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September 2019
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
DAIRY AWARDS SECURE CAREER DIRECTION by Denise Gunn Kate Thomson’s experience entering the Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards helped to seal her career choice.
F
arming was always going to feature in Kate’s life. Her passion for the industry began through helping her father on the farm he was managing near Nightcaps, deep in the heart of Southland. “I went on-farm with dad every waking minute I could,” she said. By the age of 14, Kate was helping to get the cows in, milking and putting up fences. Four years ago she moved to Hawke’s Bay, taking up work as a shepherd on a sheep and beef station. The station, which runs side-by-side with two dairy units and another station, grows crops as well as grazing steers and heifers for the dairy units. In early 2017 Kate moved to Taranaki and took up work as a meat processor for Silver Fern Farms. Shortly afterwards, she began her current farm assistant
position on Hamish and Jo Gibbs’ dairy farm in Alton. “I was only supposed to be at my job with Jo and Hamish for a maximum of six months, as I was going to return to study. I’m still here nearly three seasons down the track.” “They’ve helped me grow so much by putting me through courses and seminars, and having faith in me that I can be left alone for a week on-farm by myself every now and again,” said Kate. At peak, a herd of 214 Jersey cows are milked through a 24-aside herringbone shed on the 70ha farm. The herd produced 100,000kgMS for the 2018/19 season. “We grow oats (winter crop) and chicory (summer crop). They both work very well on our farm. Chicory has a deep taproot, so it thrives in summer.
Kate is currently working as a farm assistant on Hamish and Jo Gibbs’ dairy farm in Alton
Travel Italy in Style The best of
+ Opera & markets! Friday September 11th – Thursday October 1st 2020 (21 days) This unique itinerary is designed for 20 discerning travellers.
Bathe in the Mediterranean Sea; visit seaside villages and ancient gardens with stunning views! Meet our friends in Tuscany for lunch on the farm, enjoying their deliciously fresh produce and wines. You will not be bored by lots of facts and figures! No standing in long queues, because we make appointments and book suitable times well ahead. You will be immersed in the daily lives of Italians because you are travelling with an
Italian!! Most tourists do not have this opportunity!! Accommodation in 4 and 5 star quality small family run hotels for 3 and 4 nights in the historic centres, so you can be immersed in the daily lives of the locals! We will introduce you to our Italian friends who accompany us during parts of our daily programme!! Daily ‘a la carte’ dining in local restaurants, including wine and beverages of your choice.
Entry fees and all tipping included. Your luggage will be handled by porters during your travels with us! You will NOT be coach bound – we only travel short distances – refreshments en route included!
Also available are itineraries for 14 travellers to Sicily; Italian Lakes & Cinque Terre; Italian Opera in Verona; Corsica & Sardinia 2020. P.O. BOX 556, WAIHEKE ISLAND, AUCKLAND 1840, NEW ZEALAND. Tel 0800 387 872 or Email susan@etruscan.co.nz • www.travelitalyinstyle.com • Directors: Susan Williamson and John Percy
Our regular clients choose to travel with us because “quality is better than quantity”!! They thank us for immersing them in the real culture that the average traveller would never see. The age group of our ‘discerning’ travellers is generally 40’s to mid 70’s, professional and like minded people – all wanting to experience something new, have fun, relax and travel hassle– free and at a gentle pace!