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8/9/2019 April 2005 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand
1/8
Strengthening 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 I S S U E N o . 2, Apri l 2 0 0 5
Southland Holiday Homes 60th
Wellington Experience
Celebrating excellence - rural
homestay
WIF animal hea lth seminar
in this issue...
Hands on farming today: Kaikoura vet Sarah Harris watches
over Women in Farming member, Margaret Ford, as she
practices dehorning
As we celebrate Rural Women New Zealands 80th anniversary
in 2005, it is a good time to reflect on how far weve come andwhere we want to go. Let us remember with gratitude those
pioneer women who first saw the need for an organisation such
as ours and may the courage and determination with which they
faced the challenges of the day continue to inspire us.
Since the Womens Division, Federated Union (now RWNZ) was
first formed in 1925 as a non-party political and non-sectarian
philanthropic society, members have worked hard to improve the
conditions of women and their families living on the land and
become a powerful force in bringing many improvements to rural
communities.
Some things havent changed: Mrs Polson, the first Dominion
President (1925-29) wrote the moral and social problems of the
district can only be solved by the aid and sympathy of the women
when organised. The individual worker achieves very little but
there is no limit to the good that can be achieved by co-operative
effort; but one must not lose sight of the individual benefit that
comes to each little community and each member of a branch.
Its numbers that count when one wants to get things done.
RWNZ continues to advocate on behalf of rural communities on
a range of issues, and many in authority value and respect our
opinions and views.
The first Womens Division conference
Rural Women New Zealand
celebrates 80 years
However, some things have changed: Women are more likely to
be involved with farming and business operations as partners
today.
Women in Farming and Women in Agribusiness are new groups
that will become members of RWNZ this year. The focus for
these groups is the business of farming in all aspects.
Dinner groups also reflect a change in lifestyle for many of our
members - and theyre not talking about recipes such as those
found in an early Household Guide published by Womens
Division which included how to stew sheeps tongues or make
tooth powder.
We are able to travel and communicate with each other much
more easily (even though we may still not get quite the service
we would like) and therefore are not as isolated.
Yes, many aspects of life have changed in the last 80 years andRWNZ must continue to adapt to these changes. But the
fundamental aim of our organisation - to strengthen rural
communities - remains as relevant today as it was 80 years ago.
8/9/2019 April 2005 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand
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Strengthening Rural CommunitiesPage 2
ed
itoria
l Plan for the futureby Sherrill Dackers, National President
We live in challenging
and changing times.
For many of us the
world today is totally
different from the
secure, ordered andstructured days of our
childhood. No longer
are we pressured to
behave, dress or
believe in the way
others ordain we are
encouraged to be ourselves; to act according to our
wishes. It is a puzzling time.
This concept applies to society as a whole and to
organisations in particular. Rural Women New Zealand
has not been exempt and like many older
organisations the need to adapt has been very stressful.Over the last 15 to 20 years members have struggled
to adjust to different procedures and different attitudes our
beloved Housekeeping schemes have gone, replaced by a highly
professional company, the second largest in New Zealand, our
membership has dropped as young women return to work and
our older members die or find it harder to join in and attend
meetings. It has not been easy.
The cycle is not yet complete. There is still much to be done
before we can feel satisfied that we are once again an effective
and modern organisation which rural women want to join. This
process has been begun with the introduction of the Women in
Farming, Women in Agribusiness, Discussion groups, etc. butwe must ensure they continue and that we attract more rural
women. We must demonstrate that Rural Women New Zealand
has a definite place in this modern world.
In recent years successive National Councils have realised that
our organisation has spread itself too thinly with our interests.
It is difficult, however, to ignore the many threats to rural
communities and life that continually arise.
This is where the need for a Strategic Plan is important. Half of
you will have switched off at the mention of those two words.
Please switch on again, and think Plan for the Future. This is
essential if we want to become, once again, the vigorous, strongand viable organisation we once were.
We need to examine our aims and our desires for the future.
Therefore, over the next year we will re-examine who we are,
what we represent, what we want to achieve, what we believe is
important our priorities, where we go from here and how we
can achieve it. It is not hard as long as we do not become
emotional. In the near future you will be receiving
questionnaires, please complete these and send them back.
Without your input we cannot succeed.
To conclude one of my favourite sayings is Tout change, tout
meme - to non-francophiles, roughly everything changes,
everything stays the same.
Were not talking change for the sake of change, but an
opportunity to do things differently and flourish.
