Media Release
10 May 2017
Entertaining evening on wellbeing coming to Kaikoura
Take a night off on Wednesday 24 May – Farmstrong and the Rural Support Trust are inviting you to find out how healthy
thinking can help you live well, and if you are in farming, to farm well too.
The free event will kick off with a free bite to eat before medical doctor and author, Dr Tom Mullholland, shares his
simple and practical Healthy Thinking tools to help you manage the ups and downs that come with rural life.
“The stress that people have been under from the earthquakes alongside those in high-pressure professions such as
farming, can take a toll on our wellbeing,” Farmstrong spokesperson Gerard Vaughan says.
“We feel very privileged to be invited to Kaikoura, to share Farmstrong resources and Dr Tom’s Healthy Thinking tools to people in the area.”
Farmstrong launched in June 2015, and has since travelled throughout New Zealand sharing tools and resources, and
supporting events promoting rural wellbeing.
“We began because many farmers told us they were good at looking after their equipment, land and stock, but, like other
New Zealanders, they can neglect their own wellbeing,” Gerard says. “So we teamed up with Dr Tom and have now held over
40 Healthy Thinking events in rural communities around NZ.”
At this event, Tom will talk about how small changes to the way we think about life’s ups and downs can improve how we
look after ourselves, our family and business.
“My husband is a ‘true blue’ farmer and he said Tom was ‘bloody good!’,” says Bridget Frame, North Canterbury Rural
Support Trust Coordinator. “It’s an entertaining way of thinking about your wellbeing, and it’s just a really positive
thing to do.”
The event is free, open to farmers, growers and all community members. Light refreshments will be provided for all to
enjoy.
“The Farmstrong message is vital,” says farmer Eliot Cooper. “It gets people talking and thinking. You need that strong
commitment to keeping yourself well because the farming environment can be bloody challenging.”
Farmstrong Healthy Thinking Event:
When – Wednesday 24 May
Where - Donegal House, Schoolhouse Rd, Kaikoura
Time - Doors Open – 6pm, Event starts 7pm – 9pm
RSVP - Let us know if you can come before Friday 19 May. Please email rsvp@farmstrong.co.nz
About Farmstrong
Farmstrong is a rural wellbeing programme which takes a different approach to rural wellness, it focuses on strategies
to live well and farm well – rather than on illness and depression.
It promotes Healthy Thinking which provides farmers, growers and those living and working in rural communities with
tools to help manage the ups and downs of rural life.
Farmstrong is a non-commercial give back initiative founded and funded by rural insurer FMG, the Mental Health
Foundation. ACC are also a strategic partner and this event is being run in partnership with the Rural Support Trust
Visit www.farmstrong.co.nz for more information