One year on and the cracks are healing
The smell of wine was the first thing that greeted Kelly and Andrew Whittleston when they turned up to the Culverden Four Square around 1am on November 14.
The couple had only owned the business for two weeks before the earthquake hit. They bundled their three young daughters into the car and drove to the shop to check the damage.
‘‘I was too scared to go in,’’ Kelly said.
‘‘Andrew went in and we waited in the car. He opened the doors and said to me, ‘just look from the doorway’. There was mess everywhere and the smell of wine just hit me.’’
One year on and the memories of that night still affect Kelly.
‘‘I’ve always been scared of earthquakes, even as a kid. I grew up in Hanmer and we often had earthquakes.
‘‘But this time round, with the severity of the shake and having three young children, it was terrifying.’’
Kelly said the first few days following the earthquake were so busy, she and Andrew and their staff and families rallied to get the shop tidied and reopened.
‘‘It was amazing. We turned up the day after the earthquake and all the staff were there with their families all ready to help. I think people just needed somewhere to be and someone to talk to, and the shop provided that.’’
Kelly said Foodstuffs was also a great support to the couple during the difficult time.
‘‘Many of their staff had been through similar experiences with the Christchurch earthquake and they were really supportive.’’
A year on and the fear has lessened.
‘‘I’m much better now, but for split seconds I can get caught off guard, if there’s a heavy truck that drives past, those sorts of things.’’
The couple’s three children Lucy, Emma and Olivia, seem to have taken the events of the past year in their stride.
‘‘I’m so happy about that. They didn’t pick up on any fear or anxiety and aren’t particularly bothered by earthquakes.’’
In terms of the business, Kelly said it was hard to tell if the earthquake had any impact.
‘‘We don’t have any previous years’ experience to compare it to, so it’s hard to say what a normal year would be.’’
But she said the earthquake had made her reflect on what was important.
‘‘It’s actually a surreal feeling to think we’ve experienced New Zealand’s biggest earthquake but our family is okay our house is oaky and our business is okay. We are very lucky.
‘‘We live in a great town, people are so supportive of each other and really go out of their way. I think the earthquake made everyone even more appreciative of that.’’