Farmy Army/SVA achieves great things....again

In seven days 2340 farmers, students and Christchurch residents, with the help of the New Zealand Army, collectively cleared an estimated 100,000 cubic metres of silt from Christchurch’s battered suburbs.

“The Farmy Army, Student Volunteer Army (SVA) and the New Zealand Army have worked with Christchurch residents to remove a daily average of 14,000 cubic metres of silt,” says John Hartnell, Federated Farmers earthquake spokesperson.

“Federated Farmers would like to thank our SVA colleagues and members of the Defence Force for being just brilliant to work alongside. The same applies to Federated Farmers staff and the volunteers who turned up to pitch in.

“2340 volunteers and the New Zealand Army selflessly gave their all to help Christchurch and they deserve recognition and thanks. Many farmer volunteers gave up time away from essential farm maintenance, while students were in the midst of exams.

“With ten machines, 600 cars, utes and trucks, the Farmy Army and SVA have achieved great things, again.

“While we worked mainly in what are red zone areas, we’ve helped make it bearable given it will take time for the people living there to find new places to live.

“What has gone unheralded are the challenges being faced by farming families on Banks Peninsula, given that’s where epicentres fell.

“Farmers there are not just dealing with broken homes. They are also dealing with damaged farm tracks and driveways as well as the considerable loss of farm fencing. It remains too dangerous to repair because of on-going aftershocks and potential for rock fall exasperated by winter.

“We’re only saying this now because farmers recognised the greatest need was in-town. I think it’s appropriate to recognise that farmers and farms have been knocked around by three earthquakes and we’ll rally to help them when it’s time to do so.

“As an army marches on it’s stomach, I’d also like to pay tribute to the superb catering team led by Nicky Geddes from Verve Real Food Catering, Helen Heddell and Cathie Stephens.

“Together with Rural Women New Zealand, 15 people worked from Saturday to Thursday preparing 1500 evening meals and some 1000 lunches.

“To everyone who baked scones, shortbread, muffins and other home baked items for the families in need. Your contribution was warmly and richly received by the smiles it generated.

“Thank you also to Frucor Beverages for supplying water and to Canterbury butchers for providing the best meat products you could imagine as well as Hire Pool, who supplied tools, wheelbarrows and other equipment.

“Federated Farmers and the SVA would like to end with a big thank you to the management and staff of the Canterbury A+P Society for the use of the Showground’s. As a base it was brilliant and reaffirmed that town or country, we are all Cantabrians and all New Zealanders.

“Having seen 900 wheelbarrows in action and 1750 well used shovels, I sincerely hope this is the last time we’ll be needed in this guise,” Mr Hartnell concluded.

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