The Uni Researcher and the Farmers

Following on from the visit from the Moderator, Brian Brown and his wife, Helen Miller-Brown, Helen decided to visit the Hillston area again as part of her Masters in Education researching on-going learning.

 She had become aware of the issues facing farmers as a result of the Moderators visit. It occurred to her that coping with drought,constant seasonal weather change,changes in technology,the industrialisation of farming,together with the isolation, which is naturally part of farming life, meant that farmers are constantly having to adapt to changing conditions. This means they are excellent subjects in a study about methods of on-going learning.

Irrigated Wheat -Hillston

So .....Where did the Rural Chaplains come into it?

Helen was interested in interviewing farmers but simply did not know any personally. She approached the Uniting Church Rural Chaplains and asked if they could find out who would be good to interview in the Hillston area.
 One thing we are good at in Hillston is knowing everybody. Sue was deputized to the job and set about making a list of irrigation and dry land farmers on properties large and small but she had only been in Hillston 18 months and still needed more names.

What do you do?  Ask a local.

Down at the local info. centre and art gallery,The Red Dust and Paddy Melon Gallery, the question was asked. A long list resulted.Farmers of all types and descriptions.
"Ask....... they used to irrigate but now do dry land farming.That should be interesting. Then you could ask .... they are a small landholder next to a huge property. '' " You could ask ...they'd be interested but I think they are going to Melbourne that week."

The next task was to call the names on the list and explain the idea of the research and ask if people were interested. At times some translation was required as the terminology of the interviews was questioned. What seems an acceptable term to one group may not be to another and a term used casually by one person will put another person off. For example the term 'climate change' is viewed differently by many farmers as they feel it is used to justify many changes which greatly affect their livelihood. It was used in the questions but was misleading as to the true purpose of the interviews was concerned and put farmers off. Sue was able to act as a bit of a go-between in the situation as she knew both views held on the issue and most farmers were then happy to be interviewed.

Cockatiels in a Hillston paddock

Ten to twelve interviews were arranged,a mud map provided over lunch, as Helen arrived with 1 1/2 hours to spare before the first interview. In true Hillston style the first farmer turned up so she could follow him out out the farm and not get lost and 3 days of  successful interviews had begun.

Why was this a job for Rural Chaplains?

It related to the same concerns as those that led to the meetings between farmers and the Moderator. As a social justice issue and in the interests of having the rural perspective heard in academic circles and the wider community, these interviews fell within the role of Rural Chaplains to provide opportunities for rural people to tell their stories and have their skills and knowledge recognised as valuable members of our community. It will be very interesting to see the results of Helen's research.