The Royal Hospital School Association

	'THE OLD BOYS'

FROM OUR NEW ZEALAND CORRESPONDENTS

NEW ZEALAND

Street scene in Christchurch minutes after the major shock. Click here to download a montage of pictures from Christchurch.

These members live outside Christchurch, all have responded, are well and unaffected personally.

Desmond Foulger (Nel 1954 - 59)

John Morrow (Cwd 1962 - 69)

Chris Ingram (Ral 1949 - 56)

Ben Busostow (Hwe 1974 - 79)

Dave Richards (Drk 1965 - 71)

Dave Crocker (Hwk 1970 - 75)

Chris Brown (Ral 1986 - 91)

Gerry Rodway ex Housemaster Anson

Greetings from New Zealand to all members of the Association.

Having been here now for nearly four years, life in the UK seems very distant, although watching the Royal Wedding brought it all back to us.

As you are aware, Christchurch suffered a devastating earthquake earlier in the year and considerable aftershocks are still being felt. Fortunately for us we are in North Island and were too far away for it to have any effect directly, but putting things back to rights will take some considerable time and have a significant effect on the economy (although probably not as devastating as the effect of the last government and the Financial Sector has had on the British economy!). Perhaps our turn will come but it is not something we worry about as it is much more common for people to be killed on the roads than in any sort of natural disaster!

Recently we celebrated ANZAC Day when all those killed in the wars are remembered.I suppose it is the Australian and New Zealand equivalent of Armistice Day and ceremonies are very well attended, even to the extent of a contingent travelling to Gallipoli every year to hold a service where so many Australians and New Zealanders lost their lives.

Regards Gerry

These who do live in Christchurch;

All good here, just shaken up, lots of others not so lucky. Thanks for the concern. Andy Cragg (Hwe 1978 – 83)

Vic Sargeant (Blk 1952 – 55) who lost his home in the event sent the following.

September 4th 2010 we were woken early with the house thumping and shaking. It was dark and cold. Liquefaction quickly started with water and silt coming up from the ground. Torches were found and contact made with neighbours. This was an event that increased our community links and support. After 3 days without power, water, sewage or phone, there was a gradual return to managing in a home with cracked walls and foundations.
By November we had had Earthquake Commission Inspectors and Structural Engineers reports. The house would need to be rebuilt. Over the next few months and hundreds of aftershocks we realised it would be unsafe for winter, so by Febuary 2011 we had a plan for alternative accommodation.
The 22nd February 6.3 earthquake caused huge damage to infrastructure, roads, sewage, water, power, phones and left our house unsafe. We moved the next day. The usual 10 minute drive to our new address took one and a half hours. Bridges across our river Avon were closed and roads in very poor state with some closed.
We were very fortunate as our youngest son had purchased his first home on Friday 18th Feb and we were able to move in with him on the 23rd. Civil systems took much longer to restore and remain fragile to this day. Liquefaction was much worse and it was reported that 300,000 tons have been cleared.
The huge sadness that over 167 people had died, added to the unreal feeling. All those affected, including the Central Business District and the Eastern suburb businesses along with 15,000 home owners are all waiting for individual assessments and the Land Report. Some areas have sunk by up to 1 metre and there is a higher flood risk, which has lead the government to warn that some areas will not be rebuilt. The report is due out about mid June 2011. It is a waiting game for everyone, but it is heartening to know that we have full replacement insurance and have the Earthquake Commission system in New Zealand.

Some people were not insured, others underinsured but even when land issues are clarified, we expect it will be 2 or 3 years until we are again in our own home.

Living and working in Christchurch is now a "new" norm. Driving is limited to 30 Km/hour in some eastern suburbs, roads are patched and some homes have to use chemical toilets even now. Water is chlorinated and we no longer have to boil it, but there are still ongoing aftershocks and greater realisation of the enormity of the damage. The 2 nearest shopping malls are still closed and the local QE2 Sports stadium where we had the 1974 Commonwealth Games is badly damaged. The cordon in Central City is smaller but some areas are still closed and it is likely to be many years until our "new" city emerges.

