Every Move I Have Made by Philippa Cameron

We’ve sort of created a wee support network. Because when you’re 20 days into shearing, you run out of ideas pretty quickly. PHOTO: PHILIPPA CAMERON‘‘That’s what it was all about, supporting each other, giving each other ideas. sort of an integral part of being on a farm.Ī buggy serves another purpose as it is used to deliver savoury pinwheels for smoko. Using leftovers from the night before to make a tasty, filling smoko is. They might just have a little store that has milk and butter.

‘‘Also, too, it’s using what you’ve got on farms. (‘‘Pappi used to be the shearer’s cook here on Otematata Station many years ago,’’ Mrs Cameron explains.)Īnd part of what she does is connect with others who might need a little inspiration in the kitchen, or who might provide a little inspiration. She shares recipes for what she makes for smoko: peppermint slice, Mum’s cheese rolls, or Pappi’s savoury scones. People don’t even realise how important their roles are - to be the cook.’’ You are the person that solves problems some days. That’s that conversation that’s good for mental health. PHOTO: PHILIPPA CAMERON ‘‘As much as you might not be out on the hill chasing sheep, or working in the cow shed, or wherever it might be that you are, what you do is still really important.īecause you’re the one who brings everyone together for a cuppa. Philippa Cameron shares her first go at making jam - raspberry. And they are an integral part of the farming team,’’ she says. And I think a lot of women, they’re not ashamed - some are - but they don’t think their job is worth as much - they believe that their job has no value. a lot of us marry into farms or have partners on farms and when you start a family sometimes by default you pick up the role of cook. Through posting photographs on social media of the food she makes, but also glimpses of her everyday life, she has started to connect with others - families on other stations around New Zealand.

And I think deep down they know that what they do is amazing, but they don’t like to sell themselves. The Camerons’ girls are the sixth generation in the family to grow up on the 40,500ha station.Īnd there was ‘‘no way’’ the current generation would jeopardise that.īut sheep and beef farmers, especially, she says are ‘‘a humble bunch’’ who don’t always feel comfortable telling their stories. But that’s all you need.’’īut the feedback she gets online is different - there is a much support and plenty of goodwill towards the lives farmers lead.

They’re pretty quick to tell you what they don’t like. PHOTO: PHILIPPA CAMERON‘‘Look, you don’t get much feedback,’’ she laughs. Philippa Cameron is a farm cook at Otematata Station.

Every Move I Have Made by Philippa Cameron