Earthquake volunteer just wants to deliver dignity

Ross Skinner felt too guilty to take a shower for a couple of hours after getting home. He had running water and power there. He had just left a couple standing in a home surrounded by the putrid smell of liquefaction sediment and stale water.

Ross is spending days with fellow Canterbury Rotarians delivering food to people in need through parts of Christchurch. Rotary is helping with the food distribution run from the Salvation Army Centre in Linwood Avenue.

On Monday, armed with home baking provided they say by the farming community and schools from around the Leeston area south west of Christchurch, Ross and his fellow club mate Bruce Jackson first came across army /police officers at the cordon points in the streets between Linwood / Fitzgerald Avenues.

They were grateful of the baking for a change of diet, even though they felt reluctant to accept it as they had eaten,” Ross says. “But we just wanted to thank them and show appreciation for what they have to do.”

Then he and Bruce Jackson went into a relatively small pocket in behind Avonside Girls High, Retreat Rd, Bracken St and Keeler St.

“Fortunately we were in a four wheel drive as we certainly needed it. I have never seen in a ‘developed country’ such dire circumstances that some people are continuing to living in by necessity or ‘choice’. Many of the streets are devoid of human presence but two or three couples or families in each street are continuing to stick it out.

“Where we saw signs of obvious occupation we ventured in to knock on doors or called out to see if there was anyone there. One man was trying to cook in his front yard on a camp fire built of recycled bricks.

“One couple was clearly so traumatized that they had no conception of what we were trying to offer them. They thought they were all right, clearly they weren’t and they may have well have been in the Everglades as they were totally surrounded by liquefaction and water that has nowhere to drain, such is the state of the street, their property and community.

“The smell from the liquefaction sediment is also very unpleasant but they seemed oblivious of it, perhaps simply accepting. We asked that they shared if they did not need what we had given them, with other people that they knew to be still ‘in residence’ near to them, as often they felt what we had was to much for them to accept or cope with.

“We drove, dropping off and finding people to give the baking to and apples we had, until it was near dusk.

“I returned to my home, where I have power and water, but couldn’t take a shower for a while as I feel so distraught at what I’ve experienced and observed and guilt at what I have but they don’t and of course won’t for some time.

“I understand completely that there needs to be robust and proper process around the assessment needs of these people and families. This process will advance to a great degree I understand and Rotarians and other volunteers such as Lions have been asked to be a part of this process as part of  three person teams out into the suburbs as this focus intensifies.

“Simply where these people will live in the near future I have no idea, many will have no option but to relocate out of Christchurch for a very long time and possibly not return. Many have decided to do this already. Communities and lives have been cruelly destroyed; people futures have been ripped away.

“It is harrowing and extremely distressing to see my community so destroyed, however it is heart rendering to see that those we meet were still in some way ‘positive’ and seemingly accepting of their situation, blaming no one and grateful for the small difference we were attempting to make. Perhaps it was simply showing that someone cared and the human contact?”

Ross asked Rotarians in the North Island for solar showers and face masks on Monday night. They were on a plane to Christchurch the next day.

“We desperately have to give these genuine people we discovered tonight some dignity in their situation,” he says. “Bruce and I will go for another drive to do that.

Note: Rotary has raised more than $200,000 in its Earthquake Appeal (see www.rnzwcs.org ). Money has come in from Rotary clubs from around the world. Rotary New Zealand World Community Service is a registered charity and details about Rotary’s work for the Earthquake Recovery is detailed on www.rotarysouthpacific.org

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