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EARTHQUAKES UPDATEPost-earthquake service recognisedThe North Christchurch Earthquake Awards was an initiative by the Ilam Member of Parliament and Ministerfor Earthquake Recovery, Gerry Brownlee.Nominations for a range of groups weresent from the public, many of them givinga poignant insight to how those groups hadhelped. In the end 15 groups received theAward, including District 202E.Awards were presented by Gerry at aceremony in March, where he spoke ofthe fact that people put their own livesat risk and worked long gruelling hours,in many cases knowing their own homesor businesses were damaged and whileenduring the ongoing aftershocks."Lions respond to their community's needsand collectively are involved in a massivelydiverse range of projects and activities.They have strength in numbers whencollectively called on to help with a nationalor international situation."The Canterbury earthquake is an example ofLions mobilising at a local level, on a nationalscale and campaigning internationally. Lionsbought and distributed drinking water andsetup food stations within hours. Theysourced and distributed chemical toiletswithin days. As an international partnerwith Red Cross, Lions made house calls tosurvey people's needs."A global fundraising campaign headedby Lions International has so far providednearly $1 million in cash for Canterburyfamilies in need. As such a largeservice organisation, the Lions clubs ofChristchurch were assisted by other clubsthroughout New Zealand."Lions' practical help as well as financialhelp was offered to all those in need overthe city. They donated money and goodsas well as organising trips to Hanmer forthose who needed a break. Because of thesize of the response by the Lions Clubsthey set up an Earthquake Committeechaired by Philip Lynch."The Lions District 202E was nominatedfor this award by a woman whom they hadhelped. She simply said 'I had nothing leftand their help kept me alive'."District E was also honoured with thehighest award St John's can present withoutgetting permission from their patron, theQueen. It reads "Priory in New Zealand ofthe most Venerable Order of the Hospitalof St John of Jerusalem. Resolved that theChildren's book to help with traumaPDG Philip Lynch receives the NorthChristchurch Earthquake Award from theMinister for Earthquake Recovery, GerryBrownlee. "In recognition of service to thelocal community in the aftermath of the 22ndFebruary 2011 earthquake by the InternationalAssociation of Lions Clubs toward the recoveryof our city after the earthquakes."appreciation of his Excellency the Prior andthe Priory Chapter be hereby conveyedto Lions District 202E in recognition ofvaluable assistance rendered to St Johnin Canterbury during the earthquakeresponse and recovery."The social workers of the Christchurch Earthquake Recovery Team have received 200 copies of "Quaky Cat" -a book written specially for the children of Christchurch by Diana Noonan and illustrated by Gavin Bishop.The gift was made possible by the generosity of the Lions Clubsof Christchurch and around New Zealand.Two schoolchildren reviewed the book."In the book it says about the school field being 'full oflumps'. I remember at my school the pipes undergroundwere broken, there were cracks on the ground and therewas liquefaction everywhere, in big huge lumps overthe field.""The roar of the earthquake sounded like an engine starting.During the earthquakes my cats ran under the bed and wouldn'tcome out -they were shaking as if the ground was still shaking!"This is truly a book that speaks of the experiences Canterburychildren have been through."We believe the book is a relevant resource to assist childrenand parents cope with the trauma generated by the repeatedevents in Christchurch," Lion Digby Prosser said.LION, South Pacific Edition | May/June 2012 6