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'Time to Talk?' - Community drought meetings

Are people in your community having to cope with the effects of drought, even though it may have rained again now?  RWNZ can help.

Rural Women New Zealand is part of the National Drought Committee.  One of the most important things we can do is to ensure people do not feel isolated and alone in coping with the stress of drought. 

In 2008 we facilitated a series of community drought meetings - pot luck dinners, coffee mornings, get togethers with speakers etc.  Feedback from these neighbourhood events was excellent - "People sharing similar stories or similar difficulties made us realise that none of us need to feel alone in dealing with drought."

• Rural Women New Zealand has again received funding from MAF for similar community events in 2009.  If you would like to facilitate a get together in your district, contact RWNZ national office to find out more.  Email noeline.holt@ruralwomen.org.nz. 

• Help is also available through the Rural Support Trusts.

Rural Support Trusts:  Rural Support Trusts provide assistance to the rural community in times of hardship, including during adverse events such as drought and floods.

Rural Support Trusts can provide services such as: coordinating an initial response to an event, helping farmers decide on business options, acting as advocates for financial assistance, and providing stress management services (or making referrals if appropriate).

The Government is developing a nation-wide network of Rural Support Trusts.  For your nearest contact and more information go to:  www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/assistance/rural-coordinators/

RWNZ Enterprising Rural Woman Award 2009 winner announced

Winners of the inaugural RWNZ Enterprising Rural Woman Award 2009:  Tora Coastal Walk.  Pictured here are (l to r) Kath Elworthy, Margaret Chapman (chief judge and RWNZ National President), Tony Arthur (BNZ), Jenny Bargh and Kiri Elworthy

A boutique Wairarapa tourism venture has won the Rural Women New Zealand Enterprising Rural Woman Award 2009.

At a ceremony held at Parliament on Friday 15 May, RWNZ’s national president, Margaret Chapman announced Tora Coastal Walk - run by Jenny Bargh and Kiri and Kath Elworthy - as the inaugural winner of the BNZ- sponsored Award, which attracted 46 entries from all over the country.

In presenting the BNZ Trophy, Tony Arthur of BNZ Agribusiness said “the success and diversity of the businesses represented by this year’s finalists are testament to the opportunities that exist, as well as the determination, business acumen and entrepreneurism and effort needed to allow these businesses to flourish and their owners to succeed.”

The Tora Coastal Walk partners also received $1500 in prize money and the opportunity to attend a BNZ Women in Agribusiness course.

In congratulating Jenny Bargh and Kiri and Kath Elworthy, Margaret Chapman said the passion shown by the women for their business, their economic success and their inputs into the rural community were deciding factors in their win. 

Rural Women New Zealand set up the Enterprising Rural Woman Award to highlight the innovative ways women are contributing to the rural economy, and their determination to succeed in the face of the extra challenges presented by the difficulties in accessing technology and geographical location.

Alongside the winners at the Award ceremony were runners up Jan Bolton of Kaingaroa Roading Contractors Ltd based in Murupara, and Beverley Forrester of ‘Blackhills’, a paddock to catwalk sheep farming and designer wool operation based in Hurunui, North Canterbury.

The Award was judged by Theresa Gattung of Wool Partners International, Amber Quinnell of BNZ and Margaret Chapman.

Rural Women New Zealand thanks all the RWNZ Enterprising Rural Woman Award sponsors – BNZ, Access Homehealth Ltd, Precise Print & Design, Rural News Group and TGM Design.

$107,500 raised for Leptospirosis research!

Rural Women New Zealand presented a final cheque for $20,000 from its Leptospirosis fundraising campaign to researchers at Massey University's EpiCentre on 11 February 2009.  This brought the total raised in the campaign to $107,500.  The money will be used to fund a three year PhD for Swiss researcher Anou Dreyfus into this disease.

Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection of humans and animals, is New Zealand’s most common, occupationally-acquired, infectious disease, with sufferers reporting severe flu like symptoms which, if not treated promptly, may lead to long term health effects, and, rarely, death. Farmers, their families, meat workers, vets and AI technicians are among those most exposed to the leptospira bacteria, which are shed in the urine of infected animals, such as rats, deer, pigs, cattle, sheep and dogs, as well as wild animals and passed on to humans through cuts in the skin or through the membranes of the eyes, nose or mouth.

RWNZ's National President Margaret Chapman (left) presents RWNZ's final Leptospirosis fundraising cheque to Anou Dreyfus (centre) and Dr Jackie Benschop of Massey University's EpiCentre.

Prior research undertaken by Massey University demonstrated that leptospires were widely prevalent in domestic deer, beef cattle and sheep. The high endemic level of leptospira infection among livestock suggests that the rate of new infections of farmers through exposure to livestock is probably substantial and alerted both researchers and the public.

Last year Rural Women New Zealand revived earlier fundraising efforts in a bid to help Massey University conduct further research to better understand and overcome this disease, which can have significant effects on people’s long term employment and health.

A large postal survey of farmers is underway, while a further study of Hawke’s Bay meat workers is about to start.  At the same time the Hopkirk Institute is focusing on developing strain typing for leptospirosis to improve diagnosis of this disease.

See our Leptospirosis Cheque Presentation Press Release

View the RWNZ Fact Sheet on Leptopsirosis.

View the Massey Powerpoint Presentation on Leptopsirosis from our National Conference in Roturua in May 2007

View our Leptospirosis Poster on identification and prevention.
View the Department of Labour August 2007 report "Leptospirosis - Reducing the Impact on NZ Workplaces"

View Massey University's May 2008 paper:  Investigating leptospirosis in New Zealand meat-workers: challenges and preliminary results - J. Benschop & Ors