Tdemmetthorised by the Diaict Conc Let's talk about. The Elephant in the Paddock HAURAKI DISTRICT COUNCL Talking is the best medicine When Melanie Rogers first started dating her future husband, Graham, she'd sit on the steps of the milking shed and chat to him about her day. Checking in on the wellbeing of the Hauraki Rural community "Eventually he said well, you might The Elephant in the Paddock began in 2017 when the Council teamed up with a number of rural support agencies to check in on the wellbeing of our rural communities. That project was so Successful we're doing it all again The revamp includes three new local champions who are sharing their stories, as well as a refreshed brochure with up-to-date information on how to recognise unhealthy stress or depression and where to find support services within the local community as well put the cups on while you're talking," she said. More than 20 years and two teenagers later, the Waihi couple still chat in the milking shed of the 220-hectare family farm Graham left school to work on. "We work because we talk," says Melanie, who admits farming is not her preferred career choice. "Im happy to help out on the farm and I love living in the country but I've always needed another outiet," she said Working at Farmers and the local supermarket before securing a role at BNZ where she stayed until the couple's two children came along, she then worked full time on the farm and ran a nail salon from home in between Support services available to the rural community when you're tired, wet and cold, something small like a water punp breaking down can be the last straw. Then you get on the phone to someone gou know in the same boat. and you realise it's not just you having a bad day. I have a nacleas of people I can talk to f things aren't going well. Make an appointment with your GP Rural North Hauraki Mental Health & Addiction Services milkings. Ive made meals for people t know are strugling. It's just Something little i could do to help. but smal things can make a huge dilference "There were times I had to run home from the cowshed as clients were (DHB), phone 0800 08 03 39 Crisis Assessment and coming up the driveway. I was blessed to have understanding clients who knew farming came first," she laughs. Treatment Service for emergency calls after hours, weekends and public holidays phone 0800 50 50 50 Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel Rural Support Trust (farmer to farmer supporti, phone 0800 787 254, www.rural-support. For Graham, fishing provides a bit of time out from the demands of the Geaham Roge farm, which he says have increased significantly over the past ten years. "When I first started with the old man, if we had heavy rain we'd just close the curtains,"he said. "Now the farm's more heavily stocked own fertiliser and grazing young stock his own land, Graham says keeping the farm self-contained gives him more "Rome wasn't built in a day, but as an industry we're making some really positive changes." Again, for the Rogers, talking is the best medicine. Fostering relationships with a close circle of rural professionals, including his bank manager who he talks to at least every 10 days, Graham attends most Fonterra meetings and Dairy NZ farm discussion groups. He also has a nucleus of people he can chat toif things aren't going well. "When you're tired, wet and cold, something small ske a water pump breaking down can be the last straw. Then you get on the phone to someone you know in the same boat and you realise it's not just you having a bad day," he said. org.nz Need to talk? phone or text 1737 anytime day or night to talk with a trained health professional control. and I cant afford to have a paddock damaged by pugging and not performing. It's become more business orientated rather than a lifestyle, the social aspect has become a bit lost." "it means I can put fertiliser on when the rain is coming rather than relying on someone else and going into the queue," he said. In the wake of this year's drought and Covid 19, when farmers are even more prone to the effects of loneliness and isolation, Melanie encourages all rural folk to check-in regularly with their neighbours. Depression Line phone 0800 11 17 57, www.depression.org.nz Alcohol Drug Helpline phone 0800 787 797 Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki Hinengaro (mental health), phone 07 868 0033 Bigger farms, higher debt levels, more focus on farm efficiency, as well as extra compliance and audit paperwork have added extra stress to a job thats already round-the-clock with no check out time from the office. There's also been a shift in the public perception of farming over the past few years. "You're busy fencing waterways, upgrading effluent systems, and doing riparian planting at huge cost and you still get slammed on social media for damaging the environment - it's gut wrenching,"Graham said. "Tve made meals for people I know are struggling. It's just something ltle ! could do to help, but small things can make a huge difference," she said. "Most importantly, remember to talk. Go to farm discussion groups, get out-and-about and catch up with like- minded people. Even chatting with the tanker driver for five minutes can help." Find out more www.hauraki-de.govt.na/ wellbeing-farming Other stress relievers include making a point of doing maintenance in the dry time to free things up for calving. A fan of making his own silage, putting on his WILLIAM STREET, PO DOX 17, PAEROA 3600 | PHONE 07 862 8609 OR O000 734 B34 (within the Hauraki