As I sit staring out over my laptop looking at Carrs Basin in Wigram, in a suburb that has come to life following the series of earthquakes that started on this day 10 years ago, it is so easy to take myself back in time to that day…4th September 2010. It was like it was last year or even yesterday, not 10 years ago. A whole decade has passed. It is hard to belief. Time is such a mystery. Moments in our lives where it seems to stand still and at other times pass by too fast.
Some people have moved physical and moved on emotionally. Some services that came into existence because of the earthquakes have ceased, others remain. New subdivisions have populated the landscape of the city, spreading out especially towards Lincoln and Rolleston is booming. The city was forever changed on the 4th September 2010.
The earthquake set into motion a series of thousands of earthquakes that changed the landscape of this city and further out, traumatized many, destroyed homes and livelihoods and cost lives but rebirthed a new beginning of what the city is now and what it will become. At least that’s how I try to look at it… to see the phoenix rising from the ashes instead of losing myself in the ashes of all that was changed and lost. Although sometimes I find myself running my hand through the ashes, the memories, rekindling the grief of all that was lost and the fear that threatened to engulf me at times.
On 22nd February 2011 I walked through the CBD to find my mum and then we started our journey home. I saw the fallen facades, the shattered windows, the broken bricks, the fallen masonry. Much of which was concealed behind metal fencing damaged from the earthquakes on 4th September and 26th December 2010. On 22nd February I saw the brokenness in the CBD and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that lives were saved that day because of the earthquake that happened 10 years ago today and on the 26th December.
On the 4th September many were traumatized and lost possessions and/or homes. But we called ourselves lucky. Lucky that the city had suffered from such a strong earthquake and no lives were lost. We didn’t know what was to come… thankfully we didn’t know. We were right to call ourselves lucky that day 10 years ago and I still believe we were lucky that day.
As the years pass some may forget the earthquake anniversaries, but I will never forget. They are etched in my memory, in my life’s journey and in the history and journey of this city and nation forever.
Kia Kaha Canterbury xx
Some people have moved physical and moved on emotionally. Some services that came into existence because of the earthquakes have ceased, others remain. New subdivisions have populated the landscape of the city, spreading out especially towards Lincoln and Rolleston is booming. The city was forever changed on the 4th September 2010.
The earthquake set into motion a series of thousands of earthquakes that changed the landscape of this city and further out, traumatized many, destroyed homes and livelihoods and cost lives but rebirthed a new beginning of what the city is now and what it will become. At least that’s how I try to look at it… to see the phoenix rising from the ashes instead of losing myself in the ashes of all that was changed and lost. Although sometimes I find myself running my hand through the ashes, the memories, rekindling the grief of all that was lost and the fear that threatened to engulf me at times.
On 22nd February 2011 I walked through the CBD to find my mum and then we started our journey home. I saw the fallen facades, the shattered windows, the broken bricks, the fallen masonry. Much of which was concealed behind metal fencing damaged from the earthquakes on 4th September and 26th December 2010. On 22nd February I saw the brokenness in the CBD and I knew without a shadow of a doubt that lives were saved that day because of the earthquake that happened 10 years ago today and on the 26th December.
On the 4th September many were traumatized and lost possessions and/or homes. But we called ourselves lucky. Lucky that the city had suffered from such a strong earthquake and no lives were lost. We didn’t know what was to come… thankfully we didn’t know. We were right to call ourselves lucky that day 10 years ago and I still believe we were lucky that day.
As the years pass some may forget the earthquake anniversaries, but I will never forget. They are etched in my memory, in my life’s journey and in the history and journey of this city and nation forever.
Kia Kaha Canterbury xx