in this is s u e . . .

• Broadband update

• New councillors

• Longevity quest

• Training working dogs

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF RURAL WOMEN NEW ZEALAND • ISSUE No.4, September 2005

Fighting for a fair deal for homecare workers

Home support for elderly people in rural areas
is in crisis. Home care providers are chronically
under-funded, leading to huge staff recruitment
and retention problems, particularly in rural
and tourist areas.
Each year thousands of people who are entitled
to home help are being turned away as home
care providers don’t have the staff to deal with
them. Last year there was a 39% staff turnover
in the industry.
The staffing crisis is caused partly by the lack
of reimbursement of travel costs for home care
workers, a problem which is magnified in rural
areas where there are greater distances involved.
As fuel prices rise the situation is becoming more
and more desperate.
Last month Rural Women New Zealand launched a
petition calling on Parliament to address this crisis WDFF plates from an Access Homehealth vehicle went up for auction at conference
by reimbursing travel costs for home care workers. in Dunedin to raise funds for homecare worker training. This month homecare
We are urging members to give this campaign support is one of many issues up for political auction as the election looms.
your full support in order to raise the profile of this
problem, which is often hidden from view: those receiving home
job, would require an additional $69.9 million - in total an extra $120
support are elderly or disabled and the erosion of services is a slow,
million which The New Zealand Home Health Association says is
insidious process, affecting one person at a time.
required to stem the exodus of homecare workers, who are moving to
“It puts enormous additional pressure on friends, neighbours or higher paid positions elsewhere or jobs that don’t require travel.
family,” says Graeme Titcombe, President of The New Zealand
Disappointingly, just $15.5 million of extra funding (11%) was
Home Health Association Inc.
allocated in the May 2005 Budget and as yet none of this extra money
If there is no-one to step in to help, elderly people are often forced has been received by the home care providers. The Ministry of Health
in to rest homes earlier than is necessary, often some distance from is still consulting with the District Health Boards on a “fair” travel
their homes. policy which providers must have in place before they receive their
share of the extra funds.
“Why can’t our older people continue to live well-supported in the
communities they have contributed to all their lives?” asks Rural As the election looms, the National Party has joined in the debate
Women New Zealand past-President, Ellen Ramsay. saying it will address the crisis as a matter of urgency by reimbursing
caregivers for travel costs by 1 April 2006 and undertaking a wider
RWNZ is also concerned about the inequities for the home care review of remuneration of homecare workers to ensure the elderly
workers themselves. While Plunket and District Health nurses have and disabled get reliable and quality care.
their travel costs reimbursed, home support workers are alone in
having to meet travel costs out of their income. Meanwhile, Graeme Titcombe says there has been an unwillingness
at the Ministry of Health to address the true state of affairs within
A University of Auckland study for the Ministry of Health showed the industry.
that the cost of reimbursing care workers’ travel costs would require
additional funding of $18.6 million, while bringing wage rates up to “Our numbers are just too scarey for them. Although we have
$11.00 an hour (from an average $9.80) and compensating workers attempted to progress issues with the best intention, the net result is that
for their travel time would cost a further $34.6 million. Bringing we have failed ... our workers continue to be treated with disdain and
wages in to line with rates for DHB aides, who perform a similar there is increasing threat to the safety of our vulnerable clients.”

Strengthening Rural Communities Page 

editorial recollections and That’s Entertainment!

