Rural Change to merge with RST
The Rural Change programme, providing free private mental health professional sessions to the rural industry, is set to continue its next chapter within Rural Support Trust from 1 July 2024.
The mental wellbeing key note speaker at the East Coast Farming Expo loves nothing more than pulling on his red bands, donning a scruffy old hat and his "shitty" clothes, and heading out onto the 72 acres he and his wife Ellen, share with their three young children and dog Shadey Pup in Chatto Creek, Central Otago.
“This is my happy place,” he says, “out there shifting some sheep and cattle. As much as I love people, I love having a break.”
The months before Christmas have been possibly his busiest ever, from the Chatham Islands to Mystery Creek Field Days in the Waikato, and the Meat the Need Rural Telethon back down south, to name but a few of his commitments.
He’s no stranger to New Zealand’s tv screens having been on the likes of 20/20, Close Up, Seven Sharp, and more recently hosted Survivor New Zealand and Celebrity Treasure Island.
He is an author and the inaugural ambassador for the Rural Support Trust.
“It’s nice to be in a position in life where people actually give a toss about what I have to say.”
But with that comes the pressure of imposter syndrome.
“I don’t have big enough raps on myself. Actually, I don’t like people who do have huge raps on themselves, especially when it is unjustified. That is just who I am. I pride myself in my ability to talk to anyone, and I love that about me. So to have people care about what I have to say just makes me realise I have to be really careful about what I do say. If you have a little following you have to think about what you do with that. Do you sell products on Instagram or help people? The answer is easy for me.”
He's been on quite the journey himself. It has taken him to the depths of depression, not believing in what he was doing – despite doing it so well, alcoholism and more. So when he helps others, by sharing his own story or just listening to theirs, it can still be quite triggering, even two years on.
“I still choke up, get emotional and cry every time I tell my story. I am not sure how long I want to do that. I am supposed to know a thing or two about this now, but I still found myself in a pretty dark place a few months ago.”
He was losing lambs, lost contracts, struggling financially and juggling a busy life. “It was tough.”
But he still has time for others. It can be exhausting but he feels a responsibility to help, to reach out and make sure someone is safe and doing what they need to do to keep on keeping on. “There is a lot of pressure on people now.” He includes himself in that.
Matt’s book – Imposter – is as open as he is and while he sometimes wishes he never put pen to paper, it only takes one person to say to him that it made the difference. It underlines for him that it was the right thing to do.
He misses telling other people’s stories, especially when he comes across so many special tales around the country. “There is more to come from me, I am just not sure what that looks like just now.”
He tips his hat to the young generation, particularly young farmers, who so freely share their mental health stories, admitting they need help and seeking it out. “That’s the best piece of advice I have – if you have an issue, sort it out as soon as you can.”
At the recent Meat the Need rural telethon he took a moment to appreciate just how far Aotearoa New Zealand has come in that space.
He’s come to realise that life is about relationships, not material goods, and he’s the first to appreciate what he has.
Matt loves their life at Chatto Creek. “It doesn’t even have a church . . . just a pub and that is a bit lost on me to a large extent because I don’t drink anymore.” They’ve got 100-odd sheep that contribute to their small southdown sheep stud and Swiss black nose valais herd, alongside 20 speckle park two-year-old cows and their calves, and a few highland cattle too.
It’s somewhere he needs to spend more time, doing everything and nothing, to make sure he holds his line for his much-loved wee family.
Matt, who is at the Expo thanks to Pamu, is speaking on Wednesday (February 22). He is one of a number of exciting presenters attending the two day Expo which also includes the latest in innovation, dog training, demonstrations, exhibits, products, services, and connection for beef and sheep farmers.
WHAT: East Coast Farming Expo
WHEN: February 22-23, 2023
WHERE: Wairoa A&P Showgrounds
MORE INFO AND TICKETS: www.eastcoastexpo.co.nz
