Rural folk helpful and kind
LIFE is a treasure hunt. Its important to remember that. Every crisis creates an opportunity if you want to look for it. Our second fuel pump failure, while in a remote beach on Stewart Island, created an opportunity to meet some ultra-friendly and hopeful locals. Andrew the mechanic and Pete the garage owner went beyond the call of duty and came to our rescue like the great southern men they are. The locals down here are kind and obliging, especially to a boat full of northerners on a vessel that clearly looks like it belongs in an urban jungle.
Being isolated teaches you self-reliance, you have to fix things yourself, whether you are a Stewart Island fisherman or a rural farmer. It also teaches you to help others as you may need help yourself one day.
It’s a stark contrast from the city where we compete for car parks like our life depends on it and abuse others who cross our paths and lanes on crowded motorways. We are swamped by humans and seldom stop to assist those in need. We are deluged by the homeless and the helpless and become numb to the plight of others as we struggle to survive the rat race.
Having lived and worked in small communities as a doctor, such as in the Chatham Islands, you get to know the locals and they get to know you. You see the solidarity in times of stress and need. It can be a double-edged sword as all humans can fall into conflict no matter if it’s an urban motorway or a rural road. As a rule, I am sure all of us notice how helpful rural folk are in our times of need, even for a direction or friendly wave.
With the broken fuel pump in hand, I trekked north to experience the vagaries of city service, from the obliging ‘‘let’s get this done’’ to the nonchalant ‘‘it will take a couple of weeks’’. Blinded to the peril of my broken boat sitting on a friendly local mooring but maybe overstaying its welcome, and oblivious to our crew trapped on a stranded vessel, I receive a lecture on going through normal slow channels that may take two weeks and cost $2000. Due diligence finds the same part for $200 in about 20 minutes if you look in the right place for the treasure. It’s about finding the friendly locals in the urban jungle.
Back to Stewart Island the locals have mobilised and all hands are on deck as the new fuel pump is fitted. Still the motor will not fire. The treasure hunt continues as we find the problem to be a broken relay switch, and Andrew heads to the local car graveyard to find a replacement. Boom, the engine fires, and we all grin in our achievement. We have been on the island for a month and need to continue our odyssey north in a small weather window to round the famed Puysegur Point. Local fishermen are sending us sea condition information and Meri, from Bluff Fisherman’s Radio, is an angel on the airwaves.
I am grateful that I have given a talk at the local school and fire station, seen a few patients in the clinic and, when flagged down by a local whose dad had collapsed, used my medical skills in their home. It’s important to be kind no matter where you are.
I hope Tangaroa is kind as we head for Fiordland, unprotected by our beloved Rakiura. ● kyndwellness.com;
● drtomonamission.com; ● healthythinking.biz
Dr Tom Mulholland is a GP with 30 years’ experience in New Zealand. He’s currently on a mission, tackling health issues around New Zealand.