Rugby trip gives Wairarapa farmers a chance to reset

Module Overview

After weeks of severe weather, a trip to Wellington gave a group of Wairarapa farmers and rural families something they badly needed – a change of scenery, time with others and plenty of laughter.

When an unexpected opportunity arose to take a busload of people to watch the All Blacks play Italy, Farmstrong Champion and clinical psychologist Sarah Donaldson knew exactly who should be in the line-up for seats.

Farmers across the region had been dealing with the effects of major rain events, with some isolated rural communities particularly hard hit.

Slips, washed-out tracks, damaged fences and pasture were creating extra work at an already pivotal time of year for sheep and beef farmers, who were scanning, vaccinating, set stocking and preparing for lambing and calving.

Sarah says the successive weather events left many people under sustained pressure on farm and also resulted in many rural communities with extensively damaged roads and limited vehicle access.

“When the water comes up, you initially just have to wait for the water to go down. Then you can start assessing the damage, work out how to get access and contain stock.” Sarah adds, “you’re also still undertaking the important jobs for that time of year in really challenging conditions. It’s tiring and can be overwhelming and demoralising, especially if you have seen previous repairs or new fencing and tracks destroyed.”

So, when the chance for a day away presented itself, Sarah decided to see if she could make it happen. “Rugby appeals to the rural community, so it was a significant opportunity to get people off farm. It needed to have that draw factor.”

More than a rugby match

The Rural Support Trust (RST) prioritised places for people affected by the weather, as well as some others who had been working hard to support them.

The result was a diverse group, ranging in age from one to 80 years old, travelling together by bus to Wellington.

Not everyone could make the trip. A rugby semi-final at Tuhirangi Rugby Club meant some South Wairarapa farmers needed to stay closer to home, so a projector and big screen were set up by the local RST team at the clubrooms for the community to watch the test together.

For Sarah, both gatherings achieved something important. She says connection can be a protective factor following an adverse event, giving people an opportunity to step away from the stress they have been carrying and spend time with others.

“It’s really important that people reconnect after these disasters. Through connection, they realise they’re not battling away alone, can switch off the threat response, or work mode, and relax in the company of others to recharge.

For those heading to Wellington, the connection started on the bus, with homemade baking, refreshments and a personalised message from Farmstrong Ambassador Sam Whitelock.

After the test, Farmstrong hosted the group at FMG’s waterside Wellington office for pizza and time together. The relaxed setting gave people the chance to move around, catch up with old friends and make new connections away from the noise of a busy restaurant.

A chance to think about something else

The response from those who attended shows just how valuable that time away was. “So good that there was hardly any talk about the farm damage,” said one participant.

Another admitted they had been reluctant to join the trip. “I didn’t want to come, but I’m so glad I did. I had the best time and met some great people.”

For another, the difference was even more striking: “This trip was so much fun and so good. It actually changed my thinking away from constant thoughts about water and mud.”

Sarah says the ability to step away and enjoy yourself can be particularly valuable when people have spent an extended period dealing with an adverse event.

For her, the trip brought many of the principles behind Farmstrong’s approach to wellbeing to life – taking time out, connecting with others and doing things that help restore energy.

And sometimes that doesn’t need to be complicated. “You can’t beat belly laughs. They’re revitalising, and there were lots of belly laughs.”

The trip was made possible by Rabobank New Zealand’s Community Grant, which funded the tickets and pizzas, with support from New Zealand Rugby, Farmstrong, FMG, Mike Firth of Property Brokers Rural Wairarapa, Scott’s Ag Contracting, The Kitchen Fairies – Wairarapa East Coast, and others who helped get the group on the road and into Wellington.