A&P SHOW AWARDS Mental health on political agenda

SUBMITTED

When National’s Mental Health spokesperson, Matt Doocey visited Golden Bay recently, he was impressed with the "on the ground" mental health care and support Te Whare Mahana Trust provides to the local community.

HORSES. Isabella Stewart, Stade Family Cup – Champion Pony not over 138cm. Holly Clark, Radford Challenge Cup – Pony Jump not over 138cm. Amy Wassell, Lloyd Rosser Memorial Challenge Cup – Novice Pony over 138 and not over 148cm; Wiss Satherley Memorial Challenge Cup – Most points ring classes for ponies; Diane Mitchell Challenge Cup – Pony Jump over 138 and not over 148cm. Hollie Southward, Mr and Mrs R Radford Cup – Pony mare not over 148cm; Motupipi Farm Buthchery Cup – Pony International Jump. Esme Otten, Takaka Pony Club Cup – Best Boy or Girl rider under 21 years member of GB Pony Club; Ledger Goodman Cup – Champion Local Pony. Mckenzie Burrell, Edna Cook Cup –Best Boy or Girl rider under 17 years; AE Rosser Cup – Supreme Champion Pony. Amanda Andrews, JW Page Cup – Novice Hack ring classes. Felicia Livingstone, HK Reynish Cup – Most Points ring classes. Hannah Jeans, Mrs PH Baigent Cup – Champion Local Hack. Janet Morgan, Independent Mounted Rifles Cup –Champion Saddle Hunter. C Hovenden, Mrs D Rossiter Playboy Cup – Best paced and Mannered Saddle Horse; Mrs CM Coote Challenge Cup – Champion Hack; Duncan McKenzie Cup – Novice Hunter; Coppins Challenge Cup – Open Hunter. Tanesha Thompson, Norwood Challenge Cup – Hack Hit and Hurry; Aerial Work (Marlborough) Ltd Challenge Cup – Open Hack FEI jump. Mikaela Bell, Pearson Cup – Champion Miniature.

CATTLE. Thomas Tait, CP Reilly Memorial Cup - for most points in care and handling. Aiden Best, Riley Family Trophy – Excellence in Showmanship. AJ and AL Ward, BJ and EM Galey Cup – Pedigree Heifer Calf. Wayne and Nicky Packard, Blue Lake Challenge Cup – Champion Heifer. T Harvey, Transport Nelson Ltd Cup – Most Points in Dairy Section; Co-op Dairy Market Milk Cup – Champion Cow in Milk; Australian Challenge Trophy – Best All Breeds Dairy Cow.

GOATS. Evans Family - Bonny, Niko, Mazzy, Meadowcroft Farm Trophy –Pet Goat. Amanda Heine, Darcy McPherson Challenge Cup – Most Points in Goat section; Opua Trophy – Champion Pedigree Doe.

SHEEP. P Leetch/E Miller, RG McDonald Challenge Cup – Most Points Mutton Breed. P May, George Manson Memorial Cup – Most Points Prime Sheep.

POULTRY. S Hitchcock, Poultry Best in Show.

BOOTH. Isaac McKee, Mrs J Marsh Cup – Most Points Childrens section. Tilly Orchard, AJ and AC Lindsay Cup – 2nd Most Points Childrens section; Gould Cup – Young Baker of the Year. Michelle Balck, Mr and Mrs CW Silcock Trophy –Most Points Cooking and Home Produce; Agnes Bell Cup – Most Points Home Produce. Louise Holley/Shirley Rosser, Bird Challenge Trophy – Most Points Home Cooking. Shirley Rosser, Mr and Mrs N Curnow Challenge Trophy – Most Points in Cut Flowers; Mary Baigent Challenge Trophy – Most Points In Floral Section; Hugh Manson Memorial Challenge Trophy – Most points in Booth. Fay Brownlie, Wadsworth Trophy – Most Points Decorative Flowers. Mark Page, Bill Frew Cup – Champion Gladiolus. Bruce Taylor, Charles Page Memorial Challenge Cup – Most Points Vegetables; Harwood Cup – Most Points Fruit and Vegetables. Joyce Wyllie, Garden Art – containing living plant material. Karen Cooper, Garden Art - any other medium. Anita Hutchinson/Michelle Balck, Turley Trophy – Most Points Home Crafts. Diane Sixtus , Golden Bay Rose Society and GB A&P Assn Trophy – Most points Rose section; Water Petterson Memorial Rose Bowl – Most Points Native Plant section; HE Baigent Trophy – 2nd Highest Points in Booth. Pearson Family, Group Competition Cup 2023 for WWll display table.

MOST POINTS. Tim Harvey, Life Members Cup – Most points in Livestock sections. Shirley Rosser, Mr and Mrs EC Baigent Trophy – Most Points in Show.

Matt travelled with National’s Nelson candidate Blair Anderson and met with local farmer Wayne Langford who has several mental health initiatives underway. Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey is part way through his goal of personally listening to mental health support feedback in 50 New Zealand towns prior to the October election. He was in the Tasman District at the invitation of MP Maureen Pugh, who was unable to join him on the day.

“What has become clear so far in my visits in both North and South Islands is that we must recognise and retain the current workforce and train more health professionals," says Matt. "And if we are to attract overseas people, then the process of getting into New Zealand and into jobs in this space has to become far easier.”

He says mental health workforce planning is a major component of National’s soon-to-be released mental health policy, which includes a promise to appoint NZ's first Mental Health Minister.

“From the feedback we’re getting we are able to understand the pressures which mental health professionals are facing, especially in rural and provincial New Zealand, and these impacts are totally different from those in city settings," says Matt, who believes the way Te Whare Mahana Trust is catering for local mental health needs is an excellent example to the rest of the country. “It’s clear that local solutions for local needs and small, co-ordinated teams who know the people in their community well will be the way forward.”