Rural service providers Kristin Kirkpatrick and Andy McManus have been appointed trustees of Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust. They are voluntary roles.
McManus is the general manager of Rural Transport, and Kirkpatrick, an extension manager at Beef +LambNZ.
Trust chair Josh Dondertman said, in a statement, the pair had a wealth of knowledge within the district’s rural community and connection to rural service providers.
It was ‘‘a group that are often lacking support when working on farms and supporting those experiencing a crisis’’, he said.
McManus said he sought a trustee role ‘‘to give something back to the agricultural sector linked to the heart of Mid Canterbury’s primary industries’’.
“My position at Rural Transport complements my new role as trustee – I see it as an opportunity to bridge a gap between rural communities and rural service providers.
‘‘These connections will help enhance the trust’s reach, exposure and impact in times of crisis or when support is needed,” he said.
Kirkpatrick said she saw firsthand challenges faced by the rural community.
Kirkpatrick moved to Mid Canterbury from Tairawhiti in 2022 and had experienced firsthand the value of the Rural Support Trust with disaster response efforts after Cyclone Gabrielle.
“Rural communities and the agricultural sector (like others) have their own unique challenges and during challenging times it is important to have support from those who deeply understand – such as the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust,” she said.
She said she could see positive impacts of the organisation in the rural community.
“The importance the trust’s role plays in wellbeing co-ordination services in the community resilience space, and adverse event support is something I value and wanted to be part of in Mid Canterbury,” she said.
Dondertman said in Mid Canterbury the trust was working to ensure those in the community knew about resources available.
“Our trust is working hard to ensure that our rural community knows the resources that are available to them for business and personal support, before and during times of adversity.
‘‘The combination of knowledge and rural connection that our seven trustees possess, along with our wellbeing co-ordinators expertise and experience – the Mid Canterbury Rural Support trust is well equipped to support our rural community not only in response to an adverse event, but also personal challenges and adversity.”
He said the trust was always keen to hear from volunteers to become ‘Friends of the Trust’.
Friends of the Trust volunteers offered insight and support during adverse event response efforts, or with other events the trust was involved in.
‘‘Friends of the trust aren’t required to attend meetings or do anything on a regular basis, it is purely a database of contacts who are happy to be called for community insight and support when needed,’’ he said.
Anyone interested in becoming a ‘Friend of the Trust’ can email [email protected] for further information.
