I was in Christchurch for the two big earthquakes on December 23rd. The 5.8 and the 6, very frightening and unsettling for everyone, especailly how they just kept on coming, it was a fitful sleep that night, and the next.
Mum's house was built in the late 1950s, with a weatherboard exterior and since the first big one on September 04, 2010 it's stood strong with no major damage. The old chimney was removed last year in fear of it toppling, apart from that the old gal's looking after me mum.
I spent a week there and besides the big quakes I experienced well over 50 "daily energy releases" as they are so named on : www.christchurchquakemap.co.nz. This is a University of Canterbury website with up to the minute data and animated quake maps. Check it out if you're interested.
All this jiggling about didn't upset my appetite. Had a fantastic sunny Christmas day out on mum's back lawn eating and drinking and eating and more eating and drinking...okay you get the picture.
I'd asked mum to write out some memories from her childhood days particularly anything relating to the boys. She recalls stories of Frank and George making their own bows and arrows and shanghais. They caught birds and rabbits and went eeling down in the creek by the house.
The older brothers teaching them hunting skills also, and many days spent trekking over the King Country hills near their home.
Some of the other stories that are emerging from my interviews and from studying the photographs illustrate how all the brothers showed great skills in the wilderness (I know I've already stated this previously) and how climbing, surviving and hunting came naturally to them - aside from growing up rurally and being exposed to these outdoor environments early in life there's also the fact that they were predisposed to being adept in these situations. I believe from past generations, its in the genes. They were newly migrated family and the brothers, particularly, Vic, Frank and George left home and gravitated to the South Island mountains to hunt professionally into a similar situation to the mountainous terrain of inland Croatia where the family came from.
My grandparents moved to NZ in the early 1930s. The eldest brothers and one sister: Joc, Al, Vic and Mary were born in Croatia. My mum Helena was the first born here in 1933, then Frank in 1934, George 1935, and Margaret was the last born in I think 1937. I'm looking forward to finding out more about the Erceg's and their origins back in the old country regarding all of this.
Other news: I visited Jack Wildermoth while in Chritchurch. He's now in a rest home. His memory is failing him but those stories from the past are still there. He's tall and trim with thick brushed back hair set into place with - maybe he uses good ol fashioned Brylcreem, probably has all his life. He would've cut a fine figure in suit in his day, you can still see that in the way he carries himself, the way he sits and holds his head. It makes me think about how fit these guys were and some like Jack, continued to look after themselves all though life.
I asked him if he suffered from many aches and pains, a little he said. I can't thank him enough for his time and sharing, and his great sense of humour. I enjoyed our time together, it was very special. Bless you Jack.
Transcriptions of the interviews are going well. 20.000 words and counting. Will keep you informed of progress and Happy New Year to you all, hope 2012 is a good one.
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