reflections
Rural women are versatile, and national councillors revealed the
depths of their hidden talents when they stepped into the spotlight
at National Conference with a tableau portraying the history of our
organisation.
Conference 2005 by Sherrill
Dackers, National President Copies of the script are available from Lillian in Wellington office.
Conference opening night was a colourful affair with
interesting and entertaining speakers and everyone Sherrill Dackers is
dressed in their splendid evening clothes. It was magical left holding the baby
to be able to share that with you all. I remember, too, the as Ellen Ramsay
wonder of Wednesday night, graced with the presence (giraffe), Tini Wetting
of Jean Smith, the cutting of the 80th Birthday cake; the and Jacky Stafford
pomp and ceremony accorded to the haggis (and the look on
downing of the whisky); as well as the pipes and drums,
the fun and gaiety of the dancing and everyone having
such a wonderful time.
‘Conference’ – I checked the meaning in my Oxford
dictionary – is defined as ‘a meeting for discussion,
exchange of views’. And that is exactly what we did over
those busy days when the work and remits were debated.
We listened to many different speakers and experts, and
we also had the opportunity to discuss some important
and vital topics that concern
our membership and the
future of Rural Women New
Zealand.
We are a fortunate organisation
to have such enthusiastic and
well-informed members who
are able to debate issues so
clearly and eloquently. The Maggie Bayfield,
debates on the remits were Marie Appelton
generally well presented and
researched, and the end result and Patsy
was usually to the satisfaction Gordon also
of most. The successful remits
took to the stage,
SSherrill Dackers with Jean Smithherrill reflected a clear objective to
Dackers strengthen rural communities showing their
and the constitutional remits, thespian talents
although often taking some
time, will contribute greatly towards the reviewing of the Constitution
over the next two years.
After discussions on our organisation’s progress and our properties,
perhaps the most important outcome of the Conference was the
election of four new National Councillors. Dressed in a variety of school uniforms women from the branches
We are now blessed with four new women, with fresh outlooks, new of Waipa King Country Provincial enjoyed a day of light-hearted
directions and different talents. Our National Council now consists fun competing for the Comedy Cup. This year’s theme was “Back
of a younger group, eight aged between 50 and 60 years and one over to School Days”.
60, but all with long records of membership with Rural Women New The Cup was won by Te Rore Branch with Kawhia in second place.
Zealand. Following our first National Council meeting last week,
I firmly believe that these women have the ability to begin steering
us towards a new future.
We may be a little short on traditional knowledge - fortunately we
still have many worthy women who do ‘know the ropes’ who can
assist on those matters - but we are all passionate about making
Rural Women New Zealand a force to be reckoned with again and
to ensuring our continuing future. The prospects look good.
Thanks to all who contributed. I know not everyone was satisfied
but we cannot achieve the impossible.
By the way, I tried Dr. Judy McGregor’s scrambled eggs – different
but nice. Definitely worth a try.