District) I www.hauraki-dc.govt.na Tdemmetthorised by the Diaict Conc Let's talk about. The Elephant in the Paddock HAURAKI DISTRICT COUNCL Talking is the best medicine When Melanie Rogers first started dating her future husband, Graham, she'd sit on the steps of the milking shed and chat to him about her day. Checking in on the wellbeing of the Hauraki Rural community "Eventually he said well, you might The Elephant in the Paddock began in 2017 when the Council teamed up with a number of rural support agencies to check in on the wellbeing of our rural communities. That project was so Successful we're doing it all again The revamp includes three new local champions who are sharing their stories, as well as a refreshed brochure with up-to-date information on how to recognise unhealthy stress or depression and where to find support services within the local community as well put the cups on while you're talking," she said. More than 20 years and two teenagers later, the Waihi couple still chat in the milking shed of the 220-hectare family farm Graham left school to work on. "We work because we talk," says Melanie, who admits farming is not her preferred career choice. "Im happy to help out on the farm and I love living in the country but I've always needed another outiet," she said Working at Farmers and the local supermarket before securing a role at BNZ where she stayed until the couple's two children came along, she then worked full time on the farm and ran a nail salon from home in between Support services available to the rural community when you're tired, wet and cold, something small like a water punp breaking down can be the last straw. Then you get on the phone to someone gou know in the same boat. and you realise it's not just you having a bad day. I have a nacleas of people I can talk to f things aren't going well. Make an appointment with your GP Rural North Hauraki Mental Health & Addiction Services milkings. Ive made meals for people t know are strugling. It's just Something little i could do to help. but smal things can make a huge dilference "There were times I had to run home from the cowshed as clients were (DHB), phone 0800 08 03 39 Crisis Assessment and coming up the driveway. I was blessed to have understanding clients who knew farming came first," she laughs. Treatment Service for emergency calls after hours, weekends and public holidays phone 0800 50 50 50 Waikato-Hauraki-Coromandel Rural Support Trust (farmer to farmer supporti, phone 0800 787 254, www.rural-support. For Graham, fishing provides a bit of time out from the demands of the Geaham Roge farm, which he says have increased significantly over the past ten years. "When I first started with the old man, if we had heavy rain we'd just close the curtains,"he said. "Now the farm's more heavily stocked own fertiliser and grazing young stock his own land, Graham says keeping the farm self-contained gives him more "Rome wasn't built in a day, but as an industry we're making some really positive changes." Again, for the Rogers, talking is the best medicine. Fostering relationships with a close circle of rural professionals, including his bank manager who he talks to at least every 10 days, Graham attends most Fonterra meetings and Dairy NZ farm discussion groups. He also has a nucleus of people he can chat toif things aren't going well. "When you're tired, wet and cold, something small ske a water pump breaking down can be the last straw. Then you get on the phone to someone you know in the same boat and you realise it's not just you having a bad day," he said. org.nz Need to talk? phone or text 1737 anytime day or night to talk with a trained health professional control. and I cant afford to have a paddock damaged by pugging and not performing. It's become more business orientated rather than a lifestyle, the social aspect has become a bit lost." "it means I can put fertiliser on when the rain is coming rather than relying on someone else and going into the queue," he said. In the wake of this year's drought and Covid 19, when farmers are even more prone to the effects of loneliness and isolation, Melanie encourages all rural folk to check-in regularly with their neighbours. Depression Line phone 0800 11 17 57, www.depression.org.nz Alcohol Drug Helpline phone 0800 787 797 Te Korowai Hauora O Hauraki Hinengaro (mental health), phone 07 868 0033 Bigger farms, higher debt levels, more focus on farm efficiency, as well as extra compliance and audit paperwork have added extra stress to a job thats already round-the-clock with no check out time from the office. There's also been a shift in the public perception of farming over the past few years. "You're busy fencing waterways, upgrading effluent systems, and doing riparian planting at huge cost and you still get slammed on social media for damaging the environment - it's gut wrenching,"Graham said. "Tve made meals for people I know are struggling. It's just something ltle ! could do to help, but small things can make a huge difference," she said. "Most importantly, remember to talk. Go to farm discussion groups, get out-and-about and catch up with like- minded people. Even chatting with the tanker driver for five minutes can help." Find out more www.hauraki-de.govt.na/ wellbeing-farming Other stress relievers include making a point of doing maintenance in the dry time to free things up for calving. A fan of making his own silage, putting on his WILLIAM STREET, PO DOX 17, PAEROA 3600 | PHONE 07 862 8609 OR O000 734 B34 (within the Hauraki District) I www.hauraki-dc.govt.na