‘My story’-Olly, 8, St Andrews School

When the Earthquake struck I was at school and my best friend was screaming beside me.  Her name is Fanchea and we are best friends and next door neighbours.

Two minutes after the quake hit our teacher, Pip Richie, sprinted out of the building.  All my school mates ran to her, even Fanchea.  She froze in her tracks, even I froze, but I was sitting down.  Then she said “let’s go outside the Music Room”, but there was a sewage pipe that had broken in the earthquake… so we had to go to the cricket nets.

Nearly everyone in the senior school was crying.  We stayed there for nearly 2 hours then my dad came with my sister Meg, who is seven years old.  Then we walked home.  Our home was trashed.


5 Responses to “‘My story’-Olly, 8, St Andrews School”

  1. Raewyn says:

    Wow Olly I am so impressed that you can tell us so much, even about Fanchea. I think my brain might be frozen if that was happening to me..but you have described so much about what it was like to be in the earthquake… Thankyou. It was neat that Dad already had Meg and you guys could be with him to walk home together..I’m really sorry that your house is trashed Olly….I live in Tauranga and our city has been thinking about Christchurch people every day.. glued to the TV lots of times..Our school kids have been doing lots of things like wearing red and black to school, making jewellery and things to raise money for Christchurch…We are sooo sorry that so much has happened to your homes and to your city Olly..I hope you and Meg and Fanchea are getting to play together somewhere now…Bye Olly, from Raewyn.

  2. ella says:

    Thanks Olly for telling your story so vividly.

    It’s important the word gets out so that those of us not there can get a picture of what is happening and know how to help.

    Sometimes it is frustrating not to be able to do more than send money, so some people try to write back with encouragement.

    Your experience was very hard and in times to come the memory will get softer but you will always remember how brave you were and how you cared for others….and how they cared for you.

    Please remember that there are millions of people all over the world watching what is happening and Prime Ministers, Presidents and Royalty as well as celebs have said how amazing you all are there!

    I agree with them. From Ella in Auckland.

  3. Jackie says:

    Oh Olly

    We are so sorry to hear that your home is” trashed” but glad that you and Meg are fine!Your old friends from Waimairi will be happy to know that you are OK too.

    Jackie, Campbell and Loz

  4. sue howard says:

    Hope you are enjoying Wanaka Olly. I am pleased you and Fanchea are ok. It sure was scary.

  5. Jamie Allen says:

    Hi Olly.
    I hope you and your family are all ok.It must be very horrible.
    I feel very sorry for you.I am in Parakai, Auckland and I am also 8.
    I have been hearing more about the earthquake on the news.I have even put pictures
    from the news paper on the wall in my classroom at school.I hope it wil all be ok in the end.

    From Jamie

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