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Abbie Walls and Bob Parker Snr lighting the White Lights of Hope - Source: ONE News
Cathedral Choirboys since at Cathedral Square service Sept 4, 2011 - Source: ONE News
White Lights are now shining from Cathedral Square - Source: ONE News -
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A massive group hug and two white lights of hope have been part of the commemorations for Canterbury as it marks the first anniversary of the first of its devastating quakes.
Children featured in a day that was about looking forward for the Canterbury region, with a number of events held to mark the 7.1 September 4 quake and its subsequent killer aftershock in February.
Among those to take part in the commemorations were 13 Cathedral Choir schoolboys who ventured into the heart of the Red Zone to sing their hearts out in a special service tonight.
The choristers were tasked with singing Climb Every Mountain ahead of the big switch-on of the twin White Lights of Hope that are now beaming from Cathedral Square.
The Cathedral Choirboys performed their moving rendition dressed in their regular red choristers' garb, with added hard hats and high-visibility vests.
The choristers, aged 8 to 14, sang as seven-year-old Abbie Walls switched on the white lights, sending their huge beams high into the moonlit sky.
Walls was one of the miraculous survivors of the February 22 quake. She was walking in Cashel Mall with her mother and initially it was thought both had been lost in the quake, but both survived.
The white lights will shine from the Square every night until February 23, one day after the second catastrophic quake that claimed 181 lives.
Cantabrians Janine Morrell-Gunn and Jason Gunn are the brains behind The White Lights of Hope and say they are similar to New York's Twin Towers' 'Tribute in Light'.
Earlier in the week Morrell-Gunn told Breakfast that without a doubt the year has been a challenging time.
"The city has become a kind of dark hole that people skirt around," Morrell-Gunn said.
"But now might be a good time for a bit of a symbol of hope. Don't turn your back on the city - look in - the light still shines and our heart still beats. It's all going to be fine."
But a strong aftershock shortly after tonight's ceremony was a stark reminder that the city still has a fair bit to deal with.
Sumner remembers, but celebrates
Bringing the community together has been the central theme of many events and the switching on of lights is aimed at symbolising hope for the shattered city.
Other events have been held all over Christchurch today to remember the toughest year the Canterbury region has seen.
Thousands turned up to perform a group hug in the city in a show of love for a city determined to rise again.
And people from the hard-hit suburb of Sumner took to the beach in a family event dubbed "Celebrate Sumner".
One businessman there with his family said the day was a chance to remind businesses that Sumner was back in action for summer, despite the number of containers planted around the region as a reminder of the damage wrought by the September 4 and February 22 quakes.
"It's certainly getting back to normal now. Businesses in Sumner are starting to get back up and running again. Things are starting to move forward quite nicely," he told ONE News.
But signs of the quakes are still all around them - parents pushing strollers must still negotiate big cracks in the roads, and depressions in the footpaths.
On the beach, where the tide takes care of such things on the sand, children relished in the chance to do normal things but also reflected on the year that's passed.
"I just remember waking up in the morning and it was like somebody was jumping up and down on my bed," one boy told ONE News. He said he couldn't believe a year had gone by.
"It feels like it was just last week," he said.
Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Minister Gerry Brownlee said today the September 4 earthquake was not only the largest quake to strike New Zealand near a major population in almost 80 years, it also kicked off a series of seismic events the likes of which hasn't been seen anywhere else in the world.
"We've come a long way since that day, through some very dark and trying times, but thanks to the help of New Zealanders up and down the country, and many generous souls offshore, we are making real progress," Brownlee said.
Cabinet will meet in Christchurch tomorrow for the first time outside of Wellington in 16 years.
The location switch was chosen as a way of marking the first anniversary of the Canterbury earthquake.
John Key will be staying in Christchurch tonight as a mark of solidarity for the region.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentmenacerec said on 2011-09-05 @ 03:21 NZDT: Report abusive post
Honestly, a mark of solidarity by switching some lights on and shining them around the sky all night? How about fixing the problem and getting those still living in terrible conditions sorted first Bob? I guess when you're nice and warm in your Fendalton property it's hard to imagine what others may be going through.
menacerec said on 2011-09-05 @ 03:19 NZDT: Report abusive post
I agree. John needs to get out of Christchurch and stand down as PM.
bernina24 said on 2011-09-04 @ 19:10 NZDT: Report abusive post
It's funny, we went for a drive today out to Diamond Harbour. We've spent the last 12 months lamenting the changes - the damage, destruction and loss of life to man-made features. The contrast today was looking at the natural features, old slips, rock formations, the hills, valleys and harbour themselves. You know there seems to be very little change in these. It shows that our lifetimes are barely a split second in comparison with the age old land upon which we sit. We are here. So is our home.
dgk said on 2011-09-04 @ 17:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
Just another broken promise from the National Government. Why do we keep listening to their crap?
athome said on 2011-09-04 @ 09:22 NZDT: Report abusive post
one year ago, i spent my morning on the west coast picking up dvds of the floor at work, having my windows turned into water features. later on I moved th chch and almost lost a very close friend in the feb quake and now I am in constant contact with them as i dont want to lose them... Very scary to see buildings move so much. I never want to see that again