Medals for newly wed couple
Within days of their December marriage, Red Cross volunteers Alistair and Jessica Fagg-Banfield were out on the streets of Christchurch comforting earthquake victims.
The Christchurch couple, who met four years ago on their first training course with the international emergency relief organisation, have responded to every South Island disaster since the first of the quakes in September 2010.
They have turned out after all the earthquakes, the Pike River Mine tragedy, last winter's huge blizzard that gridlocked parts of Canterbury and the Nelson flooding emergency in December.
With some 50 other local Red Cross volunteers, Alistair and Jessica received medals this week for their efforts above and beyond the call of duty.
Jessica said she met Alistair at a training camp after joining Red Cross because she "wanted to do something to help the community". Alistair had signed up for similar reasons.
"We joined about the same time, but in different teams. Alistair was in the Timaru team and I was in the Christchurch team," she said.
They got to know each other more at each training camp they attended, finding they shared the same interests and passions, and started going out together three years ago.
"I loved how caring and funny he was - just the normal way you fall in love," Jessica said.
They were married at Orana Park on December 3.
"We both love animals and the outdoors - hiking and stuff - so it tied in nicely."
They managed a short honeymoon in Australia before being called out to help victims of the Nelson landslides. Soon after returning to Christchurch they were helping in the wake of the December 23 earthquake.
Jessica admitted they'd encountered a "a few difficult situations" in their volunteering efforts but always managed to find a way to get through.
"It feels good knowing you're making a difference in other people's lives ... just letting people know we're there for them."
Other Red Cross volunteers to receive medals this week were:
Tracey Borrie, Tom Williams, Steffan Rolfe, Simon Loi, Sinead Shearing, Rebecca Robinson, Paul (Kilo) Davenport, Odelious Ruegg, Mikeala Ruegg, Matthew Swailes, Marc Taylor, Lynmaree Ariki, Lisa Clarke, Lavina Anderson, Kees De Jager, Karl Colvin, Julian Taverner, Josie Mill, John Mill, Johanna Wilson, Jeremy Martin, Grant Hutchings, Gerard Moore (team leader), Evie Ruegg, Emma Neeley, Doug Winter, Corwin Ruegg, Christian Ruegg, Charlie Dillimore, Angelique Findleyson, Alan Robinson, Yarni Tromp, Kiely Buttell, Mark Letham, Craig Seanne, Andrew Johns, Anya Matravers, Tess Earl, Sue Mitchell, David Mitchell, Eric Reeves.