Page  Strengthening Rural Communities

Broadband - the Facts
Confused about broadband internet and whether it’s available
for your farm? You’re not alone, with broadband providers
saying educating farmers about their options is a key issue.
Prompted by the recent launch of the giant new iPSTAR satellite,
which is set to provide isolated areas of the country with broadband
at up to one gigabit per second, Rural Women New Zealand decided
to research the broadband options for rural communities.
In a nutshell there are three different broadband scenarios, and it’s
a question of determining which one will work for you.
If your farm is within 6km or so of a broadband-enabled Telecom
exchange, you should be able to access Xtra Broadband.
If your farm is out of range for Xtra Broadband but within 40km
and clear line of sight of an enabled BCL tower, you may be able
to get Xtra Wireless Broadband.
These two options are available to around 92% of New Zealanders.
For the remaining eight percent the iPSTAR satellite will close
the gap, making broadband available to 100% of rural dwellers
– at a cost.
How does satellite broadband
work? Data is sent and received
via microwave transmission.
By installing a satellite dish
and modem on your farm,
you aren’t relying on phone
lines. Slow and unreliable
connections to the internet
become a thing of the past.
We often hear of RWNZ
members who have great
difficulty accessing the most
basic online services with dial-
up access.
Moving to broadband allows you
to use the phone and computer at the same time, and with permanent
connection you have easy access to emails, weather forecasts and
online banking. You can file your GST returns online and receive
killing sheets from stock companies.
Looking to the ways of the future, broadband is also vital for
‘smart farming’ applications like remote farm monitoring (eg milk
vat temperatures and volumes and climate and pasture data) and
remote veterinary diagnosis.
“Paddock to plate” traceability and labelling regulations are being
introduced in many countries, both of which are facilitated by
broadband, enabling stock details to be entered in to the computer
wherever you are out on the farm via a laptop.
Both wireless and satellite broadband are unaffected by electric
fence interference, a bugbear if you’re connecting via dial-up
landline. Xtra Broadband (which also uses landlines) may still be
somewhat affected, but due to the much faster transmission speeds
any problems should be minimal.
Until the New Zealand gateway for the new iPSTAR satellite is
commissioned in early November, broadband will continue to
be delivered by the existing New Skies satellite, which already
enables data transmission speeds between six and 50 times faster
than dial up.
iPSTAR has two resellers signed up in New Zealand, Auckland
based Iconz, (which provides broadband to schools under the
Project PROBE scheme), and BayCity New Zealand, through its
nationally operating rural retail arm, Farmside.
“Going forward it is going to be very hard to keep farming if you
don’t have broadband,” says Farmside spokesperson, Katerina
Tiscenko, who says there are real productivity gains to be had in
Strengthening Rural Communities
feature
terms of time, as well as the extra services that can be
accessed through broadband.
But what will it cost? Satellite broadband monthly
charges vary depending on the amount of data you think
you’ll be sending and receiving. But it’s going to cost
you between $100 and $140 excluding GST a month,
and that’s on top of equipment costs, which include the
satellite and modem, which will set you back in the
region of $2,500 excluding GST for the equipment and
around $1,500 excluding GST for installation.
There is evidence of farmer resistance to these set up
costs, but any move to alter the current ‘user pays’
regime comes down to politics. With the deregulation
of the telecommunications market 15 years ago, we rely
on market forces and competition in determining what
services are provided to whom and at what cost.
It is clearly more cost effective for telecommunications
companies to provide services in urban areas, and it is
unlikely that
farmers will receive cheap
satellite broadband unless
there is some Government
intervention. For now it’s
another example of the
‘tyranny of distance’ that
affects so many costs for
people living in remoter
parts of the country.
Increasingly Government
is expecting people to be
able to access information
and work in an online
environment. However,
unless people have
broadband it’s virtually
impossible to participate
in this new way of working.
There is no silver bullet, according to Graeme Osborne, chairman
of TUANZ, the Telecommunications Users Association of New
Zealand. Speaking in Wellington recently he said the ability of
[rural people] to engage with suppliers of broadband technologies
is vital.
“They will not come knocking on your door.”
Yet there have been recent advances for rural people. Two years ago
Telecom and Fonterra signed a deal to bring broadband services to
their 13,000 suppliers. Now 80% of suppliers can access wireless
or ADSL (dial up) broadband connection, with the balance served
by satellite.
This year Telecom has announced it will invest $59 million in rural
