Memories of Christchurch from a more stable time
I'm still devastated by the damage and deaths in Christchurch caused by the aftershocks under Lyttleton at 12:43pm 22 Feb 2011. Many of the places I grew up around are now piles of rubble, and in some sad cases, tombs.
In the September 4th 2010 Earthquake, the one that started this seemingly unending series of aftershocks, the slight personal damage that registered in my mind was of an old cafe that my friends and I used to hang out in while we were meant to be at school. It was in Riccarton Rd and was due for demolition in the 1980's so that earthquake just delivered an inevitable blow. The 2011 aftershock did way more that that.
As a child, I prayed and sang at the Blessed Sacrament cathedral. At 12, I was rushed into the CBHS choir (before my voice broke I had a nice treble tone) to sing in the end of year mass held at the ChCh cathedral. I was in awe of the peace inside these old buildings, the calm, coolness created by the soaring ceiling and solid block, thick walls. I'm sure these feelings and atmosphere have now departed.
Today I troll the Internet for photos of these places now destroyed by the shaking earth beneath them.
With my first wife, Keri, I built a modest home near the banks of the River Avon. That area was the first affected with liquefaction during the first shake, I can only imagine it has become worst since the ongoing aftershocks haven't stopped since September 2010.
In 1988, before we moved to Australia, I married Dee and we held our reception in the old Civic chambers building in Manchester Street. Today that building stands ruined.
The statue of Godley lies broken in the Cathedral Square. There is no place for a seagull to stand anymore.
Across the road from the CTV building, where many people have died, stands the band rotunda was the restaurant where my neice Claire held her wedding breakfast.
The list goes on and on, and I haven't lived in ChCh for over 20 years. It must be terrible for those who make ChCh their hometown, to see and hear this terrible destruction everyday. My heart goes out to them.
Not Cheers...Terry
In the September 4th 2010 Earthquake, the one that started this seemingly unending series of aftershocks, the slight personal damage that registered in my mind was of an old cafe that my friends and I used to hang out in while we were meant to be at school. It was in Riccarton Rd and was due for demolition in the 1980's so that earthquake just delivered an inevitable blow. The 2011 aftershock did way more that that.
As a child, I prayed and sang at the Blessed Sacrament cathedral. At 12, I was rushed into the CBHS choir (before my voice broke I had a nice treble tone) to sing in the end of year mass held at the ChCh cathedral. I was in awe of the peace inside these old buildings, the calm, coolness created by the soaring ceiling and solid block, thick walls. I'm sure these feelings and atmosphere have now departed.
Today I troll the Internet for photos of these places now destroyed by the shaking earth beneath them.
With my first wife, Keri, I built a modest home near the banks of the River Avon. That area was the first affected with liquefaction during the first shake, I can only imagine it has become worst since the ongoing aftershocks haven't stopped since September 2010.
In 1988, before we moved to Australia, I married Dee and we held our reception in the old Civic chambers building in Manchester Street. Today that building stands ruined.
The statue of Godley lies broken in the Cathedral Square. There is no place for a seagull to stand anymore.
Across the road from the CTV building, where many people have died, stands the band rotunda was the restaurant where my neice Claire held her wedding breakfast.
The list goes on and on, and I haven't lived in ChCh for over 20 years. It must be terrible for those who make ChCh their hometown, to see and hear this terrible destruction everyday. My heart goes out to them.
Not Cheers...Terry
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