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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Feb 27, 2011 14:38:59 GMT 12
I've known Neil Stocker and Paul Dunlop since 1968. I first met Scott Lucy about two years ago. About 2½ months ago I caught up with with Neil Stocker and Scott Lucy in Wellington — they were reinstalling the restored pipe organ into St Peters Anglican Church in Willis Street.
They were tragically killed during the huge earthquake in Christchurch on 22nd February while working at dismantling the pipe organ in the Durham Street Methodist Church — the church had been severely damaged in the September 2010 earthquake. The building collapsed and all three men, who were working inside the organ, were crushed.
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Feb 27, 2011 14:39:35 GMT 12
Timaru workers missing in quakeThe Timaru Herald | 3:21PM - Wednesday, 23 February 2011STAFF at the South Island Organ Company were anxiously waiting for news about three colleagues who were in a Christchurch church which collapsed in Tuesday's earthquake.
Company director John Hargraves said a team of eight had been in the Durham Street Methodist Church dismantling an organ which was to be brought to Timaru for safekeeping while a decision on the building's fate was being made.
The church was badly damaged in last year's September 04 earthquake and damaged further in the Boxing Day aftershock.
Mr Hargraves said two of the team were outside when the earthquake struck at 12.51pm. They managed to help in the rescue of two other members, while a third person who was in the building was able to escape unaided. However, three people two permanent Timaru staff members and one from Christchurch were unaccounted for.
"Three workers they were unable to get any response from, or find them in the rubble," Mr Hargraves said.
He was unsure if anyone else was in the building at the time.
"We know there was not supposed to be anyone else in the building but we just don't know."
Rescue workers had worked through the night searching for the missing staff members.
Police were updating him on the situation "as and when" there was something to report, he said.
Work continued at the company's Washdyke premises yesterday.
"We are all pretty devastated. We are not in a good state but we are here and we are working and we are supporting each other," Mr Hargraves said.www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/4694777/Timaru-workers-missing-in-quake
Quake hits homeBy FLEUR COGLE - The Timaru Herald | 5:00AM - Thursday, 24 February 2011   RIP: Neil Stocker, Scott Lucy and Paul Dunlop.TWO TIMARU MEN working in a Christchurch church are among those confirmed dead after Tuesday's devastating earthquake.
South Island Organ Company factory foreman Neil Stocker, factory employee Scott Lucy and a volunteer from Christchurch, Paul Dunlop, were part of a team of eight dismantling an organ at the Durham Street Methodist Mission Church when the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck at lunchtime on Tuesday.
The Christchurch landmark was badly damaged in last year's September 04 quake and damaged further by the Boxing Day aftershock.
Director John Hargraves said two team members were not in the building and another managed to escape unaided. The three searched the rubble and freed two other team members who were trapped, but were unable to locate Mr Stocker, Mr Lucy or Mr Dunlop before police cordoned off the site.
Search teams, first with sniffer dogs and later heavy equipment, worked through Tuesday night searching the debris for the men, and yesterday staff at the company's Washdyke premise waited anxiously for news.
However, by yesterday afternoon police had unofficially identified the bodies of all three men, and he had spoken to their families, Mr Hargraves said.
Mr Stocker had been with the company for 42 years.
While Mr Hargraves said he would be at the company's premises today, staff were not expected to be at work.
Last night the official death toll from the quake stood at 75, with dozens still missing.
The organ in the church was being removed to be stored in Timaru while a decision on the church's future was being made.
Mr Hargraves said the job was not rushed into, and they had waited for the building to be thoroughly checked and given clearance before the removal started, he said.www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/4697328/Quake-hits-home______________________________________ 4 comments posted to The Timaru Herald website by readers...
Sharon Stocker #1 — 01:40am, Feb 25, 2011
Does anyone know if the $50 fares to NZ from Australia on Air NZ will be extended? bodies haven't been sent home and it could be another 10 days yet before they are released, I hope extending these $50 airfares will go beyond the 3rd of March.