Capital Experience a hit
Fifteen members from around the country spent an unforgettable
three days in Wellington in February, introducing rural women to
the political environment and finding out what makes the national
office tick.
The Wellington Experience has been generously sponsored by
Landcorp Farming Ltd for the past 14 years and involves a packed
programme of meetings, visits and social events designed to givemembers an insight into legislative processes and the many
organisations that serve rural interests.
The RWNZ participants were briefed by Government officials at
the Ministries of the Environment, Health and Education. They
also toured the Correspondence School and the Open Polytechnic
and met with Rural Affairs Minister Damian OConnor and
Opposition spokesperson on Agriculture, David Carter. A
highlight for many was the tour of Parliament.
Heather Paton of Macraes Flat Branch says she was impressed
with how well RWNZ was received at all the places they visited
in Wellington. Our organisation has a high profile and a positiveimage. RWNZ is relevant and focused, recognizing the important
role that women play in their local communities.
Branch Life Membership Award
Our congratulations go to East Invercargill member, Joyce Harris,
whose recent Branch Life Membership Award follows many yearsof involvement in our
organisation.
Joyce first joined the Kuana
WDFF Branch, serving as
secretary, before moving to
Invercargill in 1960. She
immediately rose to the top of
her newly adopted East
Invercargill branch, holding
office as president from 1961-
1964. She later served as
treasurer from 1988-1991.
Joyce has been an active
member, with a keen interest
in the handcraft competitions.
Wellington Experience Participants: Heather Paton, Diane
Simpson, Lynda Wright, Janice Smith, Joan Black, Gloria Corin,
Ronalda Esler, Anne Redpath, Sue Hall, Yvonne Carlson, Linley
Henderson, Beverley Blanche, Elizabeth McGiffert, Sandra Curd
and Marilyn Ferguson
8/9/2019 April 2005 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand
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Strengthening Rural Communities Page 3
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National Office Activities
SUBMISSIONS
Rural Women New Zealand has recently made the following
submissions (See www.ruralwomen.org for details):
Fresh Water for a Sustainable Future - Ministry for theEnvironment
Domestic Food Review - NZSFA
Women in Enterprise Project - Ministry of Womens Affairs
NZ Drinking Water standards
Ageing NZ and Health and Disability services
Schooling strategy
PUBLICITY
National Media releases - see www.ruralwomen.org
Rural women go to town
Australian trip hones rural womens diectorship skills
Rural women rail against fuel price hikes
National councillor, Margaret Chapman, found herself in
prestigious company when she attended a week-long corporate
governance course for rural women in Canberra in March.
Margaret was the only New Zealander on the course which was
run by the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Her trip
was sponsured by Meat & Wool New Zealand.
Of the twenty Australian women attending, seven were winnersof State Rural Woman of the Year Awards, while the rest were
winners of industry partnership programmes between the
Australian Ministry of Agriculture and rural industry sectors.
The intensive six-day diploma course was exhausting but very
beneficial, says Margaret, covering topics from the practice of
directorship to strategic planning and risk management.
Margaret says she gleaned many ideas in the area of setting
strategy and the involvement of management, which will be useful
in her National Council role with RWNZ How we look forward,
where we are going to go, and how we go about it. We are doing
a lot of things very well. A few things we could fine tune and
some things we havent even thought about.
Margaret will share her new-found knowledge with the RWNZ
Council at their next meeting in May.
Australian trip hones directorship skills Resources for children
Hawera branch members brought a smile to the faces
of two special needs children recently when they
presented them with an electronic set and a CD of
stories.
The educational aids were recommended by a resource
teacher to help the children with their learning and were
purchased by branch members with funds received
from two separate grants.
RangiwaeaGolden JubileeRangiwaea Rural Women celebrated 50 years ofcommunity service and friendship recently, as past and presentmembers came together for a luncheon at the home of Branchpresident Robin Collier.
Special guests included National President Sherrill Dackers andher husband Gordon, Regional Councillor, Jacky Stafford, andRegional Development Officer Claire Cole.
The honour of cutting the splendid birthday cake - decorated todepict local hill country and noting the name change from WDFFto Rural Women NZ went to foundation members Hazel Collier
and Margaret Livingstone.
A highlight of Margaret Chapmans trip to Canberra was
an invitation to attend a civic reception at Parliament
where each of the women on the corporate governance
course was presented with a plaque by the Australian
Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Warren Truss
Hawera branch secretary Lynda Muggeridge (left)
and president Nancy Riddick, present educational
toys to a special needs student while his
headmaster looks on.
