“All of us saw our hearts fall
As this city crumbled down
But we continue to stand tall
We’re not leaving this ground
As this city crumbled down
But we continue to stand tall
We’re not leaving this ground
For all the tears that we shed
For all the holes that we’ve filled
We learnt to smile instead
Because it’s time
Because it’s time
To rebuild”
For all the holes that we’ve filled
We learnt to smile instead
Because it’s time
Because it’s time
To rebuild”
It’s Time – Will
Frost
February 22 2011 is a day cemented in New Zealanders.
Following the earthquake in September 2010 when, thank goodness, no one was
killed, and the continuous aftershocks which continued to rattle Christchurch,
there was a thought in the back of New Zealand’s mind there might just be
another big one. We hoped and prayed it wouldn’t happen, but it came, and took
185 lives and left a city in ruins. Last week I visited Christchurch to see the
damage for myself. Nearly a year and a
half later, the impacts of the earthquake are still staring in your face, and
as I wandered through the city and looked at fallen down buildings, vacant
houses and a half crumbled Cathedral, I wondered how Christchurch could ever
recover.
But as I wandered the city and fought back a few tears, I
saw signs of hope around the city. There would be a flower here and there.
There were posters along barbed wire which reminded people to be happy and to
think positively. As I left the crumbled city centre, I saw a man standing at
the edge of the city, playing a harmonica and brightening up a mass of rubble.
There are signs of hope for Christchurch away from the city as individuals
strive to rebuild the city they call home. Take Sam Johnson, a young man who is
inspiring to me and has earned the respect of a country. Sam heads the Student
Army and makes sure there are people, young people, to clean up and remove
rubbish when more earthquakes hit. Check his work out here: http://www.samjohnson.co.nz/. Sam has just
started another project; Ministry of Awesome, where he is encouraging people to
send in their awesome ideas to help rebuild the city. Check it out: www.ministryofawesome.com. Sam –
you thoroughly deserved Young New Zealander of the Year 2012.
And then there are people who give their message through
music. It’s Time is a song which Will Frost says is dedicated to the people of
Christchurch. He talks about the rebuild and the way in which the people of
Christchurch have shouldered the earthquakes and the struggles and come through
to the place they are now. It’s Time
was written as part of the Festival of Flowers and was themed ‘colour me beautiful Christchurch, creation of new life’.
While Will did not win, this song nevertheless shows the ways in which music
can be used to bring something, or someone, through to a new life no matter
what heartache has been endured. I don’t know if I would be able to withstand
Christchurch, the constant shakes and the painfulness of seeing a dark spot
where the CBD no longer operates. But through the help of the dedicated and
brave Christchurch people, the city has begun to move forward and stand tall
and, somehow, learned to smile again.
Kia Kaha, Christchurch.