maungaturoto matters october 2010 part 3

8/8/2019 Maungaturoto Matters October 2010 Part 3

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Page 21Maungaturoto Matters

Guess where we were at 4.35am the morning of the earthquake.?Bucketing around the upstairs room of a motel in Christchurch!I woke up thinking "earthquake" and waited for it to stop, but itdidn't. There was this big flash of light and all the street lightsoutside and in the parking area of the motel went off, and it is

black, black, black and the bed is still writhing around. And theNOISE every nail, every joint, every timber is screaming in pro-test, the windows are rattling, the building is swaying, shakingand crashing.

I had been in Christchurch attending the Social Services Provid-ers Annual conference along with the Homebuilders ManagerDenise Meiklejohn. Right now she is calling out to God for help,and I am yelling at her to lie down beside the bed. I have a safespace beside my bed, but it was so dark I couldn't see where shewas. Then the shaking slowed down, shuddered and stopped.And the noise, the creaking and groaning of every timber ceased."Clothes," Denise said, 'We've got to find our clothes" So here

we are in pitch dark, feeling our way around trying to findclothes in a strange room where furniture and suitcases havemoved. Outside the sirens started. It was awful in the dark hear-ing those sirens, knowing people are trapped, dying, and I amtrying to find a pair of socks!

So, when we are decently clad we both go back to our beds. I getin, but Denise rolls herself in her duvet on top, because shewants to keep her shoes on - just in case we have to run for it. Ihave filled up the electric jug and have it in the bedroom in casewe get trapped up here, at least we will have water. Then thephone rings, it is the motel management wanting to know ifwe're ok. What we don't realise is that there are only three of the

upstairs units in use, and downstairs most people ran outside, butno one has seen us. So, yes we are ok.

OK! lying there in the cold darkness, listening, listening, sirensstill going, now someone's house alarm is doing its routine con-stant noise, that goes for about an hour, the other alarms comeand go, but none of them come down our street.

Gradually the dawn lifts the dense blackness, and I can see out-side the window, everything looks surreal, but undamaged.With the little bit of light we can relax, and almost begin to doze.When it is light enough to move about we make ourselves a milousing water from the hot tap, the microwave has danced acrossthe bench, the crockery has moved, but hasn't fallen out. And weare bereft of information.

If I was back at Maungaturoto, I would be down at Homebuild-ers Social Services, with the doors open for the public. I couldhave boiled water on the barbie, tuned in the radio, and foundout what was happening.

Outside someone turns their car radio on and we can hear thatChristchurch had an earthquake - well we knew that - no knowndeaths - good - no power - bad - airport closed - bad, - no water -worse, but we still have water up here, but there is no way I amgoing to have a shower!

Then the earth turns topsy turvey again, there have been severalsmall shakes since the big one, but this one is making the build-ing shudder and creak - the noise of the building shaking is

worse than the shaking. I am down on the floor beside the bed.When that's over I'm hanging out for a cup of tea, a hot cup ofanything. Our bags are packed, but nowhere to go.

Then someone else comes outside, opens their car door and turnsthe radio on, and a group gather round. I go downstairs and outto the courtyard to listen, and end up standing by the open cardoor. The quake is reputedly a 7.4, and I am blown away by that.

I've been in a 7.4 earthquake! This news broadcast has muchmore detail, there are some areas totally devastated, they aretelling people not to drive out of the city because the roads areclosed and will remain closed until all bridges have beenchecked, and this couple who own the car are waiting to hearwhen they can go south, because they are off to Cromwell.

We had been going to rent a car that Saturday and visit friends inAshburton, so I ask them if Cromwell is past Ashburton, so canthey give us a ride down - sure, if we have no bags. No bags, we

just want to visit friends. I go back and tell Denise that we havea ride out of the city and she is really dubious, how will we getback - by bus of course, it is on the main route, there are always

buses. So, she agrees, and we negotiate breakfast for a ride - theyagree, and off we go out of the city. I am looking for massivedamage, but apart from the traffic lights not working, the oddchimney or fence falling down, there is not much untoward inour area. The sun is shining, the alps look brilliant, and we aremaking new friends. The power is on in Rakaia, so we all have ahot drink and muffin soooooooooooo appreciated. We find thatthe little cafe is full of people who have travelled down fromChristchurch to get their caffeine fix!

