I was in founder’s day assembly and a young 17 year old on
the 9/4/2011 spoke with moving maturity.
Extract from her speech
Ninety years ago, almost to the day , thousands of young New
Zealander's, some not much older than you and I, took part in a
battle on the other side of the world that was a complete and utter
failure. It was a disaster of epic proportions. The question surely
has to be asked why do we keep on commemorating a disaster ? Why do
we keep on remembering one of our history’s greatest
nightmares?
Perhaps part of the answer, I believe, is that this terrible
event taught us something about ourselves and it gave us a sense of
identity as New Zealander's that we hadn’t really had before.
When you read stories about why our great-great-grandfathers went
in their thousands to war, you quickly learn that they had no idea
what they were getting themselves in for. It was meant to be a big
adventure. Like us, these young men had lives full of hope and
ambition. Like us, they could have seen their lives stretching out
years and years in front of them to a future of endless
possibilities. What a hell of a shock they must have had when the
first bullets began to fire and reality hit. How terrible it must
have been to be 19 and to suddenly see your future as being full of
doubt, to be 19 and see your horizons horribly limited, to be 19
and have all your hopes reduced to one thing – survival.
Our great-great-grandfathers are remembered in history today and
for all tomorrows because of the way they stood up to their
challenge. They persevered, endured and suffered like New
Zealander's had never had to do before. It was like the first great
test of our character.
She went on to explain the challenge and the character we
require to face into the events of the Earthquake 2011
I was impressed with someone so young who thought deeply and
movingly
This is how the area looked before the quake - you will see quite a
contrast
The EQ's are rotten & get us down. Now for another challenge
to make you think!
Co-ordinates take you to the park near the momument in the first
picture – have a look around +/-5 then find the cache –
you will require a pen and no requirement to damage any foliage or
go off solid area