services, including $16.5 million to boost Xtra Broadband coverage
and $8.5 million to improve Telecom mobile services in rural areas.
The company will also invest in growth and improvement of the
fixed line (copper wire) network with the aim of increasing capacity,
extending services to new areas and reducing the potential for faults
and congestion.
Who are the rural broadband providers?
Primary providers: Telecom Xtra (Wireless delivered over the
BCL Extend Network), Telecom Mobile, TelstraClear, Vodaphone
Secondary providers: Bay City (Farmside - nationwide),
WirCountry (Pukekohe), Pacific.net (Nelson/Marlborough); Whoosh
Wireless (Southland).
Page 
our people New faces at Council table
New Rimanui councillor,
Wendy McGowan, brings a
long history of involvement
to the council table, with a
background in both RWNZ
and Federated Farmers.
She has been a member
of Kaharoa Branch since
1975, where she has held
the offices of President,
Secretary and Treasurer. She’s served in the same
positions and as homecare deputy at Rotorua Provincial,
where she is currently President. Over the last 10 years
Wendy has also held positions in Rotorua / Taupo
Federated Farmers, serving as Meat & Fibre Chairman,
President of the Province and Treasurer.
Wendy and her husband currently spend part of the
winter enjoying the sun in the USA, having leased out
their former sheep and beef farm.
Wendy will serve on the Social Issues committee of
council with Margaret Chapman.
Liz Evans has also been a member of
RWNZ since the mid-’70s where she’s
been a stalwart of the Waihopai Valley
branch and housekeeping secretary for
Marlborough. A former journalist, Liz
has lived on a high country farm in
Marlborough for the past 32 years, where
she raised three children who began their
education with the Correspondence
School.
Liz has been Marlborough Provincial secretary since 1994 and
is currently employed as provincial administrator with Federated
Farmers.
As Top of the South councillor, Liz is keen to see that rural families
have a credible, effective and consistent voice. “So many issues
affecting rural people are being unduly influenced by urban-based
politicians, bureaucrats and activists.”
Liz will take a particular interest in land issues on council, working
with land convener, Rhonda Riddle.
The recent return of Josie Gower’s
son to the family farm at Kakatahi
near Wanganui meant she was able to
seriously consider taking on the role
of Central Region Councillor. She
expects hew new role to present a huge
challenge, which she takes on with the
full support of her family.
Josie was Provincial President for five years and is currently chair
of the Central Region Liaison Group. She has worked with many
committees during her 22 years of involvement with RWNZ.
Page 
Sue Saunders never expected that driving
a bus taking WDFF members on a trip in
1990 would lead to her joining RWNZ and
ultimately becoming national councillor for
Wainaki region.
Sue is currently Provincial President for
Waikato and has held the positions of
secretary, president and provincial delegate
at branch level.
Sue is another new councillor who has
an interest in Federated Farmers, serving on the regional executive
board for Waikato.
Sue has a particular interest in education issues and will serve on the
Education Committee with convener Jacky Stafford.
Longevity quest – Any advance
on these?
Our quest to find the
oldest and longest serving
member has prompted
several suggestions for
these honours.
Otaio branch nominated
Maitel Moffat, who joined
the branch in April 1951.
She’s held the office of
President a number of times
Myra Fairmaid, our oldest member?
over the years and was also
Secretary for 10 years.
Then we heard from Maruia branch who put forward the name of Marj
Kelly, who first attended WDFF as a junior member when the branch
was formed in 1944. In her 61 years of service, Marj has served as
President and worked tirelessly for the benefit of the branch.
Joan Coxhead (nee Goodwin) attended the first meeting of Tumahu
branch, formed on 27 July 1937 and has been a very active member.
On retiring to New Plymouth she joined a branch of ex-Tumahu ladies
who meet as a ‘garden circle’ .
Next we heard from Hawea Flat branch who told us of Peggie Allison
who’s been an active member since she joined as a junior in 1935.
Like so many of these long-serving women, Peggie has served in many
posts. “Peggie still keeps involved
and shows no signs of diminishing
interest,” says Secretary, Freda
Bleasdale.
Longer serving still are two
current members of Te Kauwhata.
Margaret Perrie joined WDFF
Hamilton city branch as a junior
member in 1930/31 at the age of
16. She then moved to Ruawaro
Margaret Perry branch where she held all the
executive positions before joining
Te Kauwhata in 1970. Margaret
celebrated her 90 th birthday in
August. She lives at the Aparangi
Retirement Centre with Te Kauwhata
foundation member, Trudie Lloyd,
who also has a very long history with
WDFF / Rural Women, having been
a member for 67 years.
Also a member since 1931 is Nancy
Sheat, who joined on 16 March.
Nowadays, Nancy, who’s just turned Trudie Lloyd
90, is an active member of the
Strengthening Rural Communities