We had a lovely few hours with our friends in Asburton, morecups of tea, hot soup, I am feeling more normal. They have todrive us back to the city, because - guess what - the buses are not

going any further north than Ashburton, due to the earthquake.By the time we get back there is power on again at the motel andfor the first time we can watch TV and see what is happeningaround us. The airport is still closed, we may have to stay an-other day or two yet. The motel has a dining room, they are op-erational tonight, so we won't go hungry.I'm a bit bothered bythese shakes, which are very real upstairs where the whole build-ing sways, creaks and rattles.

We had a reasonable meal, when I get back and look in the mir-ror, I see bloodshot eyes, a harried expression, and know that Iam going to wear my jeans to bed tonight.

In the morning, Denise, after an interminable wait, gets throughto the airport, and we can fly out - we can escape!! My un-cle calls for us and wants to take us on a scenic tour, to look atthe nice spots like the Avon river. Driving through Riccartonshops are damaged, but not too badly, it is cold beside the Avon,and really all we want is to get on that plane home.

Finally we get to the airport, I manage at the Christchurch air-port to leave my boarding passes in the ladies, and in the Auck-land airport I leave my handbag on a public shelf - but I'm okreally, just very tired. Fortunately an official found my handbag,and it was retrieved, after a major sickening panic, but I am nowmore ready than ever to get home where the ground doesn'tshake and I can go to sleep without my jeans on.

- Contributed by Elizabeth at Homebuilders

A Rattling wake up call


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Page 22 Maungaturoto Matters


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MAUNGATUROTO PANELBEATERSHURNDALL STREET

EXCELLENT SERVICE

CONTACT: Terry

Phone Bus: 431 8545After Hours: 431 8547


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CARPET & VINYL

LAYING

Trevor Dempsey

Ph/Fax (09) 431-8888Mob (027) 283-8039

BUILDER AVAILABLE Design Plans Decks Additions Alterations New homes

30 years experience Quality workmanship

Phone Tony

(09) 431 6964 or

027 477 5340

MIKE MOYLE BUILDERS LTD

New Housing Alterations

Farm BuildingsConcrete work

Mobile 021 0566 076Phone/Fax 09 431 6338

Email: [email protected]

K & R VAN PELT LTD We specialise in. Grading Driveways, Entranceways

& Tanker Tracks Preparing & Tar Sealing

Driveways, Entranceways,Car Parks & Subdivisions

Hot -mix Repairs,Section Clearing,Cutting House Sites& General Earthworks

THERE IS NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL!!! TALK TO US FIRST AND SEE IF WE CAN FIND AN

OPTION TO SUIT YOUR BUDGET.

For any enquires please contact Richard Van Pelt

Mobile 027 452 8515 or After hours phone 09 431 6094


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Infant, Child & Booster Seats AvailableLong or short term hire

We also have for purchase Child Harnesses,Locking Clips and Ext. Straps

For rental details Ph Karlene Storey(09) 431 8890

Brand New Infant Seats Now Available for hire

WINTER WEAROUT PLAYGROUP

1st Thursday of the MonthAt the Centennial Hall on View St inMaungaturoto From 10am to Midday.

Please come along for a coffee and meetother parents and caregivers.

Toys and books are available for the children.

For further details Ph Jennifer (09) 431 6343

CAR SEATRENTAL SCHEMES

CONCRETE

If its concrete we do it

Full preparation and pour byexperienced local team

Subfloors Sheds Driveways PatiosCowpads

Also retainer walls and fences

1.6 Ton Digger Available & LightTruck

Phil Keen Contractors

027 659 2376


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St John inspires youth tosucceedOne of New Zealands fastest growing youth programmes isinspiring youth to succeed, set goals and plan for their future.

