It's Time for Some Fun

In a suburb of Christchurch, within line of sight of the leaning Hotel Grand Chancellor a public park was turned into a place of fun and screaming kids on the Saturday. There was a bouncy castle and other fun rides, women 'performing' zumba on the stage and lots of 'fare' food - deep fried dagwood dogs, candy floss and red drink.

The sun was shining, the sky was almost clear, the wind droppped - it was a beautiful day. The kids were running wild, and the parents were happy for them to do so. The Sallie Community Care Mobile Office was in prime location adding to the mayhem and the sugar levels (as Robbie Ross tends to do) by handing out lollies, chips and drinks.

As we have experienced so many times in this period of response, the reception the Sallies received was wonderful. The expressions of gratitude overwhelming.

It doesn't take much: just people being genuine and available, offering service without discrimination and with love.

Small World

Almost 31 years ago I, with the rest the Class of 1980, left Hebron High School in Ooty, Nilgiris Hills, South India (yes I am that old). These many years later and half a world away, I looked down at the people that formed the new team of Relief Workers for Christchurch and there, in amongst the many faces I didn't know, was the face of a man I remembered. Graeme and Rosemary Wallis, who live in Wellington, were amongst the teaching staff those many years ago in India - and I remember them quite well.

As the week progressed, and as we reminisced about those golden days of schooling, another man too, older and wiser than I, introduced himself to me - Dr. Bramwell Cook (Jnr), he was a Breeks Boy - he too had lived at Lushington Hall, through those gates next to the Botanical Gardens, in the beautiful Hill Country of Southern India.

I was remembering that my first dorm mother was Miss Reid had punished me with her bamboo cane (2 cuts across the bare legs) for not going to the school clinic to get my cough  medicine. We were recalling 'emergency relief' that we provided during floods that impacted Ooty and other towns. I am glad to say I don't remember being punished by Mr Wallis - but I do remember the "Hebron Hot Shots"!

It is amazing that this far away, this many years later and in this most unlikely of scenarios the tendrils of Hebron, (Lushington and Breeks - all associated schools) continue creep into my present.

Thanks Graeme and Rosemary for the week you gave us (and for the opportunity to reconnect). There have been so many non-Sallies come and join our teams in the last 5 weeks - you have all been awesome and we appreciate your support.

42 Years to Save, 42 Seconds to Destroy

I had the privilege of meeting a couple today who finished building and moved into their dream home last April. Semi-retired and looking forward to the future they were set. But then on September 4, a 42 second long earthquake destroyed the house they had worked and saved 42 years to build.

That night their house rode a wave that carried their house 10" toward their neighbours, before it slid 4" back again and settled into liquefied earth about 3" higher than it was designed to be.

Before Christmas their dream was "unofficially" written off by 3 engineers, but no one would make an official decision so they put their house back together again with rubber bandages and carpet, they barrowed out the 2' volcanoes of liquefaction that had erupted in their yard and they went out to volunteer their time to assist others through the Sallies.

Life was becoming sane again, (except for a broken house) when on February 22 their house moved again: this time 2" to the side. This quake, more violent than the last turned the inside of their house inside out and their yard was once again visited by a river of liquefied earth. On the same afternoon they picked up their furniture and belongings and headed out the door, Lyndsay got back behind the wheel of a Sallie truck and Elizabeth got back into the production line to produce food parcels.

They have been going now for a month, and they would have it no other way: "That's our family out there hurting: we can't sit in our broken house frustrated and useless - we have to help." 

Out of the Fog

The Sallie Army arrives at Hagley Park early this morning.

Christchurch Memorial

As I sit in Hagley Park, Christchurch it is hard to imagine the reason I am here (if it wasn't for the liquefaction on the ground). The Maori welcome and blessing has just concluded and we were reminded that "in unity we are one", and now in the next few minutes we will sing God Save Our Queen and God of Nations.

The atmosphere is quite electric - thousands of people have gathered on a beautifully sunny day. The sky is clear, the mountains in the distance seem to stand guard over a grieving city and a people in pain. As the Emergency Services personnel arrived the crowd stood as one and applauded their efforts, as bereaved families sat in an area set aside, there were tears and audible prayers.

Following on from 14 minutes of scenes of a devastated City, vision of crushed vehicles and destroyed buildings in the Red Zone that will be behind fences for another 6-12 months, a lone conch shell sounded to mark the beginning of a period of intentional memorial.

Moments later, thousands of people stood as one, the hairs on the back of the neck stood up, as with one united silent voice we remembered...

Christchurch has a long way to go to regain its hope, but maybe today the seeds were sown as united the city grieved and gathered.

The Flags Are Raised Today - Symbol of Hope

In the distance the now familiar sound of the rolling-roar signalled that another shake was on the way, seconds later the glass and ornaments in the restaurant began to shake, and the large commercial drink fridge that stood beside were I sat moved, worrying some that it was going to fall on me. the 4.9M aftershock was the strongest we had had for a few days.

The staff were running for the door, the locals were tentative and waiting - but in all their eyes was the familiar look of fear - the quake lasted only a few seconds and then it was past, leaving in it's wake the sound of nervous laughter from those of us gathered. As Kiwis and Aussies are prone to do: the (probably) tasteless jokes followed soon after as people allowed the tension to vent from deep within their souls.

Much attention is focused on making the city, her buildings, her roads and public places safe. It is essential that these visible forms of society, especially significant symbols such as the Cathedral and sports grounds are restored: but the spirits, the souls of Canterbury's people these are not so easily healed, these will not so easily trust again - and it is this healing to which the Sallies are tasked.

Soon (March 18) massed people will meet to remember, many will see the reality with their own eyes rather than through the lens of a camera - some will weep openly for their city and the lost, some will harden their minds to the reality and bottle up their emotions - but all will tread through the city as if through the most magnificent cathedral - in awe and reverence.