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The results of Cyclone Gabrielle has brought out the best, and the worst, of people.
OPINION: The great pics and stories continue as, of course, does the huge cleanup!
I can recommend the video clip farm suppliers Te Pari produced. If you haven't seen it, it should come up for you if you Google 'Te Pari Cyclone Video'.
The very best in people has come to light through all this. Total strangers turning up with shovels and wheelbarrows, putting in untold hours of the toil, helping people they had never previously met. We had a group of skilled guys from our area head across to the Hawke's Bay for several days to assist, mainly with shearing and fencing repairs, I believe.
Aside from all the hands-on stuff, donations, mostly anonymous, have poured in from all over this great country of ours. Even the key farm-staff members, the working dogs, have not been forgotten, with dog tucker included with the donated support!
Yes, if for one reason or another you were not able to physically get to where help was needed, you could always donate. And many, as we did, have done exactly that.
Sadly, I have to say, some of the worst stuff has also come to light. I'm thinking especially of the looting. How selfish, but also how sad! But there's more, I think.
I was brought up with the old adage; "Always give credit where credit is due." So, I try my best to live that. I think I have got much better at it too, as the years and life's experiences have accumulated for me!
It was brought to my attention by a couple of people, that Bishop Tamaki had a large number of their people, along with their "Man-Up" guys, putting in a huge shift. But so far - though I have been keeping an eye out - I have not seen any mention of this in the mainstream media!
Also, it truly is a shame when people attempt to politicise tragedies like Gabrielle, and score perceived political points for themselves, from others' adversities.
Wouldn't it be refreshing if some actually managed to jerk themselves up out of the gutter and take the 'high road' for a change?
Now, in an attempt to brighten up your day in some small way, I thought I would sign off by including a little something from my files that I have always found amusing and rather enjoyed. If you have little children, or grandies, you should enjoy these... might even find them cute!
I'm sure we had the book many years ago titled Children's Letters to God. The letters were all in the kids' own handwriting too, which I can't repeat here, sorry. Anyways, here's a sample:
"Dear God, I bet it is very hard for you to love all of everybody in the whole world. There are only 4 people in our family and I can never do it."
"Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother."
"Dear God, I went to this wedding and they kissed right in church. Is that OK?"
"Dear God, Thank you for the baby brother but what I prayed for was a puppy."
Well, that's it from me this month. I trust the aid and support you may need is reaching you. Remember, it's ok to ask if you need help.
Keep well and God bless.
Nearly three years on from Cyclone Gabrielle, Hawke's Bay apple orchardist Paul Paynter says they are still doing remedial work around their orchards and facing financial challenges.
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