The St John youth programme has a membership that exceeds5,500 and its growing, says St John Northern Region YouthManager Christine Benson.

She believes the growth is due to the significant time and effortvolunteer youth leaders contribute and the way in which St Johnresponds to trends and needs of youth.

St John Youth programmes are about having fun, discoveringnew things and working together. We cater for 6 to 18 year oldsin a co-educational youth programme that provides a safe andsecure environment where young people can learn first aid,health care, self discipline, leadership and general life skills, shesays.

St John has adjusted and modified the delivery of its youth pro-gramme including the release of new resources, the use of mod-ern technologies and structures that ensure its leadership is intouch with the communities it serves.

We are very proud to announce our newest division will be open-ing in your area in the new school year 2011. It will be based atour newly revamped Ambulance Station, with one of the opera-tional volunteers also becoming our new division leader, JodieHosford.

We welcome all enquiries and are planning an open afternoonbefore the Santa Parade on the 4th December. There will be CPRdemostrations with manakins, give aways, colouring competitionand lots of exciting stuff. Here you will be able to ask questionssee more of what we do and and talk to our new leaders. Anyonewelcome. Look for our flyers around town closer to the event.One of the ethos behind St John Youth is preparing young peopleto be successful adults and building self esteem.

Evidence of the programmes success can be seen in the skill andenjoyment of cadets competing in a drill or first aid competition,and examples of our young people saving lives in emergencysituations, Says Ms Benson.

She believes youth development is the responsibility of manyincluding family/whanau, schools, the wider community and peergroups.

St John can play a vital role in youth development, our pro-grammes wont be for everyone but there are many young peoplewho enjoy and benefit from from being part of St John and pros-per from the involvement with their peers in a group environ-ment, she says.

You can contact Jodie Hosford on 431 9090.

To find a youth division where you live visitwww.stjohn.org.nz and click on youth or call toll free on 0800ST JOHN (785 646) and request a free information pack.

The Hall Committee would like to inform thecommunity, that as of now we own our hall.

The Hall Committee has worked hard with the Kaipara DistrictCouncil to achieve this hand over of ownership. We officiallybecame an Incorporated Society as of the 6th September 2010.

A newly appointed committee will be responsible for the upkeepand the use of the hall. The yearly costs of maintenance and panscharges are high, which means we need to use the hall on a regu-lar basis.

We all need to support the committee by promoting the hall andusing if for functions, weddings, birthday celebrations and clubactivities. The hall has a commercial license so could be used for

catering out or for cottage industry. It is a great hall and it is nowOURS!

We will be publishing an idea of membership by a mail drop andan article in the November issue of Maungaturoto Matters, solook out for that and join up to help maintain a great communityasset.

TREE PLANTING WILL BE ON SATURDAYOCTOBER 16TH 10 AM12 NOON

Or what ever people can manage....plus a walkthrough walkway achieved so far if the weather hasdried up the pasture a bit!!!

Bring your own spade and gloves if possible - butthere are jobs for non diggers - such as taking off thepots and planting.

Westmount School has helped out with planting 2 ofthe areas needing to be done. A huge thank you tothose adults and children involved.

Otamatea High School students have nearly com-pleted their area of planting - again a huge thanks toLiz Haines, students and teachers who have helped.

- Stella Clyde

The Centennial CommunityCentre

OTAMATEA ENVIRONMENTALGROUP UPDATE AND TREE

PLANTING DATES


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G.A.S. MAUNGATUROTOShop Open 7 a.m.6 pm Weekdays8 a.m.5 p.m. Weekends and Public Holidays

Every car/ute Warrant of Fitness check for the months ofOctober and November 2010 will go in the draw to win a

full size mountain bike for Christmas!Drawn December 1st

Workshop open for car and trailer WOFs and all car, 4 x 4 andLight Commercial servicing and repairs

We now have a scan tool for most vehicles, 1998 onwards to helpdiagnose engine, ABS and airbag faults

24Hr breakdown and accident line

021 659 379Phone 431 8174

maungaturoto matters october 2010 part 3

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