A lot has happened since the earthquake, but life is not back to normal for many of our members.  The new season is fast approaching, with Rawhiti Domain being the best pleace to hold all our meetings.

I look forward to seeing many of you there.

Planning for the 2011-2012 Track & Field season is well underway.

A subcommittee of Athletics Canterbury, which includes several masters representatives, has been making steady progress behind the scenes, working with the appropriate CCC personnel in an effort to obtain permission to 'raid'the QEII storage shed to remove as much of the track & field gear as they can safely remove.   As yet, no date as to when that will occur has been confirm. The same group has also obtained permission from the CCC to begun work on up-grade the New Brighton Track & Fieldfacilities at Rawhiti Domain.  This will involve building a temporary equipment shed & photo finish facilities, new long jump run-ups and upgrading the high jump / javelin apron.  They are also in negotiations to obtain some Mondo track surface from Melbourne's OlympicPark.   All of these improvements will be funded by Athletics Canterbury funds and obtaining a grant from the Mayoral fund, not from insurance money.  This has been done to ensure that we do not jeopardise our changes of getting a replacement all weather track & fieldbuilt in the future, similar to QEII

The 2010 / 2011 season will go down in history!!  However, it will not be for the sporting successes of our members, but rather the way 'Mother Earth' has treated our city.  As if the 4th September 2010 earthquake was not bad enough,little did we know there was to be a worse event this year, as happened on 22nd February 2011.  The photos and comment on the QEII Update page says it all about the 'home of athletics for 37 years'.

Where to from here?  One could be forgiven for throwing your hands in the air and saying "I give up! or I can't take this anymore!"  However, athletes are not the type to give up without a 'fight'.  The challenge for all of us now is tofind a 'new normal', as the Christchurch we know has gone forever! 

I hear people, including myself, say when asked about our houses .... 'I am lucky as I have no major damage to our house, this time'.  One almost feels guilty living in a house with minimal damage.  However, that isnot to say that people like me have not been affected.

We all know someone who has had damage to property, maybe lost their house .... their job  .... or both .... You may know of a family who has lost a family member, a close friend or relative.  As a way of coping, it is easy to tellyourself that there are people who are worse off than you,   However, you still have to deal with the stress, the grief and the trauma of the earthquake and what may seem unimportant or minor, may come back to haunt you if you try to suppress how you are feeling now.  Iurge all of us to talk about what we have been through, the small and the big events.  By sharing our stories it will help release the tension and the stress so that you can move forward, in a new state of 'normal' .... when you are ready and not before.  Expressionslike "It will be alright!' and It's time to move on!" are not necessarily helpful.  There are no guarantees it will be all right and within each one of us, there is a process of grief to go through ...  to deal with the past events and the on-going daily stresses ofliving in an earthquake city.  This process of dealing with grieve has no time frame, no quick answers or ready made solutions. If you feel the need for more support, to assist you to find your 'new normal', keep talking to your friends and ask forhelp.  You might also find some good ideas on this website ...   www.skylight.org.nz

I would like to acknowledge the sad loss of three people associated with Athletics Canterbury and / or CMA. 

Brian Taylor was in the CTV building on 22nd February 2011.  He was the director of King's Education School.  Brian has been involved in athletics for over 40 years, mainly as the coach (Canterbury University Club), in recent yearsand he has held various positions within Athletics Canterbury.  Brian was the coach of Julieana Findlay. 

One of our members. Sue Jones, has lost a son-in-law who was also in the CTV building.

Ross Bush was tragicly killed outside a shop in Riccarton Road.  He is better known as a cyclist, but did compete for CMA several years ago,

If there are other CMA members out there who have lost family or close friends that I don't know about, I apologise for not mentioning them here.

I consider it a privelege and an honour to be the CMA President.  We are a group of like minded people, doing the best we can to stay fit and healthy, so we can enjoy life to the fullest.  The process of gathering together, sharing our stories isan important part of belonging to such a group.  I thank you all for being members of CMA and look forward to our next event, athletic meeting or social.

Kind regards to you all,

Andrew Stark

(CMA President)