Sherrill Dackers watches as Hazel Collier and Margaret
Livingstone cut the 50th birthday cake Image Gordon Dackers
8/9/2019 April 2005 Rural Women Magazine, New Zealand
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Strengthening Rural CommunitiesPage 4
fea
ture Celebrating Excellence in Rural Communities
Lesleys idyllic rural homestay business
Half a lifetime ago, when Lesley Handcock was a child
on her parents farm in Reporoa, the seeds were sown
for her life today as a rural woman single-handedly
running a very successful business venture in a remote
area of the central North Island.
As a young girl she enjoyed welcoming friends and
relations to the family farm, leading them on expeditions
to explore the hills or bathe and fish in the river.
Cut to 2005 and you find Lesley still in a rural paradise,
showing the same hospitality to her guests at Hukitawa
Country Retreat. Nestled on the edge of the beautiful
Te Urewera National Park and Whirinaki Forest Park
near Murupara, Hukitawa is a haven for those wanting
to explore the surrounding rainforest and rivers, or
simply to rest up in peaceful surroundings.
Lesleys homestay guests can fish in the Whirinaki
River, explore back country tracks on mountain bike
or horseback, tramp for hours through the forest, or soak up the
views and Lesleys warm hospitality back at the house.
Set on 200 acres
of farmland,
Lesley set up
Hukitawa just
over five years
ago following the
untimely death of
her husband,
Richard, in a
vehicle accident.Having trained
and worked as a
teacher, this is her first foray into the hospitality industry.
Lesleys had plenty to learn, and has drawn on many resources to
glean the knowledge shes needed to provide her guests with
quality accommodation and a memorable holiday experience,
establishing a successful business venture in the process.
Lesley belongs to several industry groups including the Rotorua
Her Business Network, the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce,
@HomeNZ and the Tourism Industry Association of New Zealand
(TIANZ).
Enterprise Training [run by Trade and Enterprise NZ] has alsobeen a huge benefit to me and I would like to think that any rural
woman who is setting up in business or who is in business makes
use of the Enterprise Training Programme, says Lesley.
The other secret ingredients of Lesleys success are her own
welcoming personality and the standards of excellence she sets
herself so that every detail of a guests stay is attended to. It
requires a high level of energy as Lesley does all the work herself,
including providing all the guests meals, which are often made
with produce from her own garden.
Running a homestay operation single-handedly in a remote part
of the country needs thorough planning and good systems says
Lesley.
Technology has certainly helped, and now she cant imagine how
she could run her business without it. But starting out, Lesley
admits she didnt know the difference between a website and an
email. She soon completed a computer course by correspondence
and can now run her business from anywhere in the world - three
years ago she was still dealing with enquiries as she journeyed
through Mongolia, Siberia and Russia.
Underpinning all her hard work is Lesleys aim of building a
profitable and ultimately saleable business, a goal which is slowly
coming to fruition.
Much as I would love to retire here this is a job that requiresoptimum health and the ability to work day after day on five to
six hours sleep a night. I like to think of my retirement as being
a little more relaxed than that!
Since opening, Hukitawa has doubled its occupancy rates for each
year of operation.
A Rural Women New Zealand member for 30 years and currently
Treasurer of Galatea branch, Lesleys achievements certainlyepitomise the theme of our organisation this year Celebrating
Excellence in Rural Communities.
Its taken time, but its something to be a little bit proud of, says
Lesley.
Putting a ring around it
An ambitious project to ring-fence an entire mountain and
eradicate introduced pests has fired the imagination of Waipa King
Country Provincial members. A pest-proof fence is being built
around Maungatautari Mountain, between Te Awamutu and
Cambridge, so that threatened species such as kiwi, tuatara,kokako and kakariki can be reintroduced to the 3,400 hectares of
native bush.
The 260 Waipa King Country Provincial members have decided
to support the venture with annual donations, after first becoming
involved last year following a presentation by the CEO of the
Maungatautari Ecological Island Trust on World Rural Womens
Day in 2003.
We were inspired by the idea of having such a large area close
to us where in time kiwis and other native species will once again
roam free, says Merle Wyllie of Mangapiko branch.
The Provincials initial donation to the trust paid for 200 metres
of pest-proof fence. The Waipa King Country members are now
looking ahead to Rural Womens Day this October, when they
plan to take a picnic lunch and a two-hour walk through the bush-
clad enclosure on the southern side of the mountain.
