SWMBO got quite excited watching the TV news last night when they featured a large legal firm (Russell McVeagh) having to employ massage ladies and dieticians to assist relieve the stress factor apparent in these large firms. As expected, She has a much better solution… with proof of success…
You can imagine much of the huge crippling stress in these large firms from billing out such extreme hourly rates and fees that most of NZ’ers cannot dream about. A glance at most inner city basement car parks confirms another source of intense worry for them trying to keep up with the latest European models… SWMBO also believes the main reason they are stressed out is from trying to beat commuting pressures having to drive into their mid city offices adding to the rush hour.
Other professionals like nurses and school teachers and motel managers are better placed to deal with such stress as they never earn enough to worry about.
In much of the rest of NZ, in cute little villages like Turangi, we are still wondering what a traffic jam might be like? We have heard so much about them we are stressed we might be missing something. It must be similar to the only comparison we have – combat casting down at the Bridge Pool every morning. So SWMBO’s technique is to replace one queue with another – as indicated in the images.
SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed manages TRM with her job description including relief programmes to reduce angler stress) has a wonderful plan – much more effective and long lasting then a massage or coping with a new vegetarian diet.
The images alone may be adequate to illustrate the pressure and high levels of emotional tension at TRM. Can you imagine the pain these people are suffering? In these small towns there are also other ways to reduce stress than just fly fishing. Compare the corporate box at the footy in Turangi compared to the drama trying to get to and from Eden Park?
But what this is leading into is for these legal eagles who imagine they are suffering from stress (?) to compare their situation to people who have real genuine crisis in their lives. We are referring to stress relief clinics for cancer victims and returned services in USA and Australia. To explain we will pinch a new article on the CFR website:
These groups understand what stress is really about and how do they find relief? Fly fishing clinics!.
Casting for Recovery (CFR) provides retreats at no cost to participants, which allow people whose lives have been profoundly affected by breast cancer to gather in a beautiful, natural setting and learn to fly fish.
Casting for Recovery
BY LAURA MCKOY
The tranquility of the Puniu River, which runs through Wendy and Craig’s property near Te Awamutu, and the relaxation that fly fishing offers is such a soothing experience that Wendy believes it is healing – particularly for those who have suffered from breast cancer.
“The dynamics and motion of fly fishing relieves everyday stress and provides a sense of calm. It is about being on the river and at peace with the water,” Wendy says.
“When you’re on the water you lose time, it is just beautiful. When you finish fishing you feel refreshed.”
Wendy co-ordinates Casting for Recovery – a fly fishing retreat for women who have suffered from breast cancer at some stage in their life, whether it was 10 years ago, or they are still receiving treatment today.
“Women nurture women and I believe that women going through breast cancer are hugely brave and face so much, and if I can give them a retreat, then I’m all for it,” she says.
“So often their world has become all about hospitals and medication and they are isolated. Most of the women have never stood in the water and felt the peace of the water. It helps take away all their worries.”
Wendy believes that to fish is to hope.
Casting for Recovery was founded in 1996 in America, by a breast cancer reconstructive surgeon and a professional fly fisher, but it wasn’t introduced to New Zealand until a woman named Sherrie Feickert (now another Turangi resident) read about Casting for Recovery in Pink magazine, and realised what we were missing out on.
She was then interviewed by Planet FM ‘Hooked on Fly Fishing’ radio presenter Colin Shepherd about her dream to start it up in New Zealand, and Colin later approached Wendy and Craig to ask if they would become volunteers.
Wendy and Craig volunteered alongside Sherrie at the first Casting for Recovery retreat in Rotorua in 2010, and have since hosted three of their own at Castle Rock Lodge, in Wharepapa South, where the Puniu River also flows.
“That is how it all started. Not only do we teach the woman how to fly fish, but this retreat is about wellness,” Wendy says.
Next year there will be three retreats in New Zealand; Turangi, Te Awamutu (Wharepapa) and Nelson.
“We have a team of volunteers who help run them – we don’t let the women do a single thing. It’s a time for them to just relax and talk to each other,” Wendy says.
“They all have their own stories to tell, and we find they get encouragement from talking to each other.”
The retreat in Te Awamutu will be held February 22-24, 2013, and is suitable for those who have never fished before.
At the retreats the women arrive on the Friday afternoon to settle in and meet each other. On Saturday morning they learn all they need to know about fly fishing, then spend the afternoon relaxing, having massages and swimming. Sunday is fishing day; the women are paired with a competent local fly fisher, given the correct gear to wear and use, and shown the art of fly fishing.
Wendy says they take up to 14 people per retreat and there are still a few spots left for the Te Awamutu and Turangi (since held). The retreat is free to all participants.
For more information visit www.castingforrecovery.org.nz.
National Programme Co-ordinator, CFR New Zealand
Wendy Caldwell
183 Newman Road
Te Awamutu
Hm: 07-872 2686
Mobile: 027 279 6766
On the web:
CFR NZ: www.castingforrecovery.org.nz
CFR International: www.castingforrecovery.org