Ag 5 september, 2014

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ASHBURTON

www.guardianonline.co.nz

Friday, September 5, 2014

Since Sept 27, 1879

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THE INDEPENDENT VOICE OF MID CANTERBURY

Town turns out to hold vigil BY SUE NEWMAN

SUE.N@THEGUARDIAN.CO.NZ

As darkness wrapped itself around Ashburton’s Work and Income Building, around 300 people holding candles of hope wrapped their arms around one another and grieved for Peg Noble and Leigh Cleveland. The Winz staff members were shot dead by a gunman while a third, Lindy Curtis, was seriously injured. Last night strangers became friends, joining together in a candlelight vigil. They talked, laughed, cried and celebrated Peg and Leigh’s lives. The vigil was peppered with music and enriched with shared memories. The two women not only touched lives, they changed lives. Seven years ago Violet Simon arrived in Ashburton, her life a wreck. Peg Noble changed all that. She sang a tribute song to the woman she called Nan. When Suzanne O’Connell arrived in Ashburton she knew no one, had nothing and was homeless. Leigh became her lifeline. As candles flickered in the evening chill, the sounds of You Raise Me Up floated through the darkness. Police stood guard and cordon tape flickered in the wind, an unwelcome reminder of Monday’s tragedy.

Performing a haka of respect for Peg Noble and Leigh Cleveland.

An impromptu haka was performed as a mark of respect, more tales were told, more music played until gradually the 300 became 200 as slowly candles were extinguished. As qui-

etly as they had arrived people left, richer for having shared a special moment in time, remembering two lives lost The candlelight vigil was the brainchild of Ashburton

PHOTO GINA BUCKLEY 040914-GB-102

woman Kay Johnstone who was searching for a way to make sense of Monday’s horror.

The idea was put up on a Facebook tribute page and it captured imaginations.

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