NZFWDA sympathy is extended to all affected by the earthquake and especially those families dealing with deaths and injuries.
|
As President of the
NZFWDA, I wish to convey my feelings and I’m sure those of all our members;
that we all want to support the residents of Christchurch in any way
possible. I have watched the TV reports and heard the amazing stories of
how volunteers are doing all they can to help each other and it makes me proud
to live in this great country.
After some discussion
with your executive members, it has been decided to donate three thousand
dollars to help the cause. This money will be distributed by our Southern
Zone President Russell Quin. It will go to the 4x4 Clubs in the area, to assist
with some of the expenses that they are incurring as they help around Christchurch with transport and the
logistics of delivering food and water. They have also been involved with
the transportation of USAR people into some of the less accessible areas.
As you must agree, the 4x4 community have stepped up and are helping in every
way possible. Not all the clubs that are helping, are members of NZFWDA,
but this should in no way discount them from our financial support. We
want to help all 4 wheelers assisting around Christchurch, in any way
possible. I know you will agree that this is a good use of our financial
resources and if anyone has any other suggestions about how the NZFWDA can
assist, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
On a personal note I
would like to say my thoughts and best wishes are with you all in Christchurch, “Stay Strong”
Kind regards
Simon Bishop NZFWDA
President
|
Mid
Canterbury Club earthquake big clean up day.
Like the
rest of the community, four wheel drive clubs have wasted no time in helping
clean up after the devastation in Christchurch.
The Mid
Canterbury Club based in Ashburton is no exeption and were quick to offer
support.
They went with a contingent
from Ashburton led by Garth Lawson, a local businessman. Garth managed to get
3 buses full of helpers. The Mid
Canterbury Club sent about 20 club
members plus family, totaling just under 30 people, two small diggers and one
Dingo; plus two small trucks spent the weekend removing silt from Cardrona St
in Dallington, one of the worst hit suburbs in Christchurch. Fulton Hogan’s area manager, Campbell Dick, was
on hand to meet the volunteers and allocate a street to clean up in a well
organised operation.
“Although there were
diggers on hand to do some of the heavy work, a lot of the work proved to be
manual and there were some very sore and tired bodies by the end of the
weekend” said John McDonald the Mid Canterbury Club Secretary.
John was amazed at
community spirit and commented that two passers-by asked if they could help,
one Campbell (CJ) from Napier and one from Australia, both excellent guys who were in boots and all
doing their bit to help.
The Club managed to
finish the street by the end of the weekend, leaving a huge pile of sand, no mean
feat, as John estimated the area they worked on had a 150mm cover of liquidfaction
over 50% of the sections and road. He also commented that around two thirds of
the houses were empty.
John also commented on
the resilience of the residents, saying most they
met were philosophical about the earthquake, and very happy we came to help. Some
managed to escape the last earthquake without damage, but this time they didn’t.
He met one lady who had her house on the
Port Hills destroyed, but still thought she should help others.
I think you will all
agree a mighty fine effort! Russell Quin Southern zone president
|
 | Emptying the container
of water bottles Donated to us by the Bartercard Foundation. We will fill these
and distribute them today. 26000 litres of fresh drink without boiling,
beautiful water. |
| Delivering water to a
thirsty Christchurch. |
|
|
A report from Christchurch
1 March 2011
Today’s effort will be to fill and distribute 1300 plastic 20 litre Jerry Cans. As well, we are ferrying Water Technicians taking water samples from Christchurch bore water wells
.
Bartercard Foundation is supplying container loads of stuff from Auckland for us to distribute.
Club members are also on a 24 hour roster ferrying the international Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams about in Central Christchurch.Wednesday we have a container of frozen pies to distribute to those with power. Almost every supermarket in the east of Christchurch from Burwood to Halswell isclosed due to structural damage. Countdown at Eastgate and the Eastgate Mall may be 2-3 years before it can open. There are many seriously damaged.
Fuel is available, but there is panic buying at those stations open. None are open in the worst hit areas. This means that folks don't have ways to even get to supermarkets, wit
h cars simply abandoned, run out of fuel. It's the poorer Suburbs too that have been hit HARD. Places like Bexley, Aranui, Burwood and many others. Sewerage in places is flowing in the streets. Water still a metre deep caused by liquefaction. Sand that has risen up and cleaned from properties, is piled high on each side of the road, so access is difficult. There is hardly a street that is level, huge humps and hollows. Holes you could fit 10 trucks in. Some streets would be more difficult to drive than the notorious Thompsons Track.
An individual club member from Wellington has sent $100 worth of Petrol Vouchers and he has put it to his Club to send vouchers. If you can encourage other clubs that would be appreciated. This effort is going to go on for weeks. To give you an idea, I have in the 4 days that I have been up there, spent $250 on fuel. I personally don't care how much it costs me. There are people suffering and I can help do a little towards reducing that suffering, but I know some of the guys working with me have also had severe damage with 2 of my Christchurch Club mates having lost their homes. These guys are still out helping. Whilst we have to accept that there are thousands of people we can’t help, we can go home (for some of us) tired out, knowing that we have at least made life just a tiny bit more bearable. Even if it’s being the first time they have spoken to someone, as many have had no contact with relief services yet.
The only positive thing about this is that neighbors are talking. I've had people who live within a few metres of each other introduce themselves, people have time to talk to each other, rather than just a wave as they head off to work. We've had pats on the back. “You guys are bloody heroes”, hugs and even tears, when we give someone a bottle of water.
I'm getting lots of contact from the North. Until now I haven't been able to say for sure how they might be of use. I now know how.
There is a setup in Rangiora that has become the main community support outside the welfare centres. They are the Rangiora Quake Express. Until today they have been helicoptering in supplies. From today it will be by vehicle, 4WDs mostly. Any support from groups wanting to come down, should do it through there.
I will try and keep in touch, but as you can see from this email, this is 4am and I need to be in Christchurch by 9am (and get some sleep) 130km away. Cheers
Graham Pullman
Combined 4WD Clubs
|
NZFWDA 2011 Conference and AGM 28-29 May
Make sure it is in your diary.... the Waipuna Conference Centre, by Auckland's Panmure Basin, on Sat 28th & Sun 29th May 2011. A format to encourage members to attend, is being worked on, with options of keynote speakers, workshops, general speakers, trade displays and sponsors.
The venue is not far from the large Sylvia Park shopping mall. Check the map.
|
|
