Rangiora residents - you can help!
Brendan Malone and other motivated folk here in Rangiora have launched the Rangiora Earthquake Express with the goal of getting water and other essential supplies to the people of Christchurch. If, like me, you live in Rangiora then dig out your old water bottles, sanitise them, fill them with Rangiora tap water and get them down to Brendan and his team at 41 Victoria Street in Rangiora.
I gather they’re also wanting canned food, toilet paper, nappies, wipes, sanitary products etc - all those basics that people really need. These guys are on Facebook too so look them up there for more info.
Meanwhile, this morning, I find myself thinking back to an article I wrote for Avenues magazine last August titled ‘Gothic City - Heart of Stone’. This was a tribute piece about the city’s beautiful Gothic Revival architecture and how they were worthy of being granted World Heritage status. Alas, no more. The city’s stone heart is shattered, broken, in pieces.
What has happened to the people I interveiwed for that story? I don’t know. If any of you are reading this, I hope you’re all okay, safe and alive.
My husband described the city on the night of the earthquake, as he tried to make his way home, as dark, marshy and full of sand dunes … and it reminded him of descriptions of the land in 1850.
Anyway, get those water bottles into Victoria Street, everyone. It’s the least we can do.
