Worthy memorial restored

Even from a distance it is strikingly visible. It is perched 350 metres above Port Lyttelton. The octagonal structure made from volcanic rock and sporting a shingled roof, marks the summit of the Bridle Path where Canterbury settlers trudged from their ship to their new home in what was to become Christchurch.

The view to their ultimate destination was likely met with dismay. Mostly flat land it was interspersed with swamp. One settler has been reported saying the view’s one salvation was the silvery stream winding through it. Of course that was already named the Avon.

Amongst those settlers were many brave women. It was to remember them that this conical shaped memorial was designed by Heathcote Helmore. Its foundation stone was laid in December 1939 by Lilian Priscilla Wakefield, granddaughter Edward Gibbon Wakefield who was a key figure in the settlement of New Zealand.

The memorial was unveiled on December 14 the following year.

Reports tell us hundreds attended.

The memorial is inscribed ``They Passed This Way.’’

I have walked to or passed by the Pioneer Women’s Memorial on many occasions. The most recent was yesterday.  Many walkers and mountain bikers were taking advantage of the perfect still day. We may have been celebrating, informally, the final restoration and strengthening of the memorial in the aftermath of the February 22, 2011 earthquake which was centred close by.

For more than six years the memorial has been out of bounds behind sturdy fencing.

Fittingly, close by is a stone seat, a memorial to Jane Deans who was a champion of Canterbury’s pioneer women.

She was the wife of John Deans of Riccarton Bush. Jane arrived in Canterbury (from Ayrshire, Scotland) in 1853. The following year John Deans died. Jane stayed on at Riccarrton becoming a community leader and eventually having the grand Riccarton House built. She was known for her generous hospitality.

Her seat of stone and timber was one of seven set along the Bridle Path in 1950 to commemorate the Canterbury Centenary.

As a youngster I would join mates walking the Bridle Path. We would leave our bicycles at Heathcote railway station, walk to Lyttelton and catch the train back to our starting point.

These days most people park at the Heathcote start of the path. It is close to Christchurch Gondola.

Yesterday I was with my frequent walking companion Pat, a veteran mountaineer with amongst other achievements, six successful ascents of Aoraki Mount Cook.

Rather than descending the Bridle Path to Lyttelton, we continued on via the Crater Rim Walkway to the Christchurch Gondola top station. After an hour of so relaxing over coffee and scones in the excellent Red rock Café, we took the easy way down in a gondola cabin.

The recommended walk fills in the best part of a pleasant day.

(Those wanting to descend from the Bridle Path summit to Lyttelton can return to their starting point on the No 28 metro bus.)        

                                                         Encounters

A trip to my GP this week necessitates a blood test. In the waiting room  I am joined by an elderly woman pushing a walking frame. She is from the rest home across the street. She sits down and is keen for a chat. She begins by asking if I have travelled?

That starts quite a conversation. Pleasant memories are exchanged. She loved Vienna. I chat about some of my bicycle tours, in Japan and other countries. She then says she knows too many elderly people wasting what remains of their life, sitting inside watching television.

``They have Gold Cards,'' she says. ``They get free metro bus travel.  They can visit the Christchurch CBD and  check out the rebuild progress six years on from our 2011 earthquakes.
``There are many new cafes to sample.''
Quiet an observation I am thinking.

She has given up long haul travel but is not sitting around watching television.
``I think I will go and rob a bank this afternoon,'' she says.
``Good idea, I might do the same,'' I reply.
``Well don't get there before me. There wont be any money left.''

I go home smiling.

➧A couple of days later when approaching my bus stop shelter a middle-aged woman stands up and tells me I can sit where she has pushed aside a pile of bags. I wonder if I am looking so decrepit, I need a seat?
Anyway  I gratefully sit down. I have just five minutes to wait.

``This is my home,'' she tells me.
``I've got everything I need here. She opens one bag to reveal a toilet roll and litre of milk amongst other things.
She goes on to tell me she has been to every welfare agency for help and gets no help. WINZ has been particularly unhelpful
I wonder about  our government hype telling us New Zealand has a ``rock star'' economy. Ever since I heard that expression I have noticed homeless people in Christchurch and other cities.
It is election year so I am awaiting comment from opposition parties re our dire social problems.  Hopefully my wait wont be in vain.

As my bus approaches a young guy with missing teeth, highlighted by a wide grin, turns up.    

He and the homeless woman obviously know one another.
 And I discover the reason for his grin.
``I have just been given (presumably by a welfare agency) $200 for a hotel room tonight,'' he says.

After this encounter, I do not go home smiling.