Hukitawa Country Retreat
Lesley Handcock
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Strengthening Rural Communities Page 5
our
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Smart beastsWhy Animals Are Smarter
Than Us is the latest volume
in the popular Smarter Than
Jack series. Jenny Campbell
has sourced this collection of
animal stories from all around
the world, and a fascinatingbook it is.
Heartwarming, humorous and
often awe-inspiring, these easy to read anecdotes will appeal to
anyone with an interest in animals, from children to the elderly.
Many stories leave you wondering how animals can achieve feats
beyond anything we humans could dream of hence the title.
Theres Bobbie the collie with amazing tracking skills, (not to
mention bravery and determination), who became lost in America
when taking himself for a walk during a family holiday. He
returned home six months later, in a sorry state, having covered a
distance of at least 2,551 miles. Even stranger are the stories ofanimals who navigate to places theyve never been before to
reunite themselves with their owners.
There are spooky tales of animals who appear to sense the
paranormal, and others of animals who have an uncanny knack
for knowing where their owners are or what theyre thinking.
Profits from the books are distributed to animal welfare groups,
including the New Zealand SPCA.
Do you have a smart animal story to tell? The publishers are
always looking for more strange but true tales. Details of how to
submit a story are included in the book or on the website
www.smarterthanjack.com.
Thrift to FantasyThrift to Fantasy traces the last great period of domestic handcrafts
and making do in New Zealand during the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s.
Written by award-winning Wellington journalist Rosemary McLeod,
at first glance the subject of this book would seem to be at odds with
McLeods often hard-hitting, feminist-leaning newspaper columns.
But delving into the text that runs alongside the beautiful
photographic illustrations, the common link becomes clear. Thrift
to Fantasy celebrates womens achievements, chronicles their history
and highlights how womens lives have changed over the last fiftyyears.
Theres nostalgia in every illustration, from rag rugs to felt handbags,
patchwork quilts to sacking aprons, knitted tea cosies to embroidered
antimacassars. McLeods trawled junk shops and auction rooms for
the last 20 years collecting such gems, which were exhibited at The
Dowse gallery in Lower Hutt
recently.
To go in the draw for a copy of this
delightful book, write your name
and address on the back of an
envelope, include the title Thrift to
Fantasy and send to:
The Editor, Rural Women Magazine,
PO Box 12-021, Wellington.
Wyndham woman has itall stitched upA wall hanging embroidered with the names of Wyndham
members over the years was admired by many visitors at
the branchs recent 75th birthday celebration luncheon.
Branch member Maureen Stewart suggested the
embroidery project as a way of leaving a tangible record
that WDFF and Rural Women New Zealand have been a
presence in the district for three-quarters of a century.
Though some members began stitching apprehensively,
the women were soon working with enthusiasm. Old
minute books were scanned for names and with so many
past members it was decided only surnames should be
included. Names were embroidered in different colours
on nine inch
squares of material
using chain stitch.
Then came the
exciting part when
all the squareswere finished and
laid out before
being stitched
together around
the badge embroidered by
Maureen.
Maureens ongoing inspiration
and guidance to the branch
was honoured at the
celebrations with the
certificate Service Simply Given.
Members also planted a tree in the war memorial grounds to mark
their 75th anniversary and set up a comprehensive display of branchmemorabilia in the window of the local museum.
Maureen Stewart
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Strengthening Rural CommunitiesPage 6
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welcome to new friends New Group: Mitch Bradley, Alison Baker, Jean
Campbell, Robyn Mortensen, Cheryl Ernst,
WOTL branch
Individual: Dale Paton (Oamaru), Anne Walker
(Dargaville), Sue Collins (Palmerston North)
Blenheim: Pat Dodson, Joan Dodson
Winchmore: Christine Turner, Shona Schofield, Trish
Small, Lis Butterick
Dunedin: Jean Dickison, Nora Pettit
Doubtless Bay: Jenny Renata
Oparure: Betty Bentham, Stella Simpson
Stratford: Gwen Putt, Doris Cook, Kath Leeman
farewell to old friends
Temuka: Elsa Lindsay
Pakawau: Margaret Beardmore
Otumoetai: Mae Parker, Corrine Bly
Rerewhakaiitu: Margareta Wilhelmina Rys
Otewa: Joy Vicary
Tumahu: Irene Moore
Oparure: Molley Nielsen
Kaikohe: Irene Fowlie, Effie Price
Hurunui: Joan Larner
Mangatangi: Gladys Bates
Aoroa & Dargaville: Nita Fleming
Aoroa: Kyra Hammond
Mossburn: May Keenan
Stratford: Marion Quarrell
North Taranaki Prov: Eileen Cooper
May They Rest in Peace
honours board
Branch Life Membership
East Invercargill: Joyce Harris
Branch Bar of Honour
Roxburgh: Marion Torrance, Sheila Bardsley
A right royal celebrationSouthland Holiday Homes turned 60 last month and celebratedwith a luncheon fit for a queen and seven princesses. And ifthat sounds like the start of a fairy tale, read on
This story begins in 1945, when a group of WDFF ladies fromRiverton branch had the idea of setting up a holiday camp atRiverton Beach where rural women and their families could gofor a break from farm life. Five acres of land was donated andthe industrious women then set about raising funds to buildcottages and other facilities on the site.
