Aussie Farmers Enjoy Breaks In New Zealand

8 May 2007

Aussie Farmers Enjoy Breaks In New Zealand

Australian farming families from drought-affected areas have started to take advantage of free accommodation provided by Federated Farmers’ members and 100 free flights across the Tasman gifted by Jetstar Airlines.

Some families have already enjoyed a stress break on holiday in New Zealand but many more are counting down to their departure date.

One of the first families to visit New Zealand were Brendan and Tanya Gill, who visited Auckland and Rotorua in April with their nine-month old baby.

The Gills bought their farm near Bendigo in Victoria five years ago but since then they have had one good year of harvest and four years of drought.

After hearing about the holiday offer from their state farming organisation, the Gills took a whirlwind tour of the North Island staying initially in Auckland before setting off in a hire car to Rotorua where they went on the gondola, took part in a Maori culture show, swam in the Polynesian spa and visited the Agrodome.

Farming is never far from the family’s minds and Brendan, a keen shearer, took the opportunity to check out the New Zealand competition at the Royal Easter Show in Auckland before flying out.

“It is more merinos from where we are but it was great watching. Boy those New Zealanders can shear a crossbreed fast,” Brendan said.

Tania says there’s only one thing that would have made their trip better and that was hearing it had rained while they were away. She says it is just fantastic New Zealand and Australia have worked together to facilitate the scheme and she hopes many other families will take advantage of the programme.

New South Wales farmers Stuart Clarke and Cheryl Waterhouse have spent a week in New Zealand and say it is a long time since they have seen so much rain.

The Waterhouses stayed with retired farmers Prue and Bruce Harper in mid Canterbury.

South Australian couple Vicki and Rex Foster have also visited New Zealand. Based on a 20,000 acre property in South Australia growing wheat, barley, canola, lupins and grazing merino sheep for wool, the Fosters had nine days in the South Island.

“The news we’d won our trip was heaven sent – it came just when we needed something really positive to look forward to,” Mrs Foster said.

“Trying to keep the family afloat during this difficult time is very draining. The management of this operation is a big job – add in significant extra borrowings to try to trade our way through this drought... it causes us a lot of stress.”

The holidays for drought affected farmers scheme was initiated by Federated Farmers of New Zealand, but could not have been possible without the enthusiastic support of the National Farmers Federation in Australia and its 10 state farming organisations.

Federated Farmers of New Zealand President Charlie Pedersen said the Federation had received 350 offers of accommodation, mainly from Federation members.

“Non-farmers and ex-farmers have also offered the use of their bachs or cribs. Many have read about the drought in Australia or lived in Australia, so are keen to help our Aussie mates.”

About 40 farming families are travelling to New Zealand on 100 free flights generously provided by Jetstar, with many others paying their own flights so they can take advantage of the free accommodation offers from all over New Zealand.

ENDS

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