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September 16, 2024 7 mins

Simon Hopcroft is Chair of the Southland Rural Support Trust and looks at what role the organisation plays for farmers in the current climate.

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Speaker 1 (00:13):
Welcome back to the Muster on a Tuesday afternoon. Simon
Hotcroft is chair of the South and Rural Support Trust
and was joining us next on the Muster. Good afternoon, Simon.
How things Oh good end to yourself?

Speaker 2 (00:25):
Yeah?

Speaker 1 (00:25):
Pretty good as we look at the situation that's unfolded
over the South over the last couple of weeks September.
We used to have being cold, not being so wet.

Speaker 2 (00:35):
Yeah, absolutely, and it's been sort of been challenging six
weeks for all farmers. And yeah, just like to a
knowledge everyone out there certainly relentless, but yeah, we can
see a little bit of a reprieve in the forecast.
Next week we get that big yellow out and everyone

(00:55):
will feel a bit better.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
And that's the thing, really, isn't it. I Mean we
talked about it just before for with Matt McCrae, about
just focusing on the now and not getting too far
ahead of yourself and just putting things into context.

Speaker 2 (01:07):
Yeah. Absolutely, I think I always personally think that trying
to have a plan, and I think I think we're
down to plan F or G at the moment. But
you know, if you've always got a plan, then you
can just day to day. Just that gives you a
bit of direction, So don't get too bogged down about

(01:29):
you know, what's this going to do for future. I
just think about the now and then get through and
then some will come out, hopefully.

Speaker 1 (01:35):
And the big thing to realize that everybody's in the
same predicament of the same situation is what you're facing
as well, so you're not the only one that get
is having to go through this alone.

Speaker 2 (01:47):
Yeah, and absolutely, And I think that's you know, one
of the things I've wanted to talk about, and he
was around making sure you know, I know those guys
out in landing beats and out does he work carving,
et cetera. You know, you often get bogged down the
only way situation. But just if you can reach out
to your neighbors and have a weird connection there. Some

(02:09):
are involved in discussion groups or whatever. Reach out to
your farm discussion group mates or even if it's your
rural your farm advisor, you know, those sort of connections.
If you can just have that we time out to
make those connections and talk to each other, then I
think that would all help. I certainly find that good,
especially with discussion group members, to see how everyone's getting

(02:32):
on there now.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
Tell us about the South and Ural Support Trust. We
hear about it all the time, Simon. What's it all about?

Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, So basically, and there's three different roles for the
Trust and initially it was really set up for the
adverse events, which I think the first one was one
of the big snows in twenty ten. But basically you've
got adverse events and then you've got the well side

(03:00):
of the Trust and that's their day to day well
being of you know, being able to be there for
those in the royal community that need a bit of support. So,
you know, really emphasizing today that if if you are
feeling in a situation where you know that the brain
is getting away bit foggy in the minds, a but foggy,

(03:21):
and you want to reach out, absolutely the eight hundred
numbers there our team will provide an opportunity for you
to talk to someone and that will help you through
this little situation that we're in at the moment. So
there are eight hundred numbers are eight hundred and seven
eight seven two five four And if you don't remember that,

(03:45):
just jump on or use mister Google and it's it's
on the website.

Speaker 1 (03:51):
Because that's the thing for a lot of farmers these days,
being stoic Southerners, getting out there and reaching out hasn't
really been something there are cast too. But times are changing,
aren't they. Yeah?

Speaker 2 (04:03):
Absolutely, and I think you know we've had that. Sorry,
that was the other sort of part of our role
was trying to do, you know, have like said, time
out tour with Matches and he spoke and we had
some good turnouts to those events, you know, doing some
events that actually helps people get off farm, but also

(04:25):
his stories of other people's mental health issues that they've
gone through and how they've been able to use strategies
to get through. And you know, so definitely what we're
finding is yet there will be certain sectors that won't
reach out as much as others. And I think it's

(04:46):
just don't ever feel that you can't reach out, and
that's what we're there for. And I think over time
people are becoming more yeah, I guess willing to to
one as to reach out, but also to refer someone
that maybe they're concerned about.

Speaker 1 (05:06):
And that's the big thing to realize, isn't it Just
to carry on and understand that there are people willing
to help you.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Yeah, absolutely, and that's what we're there for. We have
a purpose for that, and yeah, look definitely make sure
you're looking out in your communities. And it's got a
pretty wide ranging trustees across South End and also facilitators.

(05:35):
So we're just just trying to trying to get an
understanding at the moment how bigger effect this has been.
I know it's relentless, it's a continuous thing, but just
trying to get a gauge on the last for twenty
four hours of where the major damage has been here.

Speaker 1 (05:53):
Now we'll talk about the brunch on us events that
you guys are involved with. They ran last week and
they're happening again next week. Not what better idea than
to bugger off off the farm for an hour and
go and get a feed and have a chat.

Speaker 2 (06:05):
No, absolutely any year. So we've got if we've already
held three one down at Gorge Road, one over at
Heitch Open, one at poker Ol. They were last week.
This week we don't have any on but next week
we're back into it. Lumsdon Tuesday the twenty fourth at
PGG Writin's. Then we're at til Wednesday the twenty fifth
at the Rugby Club back down to a Tardale on

(06:28):
the twenty sixth at the Farm saw Store and nightcaps
on the twenty seventh at the golf Club. Then there's
some more the following week, but I won't listen through them,
but they're definitely they're on the website and Katrina's posting
those on the Facebook page as well, so please take
that opportunity. They start at ten o'clock, but you can

(06:49):
come anytime between I think it's ten and twelve. The
food's all provided and we've had some good sponsorship there
and just it's an opportunity to get off farm and
have all check with everyone that's there and hopefully the
sun will be shining.

Speaker 1 (07:04):
Good on your Simon, appreciated your time this afternoon.

Speaker 2 (07:07):
Got us go with any cheers.

Speaker 1 (07:09):
Simon Hotcroft, Chair of the South and Ural Support Trust.
Once again the number for the Rural Support Trust down
here in the South eight hundred and seven eight seven
two five four change your technict Nickel Horrible. Chair of
Environment Southland Rob Scott was on the program last week
talking about counsel amalgamations. Let's hear from Nickel
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