Success is getting what you want; happiness is liking what you get

Monday 14 October 2019

CHCH Earthquake Exhibition

Last week we met up with our SLG friends for Helen’s outing, driving to our former home town of Upper Hutt.  We met at Expressions  Gallery and enjoyed a coffee and a catch up before going on to view “Beyond the Cordon”, an exhibitions of photos of the 2011 Christchurch earthquake which cause so much destruction.  The magnitude 6.3 earthquake killed 185 people and injured several thousands.

P1310218

The 22 February 2011 Canterbury earthquake triggered the largest emergency response operation ever seen in New Zealand.  The task of visually documenting the rescue and victim recovery operation in the weeks following the earthquake fell to New Zealand Police photographers. The 23 photographers, the only photographers with long-term access to the central city throughout the following weeks, took every opportunity to record what they saw, including aspects of the operation that would rarely be documented. The photographers faced hostile conditions: smouldering rubble burnt through their boots, shards of concrete went flying as diggers cleared sites, and there was always the threat of aftershocks as they perched precariously on collapsed buildings.

The iconic and much loved Christchurch Cathedral lost its spire and suffered substantial damage, made worse by later aftershocks.

P1310224
Christchurch Cathedral

Poplar Lane, with it’s quaint boutique bars and restaurants housed in brick buildings was extensively damaged.  The police photographer was struck with the untouched message on the wall amidst all the debris

P1310230
Poplar Lane

Many countries sent Urban Search and Rescue Teams to help in the aftermath.  Teams arrived from Australia, UK, USA, Taiwan, Japan, china and Singapore to join the New Zealand teams.  A total of 579 workers  made Latimer Square their home for several weeks following the earthquake.

P1310236
Tent City for US&R workers

Access to the Pyne Gould Corp Building was a challenge to the rescue and recovery teams.  Crane operators were a vital part of the effort, with cranes often providing the only safe access to parts of the site.

P1310244
PGC House

P1310256

P1310259P1310269
Never ending job for the workers

We needed cheering up after the exhibition so were more than happy to continue on to Fig Tree Café for lunch.  After an initial mix up with the table booking, we settled down, placed our orders, and enjoyed our respective lunches.

P1310294

P1310297
Lunch at Fig Tree Café

This café was my favourite when we lived in Upper Hutt, and we were very partial to their Eccles Cakes.  Alas, they had sold the last ones, we were told.  But the owner was happy to whip up a new batch for me, if I wanted.  Of course I did - how’s that for service.  So some freshly baked Eccles Cakes in a brown paper bag came home with us - bliss!  Then it was around to Helen and Calvin’s home for afternoon tea and the draw for the following year – we two drew out next April and May.  That will give us time to think where we will take our group when our month rolls around again.  Thanks to Helen for a great day out.



1 comment:

Janice said...

Who can ever forget that earthquake. The exhibition must have been very interesting. Yummo! I love Eccles cakes. i found the recipe in an English recipe book as a teenager and made them quite a few times. The quote on board is rather clever.