Manuel da Costa #2 — 10:48am, Feb 25, 2011
Unable to contact South Island Organ Company by email, here I leave my message of condolences:
Dear John and all staff,
My most sincere condolences for the loss suffered in such an unexpected tragedy.
My heart goes out to you all and to their loved ones.
Manuel da Costa
Curator of The Sydney Town Hall Grand Organ
Anne #3 — 02:35pm, Feb 25, 2011
Manuel,
I'm sure someone will see your message and either forward it in due course, or mention it to The South Island Organ Company so they can read it here.
Anne.
laura #4 — 05:09pm, Feb 25, 2011
Scott we all miss and love you so much, what a wonderful caring person you were, you made my sister and niece so happy I can’t wait to get home to them tomorrow, how lucky we are to have had you in our lives, you will forever be in our thoughts, rest in peace xxx
Manuel #2, thank you for you email I will pass your message onto my dad who also works for the South Island Organ Company.
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Post by Kiwithrottlejockey on Feb 27, 2011 14:40:26 GMT 12
Neil StockerThe New Zealand Herald | 5:30AM - Friday, February 25, 2011 NEIL STOCKER has been described as a devoted family man who was dedicated to his work and was a well-known face in the Timaru community.
Mr Stocker was one of the three men killed while working to dismantle a pipe organ at the Durham Street Methodist Church in the Christchurch CBD.
The foreman at the South Island Organ Company, he had worked at the company since it was established in 1968.
Throughout the years, he had become the go-to man, being an expert at building organs.
Long-time friend and colleague John Hargraves — director of the company — yesterday broke down as he paid tribute to his friend.
"I've worked with him the whole life of the company. He was our first apprentice, in 1968, straight out of school. He was an extremely talented craftsman. He was an expert at making things. He could make every part of the organ very well," Mr Hargraves said.
"He is a huge loss to the company. He has taught so many apprentices and he was a very good friend."
As well as being a hard-working colleague, Mr Stocker was also heavily involved in the community.www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708594
Scott LucyThe New Zealand Herald | 5:30AM - Friday, February 25, 2011 SCOTT LUCY was looking forward to becoming a husband and starting a family with his fiancee, Gemma Shefford.
Sadly, that will never be. The 38-year-old's body was recovered from what remained of the Durham Street Methodist Church, hours after the deadly quake hit Christchurch.
An employee of the South Island Organ Company, based in Timaru, Mr Lucy was among a team of eight men working to dismantle the church pipe organ.
Ironically, that work was being carried out as the church had been badly damaged in the September 04, 2010, earthquake and there was talk that it should be demolished.
Mr Lucy's future father-in-law Gerald Green — who also worked at the company — yesterday paid tribute to the man he said he had come to adopt as his own son.
"He's what you would call a very proud young Kiwi.
"He was a bright light, a marvellous person. He was lovely to my daughter and just a great kid."
Mr Lucy was in the navy for 10 years and also held a commercial helicopter pilot's licence.
He had been working with the organ company for about three years.www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708597
Paul DunlopThe New Zealand Herald | 5:30AM - Friday, February 25, 2011 PAUL DUNLOP was part of a team of eight dismantling an organ at the Durham Street Methodist Mission Church when the quake hit.
He was killed with two men from the South Island Organ Company, while other workers managed to escape.
Mr Dunlop was a well-known Christchurch optometrist whose family practice has served the community for more than 110 years.
He ran Paul Dunlop & Associates on New Regent Street with his wife Sue, who manages the business, after completing his optometry qualification in 1965.
His business profile says he took a special interest in contact lens fitting and in behavioural optometry, particularly learning difficulties for children.
Mr Dunlop held a number of national and international speciality positions, currently serving on the national registration board and as president of the College of Optometrists.
Other interests included piano and pipe organ playing, and he enjoyed being in his home workshop.
Mr Dunlop was a good friend to John Hargraves, who said he "was a lovely man", a pipe organ enthusiast who played for the parish.www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10708599
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