Speaking up eases stress

Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust chairman Derek Spratt has stepped down from his position but will remain a trustee. Photo / John Borren

No person should be scared to seek help if they think the everyday stress of life is taking a toll on themselves and their family.

Those words come from highly respected Bay of Plenty rural leader and Queens Service Medal award recipient Derek Spratt, who said he had sought advice from his doctor following several events that affected his well-being.

Mr Spratt, former Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust chairman and current Federated Farmers Bay of Plenty treasurer, received a Queens Service Medal for his contribution to agriculture last year. He said "I am not afraid to speak up, I can lay that out there in the hope others will know they are not alone.

"I went through a bit of turmoil and I couldn't sleep, so after not feeling right I went to see the doctor. He asked me if I thought I needed some counselling but I knew it had not come to that. I just needed to get some sleep first."

No stranger to the signals of stress through his work with the Bay of Plenty Rural Support Trust, he knew there was no shame in seeking professional advice.

In February Mr Spratt resigned as chairman of the trust, having been a founding member in 2004. He remains a trustee. The trust was formed following floods in the region and became the template for other support trusts throughout New Zealand, Mr Spratt said.

It provided services to counsel, advise and assist rural people, both financial and emotional.

The trust members were local people who had faced the challenges rural life brings and the organisation had access to networks and services to help people get back on their feet.

A highlight for Mr Spratt was being able to help people overcome their hardships and fears and he said often all they needed was a friendly ear.

"Being able to help farmers in need has been very rewarding for me. Over the years we have received many letters of thanks which is great because people have all been very appreciative of the work the trust has done."

It had worked through floods, Psa and droughts.

The greatest triumph was the outcome of the battle with the Ministry of Social Development over rural assistance payments for kiwifruit growers after Psa hit the region and devastated vines.

"That was really tough and as a consequence of that there were a lot of people affected by Psa that lived off the skin of their teeth. I didn't think that was fair and we could not understand why there was a difference for RAPS approval with a drought and Psa adverse event.

"Hopefully the situation is now sorted and don't have to argue with MSD when an adverse event is declared by the Government."

So what does the future hold for Mr Spratt?

He would pull back a bit but it was unlikely he would slow down too much, he said.