Irricon
Resource Solutions Ltd is an environmental consultancy based in Canterbury and North Otago, and working throughout the South Island. We service the rural
sector, offering a wide range of services from resource consents, design of farm dairy effluent systems, Overseer Nutrient Budget modelling, preparation
and auditing of Farm Environmental Plans, water quality monitoring, aquifer and irrigation tests, ecological assessments, river catchment plans and resource
compliance management. Our clients range from small farms to corporate farms, and we provide the expertise right from consenting through to compliance,
and environmental performance and management on farm.
Rural Women New Zealand National President,
Fiona Gower presented at the annual meeting of the International Leptospirosis Society meeting in Palmerston North in late November.
Her speech is below: “I would not wish this on my worst enemy. I was so ill that I thought I would die.”
“We had to leave the farm, our friends, the kid’s schools and their friends. We bought a house in town facing some fields but it was never the same. We never recovered financially.”
These are just two quotes from Rural Women New Zealand members when asked to tell their stories about their experience of leptospirosis.
Leptospirosis is a disease with widespread consequences. What is astounding is the emotional pain that remains long after the physical illness has passed.
Rural Women New Zealand too has been involved in the leptospirosis fight, having run two very successful campaigns, the first in the 80’s which raised over $150,000 for research in to leptospirosis in the dairy and pig industry by Massey University. This led to a huge drop in cases as the value of vaccinating stock became well known and implemented.
In 2007-2008 the second fundraising and awareness campaign was undertaken, raising over $107,000 to be used in the research by Massey into leptospirosis, in particular freezing workers. The awareness raised in groups such as farmers, rural workers and medical professionals was priceless.
This long term partnership between Massey University and RWNZ representing science and community is incredibly valuable, as it allows the strengths of each to support the work of the other.
It hasn’t just been the funding and the research, it is the long term partnership that has been the strength, that we can turn to each other for support or backing or information sharing. RWNZ is a member of FLAG – Farmers Leptospirosis Action Group and has attended other Leptospirosis forums. I had the privilege of addressing the NZ Veterinary Association in 2012 on the effects of Leptospirosis on rural families and communities and the importanceof disease prevention to them.
By working together, we can prevent more cases occurring and having families saying to us: “Our family had to be split up as we were unable to care for the kids. They were strangers by the time we could get them back again. It is really affecting our relationship. Whatever the cost to inoculate, it costs nothing compared to your life.”
Awareness of the disease which has been raised, and where further work can be done, how to prevent stock getting infected, and importantly what practices rural workers can put into place to lower the risk of them contracting leptospirosis. This is something that community organisations such as Rural Women New Zealand can collaborate on, to raise further awareness to all groups such as rural workers, employers and health professionals. As one rural doctor said after our awareness campaign: “I have never tested much for leptospirosis, but now I will take it more seriously”. We also know that those who have become aware of the disease are more likely to pressure for the test if they are ill.
The recent very wet weather and floods have shown up cases in those involved in the clean-up, contracting the disease from the infected water and mud. We have been working with Rural Support Trusts to ensure the message is disseminated about staying safe at these times is disseminated is vital.
Like that famous phrase says, “it won’t happen overnight, but it will happen,” we have seen the results from the combined research and awareness campaigns. Let’s keep it up so less of our stock is infected, meaning better returns for our farmers and less of our rural workers and families contracting leptospirosis, leading to healthier, happy families staying on the land and keeping having strong rural communities.
Pictured is Jackie Benschop of Massey University, RWNZ Board Member Janet Williams and National President Fiona Gower.
Rural untracked parcels change
Rural Support Trust representatives
are working closely with farmers to monitor well-being and directing them to relief assistance for flooding and other adverse events.
This is an annual event, where women’s groups in many countries organise walks in their communities
along local tracks and trails, to raise funds for the Associated Country Women of the World.
ACWW Country of Study 2018:
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Lack of enforcement and education
around freedom camping has led to ongoing issues in our rural communities says Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ).
