Editorial: Lifeline for farmers hit hardest

Mike Barham of the East Coast Rural Support Trust made an interesting comment in yesterday's Hawke's Bay Today.

"On behalf of the affected farmers, I would like to thank the Hawke's Bay community," he said of the support offered to the rural sector in the wake of the devastating rain event in April this year.

It was a genuine acknowledgement of the gratitude of farmers for assistance provided over many months to help get them back on their feet. The deluge of as much as 1000mm of rain over two days wiped out huge tracts of hillside pasture. Hardest hit was the coastal strip from Clifton to Blackhead and areas around Wairoa with some 75 farmers finding their livelihoods at real risk.

What was interesting about Mr Barham's comment, was his natural instinct to thank others first.

You'd expect nothing else but in fact our rural community, indeed all of Hawke's Bay, should be offering our thanks to Mr Barham.

He has worked tirelessly to support rural Hawke's Bay through what has been an incredibly challenging year.

Whenever we hear of a farmer or orchardist in strife, whether that be due to extreme weather events or financial stress, inevitably it is Mr Barham who is working on a support package.

After the heavy April rains, the trust lobbied for a medium scale event declaration from the Ministry of Agriculture. That allowed the commencement of a Taskforce Green recovery scheme and some funding for the trust itself.

With thousands of volunteers and local businesses pledging support, Mr Barham co-ordinated resources and prioritised the recovery work.

His dedication to getting those hardest hit in the rural sector back on their feet has without doubt been a lifeline for many.