Ashburton Courier: April 02, 2020

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Page 4, Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday April 2, 2020 Farming in abubble It’s business as ‘‘unusual’’ for farmers, contractors, animal welfare and food supply chains during the Covid19 lockdown. Federated Farmers Mid Canterbury provincial president David Clark said the growing number of deaths offshore in China, Italy and now Spain as aresult of Covid 19 was not wanted in New Zealand. ‘‘None of us want that to occur in New Zealand, so we understand why we have to do this,’’ he said. Farmers have been given an exemption as essential food suppliers, which means they can continue essential farm work including managing livestock, harvesting, planting crops and preparing the soil. He said for the tourism industry there had been no exceptions. He warned farmers to take their obligations seriously. “We must not flout restrictions put in place.’’ Avariety of services to support farm operations were still deemed essential to support food suppliers, such as milk processing, feed stores, meat works and services selling farm supplies. Mr Clark said no farmer could operate afarm without those services and farmers were “only as good as those that supply us”. The longer the lockdown continued the more Mr Clark could see issues arising such as the supply lines behind the David Clark finishes harvesting Hemp under moody skies on the first day lockdown. suppliers being affected. The farm’s nonessential farm work like fencing maintenance or hedge trimming had been parked. But even on farm, where he has four families in the work bubble, they had to enforce social distancing with controlled access to the property and good on farm practices to look after each other. “Farmers are not immune to this disease. “Everything has to be considered, it’s alot slower and more difficult,” he said. “But everyone is respectful.” The nation’s farmers could still harvest their crops, deliver them to seed stores or buy store lambs, send stock to the works, and they could keep milking their cows for milk processing. However, it was the upcoming winter grazing and the traditional June 1(moving day) movements big events on the dairy calendar that were of huge concern. Mr Clark was hopeful the alert level had reduced by then. Nationwide there was a likelihood of “economic carnage on the other side” but he urged people to look out for one another as they were dealing with high levels of stress. “It’s not like anormal issue, we need to pull together.” The longer it goes on, both rural and urban people will find it hard, he said. Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Hospice support Hospice Mid Canterbury has stopped all facetoface support for clients and families because of Covid19. Spokesman Jane Wright said the changes were temporary and clients and their families were continuing to be offered support via phone and internet, including counselling, recording biographies and companionship. The hospice organisation had closed its base and shop, and service managers are working from home. Some volunteers were continuing to assist with the collection of groceries. Hospice Mid Canterbury is currently supporting 53 clients and their families and will continue to accept referrals. Thirsty Thursday update The lockdowndid not stop most of Ashburton Courier reporter Toni Williams family gettingonline together for their regular Thirsty Thursday session. She says if she can coordinate a session, then others can too and encourages others to use technology to stay in touch. ‘‘It just looked different; it was done online, from the comfort of our own homes, using the app Zoom. It allowed us to get avisual of each other and talk. Once the children, and younger male adults, stopped pullingfaces at each other and themselves, we were able to find out how lockdown was in each of our bubbles. And there were some interesting reports. As well as entertaining, supporting and teaching our respective children, we have people still working in essential services (health and electrical supply), one volunteering his time in an online community,one in contact with medical personnel and one in education, whichdoesn’t stop just ‘cos the children were sent home from school. Everyone was keen to talk and there was humour. It was good to see everyone so tonight we are adding in the Aunty and Uncles who are usually part of the get together. It may not be the most ideal way to continue our socialising, but it’s the bestway right now and it's so good to connect with others.’’ Radiator Repairs We areexpertatrepairing all types of automotiveradiators – FAST ARTHUR CATES LIMITED 26 McNALLYSTREET, RIVERSIDE INDUSTRIAL PARK,ASHBURTON TEL 308 5397 www.arthurcates.co.nz 2270639 Image Credit: thespinoff.co.nz,@SIOUXSIEW,@XTOTL Source: WHO,CDC -CC-BY-SA My officesinAshburtonand Timaru are closed underCOVID alert4measures. For any assistance you can still contact me by ringing 03 308 7510 or email me directly at: andrew.falloon@parliament.govt.nz Anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should phone their doctor or Healthline on 0800 3585453 Authorised by Andrew Falloon MP, 139Stafford Street,Timaru. Andrew Falloon, MP forRangitata For thelatest info: who.int, health.govt.nz