Glenore/Manuka branch, having also
served at Provincial level for a number
of years.
Pakawau wrote in to us nominating
Maud Gover for the honour of oldest
member. Maud, 92 still regularly
attends branch meetings.
Then came Athol branch, which
May Soper celebrated its 70th anniversary two
years ago. The occasion was made
extra special with the presence of life member, May Soper, who
held the very first meeting of that branch at her home 72 years ago
in August 1933 with a demonstration of sweet making. May, now
97, lives at Frankton Presbyterian Home near Queenstown and is
still included in special branch events.
And finally we heard of Myra Fairmaid who turned 102 on 25 August.
She is still a regular contributor at Hamilton city branch meetings,
having come to the Waikato in 1943 from the South Island.
Congratulations to you all and, on behalf of all members, our thanks
for your dedicated service to our organisation.
Lifeswork
Samuel Ullman wrote “Youth is not a
time of life - it is a state of mind; It is
a temper of the will, a quality of the
imagination, a vigour of the emotions,
a predominance of courage over
timidity, of the appetite for adventure
over love of ease. Nobody grows old
by merely living a number of years;
people grow old only by deserting
their ideals.”
As we mark 80 years of our existence as
an organisation, we have recognised in
this issue of Rural Women the many years of voluntary service given
by some of our older members.
It is fitting that our book review this month also features a new release
that celebrates the lives of older people in New Zealand who remain
in the paid workforce well past the ‘normal’ retirement age.
“Lifeswork” has recently been published by Equal Employment
Opportunities Commissioner, Dr Judy McGregor, who spoke at
the Rural Women New Zealand Conference in Dunedin earlier this
year.
The book profiles 13 New Zealanders who prove that age needn’t
be a barrier to an active working life, particularly now that age
discrimination laws give people more choice about when they retire.
These stories provide a contrasting view to the one that says ‘leisure
is bliss and work is nasty’ – the work / life balance so much talked
about these days. Several of the stories feature rural women, such
as Pat Craw, an 81 year old Department of Conservation hut warden
on the Kepler Track; Pat Dawson, a 79 year old truancy officer for
schools in the Foxton area and Betty Watson, a 76 year old Motueka
apple orchard worker.
It is a book that challenges stereotypes. As the ‘baby boomer’
population bulge moves towards retirement age, economists and
employers are going to have to change their views on the contribution
of mature workers and the resulting patterns of work.
We have one copy of “Lifeswork” to give away to a lucky RWNZ
member. Please write “Lifeswork” and your address on the back of
an envelope and send it to The Editor, Rural Women New Zealand,
PO Box 12-021, Wellington by 30 September to go in the draw.
Strengthening Rural Communities
Speaking up
activities
Five contestants vied for the honours in the Val Tarrant Bell
public speaking competition at national conference, speaking
on the topic “Women are Ready”.
We congratulate Merle Wyllie from Region 6 , who won the
competition for her speech on paragliding.
The trophy was personally presented by Val Tarrant, who
thanked all the contestants for their entries and the high
standards they achieved.
Poor Me!
Our congratulations to the winner of the Marlborough
Short Story competition, Elma Honeyfield, from Motunui
Branch, Region 6. Like all the best short stories, her
version of “Poor Me” had a clever twist in the tale. The
text can be viewed on our website at this address: http://
ruralwomen.org/projects.htm. They’re obviously a very
literary bunch at Motunui, because the second prize also
went to a member of that branch, Ellen Burnard.
The topic for the 2006 competition is “A Special Animal”,
so give those Motunui folk a bit of competition and start
putting your thoughts together. The story or essay can
be fact or fiction, or a mixture of both. Entries close at
the end of April 2006.
Awards for waste-busters
Tokanui-Otara RWNZ Branch has received a Merit Award in the
Community Section of the recent Environment Southland Awards.
You may have noticed the story of Tokanui-Otara branch’s recycling
centre project in our latest year book.
Branch president Heather Buckingham received the environment
award on behalf of Rural Women New Zealand, while member Leona
Brunton, who looks after the centre, received a Merit in the Small
Business and Individual Awards.
Win-win result as teacher graduates
A Liaison Group grant awarded to Kakatahi Branch member Maria
Evans enabling her to finish her Bachelor of Education degree
has already had a positive spin-off for the local community. The
newly-qualified teacher is now relieving at the local sole charge
school, Ngamatea, as well as teaching one day a week at Ohakune
Primary.
“Maria’s new qualification and professional development is an asset
to the schools in our area,” says Region 4 councillor, Josie Gower.
Dental scholar comes out tops
Our congratulations go to dental therapist
Kerry Vincent who recently graduated from
her intensive three month refresher course
in Auckland with the highest mark ever
achieved– 96% for her final exam.
Kerry was the recipient of RWNZ’s
North Island dental scholarship this year,
established to help overcome the national
shortage of dental therapists.
Kerry will work in Hawera, Patea and Manaia. Kerry has spent the
last 10 years sharemilking with her husband at Okaiawa. She says
“I am enjoying working with children again after so many years
working with cows!”
Page 
branchline
welcome
to new members
Associate: Ann Duncan
Individual: Adrienne Steele, Philippa Leggett, Amy
Bielski, Jane Mitchell, Gretchen Bevin
WOTL: Jocelyn Simpson, Jeanette Mitchell,
Dianne Milne
Otaio: Elaine Taylor
Wainui: Lynette Therd, Treve Kunzli
Stratford: Joy Stallard, Patricia Houghton
Rangiwaea: Margaret Walley
Macraes Flat: Tracey Bartrum, Sarah Neilson,
Kirstie McLelland, Judith Crutchley, Rhonda
Thomson, Barbara Wilson
Doubtless Bay: Debbie Blackwell
WIF - Welcome on board!
In this issue of Rural Women we welcome Women in Farming
and Women in Agribusiness Groups as independent branches
of Rural Women New Zealand, an arrangement that came into
effect on 1 July.
Women in Farming groups were originally set up using a three year
grant from the Sustainable Farming Fund (SFF), as seeding money for
the new concept. The three years ended on 30 June, by which time
the SFF anticipated that the WIF groups would be self-supporting.
Some WIF groups have been employing facilitators to organise their
programmes. In the future WIF will have to find alternative sources
of funding for facilitators, or take a different approach – perhaps
sharing facilitation.
We are fortunate that FMG has agreed to sponsor Women in Farming
for a further three years. This sponsorship will be used to develop
a specific learning package for each year which will be available to
all groups. Annette Litherland is currently organising the content
and seeking appropriate people to deliver the next package, which
will be on soils and fertilizer.
We have also been fortunate in obtaining additional seeding funds
this financial year from the SFF for the establishment of further new

