The surf is up for farmers around the country looking to get off-farm for a few hours and catch up with friends and neighbours.
The surf therapy initiative Surfing for Farmers, established to improve mental health and wellbeing in rural communities, is now in its fourth season and gaining in popularity. Launched in Gisborne in 2018 by Stephen Thomson, people around the country have seen the success of the Gisborne model and reached out to replicate the programme into 21 regions across the country.
Thomson says he started the initiative after watching a documentary called Resurface on American soldiers returning from Afghanistan and suffering from PTSD.
“They took these soldiers surfing to improve their wellbeing and it occurred to me we could do that for our farmers to help them feel good and switch off from the farm,” Stephen says.
Turning to the Gisborne Boardriders, boards, tutors and wetsuits were organised and the only thing missing was the farmers.
“We had an incredible turnout with 25 farmers on the first day and it has grown ever since. It has just been brilliant,” he says.
The learn-to-surf programme is free and provides an opportunity for farmers to step away from what can be an all-consuming business, get fresh air, exercise and interact with other farmers, rural families and industry professionals.
Whakatāne dairy farmers Selwyn and Hannah Cleland are now in their second season of surfing.
Selwyn grew up in Whakatāne but spent little time at the beach and was teaching up until last season when he returned to the family farm. Friends and family stressed to him the importance of getting off-farm occasionally.
“Dad especially said it was important to get away even for a few hours and it was something he probably wished he had done more over the years,” Selwyn says.
“And another Waikato farming friend is a big advocate for getting off-farm so I took his advice on board.”
Hannah had seen the post about Surfing for Farmers on the Rural Support Trust Facebook page and they decided to give it a go, despite neither having surfed before.
“Last year, Hannah came along and looked after the kids while I surfed but this year she is learning too,” he says.
Hannah says that she is still learning but admits she isn’t that great at it.
“I am a total novice. I spend a lot of time flapping my arms around,” she laughs.
Selwyn is learning and has progressed to the point he can stand up and ride a wave in.
“My first season on the farm was pretty cruisy but at the time, I didn’t realise how much Dad was doing. This season we moved onto the farm and I did the calving and that is when I realised just how much he was doing,” he says.
With calving being the busiest time of the year, he experienced the usual fatigue and long hours and the beginning of what can be described as burnout.
“It was probably the most work I had done in my life and I was spending long hours away from Hannah and the kids,” he says.
“Friends told me I needed some time off the farm and didn’t want to see me for three days. They were amazing and just took over and gave me the break I needed.”
Since then, he has made a point of taking time out and Surfing for Farmers provides a perfect opportunity.
“It is a great environment, relaxed and fun and the instructors are great,” he says.
“And we get to talk to like-minded people who are all facing similar issues on the farm as we are and we can bounce ideas around.”
Hannah says the initiative has also been a great way to get involved and meet people in their local community.
“We have a young school-leaver doing work experience and we take him and our farm worker and her partner along as well, which is a cool thing to do as a team. And they get out and meet people as well.”
Stephen says Surfing for Farmers wouldn’t be possible without the support of their sponsors as the organisation foots all the bills from the wetsuits and board hire, to paying the instructors and the BBQ dinner supplied afterwards.
“It’s amazing to see the growth of Surfing for Farmers in the past year; all of this is thanks to the many volunteers who are all trying to do something to help our rural communities – a huge thank you to everyone that’s already put their hands up to help out,” Stephen says.
Surfing for Farmers is sponsored by Local Legends, in which businesses donate $1000. Premium sponsors include Bayleys, Balance, Rabobank, Jarden, Beef + Lamb NZ and Meridian Energy.
