A number of organisations and individuals with a St Albans connection have been recognised in the second and final quake awards presented on December 18.
Emma Twaddell from the St Albans Residents’ Association, Helen Ross from the Edgeware Village Group and St Albans resident Jenny Smith from inner city community group Te Whare Roimata received awards as did trustees on the 2011 Board of Te Rehua Marae. These individuals are ones we have been made aware of but there may be others who live in St Albans but made contributions elsewhere.
Many of those who received awards were recognised for rescuing trapped people or setting up communications and supply chains after the February quakes. Air New Zealand also received an award for offering free or discounted flights to those fleeing quake land.
Nearly 180 presentations were made in front of friends, families, workmates at a ceremony in the Christ’s College auditorium. Those who managed to get a real person on the end of the phone, believed to be operating somewhere in the vicinity of the Mayor’s office, were rewarded by being able to bring more people while some who had less luck or were tardy in their responses report being told they could only have one guest. According to our sources, they might also have gone home dehydrated as no tea followed. Someone forgot to invite the Salvation Army or CERA’s blue-vested welfare arm?
This is the second and final awards ceremony so there won’t be any more such awards made. These featured a medallion in a wooden frame, something to show off to the grandchildren in a few decades time.
