Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas, Aussies & EQs...
We took the opportunity of school holidays to get away from EQ city and spend time with Amy's younger sister, Jen, in Mackay (near Brisbane). Its the hotest Christmas either of us have experienced, and it's lovely having a Christmas with Jen & her boyfriend Chase, for the first time in 5 years. A time for lots of movies, swimming, a visit to the Great Barrier Reef and heaps of great food! Sadly we heard the news that Christchurch has been affected by more earthquakes while we've been away, including a 6.0 and a few other over 5. No loss of life, and damage not too much more significant from the last ones - but physiologically it's a real blow to everyone. But we'll get through, we'll rise up and we will rebuild. Many cities around the world have come through worse - there is hope!
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Amy's New Job...
For the past 8 years Amy has worked at the same school, Belfast Primary, the first teaching job she ever got! She's started with a Year 3 & 4 class, changed to Years 7 & 8, taken on a senior management role and had become a part of the furniture. She wasn't looking for a new job, and was very happy in her new state of the art classrooms and the position she's worked herself into - yet out of the blue came a position that messed with her head! The senior Year 7 & 8 teacher role at South New Brighton Primary School became available - in Amy's desired age level, a permanent poition, with management roles, in an area she grew up in, where James works, where she went to school, and where we'd just bought a new home! It seemed like someone from above had made the role for her - and although it was a painful decision, she applied. She was offered the job 20 minutes after completing a 90 minute interview - and 2012 is a new start! A class of only 20 students sounds like a dream, in a school of 520 pupils. Final week at Belfast had many tears and lots of beautiful cards, gifts and words were given. Below is a photo at the Year 7 & 8 Graduation in her final week. Belfast will always have a special place in her heart but 2012 is a new start on so many levels! 
Monday, December 12, 2011
New House...
We had been looking to purchase a home on the eastside of Christchurch for over a year, and lost at 2 auctions. But on the 1st December we won an auction to a 3 bedroom home, opposite the beach, with a large back yard! We love our current home, and if we could have moved it closer our desired location in Brighton - it would have been perfect. But we're future planning - and the pull of the beach, a large garden big enough to kick a football and an area close to James' work, our church, and most our friends - was too much of an incentive. Then with the news of Amys new job - its the ideal world of living, serving and working in the same community! It has a little bit of Earthquake damage, but it will be fixed by insurance in the next few months - repainting the whole outside, new kitchen top, shed, etc - leaving it better than present, and lots of opportunities to add our own touches! For more info and photos see the estate agents link below while its still live:
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
A Big Year for James' work...
In the aftermath of this years earthquakes, James' work has been in the midst of a lot of extra action - more programmes, more events, more opportunities, more networking, more young people! As we reflect on the year, I am proud to be part of a team that has achieved so much and affected the lives of so many this year. We really are a community service that people rely on, and have been encouraged by words of thanks from young people, their families, other community groups and dignitaries. There were even a few awards, from the local MP, the local school, a sport canterbury award and a kiwi hero award. 2012 promises to be another big year and we're talking to funders to help us staff these increased needs. More info can be found on our website but here are some highlights:
Top 12 moments of 2011
12) Taking our young people to dig silt from random houses.
11) The 5th Annual Family Fun Night attracting over 500 people and giving most of the children a lollie rush!
10) So many dangerous activities with crazy young people, like ice skating, water sports, mountain biking - and no major injuries! (well, apart from a dislocated shoulder & two broken arms)
9) The launch of the Sodium Breakaway programme - a free teenage holiday programme.
8) Taking 85 young people and 8 leaders on a Break from the Quake to Auckland in partnership with Youthtown. It was postponed the first time due to snow, but a great action packed holiday - Amy came too! The photo above shows us all in the elephant enclosure.
7) The McDonalds Ice Cream Challenge - everyones favourite (just don't tell the parents).
6) The Central New Brighton football team making the Canterbury Tournament for the first time in their history under YAT coaches.
5) The EPIC Dance Party for 175 Year 7 & 8's from local schools in partnership with BlueLight.
4) Over 1500 attendees at the Post Earthquake Children's Programmes that operated while local schools were closed.
3) 5 Fun Afternoons for 5 full primary schools as they reopened after the February Earthquake.
2) Wynton Rufers Football Fest at Thomson Park for over 300 local young people (all this talk of football in the year of NZ's Rugby World Cup - great eh!)
1) The 40+ volunteers who committed time, energy & tears to clubs, programmes and events every week - Priceless!