All the best, Vic

Chris Brown (Raleigh 86-91) Wrote.

It's been a difficult year for New Zealand. For a country with such a small population, the Pike River mining disaster followed by the two Christchurch Earthquakes has stretched us somewhat. However, with great support from overseas, we carry on as best we can. For those thinking of heading this way for the Rugby later in the year, it is still a wonderful place. On a personal level, we have had a great summer on the Kapiti Coast. The weather has been wonderful and it is a joy to be able to let the kids run amok on the beach whenever they want. Moving here was the best decision we made.

Chris Brown

From Desmond Foulger (Nel 1954 - 59)

Hello All.

2011 in New Zealand has had its ups and downs. On the positive side we are now sailing the ship of state under a more centre right National Government, sweeping away the stagnation of nine years of left wing control. John Key, who is a good friend of GB PM David Cameron, has a financial background and is steering us slowly but surely out of the recession that has gripped the world of late.

Of course, the recent two earthquakes in Christchurch, also known as "The Garden City" has affected many thousands of people with thousands of houses either destroyed or needing extensive repair. A magnificent recovery effort was carried out with rescue teams from Taiwan, China,America, Great Britain, Japan, USA and of course our cousins from the small island off our west coast, Australia. Only the Australians remain, funnily enough, a small team with the right equipment to unblock the hundreds of kilometers of sewage lines that have blocked "residue". There is much friendly rivalry and comments to the effect that Australia has finally found a task to which they are well suited (lol).

So the result is that another 16 billion NZ$ is going to have to be found in order to rebuild the shattered City.

Mother nature had not finished with us however, and a few days ago, a Tornado ripped through the Northern Shore part of Auckland, tearing a new shopping complex to pieces with one Civil Engineer killed and many injured. This is a very unusual occurrence in NZ and has been considered a freak occurrence.

Of course our neighbor Japan is also now in strife after their disastrous Tsunami causing such havoc and death, not to mention the legacy of leaking radiation from four nuclear power plants. From a NZ point of view it does seem that David Lange, our Prime Minister in the early 80's was possessed of prescient thinking when he passed legislation to ban nuclear power plants and nuclear powered vessels from our shores.

On a personal point of view, my wife Rose and I are part of an energetic two family team that runs a Charitable Trust with proceeds always going to financially disadvantaged children with either severe medical problems or, as in the case of this year to our very own"Children of the Earthquake" Appeal which will go to a child who is either orphaned or otherwise disadvantaged as a result of the Christchurch Earthquake.

How we do this is to run Beauty Pageants and for several years we have the NZ Franchise for Miss World and 18 other International Pageants. This is our 18th year that we have been running these events and last April 30 saw us putting on the Miss NZ Festival of Beauty 2011 with 12 beautiful contestants vying for the Title of Miss World NZ 2011. Interested folk can visit our website at www.missworld.co.nz. With an audience of 450 people in formal attire, we were able to raise NZ$15000 for our appeal.

Its hard work running Beauty Pageants in NZ as the general public are out of step with the rest of the world and we are totally ignored by the local TV stations. I guess if we paraded the girls in All Black attire we would get the publicity we deserve.

However, its our passion to give back to New Zealand for the privilege of living in this wonderful country. Putting in a plug I am bound to say that for those who want a wonderful clean and green experience with fantastic scenery and people, then you wont go far wrong by coming here for an extended holiday.

Strangely enough. The Miss World final is in London this year and this has prompted me to come to the UK for the first time since I left in 1974! Of course a visit to RHS is on the cards as a priority port of call.

From time to time, I visit our founders grave site, some 11 Km from where I live in West Auckland and I am pleased to say that it is still in pristine condition, standing out in white marble amongst the other neglected graves in an older part of the cemetery.

Good luck and God Bless.

Desmond Foulger (Nel 1954 - 59)

If you would like to get in touch with any of our members in New Zealand, contact nz@rhsa.co.uk and we will pass on your contact.