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New Zealand Earthquake

Started by Barrie Davis, February 22, 2011, 01:54:36 PM

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Barrie Davis

I have been shocked to see the amount of devestation on the news this morning following the earthquake in Christchurch.
Can we pray for all the people who lost their lives, their families and the people of Christchurch and all affected areas.
I understand they are now bracing themselves for the after shocks.
Many buildings have been badly damaged, including the Cathedral, these can be rebuilt as can any organs that have been damaged during this terrible time.
Barrie

revtonynewnham

Hi

Yes - BBC radio news this morning are saying Cathedral has been destroyer - and more seriously, 65 dead so far, many still trapped.  They have appealed to the international community for aid in demolition and removal of rubble.

Prayers required.

Every Blessing

Tony

revtonynewnham

Hi

It seems from another list that 3 employees of the South Island Organ Company, foreman Neil Stocker, organbuilder's mate Scott Lucy and Christchurch helper Paul Dunlop) have perished in the wreckage of the church they were working in - the other 3 in the team managed to get out in time.

Our prayers are with the families of the deceased, and with the survivors - and the rest of the firm - losing 3 employees will hit hard.

Every Blessing

Tony

KB7DQH

http://www.3news.co.nz/Organ-movers-caught-in-quakes-fury/tabid/423/articleID/199696/Default.aspx

QuoteAmong those killed in the Christchurch earthquake are three men who were part of a team removing the organ from Durham Street Methodist Church.

QuoteThey were inside the church when it collapsed and the grief has been felt far further than Christchurch.

QuoteThe stone building suffered significant damage after the September earthquake and taking the organ out was to ensure its safety, however, it now lies within the rubble.

:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

KB7DQH

#4
A more recent article...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/4738567/Global-support-for-organ-firm

QuoteMessages of support from around the world have been pouring into the South Island Organ Company's Washdyke factory after the deaths of two employees in the Christchurch earthquake.

QuoteWhile the event has been a tragedy, it has also yielded a miracle – three men survived the damage, including the company's 18-year-old apprentice, who was almost entirely buried in the rubble.

On the second-to-last day of a two-week project, six men were inside the building when the quake struck. A seventh man had gone to the bathroom in an adjoining hall, while an eighth man, Christopher Templeton, was on the Sockburn Overbridge – a flat battery having held him up in the morning.

He was on his way to the church to deliver lights and take over from Mr Stocker, who had been planning to take part in the Central South Island Charity Bike Ride.

After the earthquake, Mr Templeton said he started ringing the cellphones of the men at the site. As he was driving through town to get to the church, he heard the 1pm news on Radio New Zealand, which had a building across the road from the church.

When an announcer said they could not see anything because of the dust, Mr Templeton said he thought the dust would be from the church.

By the time he arrived police, volunteers from the Christchurch Courthouse, and passersby were helping the three survivors – with two taken away for medical treatment.

Mr Hargraves said one colleague, Neil Hooper, who was pinned by some of the organ panels, may have been saved by those panels

QuoteOrgan restorer Gerald Green, whose daughter was engaged to Mr Lucy, said the tragedy had been felt globally. "We have had hundreds of emails from organ builders around the world."

Despite the risks inherent with working on pipe organs, the death of two employees appears unprecedented in the organ building industry.

Mr Green said they could only think of one instance – a tuner who fell while working at Westminster Cathedral – of an organ builder dying on the job.

QuoteAbout a year ago an organ acquired by the company more than 20 years ago was taken out of storage.

The "Blitz Organ" was built from pipe organ parts salvaged from bombed buildings during World War II.

Mr Hargraves said given its history the organ might now find a home to replace an organ lost during the quake.

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."

KB7DQH

QuoteThe lives of Timaru earthquake victims Neil Stocker and Scott Lucy will be remembered with a concert in Timaru's Sacred Heart Basilica at 7.30pm on April 6.

Kiwi organist Christopher Hainsworth, who is touring New Zealand, has offered to give a free memorial concert to honour the lives of Mr Stocker, Mr Lucy, employees of the South Island Organ Company, and Paul Dunlop, an organ enthusiast from Christchurch.

All three were in the Durham St Methodist Church in Christchurch removing its pipe organ on February 22, the day a devastating 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck.

Dr Hainsworth is presently organist at Beziers Cathedral in France, and has been billed as "the funniest virtuoso of the classical organ in the world".

As well as a memorial concert to remember the men, a scholarship in Mr Stocker's name, which will provide training opportunities for young organ builders, is being formed.

South Island Organ Company director John Hargraves said the idea for the Neil Stocker Memorial Fund had come from Mr Stocker's wife, Margaret, who wanted to set up a fund to provide special educational opportunities for apprenticed or recently qualified young organ builders working fulltime in the craft in New Zealand.

"These might be for exchanges with overseas organ builders or special courses of instruction in any of the relevant skills that are needed," he said.

"Or it might be for organ playing tuition or attendance at conferences of groups such as NZ Fine Woodworking School, Organ Historical Trust of Australia, Organist Association of NZ, NZ Organ Preservation Trust, American Guild of Organists, Organ Historical Society of America or International Society of Organbuilders."

Mr Hargraves said donations from the concert will go to the Neil Stocker Memorial Fund, which is to be administered by the New Zealand Organ Preservation Trust.

While the rules of the fund had not been formalised yet, Mr Hargraves said it was already being well supported and had attracted more than $4000.

Information about the fund would be posted on the company's facebook and website, he said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/4812503/Organists-concert-for-quake-victims

Eric
KB7DQH
The objective is to reach human immortality—that is, to create things which are necessary to mankind, necessary to the purpose of the existence of mankind, and which have become the fruit that drives the creation of a higher state of mankind than ever existed before."