19th July 2011
For immediate release
News Release:

The home at Cholmondeley Children’s Charity in Governor’s Bay is to be pulled down and a new complex built on the site.

After a long consultation process involving Arrow International, the Cholmondeley Board of Governance and Management Team and our insurers it was decided that the earthquake-damaged buildings were beyond repair.

Sir Kerry Burke, President of the Cholmondeley Board, said that the Board is committed to ensuring certain areas of the original home are preserved so that they will become part of a memorial to the home’s special history.

“The decision to demolish and rebuild was extremely difficult because of Cholmondeley’s great history and the fond memories held by many of the 25,000 children who have stayed at Cholmondeley over our 86 year history.”

“However, the severity of the damage suffered in the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks has been just too great to repair.”

“While there is a sense of sadness at this decision, there is also great pride in Cholmondeley’s service to the Canterbury community and a feeling of opportunity as we look to the future. We are of course completely committed to remaining in Governor’s Bay,” Sir Kerry said.

The Board has delegated responsibility for leading this project to the General Manager Shane Murdoch and his team at Cholmondeley,” says Sir Kerry.

Cholmondeley’s emergency and respite care service has been based at the Living Springs campus since March because of damage to the buildings, which has led to the decision to deconstruct and rebuild at the superb Governor’s Bay site.

Arrow’s Christchurch Director Ian Smith says “We are delighted at being involved in the re-establishment of Cholmondeley. The new facility will be a great opportunity to provide a modern friendly environment that will continue to under-pin the valuable work that Cholmondeley does.”

Cholmondeley Children’s Charity is an integral part of the Canterbury community. Cholmondeley supports the children of Canterbury through times of stress in the home. The children cared for at Cholmondeley are aged between 5-12 years whose families are experiencing issues or problems beyond the child’s control.

ENDS

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