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 [image:147046:full] [audio_play] [image:151581:half] 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.
File reference: CCL-2011-11-22-IMG_0784 PODattheShow November2011 From the collection of Christchurch City Libraries.
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.
Summary of oral history interview with Amelia about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Krystal about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Michelle about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Clare about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Tommy about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Laurence about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with April about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Alex about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Zara about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Kirsty about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Jacqueline about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Salma about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes. Pseudonym used to identify interviewee.
Summary of oral history interview with Christine about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Tufuga about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Freda about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Karen about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Christine about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Violet about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Nellie about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Nicki about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Ellenor about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Treena about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Lynne about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Teruyo about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Emily about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Tinks about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.
Summary of oral history interview with Nippy about her experiences of the Canterbury earthquakes.