The day dawned grey and somewhat ominous. My heart sank – sad occaisions always seem worse when the weather is overcast or raining but I had made a commitment to attend the memorial service and I fully intended to honour that commitment come what may. As I made ready to leave the sun came out and the rest of the family also decided to accompany me so off we set. We drove part of the way but parked some blocks away and set out to walk a few blocks to Hagley Park. I really don’t know how to describe the atmosphere as we made our way along the narrow St Albans streets along with hundreds of our fellow citizens. There was none of the jollity of Christmas in the Park or Classical Sparks crowds but instead a quiet dignity and determination to show soildarity in the face of such adversity and in remembrance of those who could not make this journey with us.
Canterbury Earthquake Memorial Day
As we passed the old Carlton pub now officially ‘munted’ and facing an uncertain future, the reality of what we had lost and the facing of a future in which Christchurch would have a very different face could not have been lost on any one of us. Thousands were already at the park quietly enjoying the music and early autumn sunshine, each no doubt with their own internal visions of that fateful day playing in their head. The mood was undoubtedly sombre as befitted such an occaision but I felt an underlying current of what might have been hope for the future and I am certain I was not alone in this.
The service itself was very moving and emotional and for me at least quite cathartic. As we watched the 14 minute video of our devastated city centre there was no sound – no sound except for some little birds singing in the trees of Hagley Park. The absence of birdsong is something that many have commented upon in recent weeks surplanted as it has been by the incessant wailing of sirens and Iriquois helicopter blades. This little sign then did much indeed to lift my spirits .
The presence of diginitaries from around the country and the international community including the Queen’s representative, her grandson Prince William, was heartening and another sign that our battered city has a place in the thoughts and hearts of many beyond these shores. The Prince’s words “Grief is the price we pay for love” struck a chord with many – such a simple observation yet so true. They played and sang all the music gauranteed to make you cry – How Great Thou Art, Pokare , Amazing Grace and our national anthem yet it was the playing of the Canterbury Crusader’s theme song – Conquest of Paradise by Van Gelis that stirred the crowd and we rose as one to view images of all the efforts undertaken on our behalf around the country : charity sporting matches, bake offs, school mufti days and seas of red and black. Humbling and I am not ashamed to say I wept quietly as did many around me.
This evening as I enjoyed my usual walk, the beautiful early autumn evening a sheer delight after the emotional rigours of the day, I had time to reflect. The darkening sky was streaked with soft clouds tinged pink with the rays of the dying sun – a sun which I knew would nevertheless be reborn tomorrow. I thought of this land of ours Aotearoa and of the vast Canterbury Plains which are home to my beloved city and I was reminded of my old school motto – Resurgamus – ‘We shall rise again’. And of course that is what we will do – what we must do. The nightmare is far from over but there is light at the end of the tunnel and I am confident that one day Christchurch will once again be the beautiful city that we love to call home.
bluedebz
