Latest news with #MatauraLicensingTrust
Otago Daily Times
03-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Charity using wild game to feed those in need
A new charity initiative in Southland is turning wild game into a lifeline for retired emergency services workers, local charities and others in need by delivering free-range venison directly to their homes. Deer to Care, founded by southern hunters Stu O'Neill, Southland Police senior detective Tim Cook, and Niagara manager Wesley Baratcart, aims to tackle food insecurity by donating high-quality, locally sourced venison. The non-profit's unique model combines hunting, pest control and community support to create a reliable supply chain of nutritious meat. The process begins with hunting deer on Southland farms and forests, helping to control pest populations and also providing a sustainable source of free-range wild game. The meat is then processed through certified butchers, thorough inspection ensuring safety and quality before being distributed weekly to recipients across the region. Deer to Care organisers said it had built a supply chain to distribute venison to its surrounding doorsteps that benefited both the environment and the community. The hunting charity had already been providing a steady supply of frozen venison mince to local charities in Gore such as Gore & Clutha Whānau Refuge and the Salvation Army. But Mr O'Neill said the three had been hunting most nights and weekends to produce, in 2025 alone, over 500 deer or about 13 tonnes of venison, to feed the community. "Now we have the ability to 100% guarantee a delivery every week." The inititiative was also made possible through funds from the Mataura Licensing Trust and a donation of 50 deer from the Balfour Big 3 Hunting Competition. Mataura Licensing Trust board member Vince Aynsley said his organisation was happy to fund the idea as it gave back to the community constructively. He said Deer to Care was not "the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff" but stopping the issue at the top. Whānau Refuge manager Talia Marshall agreed, saying her organisation was more into preventive measures, like donating proteins to their clients. "Our stats for the last few years would show that when we do the preventive stuff, like giving food parcels or Christmas gifts, all that stuff that relieves the financial pressure, then there's less people in our safe housing," she said. Mr O'Neill said Deer to Care was already making a difference in Southland, weekly deliveries reaching retired emergency workers and local charities. He said if hunters had an excess of deer, they could go to the non-profit's website to make contact, or to locate donation freezers which had been set up in businesses across Southland. Mr O'Neill said one deer recovered by Deer to Care could provide 30kg of mince, or 50 packs.
Otago Daily Times
02-07-2025
- Health
- Otago Daily Times
Charity using wild game to feed in need
A new charity initiative in Southland is turning wild game into a lifeline for retired emergency services workers, local charities and others in need by delivering free-range venison directly to their homes. Deer to Care, founded by southern hunters Stu O'Neill, Southland Police senior detective Tim Cook, and Niagara manager Wesley Baratcart, aims to tackle food insecurity by donating high-quality, locally sourced venison. The non-profit's unique model combines hunting, pest control and community support to create a reliable supply chain of nutritious meat. The process begins with hunting deer on Southland farms and forests, helping to control pest populations and also providing a sustainable source of free-range wild game. The meat is then processed through certified butchers, thorough inspection ensuring safety and quality before being distributed weekly to recipients across the region. Deer to Care organisers said it had built a supply chain to distribute venison to its surrounding doorsteps that benefited both the environment and the community. The hunting charity had already been providing a steady supply of frozen venison mince to local charities in Gore such as Gore & Clutha Whānau Refuge and the Salvation Army. But Mr O'Neill said the three had been hunting most nights and weekends to produce, in 2025 alone, over 500 deer or about 13 tonnes of venison, to feed the community. "Now we have the ability to 100% guarantee a delivery every week." The inititiative was also made possible through funds from the Mataura Licensing Trust and a donation of 50 deer from the Balfour Big 3 Hunting Competition. Mataura Licensing Trust board member Vince Aynsley said his organisation was happy to fund the idea as it gave back to the community constructively. He said Deer to Care was not "the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff" but stopping the issue at the top. Whānau Refuge manager Talia Marshall agreed, saying her organisation was more into preventive measures, like donating proteins to their clients. "Our stats for the last few years would show that when we do the preventive stuff, like giving food parcels or Christmas gifts, all that stuff that relieves the financial pressure, then there's less people in our safe housing," she said. Mr O'Neill said Deer to Care was already making a difference in Southland, weekly deliveries reaching retired emergency workers and local charities. He said if hunters had an excess of deer, they could go to the non-profit's website to make contact, or to locate donation freezers which had been set up in businesses across Southland. Mr O'Neill said one deer recovered by Deer to Care could provide 30kg of mince, or 50 packs.
Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Life-changing adventure for one
One Gore teenager went bounding outward with Outward Bound, bringing home some incredible memories and lessons she will cherish for a long time. Isabel Dickson, 16, attends St Peter's College and was spurred on by her mum to either pick a team sport, or head away for a natural retreat. Given the choice, and considering her previous experience with a sailing course, Isabel said she thought it was a good idea to spend some time Outward Bound. "I'd already been on something similar and I heard Outward Bound was supposed to be a life-changing thing. "It seemed versatile, that it pushed you, so I thought it sounded good," she said. After funding through selling shirts, saving money, a cheeky donation from the Mataura Licensing Trust and of course a bit of help from her parents, the course was in sight. Isabel would spend 21 days based primarily in Anakiwa pushing her limits in the great outdoors. Alongside the other Outward Bound members, she sailed, trained, hiked, kayaked and became very familiar with New Zealand's nature. Isabel said one of her favourite memories was getting out on to the water, with some fantastic sights. "My favourite was the sailing — there was a lot of cool wildlife. We saw dolphins, harmless jellyfish you could swim with. "When it got dark there was bioluminescence in the water, so that was really cool," she said. It was not just fun in the outdoors, as Isabel said she gained a lot of insight into herself and a new way of pushing forward into the world. "You learned to be a lot more social and confident, you're living with 13 other strangers. It pushes you a wee bit. "A lot of patience, you don't know what you'll do every day so instead of thinking forwardly, you're thinking in the now," she said. Isabel said the mixture of challenging tasks and workshops have changed the way she will go out into the world and now looks out with a greater confidence. "It's just good. You shouldn't be scared to be who you are," she said. Even her fear of heights was challenged, but luckily Isabel said she was not facing the challenge alone. "Basically we did like cliff jumping, it was just a little bit shorter. It pushed me out of my comfort zone," she said. "But having everyone support you, so when you do go out of your comfort zone everyone's there to help,"Isabel thanked everyone who helped her get to Outward Bound, with grants given by the Mataura Licensing Trust, who gave $6000 to get Isabel to the life changing course. The River Valley Lions, Pakeke Lions, the Rotary Club, Gore RSA, and the Waikaka Hey-day committee also gave a "huge amount" to help out, alongside other businesses.
