Life on the other side of the world in New Zealand is quietly perfect. New Zealanders read their newspapers and watch their TV news broadcasts of shattering international events. Tsunamis in Asia, civil wars through the Middle East, raging fires and floods in Australia. We read of airplane and train crashes in all continents and in our peaceful towns our hearts go out to all those who suffer through these terrible events.
Merivale Church, Christchurch
Things changed for us though one year ago on 22 February 2011. The Christchurch earthquakes which claimed so many lives have continued over the last year to tease and stress the citizens. Like a drunken monster the earthquakes refuse to give us a break.
Families live in tents. Professional businessmen live in caravans. Businesses have been lost as 80% of central city buildings are demolished. For the rare few, like myself, our homes have been returned to normal, even though this doesn’t really seem fair to the others.
There are heroes everywhere around me. People who dug strangers out of the rubble, strangers who baked for us, volunteers who helped anyone but themselves. Around me are people, friends, who have survived the most extraordinary natural disaster you can imagine – but here a disaster that doesn’t go away, that doesn’t move off to another victim on the other side of the world. Who knows the next terrifying earthquake could be at the end of this sentence.
Even though I sit here with a heavy heart full of invisible tears, I see superb examples of the strength of the human spirit, a strength that just doesn’t give up, a strength that keeps looking to the future. We all know that this scene from a terror movie will come to an end, and we have this feeling that the bright light at the end of it all will keep our hopes alive. Even though residents are living amidst such utter sadness we must celebrate Christchurch and its citizens and their example of strength and commitment, and if you could give a moment to think of Christchurch on this day, this will help us all!
Local Shops near my home in Merivale - these have now been demolished.
Woops, another earthquake and my office ends up on the floor, again!
Photo Essay Christchurch Earthquakes: (with thanks to Elise Rutherford and Alexander Reese, and Matador Life)
Hi John,
Thinking of everyone in Christchurch today & everyone in our office has been discussing last years tradgedy and how far Cantabrians have come through working together & supporting each other to rebuild their city.
Our thoughts & prayers are with you all today
Thank you all for your kind thoughts for Christchurch. I see we’ve all just been awarded a bravery award – all the citizens of Christchurch!!
John, it’s good to see you back on the blog. I’m so sorry for all that you in Christchurch have been enduring. Especially thinking about you all on the anniversary of last year’s earthquakes.
Hi John – Colin and I are thinking of you and everyone who have been affected in all the many ways in Christchurch.
Very best wishes
Bronwen and Colin Hedley
Hello John, Just finished watching the Memorial Service –
wonderful, inspiring and very emotional with a great
message. Loved the butterflies and the singing of Josh
Groban’s great song – You raise me up – Great choice of song.
We are all working together to give back life and security
to all Christchurch residents –
Kindest regards and our thoughts to you and all,
Rosemary and Vic.
‘a year on’ …. such distruction to a loved garden city, you all deserve bravery awards!
kind thoughts christine & Neil Auckland
It always amazes me how many good people are in the world. It saddens me to know that we only see the good when tragedy strikes. If only we could learn to work together all the time as we must when something like an earthquake happens.
It’s good to hear from you!
A timely reminder – there´s always this danger that being so far away we forget about what people have been going through and still are. Best wishes to all.