Cashmere Rotary Club helps out after Kaikoura Earthquake
After a chance meeting of the Richmond and the Cashmere Rotary Clubs earlier in the year, it was agreed the clubs should join together to assist the people from the Kaikoura area post-earthquake.
This was to happen from 7th to 10th April. Seventeen members from Cashmere made themselves available but unfortunately this was postponed because of flooding and road closures in the area due to cyclone Debbie.
The visit for the Cashmere team was rescheduled for three days from 29 April to 1 May.Nine members were available to attend on this weekend.
Five families were contacted and a range of services were carried out:
- Gardening and general tidying up of properties; most of which hadn’t been touched since the earthquake
- Wood cutting, Splitting and stacking
- House Maintenance
- Child Minding
- Filling in an old lily pond for a family with a little toddler
- Assisting a farmer with stock work
Also Cashmere members prepared baking which was gratefully received by the families visited.
The most important aspect of the visit was just listening to, talking with, and sharing experiences with the families.
The families the club assisted were most appreciative and many e-mails have been received expressing thanks for the team’s efforts.
While in the area, the team stayed in a log chalet in Mt Lyford Village and dined at the Lodge. Very little cooking was done by the team, as most were too exhausted after a hard day’s work
The club is scheduled to return to the area in the spring.