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Despite the devastation wrought by the 22 February earthquake, including forcing a change of venue from the University of Canterbury to Lincoln University, the Organising Committee is soldiering on with most conference key dates left untouched.
Lincoln University, about 20 minutes drive from Christchurch, was undamaged by the February quake, and had just slight damage to a single 1920s brick building in the September shake. All its buildings have been inspected by a structural engineer and have been verified as safe.
Lincoln also fits very well with the Committee’s desire to live its values by minimising the conference carbon footprint, because Lincoln town is an Envirotown – visit www.lincolnenvirotown.org.nz to find out what that means.
Conference congratulations from PHA President, Richard Egan
After the 22 February earthquake in Christchurch, one of my thoughts, after making sure friends and colleagues were okay, was that the PHA conference for 2011 would probably not be held in Canterbury, if it was still held at all. Not only was there likely to be substantial damage to the venue, the University of Canterbury (I wasn’t wrong as it turned out), but the Organising Committee members would now have far more pressing things to focus on than the PHA’s annual hui.
But it seems I did not fully appreciate the Committee members’ determination and pluck. Only a few days after the quake, and while dealing with its distressing aftermath, the Committee made the unexpected decision that, indeed, the PHA conference would be held in Canterbury, if not at the University.
Now, only a few weeks since Cantabs’ lives were turned upside down – literally in some cases –Lincoln University has been booked and conference preparations are all on track.
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the convenor Lynley Cook and her fellow Committee members for their tenacity and grit in keeping the conference in Canterbury, and to thank them for showing such spirit.
I think the least we can all do is think about registering to attend, and help this rather special group make the 2011 conference the roaring success it deserves to be.
Richard Egan
President Public Health Association
