The Star: October 05, 2017

24 Thursday October 5 2017
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
The Star
Viewpoint
Gateway to Antarctica
Lianne Dalziel
AS A child, I knew about
Antarctica. The planes would
fly into the airport at this time
of the year on their way to the
ice. American accents could
be heard in the city and they
weren’t tourists – they were in
uniform and they were going
to this place that had a sense of
fascination for me.
It’s that time again, with the
Antarctic season opening this
weekend. As mayor of only one
of five international gateway
cities in the world, I have an important
role on behalf of the city
to welcome all of our Antarctic
programmes.
And this year, I have a very
special role. A statue of Robert
Falcon Scott in the heart of the
city commemorates the great
explorer who left the port of Lyttelton
to sail to Antarctica on
his second mission in 1910 and
never returned. It was sculpted
by his widow, Lady Kathleen
Scott.
Unveiled on February 9, 1917,
on the corner of Worcester St
and Oxford Tce, the 2500kg,
Robert Falcon Scott
2.6m-high statue was badly
damaged in the February 22,
2011, earthquake. It toppled
from its plinth and the fall
snapped the statue at its most
vulnerable part, the ankles.
It has taken years of careful
investigation and expertise to
get him back on his feet. He will
be unveiled again tomorrow,
with Scott’s great-grandson and
great-great-grandchildren in
attendance. It is a wonderful
tribute to our heritage and modern
technology.
I think we should be encouraging
Christchurch residents
– especially our children, who
may not have realised the wonderful
opportunities in research,
science and technology that
could take them as modern day
explorers to places like Antarctica.
How much do you, your family
and friends know about our
historic links to Antarctica and
the heroic age of exploration?
How much do you know
about why New Zealand has an
Antarctic programme in the
Ross Sea and what role Antarctic
science will play in terms of understanding
the challenges of sea
level rise and global warming.
Thousands of people attend
open days at the airport to
explore the planes that fly to
the ice and chat to the crews
about what it’s like to live on
the world’s coldest continent.
Maybe a young child could be
inspired to think of a career that
would take them there. Step on
board at Christchurch Airport,
10am-4pm, on Saturday.
There is also exhibitions at
Canterbury Museum, the Engineering
and Physical Sciences
Library at Canterbury University
and Kahukura (engineering
and architectural studies
building) at the Ara Institute of
Canterbury.
•Full details can be found
at https://www.antarcticoffice.org.nz/participate/
whats-on
A call has gone out for
ideas on what to do with
1000 letterboxes recovered
from red zone properties
as they were being
demolished
Jenny Blacklock – Make
an ‘exhibition’ of them . . . Stand
them all in Hagley Park in a huge
group and take photos for the
history books . . . I would absolutely
love to take a pic myself.
Maree Ram – Donate them
to kindergartens. I’m a teacher
and the children would put them
to very good use. They’re excellent
for encouraging literacy.
Kim Davison – I am in need
of a new letterbox and find them
quite pricey to buy new. Actually
No 28 or 34a would be of choice
for my place. I would be happy
to give a small donation towards
something that maybe happening
in the red zone or surrounding
area?
Yvette Searle – Sell the
ones in good condition as new
ones are expensive and any that
have seen better days turn them
into bug hotels for the garden.
Google bug hotel and you will
see examples
Philippa Guptill – An
artwork to remember the lost
houses even for a short while
then recycle . A great talking
point.
Paul Mac – Wonder who
you contact cause I’d love my old
letter box back from when I lived
there
Karen Hunter – Offer them
to people who know that they
were taken off their properties.
Many have mortgages and no
houses anymore.
•Turn to page 27
SupER
dEAlS
NOW
$
69 00
pm
NOW
$
85 99
pm
NOW
$
89 99
pm
at Roses Carpets
Terms and conditions apply
Seville
• Solution Dyed Nylon
• Mist Colour Only
• Factory Seconds, Limited Stock.
Toulon 30
• 80/20 Wool Mix
• Factory Seconds
• 3 Colours
Egmont
• Solution Dyed Nylon
• Extra Heavy Duty + Stairs
• Limited Time
NOW
$
89 99
pm
NOW
$
135 99
pm
NOW
$
89 99
pm
NOW
$
99 99
pm
NOW
$
75 00
pm
NOW
$
99 99
pm
Cabrillo II
• Solution Dyed Nylon
• 12 Colours
• Ex Auckland
Nicoya
• Polypropylene Soft Touch
• 7 Colours
• Ex Auckland
provence
• Factory Seconds
• 100% Wool
• In Stock!
Oakland
• 100% Wool
• 8 Colours
• Ex Auckland
Copy Cat
• Polyester
• Plush Pile
• 1 Colour
dalton
• Solution Dyed Nylon
• 10 Colours
• Ex Auckland
ROSES CARPETS
425 St Asaph Street phone: 379 5730
Email: rosescarpets@xtra.co.nz
www.rosescarpets.co.nz
Open monday - Friday 8:30am - 5:00pm