Chief Coroner to speak at Taranaki Meat & Fibre Conference
Tuesday 5 April 2011, 8:26AM
By Federated Farmers of New Zealand
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Chief Coroner Neil McLean will be the keynote speaker at Federated Farmers Taranaki Meat & Fibre section’s Annual General Meeting and conference at the TSB Hub in Hawera on 28 April at 3pm.
“It’s a bit of a coup getting Mr McLean along. For while farmers have had a pretty good year in terms of meat and wool prices, the last few years haven’t been kind,” says Neville Wallace, Federated Farmers Taranaki Meat & Fibre chairman.
“With the whole world in financial meltdown and New Zealand in recession, working conditions put a lot of stress on farmers, farm workers and their families.
“This is why we’re dedicating this year’s event to rural mental health, prevention and treatment issues.
“Mental health and suicide is a problem across all segments of society. It’s time to stop pretending it doesn’t happen to farmers too. Too often farmers pride themselves as the ‘staunch individualists’ of Kiwi legend and have trouble asking for help.
“Minister of Agriculture, Hon David Carter, will also be speaking along with a number of high calibre speakers.
“Industry leaders such as Don MacColl, Director of StockCARE, Silver Fern Farms chairman Eoin Garden as well as Mark Shadbolt from Wool Partners International will also be discussing the state of play in our sector.
“Federated Farmers vice president, Donald Aubrey, will be closing the event.
“It’s been a huge year of ups and downs for farmers nationwide and this promises to be a great conference and an opportunity for all in the farming community to get together to hear from key players in our industry,” Mr Wallace concluded.
AGENDA
3.00pm Meeting on farmer wellness and rural mental health prevention and treatment issues
4.00 pm Meat & Fibre section AGM (closed door session; no media attendance)
5.00 pm Pre-dinner drinks
5.20pm Silver Fern Farms’ demonstration and cutting of meat for dinner
6.00pm Dinner
7.00 pm Hon David Carter, Minister of Agriculture
7.20 pm Don MacColl, StockCARE Director
7.40 pm Eoin Garden, Silver Fern Farms Chairman
8.00pm Mark Shadbolt, Wool Partners International Director (TBC)
8.20pm Donald Aubrey - Federated Farmers vice president
Please purchase tickets from the Federated Farmers Taranaki office by phoning 06 757 3423 or e-mailing taranaki@fedfarm.org.nz. RSVPs are essential as seats will be limited.