It's the scourge of small towns - a major employer lays off half the town and things are never the same. Putaruru in south Waikato was at risk of facing a similiar crisis. However the locals found a novel solution, with a little help from their neighbours. Carter Holt Harvey, the town's biggest employer, has decided to shut the timber mill just before Christmas. Herman Van Rooijen is the local councillor and has a good story to tell of how the town didn't wallow in its problems.