Rural communities are being asked to come together and help those in desperate need, a week after the Canterbury floods. Fifty volunteers in Red Bands and rain jackets rolled onto a dairy farm beside the north branch of the Ashburton River bringing. Two diggers, tractors and trailers, and bucket loaders to support the clean-up effort. Farm owner Ben Streeter described it as a pretty overwhelming response. The hardest hit part of the farm where they usually milk 800 cows was cut in two by the one in a 100-year storm and Ben reckons they will get the cows up there sometime after Christmas. While the less damaged area will be touch and go for spring. Yesterday, Social Development and Employment Minister Carmel Sepuloni made $500,000 available for councils to hire job seekers to help with the clean-up. Job seekers can register their interest by phoning 0800 559 009.
