AginED
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FOR E FUTURIA G R R S! U PR EN E
Volume 102 I April 25th, 2022 I email: agined@globalHQ.co.nz I www.farmersweekly.co.nz/agined Are you a parent or teacher and want to receive AginED every week directly to your email inbox? Send us an email to sign up at agined@globalhq.co.nz
ANZAC DAY
25th April
The date marks the anniversary of the landing of Australian and New Zealand soldiers – the Anzacs – on the Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915 and commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations and acknowledges the contribution and suffering of all those who have served. Have you ever wondered how all the industries and jobs that men usually did, but were no longer around to do when heading off to war, were sustained? During World War II when the men left to serve their country women were enlisted for “essential work” including working in mills, clothing factories, becoming tram conductors, hospital personnel, herd testers and members of the armed forces”. Women took on many roles during that time and often excelled at them including “Land Girls”. Head to https://www.stuff.co.nz/ southland-times/news/103240807/ land-girls-new-zealands-world-war-iiunsung-heroes to read the article and watch the video of Margaret Sanders, Daphne Attfield, Margaret Reid and Saide Lietze who worked as Land Girls during World War II. Sadie Lietze worked on a high country station in Omarama in her time as a land girl and describes the hard work of rabbiting amongst other the varied other roles she carried out.
When you have watched the video and read the related article see if you can answer the following questions. 1
How did they catch and process the rabbits?
2 When the war ended what happened to the women’s land service? 3 Why were the women who were part of the New Zealand Women’s Land Service never formally acknowledged after the war? 4 Who is the author that brought the courage and determination of the Land Girls to life in a book? What is that book called? 5 How many women replaced the 28,000 men that left the rural sector during World War II? Where were a significant portion of these women from? 6 Margaret Reid spent five years in the Women’s Land Army in England during World War II. What work did she do during these years? 7 Margaret received recognition of her efforts after the war. What did she receive?
CONSCRIPTION vs VOLUNTARY SERVICE In July 1940, there was no longer an option to sign up for war and the introduction of conscription meant that every male between 19 and 45 years old was liable to sign up for service in the war. Farms still needed to be worked and food produced while the men were away fighting, and farming was never declared ‘essential work’ to allow farmers to stay home. With no one left to fill the gap, and extremely controversial at the time, the NZ Women’s Land Service was created.. While the idea of the Women’s Land Corps came about in 1939, opposition from many sources such as the Ministry of Agriculture, newspapers, churches and the farmers union meant it took until 1942 to be formed. There was much discussion over whether they should even be paid for their work!
Head to https://www.glenorchycommunity.nz/ glenorchy/gallery/photo-of-the-month/land-girls/ to read more about the life of a NZ Land Girl. 1
What kind of work did Reta, Betty and Betty do on the farms?
2 How many women were placed on farms during the span of the war? 3 The service was not officially recognised; Land Girls were not allowed to join the RSA and they had no official service number. What year did the NZ Government formally recognise the service of Land Girls? You may be surprised at how long this took!
WAR HORSES
It is estimated that approximately 16 million horses were used for various purposes during World War I. Of the 10,000 horses that left New Zealand for service it is thought only four returned which included Bess. Colonel Charles Guy Powels of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment and Bess fought together in Egypt, Sinai, Palestine and France and returned to NZ in 1922. Close to 100 years after her service, in 2020 Bess received a Blue Cross Medal, one of the highest honours an animal can receive for serving in military conflict.
Former Land Girls Head to Radio New Zealand to listen to stories from women recounting their experiences on the farms. https://www.rnz.co.nz/ national/programmes/ summernoelle/audio/2543289/ tales-from-the-back-countryland-girls 1 What hours of work were common for land girls? 2 What was Elsie’s least liked job on the farm? 3 Why did land girls have a uniform?
2 Bess returned with Powles and her grave and memorial can be found at Flock House. Do some research, in what year after WW1 was Flock House established?
4 Due to the unavailability of rubber what was the common footwear worn at the time (both by land girls and many others)? What were these made out of? Why and how was no 8 wire used with them?
3 Why was Flock House established and where is it?
5 How did they control ragwort?
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Southland farmer David Johnston and his family created poppies out of hay bales in commemoration during the 2020 lockdown. How are you commemorating ANZAC day this year?
How did horses get overseas?
During WWI, more than 80% of NZ’s meat, dairy and other agricultural products went to the UK. This image shows a British First World War poster advertising New Zealand butter. During World War II in 1942 rationing began taking place as more food headed off shore to British and United States forces. •
In October 1943 each person was allowed 225 grams of butter per week and by March 1944 meat was rationed to just over 1kg of meat per week.
FILL YA BOOTS! In 1942 90% of the world’s rubber supply was in the hands of the opposition. This meant rubber supplies were reserved for priority use and a farmer had to prove they owned at least 12 cows to get a pair of gumboots!