October memorial for 53 nurses who died in Christchurch earthquake

That 53 nurses died in one city on a single day represents a great loss to the nursing profession.

As part of Christchurch City Council’s Heritage Festival, the Chapel will tell the stories of some of the lives lost and a retired nurse’s determined effort to identify them.

The 53 nurses came from eight countries: 16 from China, 13 from Japan, 11 from the Philippines, six from Thailand, four from New Zealand and one each from Canada, Ireland and Taiwan.

Most were in the six storey CTV building which collapsed on the corner of Madras and Cashel Street. They were overseas-trained nurses studying English at King’s Education language school before heading into the health-care sector, or local nurses working in a medical practice. Three died elsewhere under collapsed buildings and on the city’s streets.

The nurses were among the 185 who died in the earthquake. Their names are etched on the Oi Manawa, the Canterbury Earthquake National Memorial wall flanking the Ōtākaro Avon River. At least 21 nurses are buried or commemorated at Avonhead Memorial Cemetery’s interment site especially designed for the earthquake’s victims.

The display also describes how the New Zealand Nurses Organisation remembers the 53 nurses on 12 May, International Nurses Day. The wreath is placed under a different name each year.

The annual wreath-laying ceremony earlier this year, in memory of the 53 nurses who died in Christchurch’s 2011 earthquake.

We invite you all to see the display in the Nurses’ Memorial Chapel from Wednesday October 21 to Sunday October 25, 12 – 4pm.

https://ccc.govt.nz/news-and-events/whats-on/event/never-forgotten-the-53-nurses-who-died-in-the-christchurch-earthquake.

Nanette Ainge

Convenor of the Museum Group

Nurses’ Memorial Chapel, Christchurch

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