last week

was a big one.

Four days away,

launches, seminars, meetings and too many flights

and not enough airpoints dollars.

The Southern Alps covered in winter snow

The last meeting I attended was

organised by Rural Women NZ.

Rural Women is an old school organisation that came from

the wives of Federated Farmer's members who were over

sitting around while the men did their talking about important things.

These wives cleaved off to organise themselves into a rather successful lobby group

focusing on rural issues that affect families, women and children.

Effectively the ones that Feds over look.

Rural Women have really made an impact on the

social landscape of rural communities in NZ

with a number of changes in legislation.

The meeting I invited myself to on behalf of Young Farmers

was about animal violence and domestic violence.

So with that in mind the

SPCA, Womens' Refuge, Vet Association and the Police

were also there.

The conversation was long and got side tracked

about SPCA getting a Memorandum of Understanding

with the Police that the Police should take advantage of the newish

animal abuse legislation when they can.

Of course the SPCA want to make the most of the changes

but for domestic violence it's an ideal opportunity

to get supporting evidence if not charges

to stop violence in a home.

The purpose of the meeting was for Rural Women et al

to try and figure out how to make it easier for

women* to leave violent or potentially violent

home environments.

Often the abuser use pets and stock as 'pawns' or 'hostages'

to keep women under their thumbs, afraid and stuck.

How can you leave your animals behind knowing

that they may bear the brunt of your abuser's anger.

Animals in the past have been killed in heinous ways

as a result of domestic violence escapes.

Another thing that came up was that the pattern bruising from a beating

on a corpse of a human and an animal are very similar.

Anyway it was an interesting conversation

that was very impassioned.

As per usual in discussions in the rural sector

there was little discussion about promotion and education.

I would imagine as an abused woman,

I would find it easier to talk about my dog being beaten

than me.

I not sure I would be able to admit I was being beaten.

If my neighbours understood that animal abuse and person abuse

go hand in hand,

then they can have an alarm to ask questions around

to make it easier for the abused to be helped.

After all if a person is willing to punch a cow in the shed

then they are fine with punching the cow in the kitchen.

(that little pearler didn't go over so well when I said it in the meeting).

Rural Women has started to form a plan

and will go back with a structured way of helping women.

Cause that's what they do.

And then I met Jolly Hockeysticks Jo for dinner

and flew home.

On my way home, the south Wairarapa coast

and a big scratch on the outside of the plane window *sigh*

* Obviously Rural Women focus on women but domestic violence has a million different faces and ways of expression.