Sadness in the Air

I actually wrote the post for today earlier this week (in one of my inspired and psuedo-organised moments). However when I woke to the news this morning that an Air New Zealand Airbus had crashed into the Mediterranean today with the loss of five New Zealand lives amongst the seven crew who were on board, I realised that there would need to be some changes.

While the blue waters of the Mediterranean are a far cry from the frozen slopes of Mount Erebus, and the cliche "history repeating itself" would be stretching things too far and taking away from the enormity of the loss of life on Erebus, this crash happening on the 29th anniversary of the Antarctica disastr is (as Air New Zealand executive Rob Fyfe said this morning) "poignant". Our condolences to the families. For more information on todays tragedy go to http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/5176780/nzers-feared-dead-air-nz-crash/

Here is the framework of the original post I prepared.

On Wednesday 28th November 1979, Air New Zealand Flight TE901 crashed into the side of Mount Erebus in Antartica during a sightseeing flight. This still ranks as New Zealands biggest air disaster with the loss of 237 passengers and 20 crew. Today is the 29th anniversary of the disaster and around New Zealand especially, but internationally also, families and friends will be remembering their lost loved ones. The losses included several Rodney residents.

More information about this New Zealand event can be found in the internet at several excellent sites including at Christchurch City Libraries and Te Ara (The Encyclopedia of New Zealand). Rodney Libraries have several resources specifically referring to Mount Erebus (click on the words to go to our catalogue). If you are wanting to know more about air disasters around the world, carry out a subject search for Aircraft Accidents.

Bill Manhire was commissioned to compose a poem for the 25th anniversary of the disaster in 2004. It was originally read by the late Sir Edmund Hillary.

EREBUS VOICES - The Mountain
I am here beside my brother, Terror.
I am the place of human error.
I am beauty and cloud, and I am sorrow;
I am tears which you will weep tomorrow.
I am the sky and the exhausting gale.
I am the place of ice. I am the debris trail.
I am as far as you see.
I am the place of memory.
And I am still a hand, a fingertip, a ring.
I am what there is no forgetting.
I am the one with truly broken heart.
I watched them fall, and freeze, and break apart.

We fell
Yet we were loved and we are lifted
We froze
Yet we were loved and we are warm.
We broke apart.
Yet we are here and we are whole.