I spent the day on the phone to colleagues in Christchurch trying to offer support and help. Several times there were aftershocks as we talked, all I could do was listen as they waited it out.
I was in Christchurch on the morning of February 22 but left just after 1100. I flew to Dunedin, and was driving when the 1251 earthquake hit. I walked into a room filled with people on their feet staring at each other as they had felt the quake strongly in Dunedin. Moments later my phone rang with questions and news, most of it not good. I couldn't help thinking about what could have happened had I been an hour later leaving Christchurch.
New Zealand watched as our second biggest city was brought to its knees. Everyone knows someone in Christchurch, or someone who was there.
I was on the ground in Christchurch a week later and Christchurch was a city I no longer recognised. The new reality for the people of Christchurch was something I couldn't comprehend even after seeing it. Driving through the streets was a surreal experience - it was like a war zone, but somehow it was New Zealand.
But during the worst of times, the best of people emerged. Help came from friends and strangers alike. From the rest of New Zealand and the world, but often from just next door, or down the road. Communities came together to help each other out in any way possible.
Girls' Brigade was not immune from the earthquakes. Companies lost years of resources or worse their churches, but as with others in Christchurch, they picked themselves up, banded together and carried on.
It was a beautiful privilege to watch as a young woman from Christchurch was awarded her hard earned and thoroughly deserved Queen's Award last year at Government House.
Today it has been one year. Kia Kaha Christchurch.
Our thoughts, prayers and hope are with you as always
Blessings xx
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