Pakawau, share Milkers Phil and Savannah Smith love the Golden Bay lifestyle. After milking herds of up to 1200 cows in Canterbury, Phil says the seasonal feed complications of farming beside the sea are easier to manage than the staff required to milk that many cows.
The couple are enjoying milking 150 cows and while there’s always something to do he can manage the job and take time out with his family of six boys and one girl. Work life seems much easier. I just make sure I get the work done today so that tomorrow I can take a few hours out. When its cold and muddy inland, on the Pakawau spit regular rain has kept grass growing this winter. Phil is half way through calving and likes to get milk in the vat early adapting to soil moisture because it will dry off earlier than other places.
We only have six inches of top soil, underneath its sand therefore we need to run the farm operation around this fact, which means getting as much milk in the vat while we can grow grass. Locally there is lots of support and advice through both PGG Wrightson and the Rural Service Centre who have wonderful vets and technical advice available.
Timeout for Phil has been playing Soccer. In Canterbury he played up to NZ development level until injury stopped him playing. Now he coaches Golden Bay Women's soccer and likes to raise awareness of the Women’s Game which has been badly neglected in the past.
The Golden Bay Club’s, Vision is to; “Give back to the community” He says since Covid struck and vaccinations could have caused division, being involved with the local soccer, football club has helped to keep the soccer community connected and socialising. We all have opinions and leave it there.
Last year the Shield Maiden’s team came first in the Charity Games raising $14,000 toward the Special Olympics team drawn from the area. This season the Shield Maidens play our 2nd annual charity game and raised $17,000 playing against the Richmond FC Bogans. “The team is Inspirational,” says Phil.
Golden Bay Football Club has eleven travelling teams which includes two men’s teams and nine non travelling teams catering for all ages. The teams travel as far as Marlborough and have pools of eight around Motueka, Nelson and Tasman. Phil says the Golden Bay team culture is very supportive and strong which bodes well for the future of young players looking for a future pathway in the game further a field, if they wish.
