Heartbeat of the high country

Vicky Simpson has always had the rural life in her heart. The daughter of an Irish immigrant, she grew up on working farms, including high-country stations in the South Island.

As an adult, she spent years working in agriculture, including as a landgirl in her early years, both in New Zealand and Australia, drawn to the open spaces, the land, and the life that comes with it.

“I’ve always been drawn to big open spaces, tussocks, and dogs,” she smiles.
Today, Vicky is the creator of using agricultural photography for good - capturing the beauty and grit of the rural South Island, while raising funds and awareness for brain cancer research and support.

Back in 2006, when life was throwing her some tough challenges, Vicky found herself invited to join a young cattle muster at Molesworth Station — New Zealand’s largest working farm, stretching over 185,000 hectares between Hanmer Springs and inland Blenheim.

“I’d had a long stretch of tough times, ” Vicky recalls. “Jim Ward (station manager at the time) phoned me and invited me on a young cattle muster — it changed my whole life. Jim has done this for many people. He shares the majesty of the Molesworth, and I was just one of many he’s given this opportunity to.”

That week on horseback sparked lifelong friendships and a deep connection to the Molesworth for Vicky — one that continues to inspire her life and outlook.
While Vicky prefers not to dwell on the details of her past and her own children’s illness, she shared one story that reshaped her life and purpose. Along her journey, she met a special little girl named Renee, affectionately remembered as “little Bumblebee.”

Renee was only three years old when she passed away from cancer. “A few weeks before Renee passed, she went to a birthday party dressed as a bumblebee,” Vicky says.

“Her hair had grown back in tight little black curls after treatment — she made the perfect little bumblebee, and that’s how she got her name.”

Not long after, Vicky captured a photo of a bumblebee — an image that would become the start of something much bigger. Turning that photo into handmade cards in Renee’s memory, she discovered her calling: using photography to make a difference.

“I had a new way of looking at things and a greater appreciation for all the little things in life,” she says. “That’s where my photography — and my fundraising journey — began.”

Those first handmade cards raised enough to purchase a fax machine, a fridge, and a telephone for Dr Michael Sullivan, who had been granted space in the School of Medicine at Christchurch Hospital to study childhood cancer.

“From there it grew into calendar projects and expanded and expanded into rural themes that resonate with many,” Vicky explains.

“With the help of many generous people, over three years, we raised more than $200,000 for Child Cancer Research. And it all started with one little bumblebee.”
Life, she admits, has had its rough patches.

“I lost my brother when I was 12 — he was 14. When I’m in the high country, I feel connected to him. It hasn’t all been doom and gloom — I’ve always had the river, ocean, and mountains to escape to.

“You can drown out the darkness and still see the beauty and magnitude of it all when you’re somewhere bigger than yourself.”

Despite her achievements, Vicky remains humble. “The reason I’ve been successful is not only to do with me,” she says. “It’s been a big team effort — lots of people have helped and supported along the way.”

A recent addition to that team is Rachel Murray, whom Vicky describes as “an incredibly talented young woman helping me keep up with the back end of my website — keeping up with technology has been a bloody nightmare!” she laughs. It’s something many of us can relate to.

Her latest project, the 2026 ‘Heartbeat of the High Country’ Molesworth Calendar, continues her mission of using photography for good. Proceeds will help fund a book for the Brain Tumour Support Trust NZ, sharing authentic stories of life in the high country from the Molesworth team.

“We so often hear from the CEO, manager, or owner of a company,” Vicky says, “but how often do we really hear the stories from those who are immersed in the ‘daily grind’?

“There’s so much romanticism about working in the great outdoors, but the reality is often very different,” she adds.  “These are the stories that people connect and resonate with that I want to capture and share in my up and upcoming book.”

Vicky’s message remains simple: “Forget about the big things and look at the little moments.” Her ethos— to use photography for good: to find light in dark times and share it with others.

You can support Vicky and the Brain Tumour Support Trust NZ by purchasing The Heartbeat of the High Country 2026 Calendar, available via ER Imaging Photography on her website erimagingphotography.co.nz or at Mayflower Studio Florist in Blenheim.