About 100 children from Wainoni Primary School enjoyed a day on a farm thanks to the Rotary Club of Ashburton in Canterbury, New Zealand.
The day trip to Rotarian Errol Stewart’s family farm near Rakaia came about as part of the growing relationship between the Rotary Clubs of Ashburton and Christchurch North. The latter was badly affected by the earthquakes in Canterbury, and Wainoni School is in Rotary Club of Christchurch North’s area.
On November 2, two coach loads of children aged five to 12 years, accompanied by teachers, parents and Rotary Club of Christchurch North President Karen Clark, made the hour long drive to the Stewart family farm where the Ashburton Rotarians had gathered to greet the children and host them for a day on the farm.
After a morning snack, the children were introduced to a variety of animals including pigs, hens, goats, sheep, cows and alpacas. They were encouraged to pet the animals, collect eggs, lead the alpacas, and enjoy some interaction with the Rotarians, the Stewart family and the farm’s animals.
The children visited the milking shed, where 1,600 cows regularly give their daily quota, and also watched sheep being shorn. They were able to have a look over the tractors, implements and harvesters used on the farm.
The Stewart family had made an effort to link the activities of the day to the production of food, so the children gained an understanding of how the bread their parents buy in the supermarket starts with wheat in the Stewart’s paddock, and how the milk, cheese, ice cream and yoghurt they enjoy eating comes from the cows they watched being milked.
Rotary Club of Ashburton treated the children to a rural-style lunch, and the children responded with some singing. The Rotarians discovered that some of the children had never been on a farm before, some having never previously left the city.
The farm visit was one of a wish-list of projects the Rotary Club of Christchurch North suggested to Rotary Club of Ashburton when it took the club under its wing earlier this year. Christchurch North wanted a school affected by the earthquakes to enjoy a day away with an educational benefit.
Ashburton members have been offering support to their neighbouring northern club through regular club night visits and assistance with club projects Christchurch North have either had difficulty manning or funding since the earthquakes.
Rotary Club of Ashburton President John Driscoll points out that the growing relationship between the two clubs has had two-way benefits, with Ashburton members enjoying extending their hospitality and talents to aid a club with some difficulties, while Christchurch North’s meetings have benefitted through some new faces and non-earthquake conversation.
The connection between the clubs began when John and Karen met as Presidents Elect during training prior to this 2011-2012 Rotary year. John and Karen envisage the relationship between the clubs lasting well into the future.
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Shearer Grant Smith and Rotarians Ian Smith, Leicester Wilson and John Driscoll explain the process of sheep shearing to Wainoni School pupils. |
Article by Alison Driscoll, Publicity Officer, Rotary Club of Ashburton
