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THUR 27.06.13 - WED 03.07.13
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Success for enterprises PAGE 4
Cold as ice
Labour exchange with new time bank
With Wanaka’s lakeside air temperature at 2degrees Celsius, Wanaka lake swimmers were technically in a warmer place for last week’s dip in the lake. A visitor from Hawaii even wore a bikini as members of the informal club leapt off the wharf or clambered into the 8degree Celsius water for a group swim out to the pontoon. Pictured are Rachel Rankin, Eddie Spearing and Jamie Rankin.
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PHOTO: CLAIRE O’CONNELL
Rural support after blizzard Tim Brewster Wanaka Sun
Snowfall yields snowpeople PAGE 9
sunviews PAGE 11
Kayakers brave the cold PAGE 12
The strong response within the rural community to help save stock from perishing in snow in the high country around the Tarras area has earned the gratitude of landowners in the area. “Amazing. Outstanding. It was such a relief when you knew you’re going to get people pitching in,” Nicky Mead of Shirlmar Station said after a day-long rescue on Sunday. An estimated 500 sheep in two mobs became trapped at just over 1000m on the station which borders the Dunstan Range. A ring around for “fit strong people with farm experience” on Saturday night resulted in a rescue party which was helicoptered up to the sheep. A track through the snow, which was chest deep in places, was stamped out and the sheep herded down to a lower altitude and eventually onto the flat on Monday after “a lot of blood, sweat and tears,” Nicky said. “The sheep get balled up with snow, they get cold and can’t move and we’re responsible for the animals’ welfare. It can be hard to get on the
Amazing. Outstanding. It was such a relief when you knew you’re going to get people pitching in.
PHOTO: GRAEME FINDLAY
phone to ask for help but then you know you can do something.” The station had moved the stock onto sun-facing slopes prior to the cold weather but the nature of the high country terrain and the unpredictability of the snowstorm meant by Saturday night a rescue
became necessary. “We don’t do little paddocks, the one they were in was 226ha, so finding and moving them can take time.” Lesley Purvis at Cluden Station said they only had a small number of stock trapped but received offers of help from a number of people.
“There was a lot of rallying around. That’s what happens. It’s amazing. I got home at night and there were five messages on the phone of people checking.” A number of farmingrelated businesses sent staff to help and groups such as Rural Women of Cromwell sent food, she said. “It’s swings and roundabouts really, one day we can help out.” Morven Hills Station which is next to Shirlmar also had an extensive rescue effort thanks to volunteer assistance, Lesley said. Station owner Richard Snow was unable to be contacted as it is understood he is still attending to his stock. “A number of the callers offering assistance are saying they have been in a similar position and know what it means to have someone offering to help out … These people are spending the majority of the day wading through snow up to and over their waists, concerned about the health of stock,” Otago Rural Support Trust coordinator David Mellish said. “The feedback I’ve had is that the knowledge there are so many people willing to step forward to help, has been a boost in itself.”