For more information about our what we do, media reports, videos, Post Earthquake programmes and our NEEDS, visions and possibilities for the future, if funding permitted see http://www.yat.org.nz/
In the aftermath of this years earthquakes, James' work has been in the midst of a lot of extra action - more programmes, more events, more opportunities, more networking, more young people! As we reflect on the year, I am proud to be part of a team that has achieved so much and affected the lives of so many this year. We really are a community service that people rely on, and have been encouraged by words of thanks from young people, their families, other community groups and dignitaries. There were even a few awards, from the local MP, the local school, a sport canterbury award and a kiwi hero award. 2012 promises to be another big year and we're talking to funders to help us staff these increased needs. More info can be found on our website but here are some highlights:
Top 12 moments of 2011
12) Taking our young people to dig silt from random houses.
11) The 5th Annual Family Fun Night attracting over 500 people and giving most of the children a lollie rush!
10) So many dangerous activities with crazy young people, like ice skating, water sports, mountain biking - and no major injuries! (well, apart from a dislocated shoulder & two broken arms)
9) The launch of the Sodium Breakaway programme - a free teenage holiday programme.
8) Taking 85 young people and 8 leaders on a Break from the Quake to Auckland in partnership with Youthtown. It was postponed the first time due to snow, but a great action packed holiday - Amy came too! The photo above shows us all in the elephant enclosure.
7) The McDonalds Ice Cream Challenge - everyones favourite (just don't tell the parents).
6) The Central New Brighton football team making the Canterbury Tournament for the first time in their history under YAT coaches.
5) The EPIC Dance Party for 175 Year 7 & 8's from local schools in partnership with BlueLight.
4) Over 1500 attendees at the Post Earthquake Children's Programmes that operated while local schools were closed.
3) 5 Fun Afternoons for 5 full primary schools as they reopened after the February Earthquake.
2) Wynton Rufers Football Fest at Thomson Park for over 300 local young people (all this talk of football in the year of NZ's Rugby World Cup - great eh!)
1) The 40+ volunteers who committed time, energy & tears to clubs, programmes and events every week - Priceless!
For more information about our what we do, media reports, videos, Post Earthquake programmes and our NEEDS, visions and possibilities for the future, if funding permitted see http://www.yat.org.nz/
Tuesday, November 01, 2011
2011 Rugby World Cup - The Year of The All Black...
Any true Rugby fan will tell you that the All Blacks have been the best team in World Rugby for a long time - but they'd only won the World Cup once - in 1987, the only time NZ hosted it. The weight of expectation in 2011 was huge, and we (including football supporting English man James) believed the All Blacks would do it. Christchurch lost all its planned games, due to the EQs, but we still visited Dunedin twice for two England games, both of which they won - but didn't impress. The church also hosted every All Blacks game, and it brought the community together to the church to celebrate sport! Over 200 people attended the final, and Amy shed a few tears at the final whistle - a sense of releif, and well deserved!
Any true Rugby fan will tell you that the All Blacks have been the best team in World Rugby for a long time - but they'd only won the World Cup once - in 1987, the only time NZ hosted it. The weight of expectation in 2011 was huge, and we (including football supporting English man James) believed the All Blacks would do it. Christchurch lost all its planned games, due to the EQs, but we still visited Dunedin twice for two England games, both of which they won - but didn't impress. The church also hosted every All Blacks game, and it brought the community together to the church to celebrate sport! Over 200 people attended the final, and Amy shed a few tears at the final whistle - a sense of releif, and well deserved!
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Our Response to the Feb EQ...
