NZ Dairy Autumn 2021

| 63 nz dairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Grasslands Workers come back home to Grasslands W i th two key workers stuck overseas due to Covid-19 restrictions, Grasslands contract milkers Kirt McConnachie and Shannel Rudkin have had a hectic year. But bring- ing home 2IC Bobby Singh and herd manager Harry Singh was all the reward they needed. “It was pretty emotional for them when they fi- nally got back home to New Zealand. And we are proud that we were part of the team that helped them to get here.” Karen Phelps “It was pretty emotional for them when they finally got back home to New Zealand. And we are proud that we were part of the team that helped them to get here.” Office: 03 302 8098 Book online: www.molloyag.co.nz David Molloy: 0274 362 441 David Mangin: 0274 802 216 Colin Woolsey: 0274 362 448 Gregor Robertson: 0274 362 438 Gary Rackham: 0274 362 459 Gemma Oliver: 0274 324 434 Martina Padrutt: 0272 863 489 Proud to support Canterbury Grasslands Limited ALL ANIMAL EFFLUENT SAUCERS, PUMP CHAMBERS, STONE TRAPS,WEDGES, LARGE SETTLING PONDS 20,000 & 30,000 LITRE TRACTOR DRAWN TANKERS 8 METER PROP STIRRER AND STORTH LAGOON MIXER LOADER HIRE / DRY MUCK SPREADERS BEEN IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 45 YEARS EMAIL: robsonenviro@xtra.co.nz www.robsonenvironmental.co.nz PHONE 0800 372 003 Charlies Liquid Waste Rakaia Manufacturers of high quality: In-line mineral dispensing systems, Rotary-Dose in-shed Mineral Dosing System, Nutristir mineral stirrer, Colostrum stirrers, PROLIQ blenders and proportional trough dispensing systems. Call us on: 0274 323 728 nutridose.co.nz MANUFACTURED IN NEW ZEALAND · Highest quality components · Designed to suit your needs · Supplying largest range in nz Harry had gone home to bring his wife and daughter, who had been granted visas, to New Zealand, and got stuck when Covid-19 hit.Bobby missed out on returning to New Zealand by a matter of hours. He was about to step on the plane when New Zealand went into level four lockdown and all flights were cancelled. Kirt and Shannel tried everything they could do to get them back over coming months with the help of an immigration lawyer but to no avail. They kept in regular touch with Harry and Bobby throughout and were keen to keep their jobs open for them to return to. Kirt and Shannel were confident they could get through the winter with their two other workers plus a full time calf rearer they had employed. But as calving approached panic started to set in, especially when another staff member left. Various people stepped in to fill in roles including another Grasslands staff member and Kirt’s sister. A Uruguayan couple, Junior Sumit-Escobar and Sissi Knecht were employed by word of mouth referral and have now become a valuable part of the team. But despite the upheaval of the past year there has been a silver lining for Bobby and Harry since they returned to New Zealand. Bobby has now moved up to a manager job and Harry a 2IC posi- tion with Grasslands. “I’m pretty damn proud they’ve both moved up,” says Kirt. “This is where I can honestly say Grasslands has been good at stepping people up when they deserve it.”