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In Greymouth's darkest hour, I took a walk.
It could only have been 20 minutes or so after Pike River CEO Peter Whittall made that most upsetting of announcements.
Just 20 minutes since those dozens of families were flipped from desperate anxiety to desperate grief. In a town like Greymouth, where everyone is affected and everyone is waiting, news like that sweeps through town like wind. Everyone knew at once.
The few days beforehand had hardly been business as usual. Greymouth's main streets were quiet. Nobody was in the mood for new TVs or flash clothes. Few were in the mood for alfresco coffees or boozy lunches. There was nothing to celebrate, no reason to be upbeat. Everyone just waited.
When the news broke, our team reacted, adrenalin and shock took over. We scrambled. But in 10 minutes I walked a simple square loop through those main streets and watched.
From our office I stepped onto a street empty of cars, empty of pedestrians, almost completely silent. I walked by the police station. There were three or four cars parked up and a policewoman sitting outside on top of some concrete steps. Her feet dangled down to the stairs below her. She leaned back, resting on her arms and staring at her boots. She didn't look up as I passed. She just stared down.
I crossed the road and walked by the local Working Men's Club. Outside there were a couple of women I'd chatted to just a few hours earlier. They were outgoing and cheeky before... laughing and teasing me. Now they were sobbing, but they were silent. They didn't wipe their tears. They drew long and deep on their cigarettes.
There was a bank teller standing on the road outside the bank. He'd propped himself against the concrete wall, one leg on the ground, one leg bent up and resting. He cradled one arm in the other, gently stroking his jawline. His lower lip was turned inside his mouth, and he gently bit down on his lip. He wasn't weeping or crying. He was just staring out at the street.
A car with a camera crew sped by. It was an automatic, you could hear that zip the engine makes when the driver stamps the accelerator and the revs peak out before the car lurches into a higher gear. The man outside the bank didn't flinch or look up or react. He just stared at the curb.
Everywhere it was eerie. Everywhere it was quiet. The shops that had waited until 5pm to close still had their doors open, but almost everywhere the lights were off. I saw nobody talking and barely anyone moved along the streets. It was cold and unsettling and upsetting. Greymouth had been punched in the throat. The town was hurt. It was silent.
I don't wish to dwell on the effect the Pike River tragedy had on our news team in Greymouth - though it was undoubtedly significant - for the effect on the families and friends of the miners, along with the general Greymouth public, was far greater by comparison. But I will never forget that walk.
Click here for how to donate to the Pike River Miners' Relief Fund Trust.
Share your condolences to the friends and families of the 29 men lost in the Pike River Mine, on our messageboard below.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commenttit4tat said on 2010-12-03 @ 18:25 NZDT: Report abusive post
condolences to the families, concern about the industry that allowed these men to work in unsafe conditions, mines are dangerous thats true but none can put their hands on their hearts and claim they have gone above and beyond what is lawfully required of them to ensure their "mates" safety. Glenn Grindly could lead the way by ensuring his mine workers and his local community are 110% protected people b4 profit yeah right!!!
tropicalkiwi said on 2010-12-02 @ 23:35 NZDT: Report abusive post
To the families of the miners, my condolences. My thoughts have been with over the last 13 days, I have shed tears for your loss and hope that the support you have been shown in some small way helps. You will remain in my thoughts.
james q said on 2010-12-02 @ 17:17 NZDT: Report abusive post
Tragedy has brought Australia & New Zealand together yet again. My thought are with the West Coasters in NZ from the west coast of Australia.
wellthatsafinemess said on 2010-12-02 @ 13:50 NZDT: Report abusive post
when your here your here when your gone your gone there is nothing to be said there is nothing can be done and when the bell tolls your on the final run to your maker you may fly upon wings of mercy sigh forever you will be in our hearts & our minds eye Rest in Peace Gentlemen.
turret said on 2010-12-02 @ 13:27 NZDT: Report abusive post
to hear your voice,to see you smile to sit and talk to you a while to be together the same old way that would be our greatest wish wish today.....to hear you laugh,to hear you cry on just a chance,to say goodbye to say the things we didn't say that would be our greatest wish today But all we can dois throw flowers on the water look fo the sun through the rain Lay a little flower gentle on the water Remember how we loved you to comb you hair,to lace your boots buy some beer ,let you choose .