trough. By

taking GPS points around a paddock you can also work outthe area, which is useul or calculating seed and ertilizer

requirements and when set stocking ewes or lambing.

And i you need to return to specic locations such as baitstations or a soil sampling site that you wish to test in

uture years or comparison purposes, you can record theseimportant GPS points.

June 2008 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand

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Transcript of June 2008 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand