A personal comment

We were fortunate to find ourselves in Christchurch for the latter part of Show Week and were generously hosted during two days by Margaret Reeve and Ross Skinner.  During this time we were shown around the city and had a brief look at many aspects of how the earthquakes had affected the city.  Like most outside of Christchurch we had learned about much of what we saw in the media but nothing prepared us for seeing the devastation ‘first hand’.  Frankly we were stunned and think anyone would be.   

The RESTART shopping area
Note the carpark building behind awaiting demolition

It is one thing to see media snapshots of houses damaged and abandoned but another to drive down street after street with house after house destroyed and only the occasional resident “hanging on”. Or even in the least affected suburbs to see all too frequently gaps in the landscape and continuous loss of chimneys, fences and occasionally a wall off a building – and know this is just what was readily visible.  The sheer scale of the buildings coming down in the CBD is staggering let along the size of most of these buildings.  Just mind blowing.

Then to see the Restart (container) shopping area – the ingenuity just blew us away.  Likewise how displaced businesses have managed to move to other parts of the city and get going again. We truly hope no other part of NZ has to go through this sort of experience in the future.  It is clear that support for Christchurch is going to be needed long-term for the city ... and its people.  What is being achieved by Rotary (and many other groups) is incredible and despite an immense amount of activity it appears the need has hardly been dented due to its scale. We could only marvel at the spirit of all we met, their resilience and determination to make the best of their situation.

-          Colin and Beryl Robinson

Earthquake Recovery Support Project - November Newsletter

Welcome to this November circulation outlining activities of the Earthquake Recovery Support Project (EQRSP).

(Note: The Christchurch Rotary Earthquake Appeal Charitable Trust has a separate newsletter to communicate its activities.) We have encouraged all Rotary Clubs in the District to become actively involved in earthquake recovery support. This Newsletter is an important communication.

Earthquake Focus Club Assembly

On 13^th October, DG David Drake hosted a Special Club Assembly for Canterbury Rotary Clubs to update them on activities of both the EQ Appeal Charitable Trust and the EQ Recovery Support Project. The Charitable Trust has distributed over $1 million to over 100 applicants and the Project Committee has matched up about $120,000 to projects. Inner Wheel NZ EQ Committee also informed the gathering about its activities focusing on the needs of women, children and the aged.

The assembly provided an opportunity for clubs to report their activities over the past six months and give observations of what community needs could benefit from Rotary assistance. Generally there was a consensus that Rotary’s efforts to date are admirable and there was a lot of conversation identifying future opportunities.

Pools in Schoolz  

After February’s earthquake created a serious swim shortage for Christchurch’s eastern suburbs and Kaiapoi, local generosity is giving affected primary school students “a swimming chance.”   Sport Canterbury’s “Pools in Schoolz” initiative has been made possible through funding from Rotary International, Mainland Foundation, Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust and Water Safety New Zealand. 

Sport Canterbury authorised the purchase of two portable pools – which are being installed this week at Kaiapoi and at Queenspark School for the start of Term 4. Two more pools will be installed in early 2012.  In partnership with Christchurch City Council and Waimakariri District Council, the pools represent Sport Canterbury’s commitment to ensure that local primary school students continue learning the skills required to “swim and survive.” 

“Christchurch has lost 60% of its pool capacity,” says Sport Canterbury CEO Geoff Barry. “Generations have relied upon QEII; the February earthquake changed so much, so quickly, for local families. It changed more than their sporting habits, but their access to a critical life skill – swimming.”    “The east side of Christchurch now has a serious challenge,” says Barry. “The barriers (time, cost and transport) for eastern suburb students to reach western suburb pools are massive – and daunting. 

“We know that New Zealand has the third highest drowning rate in the world - this makes access to “swim and survive” skills absolutely critical for our young people.” 

 “Introducing a 'portable' pool is an ideal way to make an immediate difference for families who have almost given up on swim,” says Barry, who expects the pools to see over 500 kids swimming each week.  Rotary has contributed $84,000 to the project, 50% from Australian Rotarians and the balance from eight NZ Rotary Clubs and the EQ Charitable Trust. Three local clubs provided muscle to erect the two pools.  The attached link tells about the other EQ and youth sport activities promoted by Sport Canterbury. http://keepsportalive.org.nz/2011/09/taking-pools-toschools-2/

Philanthropic and Agency Funds  

The following grants and funds are just some of those available. Detailed information about each Fund, application criteria and procedures are shown on their websites (just Google). Rotary Clubs may be able to facilitate and support applications by community groups.

·         Local Government and Community Branch of the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA).