farewell
groups in Taranaki, Wanganui, Northland, Central Otago and North
Canterbury.
As part of Rural Women New Zealand, WIF members will be
to old friends entitled to all the benefits of RWNZ membership, including voting
Spotswood/Moturoa: Stella Mason for National Council. They will also receive copies of our magazine,
Pokuru: Eunice Bint year book and email news letters.
Henley: June Neehoff (foundation and life member We welcome the input of WIF members for our advocacy work.
of the Lee Stream Branch) RWNZ prepares submissions on a range of topics, facilitated largely
Waverley: Mollie Tarrant through four email networks: education, land, health and social. If
any WIF members would like to join any of these rapid response
Wainui: Kathleen Brown groups, they should contact RWNZ national office to be added to
Glenore-Manuka: Mary Adam the email lists.
Stratford: Gwen Putt
We welcome the involvement of Women in Farming and Women
Umutaoroa: Joan Greatbatch in Agribusiness and hope you find benefit in joining Rural Women
Alexandra: Joyce Kinmaird New Zealand.
Lyndon-Waiau: Peggy Savage

May They Rest in Peace Native Plant Narratives

Do you have a personal story about you and native plants? Have
you been involved in any native plant projects and would you
like to inspire others to do the same?

honours board
Branch Bar of Honour
Otaio: Dympna Sullivan, Ailsa Hurst
Manapouri-TeAnau: Linda Kempthorne
Carleton-Bennett: Evelyn Reid
Ian Spellerberg at the Isaac Centre for Nature Conservation (based
at Lincoln University) is very keen to hear from anyone who may
be willing to write a brief narrative about their personal experiences
with native plants. Ian will provide information about the length and
content. He is also happy to come and see your project.
Following on from the launch of the book ‘Going native; making
use of New Zealand Native Plants’ (edited by Ian Spellerberg and
David Given and published by Canterbury University Press), Ian is
compiling a set of narratives from people throughout New Zealand.
The aim is to find out what motivates people to become involved
in native plant projects. It is hoped that a published compilation of
personal narratives will inspire others to become involved.
This is a wonderful opportunity for you to describe your own personal
experiences and to share what you have learnt.
For further information, contact Ian Spellerberg at the Isaac Centre
for Nature Conservation, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury.
Or email spelleri@lincoln.ac.nz.