To make money we decided to have a Queen Carnival in 1947,recalls Lorna Anderson, Riverton Holiday Homes president for25 years. Eventually six carnivals were held throughout Southland,and a staggering 13,000 was raised towards the holiday homeventure. Western Southland raised the most funds and was giventhe honour of crowning their princess, Ailsa Waterhouse (neeBrown), as Queen.
The women then turned their attention to setting up the camp.Two cottages and a kitchen block were built and camping andcaravan sites provided. Riverton Holiday Homes and Camping
Ground came into existence. But the womens work didnt stopthere. Although there was always a caretaker on site, the womenput in many hours of voluntary work over the years, painting,
cleaning the cottages, sewing curtains and even cutting downfrocks to make pillow cases.
Eighteen years ago the camp was sold and it is now run as abackpackers. But the cottages remain a testament to the hardwork of many to provide a holiday camp for rural families.
To mark the 60th anniversary of the Southland Holiday Homes aspecial luncheon was held at Longwood Lodge in Riverton on15 March. As a result of extensive publicity prior to the event,76 people whod been involved with the venture over the yearscame along to celebrate and reminisce, including Queen Ailsa
and seven of her princesses.
Princesses on Parade: Marg Humphries (Tucker) Audrey
Roberts (Cummings) Beverley Gibson (McDermott), Dorothy
McPherson (Church) Jean Aitken (Paterson) Olive McGibbon
(Scott) Ailsa Waterhouse (Brown), Navua Woods (Cowie)
One of thje Riverton holiday homers
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Mobile Surgical ServicesIntrepid Rural Women New Zealand Forestry committee members
hacked their way through overgrown gorse to pay a rare visit to the
wildlife ponds in a remote low-lying area of Castle Downs Forest
in Southland recently.
Committee secretary, Ann Irving, says though shes been a
committee member for over 10 years and a regular visitor to the
forest on annual inspection day, shes never seen the ponds beforedue to access problems. Formerly a swamp the area was dammed
many years ag-o to create ponds. As the vegetation around the
ponds has grown, the area has provided prime habitat for mallard
ducks and other wildlife.
The 292-acre Castle Downs Forest project near Dipton will be well
known to many RWNZ members, but for newcomers to our
organisation its history is an inspiring story. The land was left to
the Southland provincials of Womens Division Federated Farmers
over 50 years ago. Four of the Southland provincials decided to
put in money to develop the forest, and in the early stages the women
were also involved in planting the pine trees. It was a big
commitment from a lot of people, says Ann Irving.
Nowadays the forest is managed by the Forestry Committee with
George Platts from Wrightsons as manager. Areas of the forest are
felled and replanted on a rotational basis, providing a regular
income. The net proceeds are shared among the participating
branches and provincials for distribution to local charitable projects.
Many dollars have been distributed over the years for the benefit of
rural people.
The Mobile Surgical Services bus is now in its fourth
year of operation, delivering state-of-the-art surgery
to rural communities. It is contracted by the Ministry
of Health to deliver 1,000 procedures a year, but is
doing even better - last year 1,477 patients had day
surgery on the bus in their home towns.
Over 300 different types of day surgery procedures
are performed on patients who have been referred by
their doctors, as the bus tours the country on a five
week cycle. Ask your doctor for details on how you
can be included on the list for surgery when the bus
next comes to your town. For further information see
www.mobilesurgical.co.nz or call (03) 355 4790
Midwifery Standards Review
Are you passionate about maternity issues or
midwifery philosophy? The New Zealand College of
Midwives is looking for proactive women in thecommunity who would like to become involved as
members of review teams that assist midwives to
maintain their competence through quality assurance
practices and professional development.
