Kia ora koutou,
This wonderful collaborative project by Healthy Christchurch with a new partner Avon-Otakaro Network ( AvON ) has created local opportunities to commemorate on Wednesday 22 February 2012.
We now have more than six hosting sites now confirmed as part of the River of Flowers commemorative project.
The River of Flowers will provide an all-day opportunity for people to drop a flower or petal into a river and write a message of hope on a hope tree at a designated site. Dropping flowers into a river symbolises ‘letting go’, and the tree of hope represents ‘looking to the future’. Bring your own flower, petals or message to tie on to the tree anytime during the day.
Between 12.30-1.30pm each site will be hosted by members of a local community organisation, supported by CDHB staff and Red Cross volunteers. So at 12.51pm we can be together in strength for the two minutes of silence followed by the release of balloons to remember those who died, were injured, or who lost their homes.
Each site is being hosted by a local community organisation, and over the next week more locations will be confirmed. Confirmed sites so far include:
• O-Tautahi /The Bricks, Barbadoes Street bridge and diagonal adjoining riverbanks (Avon Loop Planning Association)
• Avondale Road Bridge and SW river bank on Avonside Dr (Avondale Residents Association)
• Avonside Drive/Retreat Road , Gayhurst St bridge (Avonside Community Group)
• Medway Street Foot Bridge, SW bank on River Road (Riverside Community Group)
• Yacht Club Car Park, Moncks Bay ( Christchurch Yacht Club)
• Bexley Reserve, Corner Morganwood and Wairoa Streets (Bexley Residents Association)
The project is supported by the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority (CERA) Wellbeing Team, Canterbury Community Earthquake Recovery Network (CanCERN), Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB), Mental Health Foundation (MHF), One Voice Te Reo Kotahi, Council of Social Services (COSS) and Sustainable Otautahi Christchurch (SOC).
For the most up to date list of sites, and for information on other activities that have been organised to commemorate the first anniversary of the 22 February 2011, go to www.healthychristchurch.org.nz
River of Flowers: http://www.healthychristchurch.org.nz/river-of-flowers
Map of Sites: http://www.healthychristchurch.org.nz/river-of-flowers/map
List of Sites and events: http://www.healthychristchurch.org.nz/river-of-flowers/site-list
If you are interested in supporting a site, hosting a site or listing your event please contact us, healthychristchurch@cdhb.govt.nzor the hosting site organisations. Contact details are all on the website.
Nga mihinui
Michelle