Christchurch Earthquake

Wed 2/03/2011 2:15 p.m

Greetings again to all MDA members living in and around Christchurch

This is to let you know that our thoughts and prayers continue to be with you, especially as we learn more about the widespread nature of the earthquake, and also to let you know what’s been happening since I wrote on Thursday of last week, as follows:

• We’ve had a couple more offers of accessible accommodation. If you’re feeling that you need a break, either now or later, the people that I listed in my last e mail will be very happy to hear from you, as will Roger, and Alan and Sue, below
1. Roger Loveless in Hamilton, phone 07 854 6992
2. Alan and Sue Morris in Katikati (in the Bay of Plenty), phone 07 549 2174
• As before, if you need any help with anything please let us know by phoning free on 0800 800 337 or e mailing us; we now have a diversion place so that if any body rings the MDA Canterbury office the calls will come through to the National Office in Auckland
• As you know the Canterbury office is badly damaged. and we’ve accepted a very kind offer from Heather Browning of Enable New Zealand to relocate to their offices at 36 Kingsley Street. We expect to be operating from there from next Monday 6th March. Eris now has access to a vehicle, which will help a lot as we take the first small steps towards getting our services back up to speed (her own car is still behind the CBD cordon)
• If anybody has any equipment needs which aren’t being addressed, you can either ring the Enable office on 371 7600, or visit them at the above address. If the need is urgent and Enable NZ are not responding, please call us on the freephone number above to get access to a “hotline” which will help to fast track things. Also, the following link may have some helpful information:
  www.weka.net.nz/whats-new/weka-notices/christchurch-earthquake-update
• The Wellington and Northern Branches have agreed to make their fieldworkers available to assist Lis and Eris, if necessary. Sue Robinson and Jill Waldron from the MDA Canterbury Branch committee are talking to Lis and Eris daily to assess what sort of assistance may be required, and they in turn will resume ringing around Christchurch members to check that everything’s as OK as it can be, and to find out what support is required.
• Everybody will be doing their best to ensure that the adult camp scheduled for later this month goes ahead if that’s what members want (and it seems that they do). Eris is hoping to contact everybody about this on Wednesday of this week. The current plan is for Marty Davis, MDA’s Wellington fieldworker, to assist with this.
• We’re very conscious that we have the MDA Bow Tie Awareness Campaign scheduled for 12th – 20th March. A lot of our marketing and publicity is specifically geared to these dates, and simply can’t be changed at short notice. We will continue with the campaign as planned, therefore, and where possible we’ll ensure that any fundraising activity has a focus on supporting people affected by the earthquake. This includes talking with the other three MDA Branches about their local fundraising being available to support people in Christchurch if necessary. Needless to say, we will not be asking any Christchurch residents to donate to us, especially through either our direct mail or telemarketing programmes.
• The e mail that I sent to members in Christchurch last week has been posted to those without e mail addresses, and I understand that postal services are now starting to return to normal. We will also ensure that the contents of this e mail are similarly posted out.

As far as we know all MDA members in Christchurch are OK, although we expect many will require support. We are aware that some of you have taken the initiative and contacted other members that you know – which we really appreciate. Once again if you, or anybody you know, needs support or assistance, please do not hesitate to make contact.

I’ve been speaking variously to either Sue, Jill, Lis or Eris almost daily, and things are continuously changing - we’ll continue to keep everybody posted as circumstances unfold.

Best Regards

Chris

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Thu 24/02/2011 1:13 p.m

Greetings to all MDA members living in and around Christchurch

As we watch the after effects of the earthquake on TV, and speak to friends and relatives living in Christchurch, we can only imagine how devastating and terrifying it must have been for everybody. We’re all touched and very moved by what’s happening, and the thoughts and prayers of all of us continue to be with you. I’ve been speaking to Lis Burnett-Taylor who is doing her best to contact MDA members (starting with those who are older and most vulnerable), and so far everybody’s OK. I’ve also had an e mail from Eris and I’m pleased to confirm that she’s safely at home, and managed to escape uninjured from the MDA office despite the roof collapsing around her!

Thanks to those of you who replied to my earlier e mail – it’s a relief to hear from you and to know that you’re coping, despite a few scary moments for some. I’m very much aware that many people are feeling on edge and very frazzled, so here’s a few things that may be helpful:

• If there’s anything at all that we can do to help, please let us know either by e mailing us or calling us free on 0800 800 337.
• If you want to call the MDA Canterbury office, please call us instead, as above, and we’ll either assist you direct or ask Lis to give you a call. We’re trying to arrange a telephone diversion so that any calls to the Canterbury office automatically come through to the National Office
• We’ve had offers of fully accessible accommodation from members around the country. If you’re feeling that you need a break and some respite from being in Christchurch, either now or later, the following people will be very happy to hear from you - if you wish to take up this offer please contact us. If financial assistance with travel is required, let us know and we’ll have a look at how we can help.
1. Raewyn Hodgson in Outram, just south of Dunedin;
2. Jacqui Sinclair in Nelson;
3. Leeanne Van Royen in Waimate;
4. Andrea McMillan in Gore;
5. Viv Klaassen in Otaki (which is north of Wellington);
6. Jill Waldron in Rangiora;
7. Margaret Stoddart in Lower Hutt. Margaret’s home is not fully accessible, but may be an option for those who can manage without a wheelchair;
• Both the MDA National Office in Auckland and the Wellington Branch office (e mail office.mdawgtn@xtra.co.nz) have ramps that we can make available at no cost. National Office has or may be able find other equipment – again, if you need anything please ask.
• We’ve set up a special page on the MDA website as one of the ways for keeping everybody informed and as up to date as possible

So far we’ve been communicating only with those members who have e mail addresses, but we will very shortly be sending this information by post to those who do not have email.

Once again, our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we’ll continue to keep in touch

Chris

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Wed 23/02/2011 10:30 a.m

Greetings and kia ora koutou to all MDA members. By now we will all have seen the devastating effects of yesterday’s earthquake in Christchurch. Many of us have friends and family who live there and will be feeling affected and moved, and perhaps somewhat helpless, by what we’re hearing on the radio and seeing on TV.

And of course, there are many MDA members who live in Christchurch and are directly affected by this disaster. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you all. Because the phone lines have been down and the cellular networks overloaded, it’s been very difficult to make contact and find out how everybody is. However, Lis, the MDA’s Canterbury fieldworker is OK and is doing her best to get in touch with members. Unfortunately the MDA’s Christchurch office appears to have been badly damaged, but Eris, our office manager there, was able to get out, and as I understand it, without injury.

If there’s anything that we can do from the National Office please don’t hesitate to e mail us (Kerry@mda.org.nz, Miriam@mda.org.nz, or Chris@mda.org.nz ), or, if you are able to use your phone, call us free on 0800 800 337.

Chris Higgins
MDA Chief Executive