MMC2025 :: Day 12 :: Reborn

Mono Month Challenge 2025

Since my last visit in 2023 some things have changed and other things haven't. Buildings, mainly commercial, have been developed but the Anglican Cathedral has funding issues and now in mothballs, the Catholic Cathedral appears no nearer to being started. Good news, it appears accommodation is being built in the city centre. The city did have a community living in the centre until the quake ripped its heart out. People are now returning. 

My main Blip is of part of the Earthquake National Memorial that lists the 185 individuals who lost their lives in the 22nd February 2011 earthquake. 

Your postcard today shows the memorial as it stands next the Avon River. Bottom right is of some steps left from a building that no longer exists because of the quake. The huge artwork on the side of a hotel is typical of the city. When buildings collapsed it left bare walls previously hidden down dark alleyways. Quality graffiti has been used to brighten things up and to attract people like me.

The extra is an image I'm submitting to 52Frames this week that has the theme Motion Blur. This is the same tram I Blipped yesterday. Timing just happened it turned up when I wanted this shot. 

Tram 244 will be 100 years old later this month. It originally came from Melbourne and I'm told the War Museum has an image of it fully laden with ANZAC troops heading off to WW2. 

I have 3 reasons to favour this tram. Firstly it was the first tram I saw in Christchurch back in 2010, just before the first major quake. Secondly 244 was my first police number, finally my great grandmother's brother had immigrated to Melbourne before WW1 and became a tram conductor. Who knows he may have worked this tram after returning from the Great War.