Takaka Quake Centre has steady stream of visitors
Sarah Pascoe (left) Lyn Udell and Tania Marsden all volunteers at the Takaka Quake Centre which is being hosted by the Anglican church. Photo: Neil Wilson.
A big overwhelming THANK YOU to all our generous community, individuals and businesses, who have shown their full support by providing bounties of food, clothing, centre set-up items and voluntary time to the Takaka Quake Centre, opened last week at 23 Motupipi Street.
We have had a steady stream of visitors with a variety of needs. They have been blown away by the warm reception they are receiving and the opportunity to simply be in good company, share their experience, receive a feed, be guided to other services and leave with food, clothing and bedding while they navigate their changing situations.
We do not know how long the centre will be required and until such time as our numbers drop, we will continue to be open seven days from 10am to 5pm.
To those who have tried calling the centre and have had no response, we apologise for the delay in set-up, but please feel free to call now on 525 7956. We have changing needs for supplies and it is best to check what is needed currently.
Lynne Udell and Vicki Carlisle
Wedding takes place despite the quake
Golden Bay girl Brooke Langford was set to marry Ashburton boy Richard Suttie on 26 February at the St Andrew’s College chapel in Christchurch. A reception at the Latimer Hotel, Latimer Square was to follow. Every detail had been organised, and mother of the bride Julie Langford even commented, on 21 February, how relaxed everybody was and how nothing could really go wrong.
How wrong she was. Brooke and Richard, their bridesmaids Melissa Packard and Mirka Langford were on the way to Christchurch to meet for pre-wedding consultations on Tuesday 22 February when the earthquake struck.
Instead of staying in Christchurch that night they all drove on to Ashburton to Richard’s parents’ home.
After an array of phonecalls on Wednesday morning the situation became clearer: the chapel was damaged, the hotel was in the cordoned-off area, no one could get hold of the minister or the four Christchurch groomsmen, the wedding dress as well as the suits were literally under the rubble in Cashel Mall and irretrievable, and the flower shop, hairdresser and beauty salon were also cordoned off. The photographer was also unavailable.
However, the cake was in Rangiora and undamaged, and the flower shop owner had another shop in Cashmere from which she could do business.
So what would Brooke and Richard do? Get married of course – regardless.
With that decision made, everyone got to work reorganising and moving a wedding for 120 people out of Christchurch, all in three days.
The Methven Resort came to the rescue. They were to be hosting a Girls-on-Bikes rally that weekend but it was cancelled, and the Langford-Suttie wedding took their spot. Unsure whether the resort could actually order in any fresh food for their guests, they still offered their venue. Another ski lodge close by (which was usually only open in the winter) opened up and made 22 rooms available. A local hairdresser and day spa rearranged all appointments to accommodate the bride and her four bridesmaids. Ashburton’s St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church was also very willing to hold the ceremony, and provided an organist and church members to do flower arrangements and decorate the church.
By Thursday night we had word from the minister and the groomsmen. All had suffered personally but were united in their response to stand behind Richard and Brooke on their wedding day.
So suits were ordered from Dunedin and a new wedding dress chosen online and couriered from Wellington. The suits and dress arrived on Friday at 2pm and they fitted! On Friday at 4pm a local photographer was also confirmed.
After a very eventful and stressful week, the Langford-Suttie wedding went ahead smoothly with exactly 100 guests on Saturday 26 February.
Submitted by Mirka Langford
