FARMERS are a stubborn bunch who find it difficult to ask for help. That’s the view of Dorothy Oakley who was one of the founders of the Rural Support Trust in North Canterbury in the 1980s. While those traits of stubbornness and working alone are an essential part of farming and often manifest themselves positively as self reliance and determination to get the job done, there can be a darker side to it when times get tough. Farmers find it extremely difficult to ask for help and, often as not, will try to work on alone while things are falling apart around them. Rural Support in North Canterbury has been supporting farming families in times of stress continuously since the 1980s, and in more recent times other groups have started up around the country. Dorothy, a JP, marriage celebrant and retired farmer, is still the chairperson of the trust in North Canterbury. In 1993 she was awarded a QSM for her services and in the same year studied rural services in the US and Canada on an Agmart Scholarship. Importantly she hasn’t lost her enthusiasm. “I’m just so passionate about it, it’s so rewarding.” Rural Support focuses on helping rural people get the services they need after events such as droughts, floods, destructive gales and snowfalls, as well as severe financial downturns. She says it tries to take a low key approach, and is only available to people who are making a living from farming. “We ring people up regularly to make sure they’re ok, and there’s nothing like sending a box of groceries up to someone in a bad situation, it just gives them a lift. The trust’s work is varied, ranging for putting people in touch with the right Government department to working through social organisations to helping in marriage break ups. In North Canterbury a team of three counsellors -Doug Archbold, Grant McFadden and Noel Dalley - are always on hand. They have a long history in the farming community and are well respected. In the trust’s advertising it is presented as “free and confidential, experienced farmer-to-farmer help”. “We have a policy that it’s not long term counselling. We’re just the first port of call. If it requires more or there’s suspected suicide potential it’s handed over to professionals.” Everyone involved has been through a suicide prevention course. There is now much better co-ordination with other official bodies and Rural Support is directly linked into local civil defence. Dorothy has seen many events in Canterbury since 1985 which have knocked farming families about badly. She says, although North Canterbury has been declared a drought area recently, the trust’s phones are quiet at the moment. Few people are asking for help, but that may change in the spring. The declaration of drought means that some Government assistance available and special tax provisions apply. “We’re sending out a letter next week to all farmers telling them there is help out there available. A lot of people really don’t know. Accountants are often the first people to see farmers are under stress financially. “We had a meeting with rural accountants recently and some didn’t know what help was available. A lot of farmers don’t know either, and won’t ask for help.” She says the last big event in North Canterbury where people sought help in numbers was the floods of two winters ago in the hill country. “We had up to 27 on our books getting help from the Government. The Social Development Ministry really came to the party and so did the IRD.” Rural Support in North Canterbury started was started by Dorothy and Grant McFadden in 1985 at the time when Government subsidies were removed. It was a time of cold turkey for farmers and many struggled. That was probably the worse times she has seen. “That rocked everyone, they just couldn’t cope.” She was involved with Rural Women and Federated Farmers at the time and had women ringing her telling of the difficulties on the farm. “I spoke to Grant and we got on the road. We got a lot of publicity at the time. “When we started Rural Support I went the Government and eventually got a small grant. They said they were happy because we weren’t political and were free to all people.” From those early days Rural Support has helped farming families through a number of crippling events like the big Canterbury snow of 1992. During the snow she went into Lees Valley, one of the worst affected areas. There was a lot of media focus on the farming and livestock side of the disaster, but little on how the women were coping at home. A word in the ear of Prime Minister Jim Bolger helped that situation. Over the years other groups started up around the country and then faded and some started up again. “We fought for a long time to get it national. It is national now with Government help.” She says former Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton was “fantastic” in his support in setting up the organisation nationally. There are now 14 regional groups around the country. howardkeene@clear.net.nz