The reviewers help midwives to reflect on their
practice and standards and work with them to produce
individual Professional Development Plans for the
forthcoming year. Reviewers must have a knowledge
and understanding of midwifery as well as assessment and
communication abilities. The teams are part of an area or
regional committee and receive specialised annual training for
the role.
For further information call Norma Campbell at NZCOM
National Office 03 377 2732.
Southland forest visit
Putting words into practice
Business success for clinical medical herbalist and herb grower,Christine Tuffnell, has come from putting into practice the tips
offered at a Westpac-sponsored Women in Business seminar
held in Nelson recently.
Christine was the afternoon speaker at the seminar, held at The
Honest Lawyer hotel in Monaco, Nelson.
With a delightful sense of humour, she inspired the Rural Women
attendees as she told them how shed carried out the key lessons
theyd learnt that morning from the Westpac team.
Westpacs National Business Development Manager, Yvonne
Codde, had earlier spoken on how to run a successful business,
and came up with some interesting statistics. She told the audiencethat women influence 70 per cent of financial decisions and 40
per cent of New Zealand businesses are owned by women, while
66 per cent of small businesses have at least one woman operator.
Doreen Millar, Julianna OConnell, Ken Cochrane and Ros
Cook at the ponds
Value of regionalhelicopter service
Pip Cotterell of the Square Trust
Helicopter Service gave a high flying
talk to Rangitikei Oroua provincial
members recently. Pip is president of
the Helicopter Nurses Association andis passionate about her work and the role
of the Palmerston North-based helicopter service.
The Square Trust helicopter operation came under threat recently
as ACC carried out a nationwide review of rescue helicopters.
The cost-cutting drive could have grounded Square Trust, and
seen Manawatu-Horowhenua people relying on emergency
services from Wellington or Hawkes Bay. However a public
outcry, particularly from rural dwellers, prompted the intervention
of ACC Minister, Ruth Dyson, who cancelled the review.
In January this year the value of the Square Trust helicopter service
was proven when two young teenagers got into difficulties off
the Tangimoana Beach coast. The pilot spotted the teenagersminutes after receiving the alert and Pip jumped into the water
to keep the youngsters afloat. If the helicopter had come from
Wellington or Hastings, it could have been too late.
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Official 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 Office, PO Box 12021 Wellington Printer: Precise Print & Design, Paraparaumu
A strange mob of heifers greeted 25 women who attended ananimal health seminar organised by the Waiau Women in
Farming (WIF) group recently. But by the end of the two day
event the women had become quite familiar with the beasts,
having vaccinated them, given them a copper bullet and learnt
the secrets of de-horning them.
The womens confidence was boosted by handling the
animals, rather than simply sitting in a woolshed listening to a
lecture, says Waiau WIF member Sue Harris.
The seminar was the latest in a series presented by Phyllis
Leigh, a veterinarian from Taihape, with funding support from
the national WIF organisation and the Sustainable Farming
Fund. She was helped by Sarah Harris, a Kaikoura
veterinarian, and Lynda Homer from Schering-Plough-Cooper whoprovided free copies of a sheep disease textbook for participants.
Later the women learnt how to treat hypothermic lambs, including
the practice of injecting glucose solution into the abdomen, and how
to recognise the signs of pneumonia and other diseases.
The only thing we lacked was more time, says Phyllis Leigh, who
enjoyed sharing her knowledge with 25 enthusiastic women, all keen
to learn and not afraid to ask questions and have a go.
The Waiau group plans more seminars to further their knowledge, but
Phyllis commented: Like every other group Ive worked with, theyve
got a great deal of expertise within the group itself, theyre eager to take
on a challenge and supportive of each other in doing it.
Taihape vet Phyllis Leigh watches Lisa Hire from Kaikoura copper bullet an 18 month old heifer
Rural Women New Zealands national conference in Dunedin
in June will coincide with the new membership boost to our
organisation following the merger with Women in Farming.
As part of the conference agenda, a special tour to Invermays
AgResearch complex has been organised for Women in Farming
and Women in Agribusiness members.
An interesting programme has been put together and will include
speakers on the genetics of lamb survival, disease resistance and
ewe fertility; central performance testing, SIL across-flocks
evaluation, environmental aspects of farming, groundwater quality,
and nitrogen use - particularly on hill country properties.
Invermay Tour at national conference
Women in Farming
waiau women raring to go