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22 <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> Wednesday <strong>February</strong> <strong>21</strong> <strong>2024</strong><br />
SELWYN RURAL LIFE<br />
Advertising Feature<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong> benefits from graduate<br />
rural vet scheme<br />
• By Isabelle Teresa<br />
24-year-old Sam beams with<br />
enthusiasm. Having lived in the<br />
North Island all her life and gained<br />
her Bachelor of Veterinary Science at<br />
Massey University, she snapped up the<br />
chance to start her veterinary career in<br />
<strong>Selwyn</strong>’s rural communities, supported<br />
by a government scheme.<br />
The Ministry for Primary Industries’<br />
Voluntary Bonding Scheme is<br />
designed to ease the shortage of rural<br />
veterinarians working with production<br />
animals and working dogs. Since 2009,<br />
it has supported 449 graduate vets. This<br />
year’s intake has just been announced<br />
– 33 graduates, linked to 24 rural<br />
communities across the country.<br />
Samantha Johnson is one of these<br />
graduates, splitting her time between<br />
Leeston and Lincoln VetEnts. This<br />
gives her a great introduction to the<br />
variety of rural veterinary life, with<br />
the lifestyle block focus at Lincoln,<br />
and Leeston tending more towards<br />
farming work. She loves heading out<br />
in the well-equipped VetEnt truck to<br />
tackle whatever she’s faced with on<br />
farm. Working with the “largies”, as she<br />
affectionally calls them, is her particular<br />
passion.<br />
Sam always knew she wanted to be a<br />
vet, right from her first visit to a clinic<br />
as a kiddie with the family dog. She was<br />
obsessed while growing up but even so,<br />
money could have been a real barrier.<br />
The training is long and expensive, and<br />
not everyone has financial supports<br />
within their family.<br />
Vet graduates typically leave with a<br />
student loan of up to $100,000. This<br />
bonding scheme pays $55,000 over<br />
five years, directly against the loan.<br />
Graduates must complete at least three<br />
years before payments start.<br />
Sam is very grateful that this funding<br />
meant she could stay in NZ to start her<br />
career, instead of chasing higher starter<br />
salaries in Australia.<br />
The veterinary clinics are also very<br />
glad to have her. Jessica Rees, Leeston’s<br />
Clinic Coordinator, says “Having her<br />
production animal expertise on the<br />
team has greatly expanded our services.<br />
And because the scheme lasts for five<br />
years, Sam is building real and lasting<br />
connections.”<br />
Sam’s mentor at Leeston, Annalisa<br />
Pope, also speaks enthusiastically. “Sam’s<br />
energy – and her up-to-the minute<br />
training – is giving a real lift to all of<br />
us. It’s a two-way street – we’re learning<br />
from her just as she is from us.”<br />
Sam with her dog Franklin<br />
Sam’s genuine duty of care to animals<br />
is beyond question – she says: “I can be<br />
their voice.” <strong>Selwyn</strong> District is lucky that<br />
this scheme brought her to us.<br />
Firewood & Coal<br />
Coal<br />
20 kg bags or<br />
500kg bulk bags<br />
Firewood<br />
Pick up or deliver<br />
(delivery charges apply)<br />
Free delivery to Darfield township when<br />
3 cubic metres or more is ordered.<br />
The Right Product for the Right Price<br />
Rural Pole Sheds Roundwood Animal Netting<br />
Vehicle Shelters Landscaping Timber Sheep & Deer Gates<br />
Animal Shelters Residential Fencing Deer Fencing<br />
Utility Workshops Post & Rail Fencing Electric Fencing<br />
Landscape Products<br />
Now Available!<br />
• Forest Mulch<br />
• Bark Mulch<br />
• Bark Nuggets (10/20mm)<br />
• Premium Organic Compost<br />
• Screened Soil<br />
• Landscape Rocks<br />
• Paparoa Red Rock available in 3 grades<br />
• Railway Sleepers (2.1 Lengths)<br />
• Kindling Wood<br />
• Unscreened Bark<br />
Delivery fees apply.<br />
417 Creyke Road,<br />
Darfield<br />
Phone 03 975 4502<br />
Eftpos now available<br />
Open Monday to Friday 6am-6pm, Saturday 8am-1pm or after hours by appointment<br />
Canterbury<br />
Timber & Harware<br />
Y O U R L O C A L T I M B E R M E R C H A N T<br />
E N Q U I R E W I T H I N F O R<br />
Y O U R F R E E Q U O T E<br />
03 347 7465 sales@cthl.co.nz www.cthl.co.nz<br />
OPEN:<br />
Mon-Fri<br />
Saturday<br />
167 Manion Road, Rolleston<br />
Promote your Rural Business<br />
in the <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
Promote your Rural Business in the <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
- Rural Life feature and your ad will be seen by 46,000<br />
readers weekly across the ENTIRE <strong>Selwyn</strong> District.<br />
The <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong> is delivered FREE each Wednesday<br />
to 22,480 Rural & Residential households, Covering the<br />
latest local news and information with digital editions<br />
also available to view online at www.starnews.co.nz.<br />
CALL Lynette TODAY to discuss how she can<br />
help PROMOTE YOUR BUSINESS to local <strong>Selwyn</strong><br />
readers, or to the entire Canterbury district.<br />
Contact Lynette Mobile: 0<strong>21</strong> 222 7831 Email: Lynette.Evans@starmedia.kiwi<br />
7:00am - 5:00pm<br />
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