A lot of work went on at Manuka Cottage to get the garage open on Monday and ready to operate as an efficient dispatch centre.
It was totally improvised by what people could find or bring from home. We borrowed a lot of field gear from Bush Telly which was based in the area.
I approached the congregation of St Mary's that was meeting outside their church in the park and gave a quick talk about what was underway and could they help.
Whizzed down to Sacred Heart Church on Spencer St and handed some written information to the Father for him to read out to his congregation. Addington has a large Filipino immigrant population who attend the church, so important opportunity to get them involved.
I rang around local people asking them to help with providing a computer hooked up to the internet with printer. Essential for dealing with lots of jobs and not losing the plot.
Monday, 28 February 2011
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Day 5 - Addington Action Committee
Volunteers wanted to help the people of Addington
- Taking down chimneys
- Clearing up rubble
- Clean up
- Security patrol against looters
- Supplying food and transport etc.
- Lost pets
- Giving hugs
Contact the Addington Action Committee
338-1613 9am - 3pm
980-0902 3pm - 8pm
Work Brigade
Tear down chimneys, shift rubble
Meet 9am every day at Manuka Cottage
45 Dickens St, Addington,
Christchurch
Wear boots, old clothes
Bring spades, wheelbarrows, hammers
Old and young welcome
Welfare Committee
Look after oldies, sick people
Communications Team
Distribute public notices
Saturday, 26 February 2011
Day 4 - getting Manuka Cottage open
Today we had 30 volunteers digging longdrop holes at local parks. One team was sent to each park - the plan was to dig 2 holes only, but instead, everyone dug a hole each!!
Talk about enthusiasm!
Manuka Cottage is the longtime community centre for Addington and it had been closed since the earthquake earlier in the week. Calls were made to every phone number listed in Addington Times to see if it was possible to use the place as a work base.
Blair from the cottage committee rang late at night and agreed to give our crew access to the garage out the back. At last we could get better organised.
The Sally Army place in Addington, agreed to do any photocopying we needed. I was asked what we were called so blurted out the first thing that popped into my head
"Addington Action Committee"
It will do!
Talk about enthusiasm!
Manuka Cottage is the longtime community centre for Addington and it had been closed since the earthquake earlier in the week. Calls were made to every phone number listed in Addington Times to see if it was possible to use the place as a work base.
Blair from the cottage committee rang late at night and agreed to give our crew access to the garage out the back. At last we could get better organised.
The Sally Army place in Addington, agreed to do any photocopying we needed. I was asked what we were called so blurted out the first thing that popped into my head
"Addington Action Committee"
It will do!
Friday, 25 February 2011
Day 3 - maps arrive
Civil Defense GIS team rang and sorted out the maps. They were done by someone at Wellington City Council and shipped by Civil Defense Logistics to home. Delivered 10pm that night.
Very efficient and job well done. Most impressed.
Andrew from across the road finished off the first long drop. So now, in his honour all loos will now be called "Andy-Loo".
He laughed.
The crew went from 10 to 20 today and more piles started on Spencer St and Parlane St. Crew meeting 9am outside my place at 7 Poulson St each day.
John from Feast Place turned up and offered to make a poster to call for volunteers to put on power poles. He wrote each one by hand and then went around putting them up in 10 streets.
Very efficient and job well done. Most impressed.
Andrew from across the road finished off the first long drop. So now, in his honour all loos will now be called "Andy-Loo".
He laughed.
The crew went from 10 to 20 today and more piles started on Spencer St and Parlane St. Crew meeting 9am outside my place at 7 Poulson St each day.
John from Feast Place turned up and offered to make a poster to call for volunteers to put on power poles. He wrote each one by hand and then went around putting them up in 10 streets.
Thursday, 24 February 2011
Day 2 - first start
Started next door at 8am on neighbours rubble pile. Little Georgia and her brother came out and started carrying little bits. Dad then came, and before long there were lots of neighbours helping.
We made a big pile outside Johns place 10 Poulson St. Knocked on lots of neighbours doors to get them to come and help and grabbed anyone walking past.
Russel, Eduardo and a friend started making the first longdrop.
Ian dug the hole. Ground was very hard, which is why of course most of Addington didn't liquify.
We made a big pile outside Johns place 10 Poulson St. Knocked on lots of neighbours doors to get them to come and help and grabbed anyone walking past.
Russel, Eduardo and a friend started making the first longdrop.
Ian dug the hole. Ground was very hard, which is why of course most of Addington didn't liquify.
Wednesday, 23 February 2011
Day 1 - making a plan
Big earthquake today in Christchurch. Loads of damage and people killed.
After making sure my wife Tracy was OK, I sat down and made a plan for Addington
I contacted Civil Defense and ran the plan past them. They said go ahead. I asked for 1:400 scale maps of the area. They were happy about rubble piles in street, just one in each street and let them know when finished, so they could send a digger and truck around.
Will get started in the morning.
After making sure my wife Tracy was OK, I sat down and made a plan for Addington
- Build longdrops
- Tell people where to get water
- Organise security
- Oldies/disabled/medical needs/mums with young babies/meals on wheels
- Lost pets
- Community cleanup - chimneys and rubble
I contacted Civil Defense and ran the plan past them. They said go ahead. I asked for 1:400 scale maps of the area. They were happy about rubble piles in street, just one in each street and let them know when finished, so they could send a digger and truck around.
Will get started in the morning.
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