Support for farmers from Farmy Army
Eleven farms remain on the Farmy Army’s radar in the wake of this month’s floods.
More than 70 farms in need of a clean up and maintenance work, were on the army’s books, one of its leaders and Southland Federated Farmers vicepresident, Bernadette Hunt, said.
The weekend was expected to be the army’s last round of work but help is still needed and will continue in Athol-Garston (five farms), eastern Southland (four) and Oreti area (two).
‘‘We’ve had at least 400 people helping [in the army],’’ Hunt said.
‘‘They’ve come from all walks of life and a lot have come from urban areas.’’
Some days last week 80 or 100 army volunteers were on farms
Hunt said a call went out on Monday to Gore and Queenstown businesses asking if they could spare a few staff to help the clean up in northern and eastern Southland.
Despite the big clean up operation, there was still a lot of damage and loss of infrastructure on many farms, Hunt said.
‘‘It will take a long time to put right.’’
Five dairy farm industry workers from Wairarapa – Willy and Ben Bosch, Roger and Sander Visser and Albert van Dalen – flew south yesterday to pitch in on eastern Southland farms.
Van Dalen’s cousin, Arijan Hulsman, a farm manager at Darfield, near Christchurch, travelled by road yesterday. The six will be staying in an unused farm workers’ house at Waikaka which has been filled with donated household/living requirements.
Regional Ford Gore has given the six a vehicle to use during their stay and donated meals will be given to them.
The Bosch brothers thought up the idea of bringing down a group to help Southland farmers.
‘‘It’s farmers helping farmers,’’ Willy Bosch said.
Gore volunteer David Hughes travelled to Invercargill Airport to pick up the Wairarapa men.
Hughes said he had emphysema and couldn’t physically work in the clean up but was pleased to be able to drive people to destinations.
‘‘In a place like Gore, we depend on cockies . . . without the farming industry, Gore is nothing.’’
Meanwhile, Debs Erskine didn’t hesitate to lend a hand alongside the many others in helping flood-affected farmers.
An East Chatton farmer, Erskine clocked up 100 kilometres most days last week collecting meals at the Calvin Community
‘‘We’ve had at least 400 people helping [in the army].’’ Bernadette Hunt Southland Federated Farmers vicepresident
Church in Gore and distributing them to farmers in eastern Southland. Parishioners made the meals and left them, with other food items, at the church for Erskine to pick up.
She played down her involvement in the Southland-wide support network that swung into action when early signs of flooding appeared.
‘‘It’s been humbling to be part of it . . . people have been really appreciative of it [receiving food].
‘‘One guy came up and gave me a really big hug . . . this morning, another invited me in for a cuppa.’’
During the week more than 100 food items were taken to about 15 farms. Erskine could tell driving onto properties to say hi and to do the drop off meant a lot to the farmers.
‘‘People [affected] have been in really good spirits . . . it’s been a privilege to help them.’’