QnA with Ted Roberts: Farmy Army
Today we had a yarn with what can only be described as a living legend. Ted Roberts, a 82 year old farmer along with his son Edward acted as the main Eskdale Materials hub for the Farmy Army. Their fence lines were bowled over by Cyclone Gabrielle but they are already getting the “guts” back into their property and planning for the future thanks to the Farmy Army enabling that first step!
How did you get into farming?
I’ve been farming for over 50 years. Our farm at the Eskdale turnoff has been worked for decades. We have always cropped maze and squash. We are roughly 130 acres. Unfortunately Cyclone Gabrielle flattened every fence line on our property. Absolutely gutting.
What role did Farmy Army play on your farm?
It all started because my sons and I went to an Eskdale community hub. We didn’t know what to expect but had gone to meetings and heard that we could get donated help to rebuild our fences. We (well my sons I don’t do technology) registered online and put us on to the Farmy Army.
JK Fencing was contracted to repair our roadside fence lines and darn it the relief and gratitude we feel. It got all roadside fence lines done.
How did you hear about Repost fence posts?
We actually didn’t know it was you guys. We just knew we were getting recycled posts that were from other wineries and orchards nearby that had been bowled over and thought well that’s a good idea to repurpose it. I’m part of the generation that repairs and adapts existing materials for new purposes so this makes sense to me! Glad to finally talk to the people behind it and the stock was of good quality.
What did you think of JK Fencing?
We got a knock on the door one day and were greeted by John. He has a heart of gold and along with his team got to work. We were all too happy to act as the materials stockpile on our farm and do something to say thank you for what they were doing for us! Its more than a fence line they did, it was people caring enough to show up for us. The fence line shows progress in the right direction of the rebuild we now have to take and meant our roadside fencing was bordered up again. Now we just need to get all the internal fencing done. We really appreciate everything done for us, I ring Ben Moore of Federated Farmers every so often to thank him. People rallied behind us.
What fencing did they do for your farm?
For us they installed 7-8 wires using a tractor and post driver. I’ll look at adding battens in the future when we put some stock in. We have had to drastically change the direction of what we farm. Instead of maze and squash we have just drilled grass seed into 30 ha and it’ll start coming up through the silt ground soon. We need to get the ‘guts’ back into the stock. The nutrients of cows working it will help with that. Taking it one step and a time is what me and my sons will do to rebuild our farm.
Do you have any stories that come to mind with farmers during your cyclone relief work?
I just felt a huge sense of relief. We built new relationships and met some great people. Being the storage for materials for the whole valley hub was a good distraction to be part of the ‘action’ with all the neighbours rallying together. I met and re-connected with neighbours and made new friends through our shared experience. So something good came out of it, our community is tighter than ever before.
It's clear the Roberts family with their matriarch Ted are looking to the future, and the grateful Farmy Army began their rebuild work.