The day after the EQ, church leadership gathered in order to plan our response. By Thursday we'd opened part of our building, without power, water or sewage, as a community hub. People started to come with food and water and then the locals started coming. Trucks of food started arriving, then helecopters, MP's, the mayor, free food vendors, information and support. Volunteers came from around the country to help people in the community - digging silt, weatherproofing homes, visiting the vulnerable. It became so big, we had to open the school hall too, the road got closed off to traffic and the care centre became the main community facility. James & Amy were key leaders in the Centre. For a short video of what our church was doing, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79UXS1dE2_s
The day after the EQ, church leadership gathered in order to plan our response. By Thursday we'd opened part of our building, without power, water or sewage, as a community hub. People started to come with food and water and then the locals started coming. Trucks of food started arriving, then helecopters, MP's, the mayor, free food vendors, information and support. Volunteers came from around the country to help people in the community - digging silt, weatherproofing homes, visiting the vulnerable. It became so big, we had to open the school hall too, the road got closed off to traffic and the care centre became the main community facility. James & Amy were key leaders in the Centre. For a short video of what our church was doing, click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79UXS1dE2_s
James' work were then faced with the need for childcare - the immediate closure of all local schools, and the unknown date of their reopening. As a local trusted agency that provides children and youth activities, we were approached by local parent asking if we were going to offer anything while the schools were closed. With discussions with Central New Brighton School and some key leaders and staff, we put together a fun childrens programme, on school grounds from Monday 28th Feb. Our daily programme ran for 11 days, and over 1500 children signed in! All this was done with a youthwork staff team of 4 paid staff, 12 key volunteers and over 70 volunteers, who gave of their time setting up, running sports, crafts, painting faces, making jewellery, looking after bouncy castles, cooking sausages, entertaining, signing children in, chatting to parents and families and bringing smiles, laughter, and hope back into a scared community. We had different entertainers each day, including people who donated their time for free from all over the country! We had very positive feedback from parents, children and the community, and got numerous thank you letters, and some good media coverage, including Newspaper articles, and TV Cameras visited us too! See this newspaper article:
Other ways we responded included schools fun days, silt shifting, care in the community, free family holidays, free football festival, free New Brighton day, free library holiday activities, greater school care + more info can be found on our website: http://www.yat.org.nz/
For a short video of what our church was doing, click here:
Monday, April 25, 2011
Fractured Ankle...
No it wasn't the earthquake - it was an over excited netball player going hard in training, twisting an old injury and making causing more pain and damage than ever before - only Amy involved! Leg was in a cast for a month, we already bought crutches after last time, and we even took advantage of the odd wheelchair while shopping (see below). The Dr suggested it will be two years before the ankle makes a full recovery, and possibly the end of Amys serious netball career. Who knows what the future holds...
No it wasn't the earthquake - it was an over excited netball player going hard in training, twisting an old injury and making causing more pain and damage than ever before - only Amy involved! Leg was in a cast for a month, we already bought crutches after last time, and we even took advantage of the odd wheelchair while shopping (see below). The Dr suggested it will be two years before the ankle makes a full recovery, and possibly the end of Amys serious netball career. Who knows what the future holds...
Friday, February 25, 2011
February 22nd - Christchurch Earthquake...
It is a day we will remember for the rest of our lives. 12.51pm, James was in his church office and Amy was on the school playground, when the earthquake struck. We'd felt big aftershocks since last Septembers EQ, but this did feel like a big one. Out on the streets, people were soon talking about buildings falling in the city centre, and casualties, and sadly it was true. Amy stayed at school comforting and reassuring children until they were collected, James went to CNB Primary school offering them support, before knocking on local doors to make sure people were OK. Ian & Jen were at home, and thankfully everyone was OK - just a bit shaken up. They flew out of NZ on their pre booked flights the next day after a night of aftershocks! We could see a lot of liquifaction (around 400,000 tonnes in total of this sandy silty material that came through the ground onto the streets, onto peoples property and into some peoples homes), fooding and a lot of building damage. It is New Zealand's 2nd worst natural disaster (after the Hawkes Bay EQ of 1931) and is estimated to cost NZ$15 billion. We experienced over 360 aftershocks in the next week (mag 3+) and as of July, our city will have experienced over 8,000 aftershocks!
Our house had a few bit of contents damage, cracks in a few walls, and is on a slight lean but because it's made from wood - it just swayed & rocked (the brick and concrete houses cracked and caused a lot more damage). Here is the scene we came home too:
Here are a few photos we took of the damaged streets after the Feb EQ:
Thankfully we weren't on this bridge...
It received worldwide media coverage and had all the major relief charities working in the city, to help people in the initial shelter, food, sewage, warmth needs. Millions of dollars is being poured out in relief for the city, and although some people have left, the majority have stayed and are preparing to rebuild. However, when we look at this disaster in light of other natural disasters - we were still being looked after. In fact, we are blessed that these Earthquakes have only caused the damage they did, as natural disasters around the world have caused devastation in the past century:
This does not include other lists of floods, avalanches, blizzards, volcanoes, cyclones, famines, heat waves and diseases, all of which have also killed tens of thousands of people at various times over the past century too. The Japan Earthquake a few weeks later brought us back to earth and our focus now is on the rebuild and the future!