Page  Strengthening Rural Communities

eFarmer finalist Oldest branch

noticeboard
celebrates birthday
Hawera has the distinction of being Rural Women New
Zealand’s oldest branch, so it is fitting that it will be
celebrating its 80th birthday in style on 5 September.
Past members as well as President Sherrill Dackers have
been invited for a social get together and luncheon to
celebrate the milestone, to be followed by an item titled
“Those Were The Days”.

Middlemarch 75th
Middlemarch will be celebrating its 75th anniversary
on Wednesday 14 September with a special lunch.
All past members, including WDFF are invited. For
details telephone Sheila McLean (03) 464 3282 or email
It was fitting that Margaret Spencer-Bower discovered she was a sheila.don@xtra.co.nz.
finalist in Telecom’s inaugural eFarmer of the year competition by
connecting to the internet on her laptop while on holiday in China.
Otaio branch 70th Jubilee
Telecom, in conjunction with Rural News, ran the competition
to find and reward a farmer who demonstrated the best use of Thirty-four past and present members and guests recently
communications technology on the farm. celebrated Otaio branch’s 70th jubilee, enjoying a luncheon
and social afternoon.
Margaret and her husband run a mixed sheep, beef, arable and deer
farm near Rangiora, and her entry into the competition earlier this A highlight was presentation of branch life membership to
year was a spur of the moment thing. long-service office bearers Dympna Sullivan (secretary)
and Ailsa Hurst (treasurer).
Margaret’s entry illustrated many ways in which she’s put technology
to work. The one that stands out in particular is the use of texting
to communicate with a deaf farm worker who is unable to use the
usual RT system. Initially Margaret and her husband left notes for
him on gate posts, but text messaging is much more effective. “It’s
made a huge difference,” says Margaret.
Margaret connects to broadband via satellite, having taken advantage
of a special offer for farmers at the Christchurch Show. With wireless
technology, she can use her laptop anywhere in the house.
Having broadband has not only saved time compared with dial up,
it’s also saved the frustration of telephone lines being tied up when
someone else wants to use the phone.
“For the sake of harmony and ease of use it’s just been wonderful.”
Margaret trained as a farm secretary in England before coming to
New Zealand in the late 1970s. Today she works mainly in the farm
Surgical bus campaign a
office and puts the internet to good use researching the markets,
particularly in keeping a watching eye on the beef market in South
America, as well as currency fluctuations.
successful operation
Marlborough District Health Board has given the green light for
“It’s good to be able to read articles and papers to see what the South
the Mobile Surgical Services bus to begin visiting Golden Bay,
Americans are up to. We also buy currency to protect ourselves a
wee bit. The internet is a great way of being informed.” after the DHB recently agreed to make funding available for both
the set up and annual costs of the service.
She even used her laptop to file her GST returns while on holiday
in England recently. This follows an 18-month campaign, spearheaded by RWNZ
Provincial secretary, Jo-Anne Vaughan, to see Takaka included in
Margaret says she’s not particularly techno-savvy, and has had great the high-tech bus’ operating schedule.
help from a computer support company in Christchurch in setting up
her system. “I look at computers like cars, I know how to use them, The introduction of the service to rural areas relies on communities
but haven’t got a clue how they work!” taking ownership of the project, and RWNZ’s efforts have finally
paid off.
Margaret is a member of the Canterbury Northern Rural dinner
group. The winner of the eFarmer competition was Brent Paterson Working in partnership with the Community Board and the Golden
from Hawke’s Bay. Bay Community Health Group, Jo-Anne Vaughan carried out a survey
of local health professionals to gauge their support for the proposal
and arranged a familiarisation visit by the bus last December - a
Photo Competition visit that also served as proof of the bus’ ability to travel over the
challenging Takaka Hill.
We are beginning to look ahead to the next year book and would
again like to feature a member’s photo on the cover. So pop your “It makes life much easier for us when there is a champion in the
camera into your pocket, take it with you when you are out and about community. Jo-Anne Vaughan was the chief organiser in Golden
and see if you can come up with that winning photo. More details Bay and was absolutely superb,” says Dr Stu Gowland of Mobile
in the next issue. Surgical Services.

