Southland farmer Tom Slee and surfing coach Jess Terrill are keen for other farmers to catch a wave with them on Thursday (December 10) from 6pm on the south coast.

The exact venue hasn’t been chosen yet – weather and conditions depending, it will be either Colac Bay, Riverton Rocks or Monkey Island – but that will be confirmed by lunchtime on the day and advertised on the Southland Rural Support Trust and the Southland Surf School Facebook pages.

The Surfing for Farmers event will be repeated next Thursday (December 17) in case anyone misses out or wants another go.

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Surfing for Farmers was initiated by Gisborne real estate salesperson Stephen Thomson, a long-time surfer who puts himself more in the “average” than “brilliant” category of surfing ability.

“I was very much dealing day to day with farmers who were experiencing the stress and demands that their business brings. Seeing the statistics about farmers’ mental health which are not good - it got me fired up to think there must be something I could do about it,” Stephen said.

Southland’s Tom Slee witnessed first-hand Stephen’s initiative while working in Gisborne and says he felt it was time to try it out in Southland this summer.

“We are really excited to have Jess Terrill from the Southland Surfing School come on board and help out farmers wanting to give it a go,” Tom said.

“Surfing is fun and provides a change after a day spent on the farm and offers farmers the opportunity to socialise in a different environment, sharing experiences as a group, learning something new and getting their minds off the usual demands farming brings,” he said.

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Jess said she was excited to be involved in “Surfing for Farmers” and was encouraging farmers, men, and women, to give surfing a go.

Southland Rural Support Trust chairwoman Cathie Cotter said farmers sometimes needed an excuse to leave the farm and connect with other people.

“Trying something new together, can only be a positive, especially at this time of year when things are all go on farm and it is easy to forget to have time out for yourself,” Cathie said.

All surf boards, wetsuits will be supplied. There will be a barbecue.