Pink revolution evolves in paddocks
Around the country, pink bundles have been appearing on paddocks.
The pink plastic-wrapped silage is in support of Sweet Louise, a foundation that supports women and families living with secondary breast cancer. The foundation gets a percentage of the cost of each roll of silage and hay wrap.
Sweet Louise chief executive, Fiona Hatton, said: ‘‘It looks great and it’s a fun way for people to do their bit and support something really important.’’
Rural women suffering from breast cancer can be at a disadvantage simply because of their location.
‘‘ To get to and from their appointments can be really difficult and expensive and it’s a hardhitting reality . . . a life-changing diagnosis.’’
Agpac, the company which started the initiative, imported 3000 kilometres of pink balewrap which was all sold in less than a month.
Financial controller Stewart Turner, is thrilled with the response from agricultural contractors.
‘‘It’s been an overwhelming success. People got right behind it and it’s all for a good cause.’’
He described the act of writing a cheque as ‘‘too easy’’ and so the company tossed around ideas they hoped would make a bigger impact.
‘‘Wives, women, are an important part of the business. While the blokes tend to drive their tractors, the women are also driving, doing the books, keeping the guys fed.’’
The pink-packaged silage and pink net-wrapped hay are raising awareness and contributing money to the cause.
‘‘They’re currently being used alongside existing bailing and silage products. The change in colour makes no difference, it’s the same as everything else.’’
Waikato agricultural contractor Georgie Barnett has been trying to get hold of more of the pink silage product but supplies are limited.
‘‘I know we’ve done a few all around the place, as much as what we could do. The interest has been so high, people have really embraced the idea.
‘‘From a rural women’s perspective, they are so involved in the farming, reaching out to them makes them feel a part of it and know how important it is for something like this. Women in these roles can get a little bit overlooked.’’
Every year, more than 650 women die from breast cancer in New Zealand and Barnett understands how wide reaching the problem is.
‘‘We all know of someone and have had personal experiences [of breast cancer]. It’s an overwhelming feeling knowing this could make a difference, capture an audience.’’