Top of the South

Sarah joined the Trust in 2019 just before the first Covid lockdown. She has previously been involved with Red Cross as a Disaster Welfare Support team member and leader. She has a love of farming and rural life and loves having the opportunity to help people. She is passionate about helping rural communities build resilience to adverse events.

Chris is the Adverse Events Coordinator for the Top Of The South Rural Support Trust He and his wife live on the family farm in Linkwater. They have built a Holiday Park within the farm. Chris has an Army Engineer background and has been working with the RST since the 2016 Earthquake.

Richard lives with his wife Jane in Richmond. His current roles include Chair of the Top of the South Rural Support Trust, Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters Nelson Tasman, Chair of Go Horticulture Nelson Tasman - helping provide solutions for labour shortages in horticulture, Trustee of Sport Tasman and Elder in his local church. He enjoys giving effective governance leadership and helping meet critical needs for farmers and horticulturalists. He is proud to have fulfilled the role of Mayor of Tasman District for twelve years.

Chris was born in North Canterbury before moving to South Canterbury with his family. In 1974 he moved to Kimbolton in Manawatu where he and his late wife Judith farmed sheep and beef on a steep hill country farm. As well as being involved as a Beef + Lamb monitor farm, Chris was also involved for more than 20 years on the Federated Farmers Executive in Manawatu and various other community groups. Chris moved south to Marlborough after meeting his late wife Sharon. Chris leads a busy life helping his 3 children (one of which is a sheep and beef farmer) and is heavily involved in the Marlborough Vintage Car Club.

Maree was brought up in North Canterbury and spent her school holidays on her grandparents’ sheep and beef farm on the east coast of the North Island where she gained her passion for agriculture. She went on to Lincoln University and completed an agricultural science degree. After a few years in Canterbury, she moved to Golden Bay to be on the road for Ravensdown. Maree enjoys sport and being outside with the animals. She is involved with Federated Farmers in both Golden Bay and Nelson provinces. She believes in being down to earth and personable with the people around her.

Evan has been part of the dairy industry for most of his life until selling the farm in 2020. He is now semi retired and farming dry stock. Evan also served on the Federated Farmers National Dairy Executive, chaired both Wakefield and Tapawera district community councils and was a trustee on the Wakefield and Districts Health Board.

Born into an apple farming family in Motueka, Alan has spent his whole life involved in the horticultural industry. After studying Orchard Management at Massey University Alan headed home to the family orchard, married and had two children. Throughout his lifetime Alan has been involved in many industry boards and groups. Although still involved in the family orchard Alan now leaves his son to manage the day to day activities.

Graeme is a fourth generation farmer at Murchison, dairy farming for 41 years and a Dairy Director at Waimea Dairy and Tasman Milk Products. Graeme is currently trying to scale things back by leasing parts of the farm out for sheep, beef and forestry.

Marlborough born and bred, Graeme is the sixth generation to farm his property in Grovetown. Graeme has been involved in a range of rural businesses over the last 50 years including stock and crop farming, horticulture and processing. Graeme currently operates a 50ha vineyard in Marlborough and has recently repurchased the 'Annies' manufacturing business. Graeme holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Honors).

Fiona grew up on a sheep and beef farm in Gisborne. After leaving school she worked on a pony stud. Realising her love of wool she then completed a Diploma in Wool & Wool Technology which took her to Invercargill to work at a wool store. After doing her 'OE' she moved to Marlborough and spent many years with her husband and family on a sheep farm in Havelock. Fiona's children have been successful in carrying on her love of wool and shearing. Fiona now owns a well known local patchwork and quilting shop and spends her spare time working on her lifestyle block.

Warwick is the fourth generation of his family to farm in the Awatere Valley. He has served on the executive committee of New Zealand Grasslands Association and terms with NZ Meat & Wool and the B+LNZ Monitor Farm executive committees. He has also been involved in the Awatere Community Trust and Chilean Needle Grass Action Group.