The loss of her home in an earthquake then the loss of her daughter - for New Zealander Linda Collins, one loss shook her physical foundations; the other shook her very being.
Told by Denise O'Connell
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Linda Collins has a BA in English from Massey University and is a copyeditor on the political desk of The Straits Times in Singapore, where her much-loved daughter, Victoria, took her life four years ago aged 17. Linda, husband Malcolm McLeod and Victoria were living in Singapore when the 2011 earthquake struck Christchurch, wrecking the house they owned there. Amid insurer and builder delays, the replacement house was only finally completed three years after Victoria’s death. Linda’s memoir, Loss Adjustment, is her first foray into writing a book, although she is copyeditor of the Lee Kuan Yew international best-seller, Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going, and used to write for The Expat Files column in Singapore’s Sunday Times. Earlier this year, she was shortlisted for publisher Hachette’s mentorship programme, based on the submission of her Not Ash chapter from Loss Adjustment. Poetry is a new passion, meanwhile, and she is studying it at La Salle College of the Arts, Singapore. The photo is from her work pass.
Kiwi director Christopher Dudman on his television documentary The Day that Changed My Life, which features those who survived in the immediate aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, 22 February 2011.
Richard Collins' food retail business was destroyed after the February earthquake in Christchurch. He has started a new life in Kakanui in Waitaki.
Audio of Margaret Jefferies's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Trent Hiles's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Vilma Loader's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Jules Lee's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Jenny Garing's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Glenn Harris's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Gary Manch's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Ali Watersong's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Brendan Evans's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Mark Buckley's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Serra Kilduff's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Paul Leslie's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Lisa Cardosi's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Bertha Tobias's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Jacinda Gilligan's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Wendy Everyingham's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Sue-Ellen Sandilands's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Kerry Grant Donnelly's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Camille O'Donoghue's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
Audio of Sarah van der Burch's earthquake story, captured by Bettina Evans as part of the Shaken Hearts project.
For This Way Up's last shows, presenter Simon Morton and longtime producer Richard Scott have trawled through the archives of 600 shows recorded over the past (nearly) 13 years. This week, they mark the major seismic events that occurred during their time on the airwaves; the Christchurch and Kaikoura earthquakes.
Our Christchurch features producer, Kary Gosset has a story from one of the worst affected areas from the Feb 22 earthquake. Sumner has frequently been in the news with images of its crumbled cliffs, and Sumner is where Katy Gosset lives. This is her latest snapshot at where her suburb is at.
A high-quality audio recording of Participant number EG138's earthquake story, captured by the UC QuakeBox project.
To Christchurch now, where the people most affected by the region's earthquakes are getting a chance to tell their stories to a wider audience.
Christchurch firefighters who were sent to the CTV and Pyne Gould Corporation buildings after Tuesday's massive earthquake share some remarkable stories of bravery and survival.
A story of hope, at least when it comes to the rebuilding challenge ahead, particularly of Christchurch's badly damaged Cathedral. The Australian city of Newcastle suffered a major earthquake in 1989, and over the next few years put huge effort into rebuilding, virtually brick by brick, its ruined Cathedral. John McNaughton, who was the Lord mayor of Newcastle who oversaw the rebuild, joins us.
Chaos predicted with switch in give way rules, The first GST increase in 21 years comes into force at midnight tonight, Villages around Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga are today remembering the day one year ago when lives, homes and businesses were destroyed by a deadly tsunami , One of Auckland most distinctive local bodies has made an emotional exit one month before the creation of the new super city, The Law Society has added its voice to condemnation the government is giving itself far too much power by passing the emergency Canterbury earthquake legislation.
