'Farmy Army' working hard clearing schools

Teams from Federated Farmers ‘Farmy Army’ are working hard on schools in the Shirley area of Christchurch. With an estimated 600 volunteers working all over Christchurch today, these numbers will grow with many more farmers arriving before the weekend.

“Christchurch’s children need to get back to a normal routine and the best way farmers can do that is by helping out the schools and pre-schools,” says John Hartnell, Federated Farmers earthquake spokesperson.

“Federated Farmers Board member, Donald Aubrey, is now on site with teams at Shirley Primary School and Shirley Intermediate. The teams there will also be moving onto Shirley Boys High School as well

“On the two schools we’re working on, we’ve got two teams of twenty people apiece backed by seven tipping trucks, five mini-diggers, one telehandler and a huff loader.

“We’ve even got a member on the way from Ashburton with a sweeper tractor.

“We’re hoping the Ministry of Education, who met with Shirley Primary this morning, will alert us to other schools that need our help.

“The ‘Farmy Army’ is a volunteer force and those working at Shirley have come from as far afield as Lake Pukaki in the Mackenzie to Naseby in central Otago.

“We’ve even had a number of Members of Parliament pitch in as volunteers and I know of at least two working shovels and wheelbarrows today.

“It’s a huge team effort with Rural Contractors, New Zealand Young Farmers and Rural Woman New Zealand. There are also so many companies

“And, from tomorrow, we’ve got a lot of reinforcements coming into Christchurch with a number flying down from the North Island or driving up from the deep south.

“We’re set for a really big push this weekend as farmers from Matamata and Palmerston North have now arrived.

“So can I please restate that Federated Farmers are available to help any residential property owner, business or school. Just pick up the phone and call us,” Mr Hartnell concluded.

Federated Farmers dispatch can be called on:

027 266 7926 (7.00am to 7.00pm)

If this number is overloaded, people can also dial:

0800 327 646 (0800 FARMING) between 8.30am and 5.00pm. Messages may also be left outside of business hours.

To volunteer for the ‘Farmy Army’:

Register at the A+P Showgrounds, Curletts Road, Christchurch between 7am and 12pm. Due to traffic conditions, 12pm is the last practical time to get people into the field.