·         Lottery Grants and Community Grants Schemes

·         Family and Community Services funding

·         Child Youth and Family funding

·         Community Max

·         Charitable Trusts administered by the Public Trust

·         The Lion Foundation

·         Creative New Zealand

·         The JR McKenzie Trust

·         New Zealand Community Trust

·         Canterbury Community Trust

·         Sport & Recreation New Zealand

·         Techsoup (IT equipment)

·         The Tindall Foundation

·         The Todd Foundation

·         Vodafone NZ Foundation

·         Chch Rotary Earthquake Appeal Charitable Trust

·         ASB Bank

·         Wayne Francis Charitable Trust

·         Red Cross NZ Canterbury Earthquake Fund

·         Christchurch Earthquake Mayoral Relief Fund

·         Chch EQ Appeal Trust (The Prime Minister’s Fund)

·         Canterbury Earthquake Heritage Building Fund

·         Hardship Fund

·         Christchurch City Council

1. Strengthening Communities Fund

2. Small Grants Fund

3. Discretionary Response Fund

4. Community Organisation Loans scheme

5. Mayor's Welfare Fund

·         There are a number of companies which have also established Funds to assist EQ recovery.

Glenhaven Hosts RYLA Attendee

The Rotary Club of Glenhaven in the Sydney Area, (President Neville Candy) has sponsored a candidate to attend their RYLA Course in January. RC Christchurch West have chosen Sinead RENNELL of Halswell, Christchurch to attend. An excellent gesture by our Australian Friends.

Where are the Emerging Projects  

We are well past the recovery phase and are now very much into the rebuild phase. Many Rotary Clubs are considering where to focus their effort in their community. The following scenarios may give some guidance on where support is needed as many organizations address their purpose and sustainability as important contributors to immediate and future community wellbeing.

In the suburbs, many community facilities, sports and recreation facilities have been damaged or have ceased operation. This includes school facilities, swimming pools, sports and playgrounds, libraries, community meeting places, museums, etc. Whilst essential community services have been temporarily restored, it will be some time before the communities will enjoy the facilities and networks they previously had.

Supporting individuals, households and communities to rebuild their lives after earthquakes is an enormous task as people are relocated from their homes, leaving behind neighbours, friends, social and sporting clubs, schools, churches and many other networks that bind a community together. Community wellbeing activities need to offer responsive and flexible support for people. This includes help to cope with stress and uncertainty and minimize potential hardship and unnecessary disruption to housing, education and health. Communities and volunteer organisations need to be supported, so they can rebuild their strength and resilience for present and future generations.

The loss of the QEII Park sports complex in the east is huge because it was central to the operations of many clubs and organizations. Many arts organizations and artists have lost offices, performing and exhibition spaces and the means to earn a living. The loss of venues and volunteers threatens the continued existence of many clubs, groups and societies that bind communities together.

Fundraising, for which so many charities, disabled persons, schools, early childhood centres, sports groups, youth groups, aged peoples groups, etc, relied, has diminished. This is due to so many people, having experienced personal property or business damage, being reluctant to support fundraising activities to the level they traditionally have.

OPERATION LIQUEFACTION REPORT

A $43,000 fuel bill paid

Contractors, who worked tirelessly to clean-up liquefaction from some of the worst hit streets and properties in Christchurch, are to receive a major financial boost.

The rural farming co-operative CRT, in conjunction with its fuel supplier Caltex, has announced it will pay $43,000 dollars in operational costs and fuel costs incurred by Bobcat and digger operators.

These contractors, who helped hundreds of families in February struggling to cope in the immediate aftermath of the quake, initially donated their time and equipment but were left facing a substantial bill as the extent of the liquefaction became apparent.

Background

Immediately after the February 22^nd earthquake, a group of private contractors and friends with access to machinery and diggers launched an operation to help clean up some of the worst affected properties Wainoni, Dallington and Avondale.

Over a two and a half week period this group cleared mud, sand and silt from more than six hundred properties, giving residents not only access to their homes but a renewed sense of hope.

Using commercial contacts and coordinating with the Rotary Club of Christchurch Sunrise and voluntary groups; ‘Operation Liquefaction’ is an example of small businesses coming together to make a big difference.

Their efforts will be recognised when CRT / Caltex and residents from Gertrude Place in Avondale hand over a cheque for $43,000 to contractors on Thursday 17^th November at 2.00pm.

Tour the Red Zone ... heartbreaking

This video is 32 minutes but you can stop, fast forward etc at anytime.  Includes a commentary.


http://youtu.be/f8Lic4MCNek