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Sandra Matthews (left) and Marie Burke
A new network on the North Island East Coast has sprung from a vision for supporting and developing women in farming.
Farming Women Tairawhiti aims to improve contact among women via regular events, personal development and rural based education. The idea arose from the Agri-Women’s Development Trust (AWDT) ‘First Steps’ course in Gisborne last year.
Sandra Matthews and Marie Burke, farming with their husbands near Gisborne, attended the courses. With the support of the AWDT they formed a group from the course participants, leading to Farming Women Tairawhiti.
“The women in the Mastermind Group meet regularly to set personal goals, discuss progress and support one another,” says Burke.
“I aimed to combine my teaching background with a love of farming, and use the skills to help rural women network and up skill through organised events. Sandra and I had discussions with the members of the Mastermind Group to find out what areas they wanted development in and we then set about forming FWT and organising our first focus day.”
The network is free for all farming and rural women from Wairoa, Gisborne and East Coast districts. It is independent but gets money from Beef + Lamb NZ.
“We decided we didn’t want to be part of a national network as we wanted the focus to be more on education and social support, rather than politics,” Burke says.
“I am passionate about education, but also social networks can be lacking for some rural women, especially if they are busy raising a family or working on or off farm.”
Matthews established the FWT Facebook page in January to start building social networks; seasonal Focus Days will get members together “to learn new information on farming topics and have a bit of fun. Follow-on from the focus days will allow women to up-skill in the area they choose. The days are free and run within school hours.”
The first focus day will be on March 26 in Gisborne and will cover farm safety and wellbeing.
“This topic was chosen because WorkSafe NZ has launched Safer Farms…. Quad safety is still a hot topic and new workplace laws are about to come out which will affect all farmers and their families.
“We are aware of the impact of depression and suicide in rural communities and wanted to provide information on this difficult topic as well. Our guest speaker Wendy Avery has first-hand knowledge of the subject. She will tell how she coped with her husband’s depression during years of drought, and will introduce Resilient Farmer.”
Burke hopes FWT has come at the right time for many.
“When I enrolled in the AWDT course my life was at a bit of a crossroads: having been a teacher for 20 years, while part-time farming with my husband Rob, I suddenly found myself with no children at home, no teaching role and a full-time job on the farm.
“As much as I love working with Rob, there was something missing in my life. ‘First Steps’ helped me realise I could use my skills… to help not only myself but other rural women.”
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