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Christchurch Earthquake: Olivia Rule’s story
Click here for more pictures.
I was in the school cafeteria when the earthquake struck.
The sounds of screaming and the rumbling that tore through my life will never be forgotten. Luckily I was near the door when it hit. At first I just thought it was an aftershock from September but the shaking grew stronger and more violent than anything I have ever felt before. A cooler fridge with drinks fell on me, but me and two of my friends managed to get out of the door and kneel on two concrete slabs, which were both moving different ways. The scenes that followed were mass hysteria - everyone gathered on the field, trying to contact family. I was lucky enough that all my family was safe, but it was an hour before I managed to contact them all.
I live in Sumner, which [can only be accessed via] the Ferrymead Bridge and one road around the hills. Someone told me and a group of other girls who live near me that the Ferrymead Bridge was down, and the Summit Road was blocked by huge rocks. That was the scariest part for me - Mum was stuck on the other side of the bridge, Dad was stuck in town, I was at school and I couldn’t contact my brother at a different school.
I waited six hours at school. Most other people who lived close by had gone home and it was raining but we were too scared to go inside, so we sat in the rain with blankets. In the end my brother drove from his school to get me and we went and stayed with my grandparents for a few days until we could get home. The only things we had were our school uniforms and I slept by the open door so I could escape if anything happened. I ran outside five times that night.
When we finally got home it was absolutely devastating to see the suburb I grew up in covered in rockfalls and crumbling buildings. We had no power for three weeks and got water after four. We still don’t have a working toilet but we are one of the lucky ones who have portaloos near our house. Our house is badly damaged and is slipping off its foundations more everyday. It will have to be demolished.
But, through all this personal and community hardship, I am proud to call myself a Cantabrian. The support from neighbours and complete strangers has been enormous. All the closest supermarkets are gone, so everyone has to travel far away to get food, but a community market has sprung up selling fruit, vegetables and love.
I would like to encourage all New Zealanders to keep an awareness for others in need of help. There are so many ways you can help out, big or small. All of my friends are doing the 40 Hour Famine this year to raise funds for starving families abroad. There are other charities that you can donate to and programs that aid those in need.
Please, don’t do it just for them, the personal satisfaction you will get is enormous. And everyone appreciates a gift that comes from the heart.
Thank you.
Olivia Rule.
One way you can help those affected by the Christchurch earthquakes is by auctioning or buying goods (like Lady Gaga’s Guccis!) as part of the Rise Up Christchurch Global Telethon, which will screen live on Māori TV on May 22 (this Sunday), from 9am-9pm. All proceeds go to the NZ Government’s Christchurch Earthquake Appeal. More info here!
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Well its nearly a year since feb 22 2011 and not alot has changed. I hope it will be over for everyone sooon. My sisters little children can’t sleep in their own beds again after dec 23rd. I volenteer for a community development group in Dunedin and many of our decision and initiatives are with CHCH on our minds and hearts. We can honor and learn from Cantabrians about Community spirit and compassion. Getting to know your neighbours shouldn’t be left to the day of a disaster. Find out if the old lady down the road has family? If not in a crisis who would look out for her? Grow fruit and nut trees on spare groud so people cn harvest free food. Get your survival kit sorted, there are so many things we can do. Support your local shops and farmers markets so if we don’t have transport we have access to local produce. We take alot for granted in this modern life. Enjoy these things but remember they could all be gone tomorrow. Are you prepared? Of cource your not but we should at least be tring. Kia kaha Christchurch your in our hearts and minds. Posted by jacko "on" 02/04 "at"03:14 PM |
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it would be amazing for us to help out, what happened down there sucked and if there is nothing we can do to stop mother nature hepling re build is definately a step. i was at a primary school for work experience and i met this 6 year old-ella. she’d lefr her ukelele at home, so a man i thiught was her dad came into school to give it to her. i said that it was nice of her dad to bring it in, she turned around and looked at me ” that was my step daddy, my real dad got squished in the earthquake , he’s dead now” i almost cried, to even imagine what it must be like for her, and her family! Posted by piixie "on" 06/09 "at"03:05 PM |
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Omg I know how you felt having to stay at you granparents. I was at my friends house when it hit and I had to stay at hers for a few days with only the clothes I was wearing and when I tried getting home from hers it usually only takes 20 minutes but instead it took 4 hours!! There was only one bridge open to get home. I fell so sorry for you having to live in a house that has to be demolished and no working toilet. I’ve never appreciated having a toilet but now I do. I’m soo lucky my area wasn’t affected by the earthquake. I hope everything with your family is Ohk and good lick for the future  Posted by Danya "on" 05/30 "at"08:06 PM |
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All of us in Christchurch have our stories. The best thing I have found is talking about it… but to people who were here. Noone else understands what it was like, noone else can honestly comprehend what it was like. I feel like I cannot relate to my friends from elsewhere in the country now (which is such a bad feeling) but its just because earthquake is our life down here now.
If you werent in Chch when it happened, talk to those who were, but dont pretend you understand - you don’t. If you were, then just talk about it. Its been three months… But I remember it like yesterday. And whatever you do… Don’t let what is happening now become normal. People say its the new normal - Its not. What we are living through is far from normal… and the reason we will all remember these months is because it isnt normal. How can not accessing our CBD be normal? Kia Kaha my fellow Cantabs and RIP all those lost. Posted by Shani "on" 05/27 "at"10:19 AM |
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Ohmigosh! Stay strong you guys Posted by Fashizzlemanizzle "on" 05/23 "at"06:30 PM |
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Wow, Olivia you’re such a strong person. That’s so terrifying and you’re so brave to share your story.
Just know that myself, the other 247 Girls that have commented on this thread, and the rest of the nation are behind you, your family and your fellow Cantabrians! Thinking of you - sending lots of love, thoughts and prayers Also I just wanted to say that I think it’s really admirable that even though you’ve been through a terrible time, you’re encouraging all of us to participate in the 40 Hour Famine and donate to World Vision and other charities to help those less fortunate than ourselves, even the quake victims. That’s a really selfless thing to do - I’ll be taking part in the 40 Hour Famine this year too. It’s shocking how world hunger is a silent epidemic that can be overlooked. It can be easy to remove it from our thoughts and say “it happens in Africa”, when in reality it happens right on our doorstep - in the Pacific (and in our own nation). So let’s go hard out for hunger this year! Posted by ILR "on" 05/22 "at"04:32 PM |
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Wish you and your family the best. What happened was a tragidy but it’s good knowing that there are so many people out there willing to help out in anyway they can. x Posted by Wonderful.♥ "on" 05/21 "at"06:13 PM |
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*hugs* all I can say is my thoughts,, love & prayers are with you - thaaank you for sharing your story. I have collected money via Red Cross and did a bake sale with friends for Chch and was amazed at the love & generosity of many NZers so please know & be comforted that support is there. - Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you [a Maori proverb] Posted by sunflower80 "on" 05/21 "at"02:04 PM |
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oh my gosh my makes me feel really sad. it makes me want to cry.i would hate to live in christchurch now. you guys are getting supported from around the world and of course new zealanders.you guys keep strong and help out one another. Posted by 46107 "on" 05/21 "at"09:03 AM |
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“I ran outside five times that night”. I know exactly how you feel hun, I spent all night waiting for dawn to come, for the sun to come up and to hear the birds sing the way they do in the morning. Some how small things that I had hardly ever noticed before became such hope. Stay strong hun we will get through this together! Posted by Balloons "on" 05/19 "at"05:02 PM |
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