Local news at www.starnews.co.nz Ashburton's The Courier, Thursday April 2, 2020, Page 5 Rakaiamechanic is bareback champ By Mick Jensen Rakaia’s Adam Williams has been crowned the national open bareback rodeo champion. Williams finished top of the standings at the end of the regular season. He was due to fight it out against eight other top contenders for national honours at the grand finale at Millers Flat on March 28, before Covid19 restrictions forced the cancellation of the event. The 28yearold mechanic said he was “chuffed’’ to be crowned a national champion. He had enjoyed avery consistent season on the circuit and had competed at 16 events around the country. He had missed the last two rodeos of the regular season because of an injury, but had won six events, finished second at eight and took a “hefty’’ lead into the grand finale. “I started doing rodeo nine years ago, but Istepped up training this season and it’s been my best ever.’’ Williams said he enjoyed the bareback discipline because it was the “roughest’’ rodeo test and a“fist fight’’ that relied on brute strength. He worked out in the gym, used weights and also swam and biked to keep himself fit. He had attended his first rodeo as ayoung fellow with his parents at Methven and had been tempted to give it agoafter talking to atop 171 ALFORD FOREST RD, ASHBURTON 0800 86 22 44 Rakaia’s Adam Williams in bareback rodeo action. (Photo: Adair Wilson of ImageArt) competitor and fellow apprentice nine years ago. Williams, who has worked at Rakaia Automotive for the last 10 years, said he was grateful for the support of his employer. He had been due to fly out to Western Australia to drive tractors last week, and then on to Washington State, USA for six months to compete on the rodeo circuit there. “The plans are off for now, unfortunately, but we’ll see what happens in the future.’’ Other season ending leaders in the seven other open rodeo disciplines Firewood gift from rural firms More than 10 tonnes of firewood, three trucks and some heavy lifting machinery have combined for a good cause. The wood and the vehicles and manpowerneeded to get it to Ashburtonhave beenprovided freeofcharge; the wood is currently sittinginaheapatLake Hood and will be split and delivered free by members of the AshburtonRotary Clubtoelderly people in the community. The goodwill project is a combinedeffort of Harmer Logging, Methven Truckingand Stuart TarbottonContracting. Spokesman Ryan Dynessaid the companies knew some elderly people would be worrying about firewood supplies later in the year andwantedtomake agoodwill gestureatatime manywould be worried about the ongoing impact of Covid19. Photo: NickUsmar from Stuart TarbottonContracting(left) and Lex Monkfrom Harmer Logging check over wood beingdonatedfor firewood. (rope &tie, saddle bronc, barrel race, steer wrestling, team ropingheader, team topingheeler and the bull ride) were also declared national champions. They include cowgirl Rhondine Long from Oxford, who was crowned open barrel race national champion. Stockwater intake out The Cracroft stockwater intakedamaged by flooding on the Rangitata River last December may not be reinstated. Ashburton District Council runs the intake and arranged temporary supply from the RDR and MHV Water via a temporary supply from MHV’s main race. In an activity report to council recently, it was proposed to make the temporary supply arrangements permanent. This would require the construction of anew intake on the MHV main race, costing about $40,000. Ongoing supply costs would also need to be negotiated. The cost of rebuilding the Cracroft intake was said to be significant. ‘‘The highest expenditure incurred to reinstate this intake in its history was in the order of $120,000. Advice suggests the current works required could exceed that scale. Considering the potentialcosts to reinstate, and the fish screenliability that remains with this intake, officers are taking steps to make the temporary supply arrangements permanent,’’ the report said. The change in take location was initially approved by ECan as an emergency change. Flu vaccine Ashburtondoctorssay their phone linesare being overwhelmed by people calling about the flu vaccine. Medical centres around the district are organising their vaccination schedules, with priorityfor elderly and vulnerable people. As vaccine stocks are replenished, theywill be contactingpeople on their vulnerable listfirst and will advertise when flu vaccines are available for everybodyelse. Water levels All levelone and two water restrictions that hadbeen in place across the AshburtonDistrict have been lifted,effective immediately, however schemes on apermanent hosing ban remain on their restriction. Restrictionsare removed for for Ashburton, Chertsey, Fairton, Hakatere, Hinds, Lake Hood, Mayfield,Methven, Mt Somers and Rakaia. Cooler temperatures around the districtaswellas recent wet weather hasseen water consumptionlevels ease and the AshburtonDistrictCouncil is satisfied the summer restrictions are no longer required. Residents are still encouragedtoobserve waterwise practices to reduce wastesuch as watering in the evening or earlyinthe morning and ensuring sprinklers are not watering footpaths or roads. Harold helps Life EducationMid and South Canterbury is workingto maintain engagementwith primary agedchildren through its Facebookpage. Although the mobileclassroomisparked up for now, the Facebook pageLife EducationMid and South Canterburyisbeing regularly updated.Mascot Harold and the Harold Clubare sharing jokes, putting up video clips of Harold’s daily doings andadvisingparents and childrenofmanyavailable links thatcan be used during the lockdown. The mobileclassroom travels to 67 schools in the region and educatorssee over8000 primary school agedchildren each year. Alert breaches If you have concerns about a gathering of people,anonessential shop or service that is open, anyone who is not selfisolating as required, or an event that breaches the criteria,you can report it to Police online at www.105.police.govt.nz. Do not ring 105.Reportswill be prioritised based on risk. Pricegouging can also be reported to aspecial email: pricewatch@mbie.govt.nz. 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Ashburton Courier: April 02, 2020

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