Strengthening Rural Communities Page 

women in farming -
training working dogs
The secrets of training working dogs were
revealed to a group of Wairarapa Women
in Farming members last month. Peter
Boyce of Colyton brought along three
different aged dogs with varying levels
of skills to demonstrate the techniques
he uses.
Just like raising children, training dogs is a
matter of knowing what is appropriate at what
age. Up until about four months of age, the
most important thing is to handle the dogs,
Peter told the women.
“They need to learn that you are the boss,
respect you and see you as their best
friend.”
After three or four months the dog is ready
to be lead on a choker chain, learning to Woman’s best friend? Heather Goodger working a mob of sheep
come when called, as well as becoming Once you’re fully in control, with the dog obeying stop and ‘get
comfortable being tied to a fence. With the chain on they can be in behind’ commands, it’s time to take the dog out to work on its
taught to stop on command, though it doesn’t need to be enforced own.
at this stage. Holding them down and giving them a rub on the tum
with lots of verbal praise also teaches them you are the boss and that From 12 months onwards the dog will be ready for plenty of work
they can trust you. and it’s time for refining the training. If the dog becomes confused
about the direction it should be going in, bring it back to you and
At this age just a couple of minutes training a night is enough, and resend it out again.
if they’ve forgotten what you taught them the previous day, they’re
not ready yet, says Peter. If you need to teach the dog a lesson, bring it back in, growl at it,
hold it down and smack it a few times under the chin. But a word
Dogs vary in their development and some will take longer to become of warning from Peter: “Often it is not the dog’s fault for not
interested in stock work, but if they’re still not interested at 12 months, understanding your instructions, but yours for not teaching it properly
it’s likely they’re never going to be. or giving clear instructions – remember this before you hit it.”
Most dogs can be introduced to a mob of quiet ewes some time after Meanwhile proposed new dog microchipping laws, which would
four months old. enable the identification of all dogs, are causing concern amongst the
Peter suggests starting with the sheep in a small pen, and putting rural community. With 250,000 working dogs in New Zealand, and
yourself between the dog and the ewes. If you push the ewes to one shepherds running several dogs each, there are fears that compliance
side, the dog should instinctively move in their direction to bring them costs could be crippling. While the chip itself may not be particularly
back. Once they are back, move the expensive, there will be further costs associated with insertion charges
other way. After a while you can give and registration of the dogs on a national database.
commands, either through a whistle or Minimum standards in a new draft Dog Code have seen farmers
words or both, for the sides. This starts speaking out against standards which show little appreciation for
to give them an understanding of left the reality of life on the farm. The draft code is being developed
and right and is an important skill for through the New Zealand Companion Animal Council and includes
the dog to have, so that they can pick up a provision that dogs must not be carried on the open rear of a truck
stray ewes and keep them on track. unless the dog is secured or enclosed in a crate – an impractical
The next step, says Peter, is to put the proposition in most farm situations.
dog on to a long rope with several metal
clips on the end attached to the dog and
get the dog to circle you, applying the
left and right commands. The clips
Margaret Wright with allow you to flick the dog when it
heading pup, Nell doesn’t obey your command.

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

Email enquiries@ruralwomen.org.nz • www.ruralwomen.org • ISSN no 1171-4425

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

Page  Strengthening Rural Communities