It is a day we will remember for the rest of our lives. 12.51pm, James was in his church office and Amy was on the school playground, when the earthquake struck. We'd felt big aftershocks since last Septembers EQ, but this did feel like a big one. Out on the streets, people were soon talking about buildings falling in the city centre, and casualties, and sadly it was true. Amy stayed at school comforting and reassuring children until they were collected, James went to CNB Primary school offering them support, before knocking on local doors to make sure people were OK. Ian & Jen were at home, and thankfully everyone was OK - just a bit shaken up. They flew out of NZ on their pre booked flights the next day after a night of aftershocks! We could see a lot of liquifaction (around 400,000 tonnes in total of this sandy silty material that came through the ground onto the streets, onto peoples property and into some peoples homes), fooding and a lot of building damage. It is New Zealand's 2nd worst natural disaster (after the Hawkes Bay EQ of 1931) and is estimated to cost NZ$15 billion. We experienced over 360 aftershocks in the next week (mag 3+) and as of July, our city will have experienced over 8,000 aftershocks!
Our house had a few bit of contents damage, cracks in a few walls, and is on a slight lean but because it's made from wood - it just swayed & rocked (the brick and concrete houses cracked and caused a lot more damage). Here is the scene we came home too:
Here are a few photos we took of the damaged streets after the Feb EQ:
Thankfully we weren't on this bridge...
Here are some general media photo's taken on Feb 22nd, which gives you an idea of the devastation:
It received worldwide media coverage and had all the major relief charities working in the city, to help people in the initial shelter, food, sewage, warmth needs. Millions of dollars is being poured out in relief for the city, and although some people have left, the majority have stayed and are preparing to rebuild. However, when we look at this disaster in light of other natural disasters - we were still being looked after. In fact, we are blessed that these Earthquakes have only caused the damage they did, as natural disasters around the world have caused devastation in the past century:
Date | Magnitude | Location | Number of Deaths |
1/12/2010 | 7.0 | Haiti | 316,000 |
27/7/1976 | 7.5 | Tangshan, China | 242,769 |
26/12/2004 | 9.1 | Sumatra | 227,898 |
01/09/1923 | 7.9 | Kanto, Japan | 142,800 |
05/10/1948 | 7.3 | Turkmenistan | 110,000 |
12/05/2008 | 7.9 | Sichuan, China | 87,587 |
08/10/2005 | 7.6 | Pakistan | 86,000 |
28/12/1908 | 7.2 | Messina, Italy | 72,000 |
31/05/1970 | 7.9 | Chimbote, Peru | 70,000 |
20/06/1990 | 7.4 | Iran | 50,000 |
26/12/2003 | 6.6 | Iran | 31,000 |
11/03/2011 | 9.0 | Japan | 28,050 |
26/01/2001 | 7.6 | Gujarat, India | 20,085 |
17/08/1999 | 7.6 | Turkey | 17,118 |
29/09/1993 | 6.2 | Latur-Killari, India | 9,748 |
19/09/1985 | 8.0 | Mexico | 9,500 |
26/05/2006 | 6.3 | Indonesia | 5,749 |
16/01/1995 | 6.9 | Kobe, Japan | 5,502 |
22/05/1960 | 9.5 | Chile | 1,655 |
21/02/2011 | 6.3 | Christchurch, NZ | 181 |
04/08/2010 | 7.1 | Christchurch, NZ | 0 |
This does not include other lists of floods, avalanches, blizzards, volcanoes, cyclones, famines, heat waves and diseases, all of which have also killed tens of thousands of people at various times over the past century too. The Japan Earthquake a few weeks later brought us back to earth and our focus now is on the rebuild and the future!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Holidaying around Tasman...
In the New Year we took 10 days visiting some of the worlds most beautiful spots - at the top of the north island. We've seen a few sights in the world, but this these sights really did take our breath away - and it was great to share it with Ian & Jen. Walking & kayaking through parts of the Abel Tasman, swimming in Cleppatra's Pool, climbing on Split Apple Rock, the clearest water we've seen at Pu Pu Spings (ironic name - eh) and some of the most amazing beaches we've been too - especially Wharariki Beach. Nights of Monopoly Deal, games of tennis, meals out, dancing in the local bar, and James' birthday made it such a special holiday! These times need to be taken to remember why we work!
In the New Year we took 10 days visiting some of the worlds most beautiful spots - at the top of the north island. We've seen a few sights in the world, but this these sights really did take our breath away - and it was great to share it with Ian & Jen. Walking & kayaking through parts of the Abel Tasman, swimming in Cleppatra's Pool, climbing on Split Apple Rock, the clearest water we've seen at Pu Pu Spings (ironic name - eh) and some of the most amazing beaches we've been too - especially Wharariki Beach. Nights of Monopoly Deal, games of tennis, meals out, dancing in the local bar, and James' birthday made it such a special holiday! These times need to be taken to remember why we work!
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