A6 NEWS Tuesday, January 3, 2012 , Cometh the hour, cometh the student It was a whirlwind year for Sam Johnson, one of Christchurch’s biggest newsmakers. MARC GREENHILL reports.

am Johnson’s 2011 played out like the quote from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities. SIt was the best of times and the worst of times for the 22-year-old who 10 months ago was a content Canterbury University law and politics student. His efforts to mobilise an army of volunteers after the February 22 earthquake won him high praise, but at the expense of his studies. Confident stance: Sam Johnson thanks US Secretary of State Hillary ‘‘It’s been bizarre and Clinton after a forum in the in November 2010. remarkable how my life has Photo: DEAN KOZANIC /FAIRFAX NZ changed a lot this year,’’ Johnson says. ‘‘After September 2010, we had ideas about what we wanted to do and each earthquake since, and every twist and turn this thing has taken, has been just incredible.’’ The (SVA) he founded after the September 2010 quake – a group more than 13,000-strong at its peak – last year Big effort: University student Sam Johnson, left, organises students to go into the suburbs to help residents clean up silt after one of the Christchurch earthquakes. shovelled tonnes of silt and Photo: CARYS MONTEATH/FAIRFAX NZ mud after every damaging quake and aftershock. Christchurch that really care A casualty of the The result for Johnson was about the place, and we’re commitment to proving life-changing. willing to live here and students are more than His highlights reel commit to the future of it.’’ ‘‘couch-burning, letterbox- includes meetings with Johnson is quick to praise trashing imbeciles’’ has been United States Secretary of the team around him, from Johnson’s studies. State Hillary Clinton and the ‘‘diggers who are out there He quit university after the Prince William, an endorse- working away’’ to the February quake and will ment from Prime Minister residents baking muffins for finish his degree part-time , a volunteer the troops. over the next two years. mission to tsunami-hit Japan, Despite the personal ‘‘It’s put a huge dampener humanitarian and tributes, he says he is just a on my studies, but I don’t community awards, two ‘‘perfectly normal guy’’. think that’s a problem. nominations in the New ‘‘As my stepmum tells ‘‘It’s just going to take me Zealander of the Year awards people, I still occasionally more time,’’ he says. An honour: Sam Johnson receives an award from Prime Minister John and his face on billboards. have a messy room and don’t ‘‘Our generation rush Key at the . Photo: DAVID HALLETT/FAIRFAX NZ The Clinton meeting in do my dishes.’’ through university at so November 2010 stands out as a The most challenging much speed because we’re ‘‘crazy day’’, Johnson says. times have come days after fixed on getting a job, when ‘‘I look at the photo and the quakes, although Johnson actually you can take a bit of just can’t actually believe it says he does not become time if you’ve got other things happened. The funniest part affected emotionally. on the go.’’ about it is I wasn’t even an ‘‘I’m a very calm person The year ahead is shaping invited guest,’’ he says. under pressure, but there are to be just as busy, but ‘‘This whole year has just moments like, ‘How are we Johnson is looking forward to chopped and changed and I’ve going to do this again and it. never known what’s coming how’s it going to work this His focus shifted from the next. We still don’t – a bit like time?’ At the same time, it’s SVA club to the Volunteer the earthquakes.’’ become very much a job, and Army Foundation, an offshoot A highlight last year was some very clear missions and project developing an trailing Prince William in the challenges are my focus.’’ international model for large- royal entourage’s helicopter After an exhausting year, scale disaster volunteering. during William’s Christ- Overseas task: Sam Johnson also led a group helping to clean up after the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. the quakes two days before He remains a member of church visit in March. Christmas tested the the Riccarton-Wigram ‘‘I would have never do get this job done and help spotlight, Johnson has tried to Canterbury Development volunteer leader’s resolve. Community Board, aims to imagined in my whole life I Christchurch. shun it. Corporation’s Love ‘‘It was exceptionally hard complete two law papers, and would be doing this, but it was ‘‘It’s very much about He finds being recognised Christchurch billboards, but to get out of bed on Boxing demand for his services as a all part of a bigger picture,’’ furthering what we started ‘‘awkward’’, but loves talking he relented after being Day after going to bed at 2am keynote speaker at Johnson says. out to do, and managing and to people. convinced by the campaign after doing all the mapping conferences is unabated. ‘‘It wasn’t so much you growing it in the best way we A fear of being ‘‘over- message. for this [cleanup] again. ‘‘The next two years are Work recognised: Sam Johnson gets a kiss from mum Liz after receiving were there for the thrill of it; can.’’ exposed’’ led him to initially ‘‘It’s about showing there’s ‘‘It’s been exhausting, but pretty much all booked out,’’ a humanitarian award from the Art Of Living Foundation in October 2011. it was part of what we had to Since being thrust into the decline appearing on the a huge group of us in it’s been really worthwhile.’’ Johnson says. Photo: IAIN McGREGOR/FAIRFAX NZ

■ QUAKE RELIEF Hamilton crafters send materials to Canty

Nicole Mathewson craft items after the earthquakes. North Island continued to send in Owner Linda Butler has divided [email protected] Crafting was a hobby that easily items. the goods into about 65 packs, and became addictive, she said. ‘‘We had to extend the deadline still has many to give away. Canterbury crafters have been given ‘‘It’s a really great outlet for a lot because we had boxes and boxes of Crafting was a form of therapy for a boost with the donation of ‘‘boxes of things, and we thought a lot of stuff sent in,’’ Pruden said. ‘‘It many people, and some had ‘‘thrown and boxes’’ of therapeutic craft goods people in Christchurch would have covered our entire craft room.’’ themselves into it’’ after the region’s from their Hamilton counterparts. had that, but lost it,’’ she said. About 18 banana box-sized quakes, she said. ‘‘You . . . forget Paperzone manager Annmarie The collection began in April, but parcels were sent to Woodend’s The your troubles and your worries.’’ Pruden said Hamilton crafters the boxes were not sent to Paper Peacock, from where they Butler asked those who received a wanted to help their Canterbury Canterbury until last month because would be distributed to quake- pack to write their quake story to peers ‘‘restore some of their stash’’ of crafters from around the central affected crafters. send back to the Hamilton donors.

Saturday 21st January Individual Competition Picnics, outdoor classic screenings pop up around city Teams Competition - max 6 people Family picnics and classic-movie screenings are popping up around Sunday 22nd January Christchurch this month. Family Fun Day - Free to enter The first of the events, sponsored Kids 'n' Kastles competition - children to 12 years old by the Canterbury Earthquake Family Teams competition - max 6 people Recovery Authority (Cera), was a Cash and prizes to be won pop-up picnic at Scarborough Park in Sumner on New Year’s Day. EEnternter onlineonline NOWNOW - limitedlimited sitessites available!available! It featured egg-and-spoon races, sack races, a lolly scramble, a FFurtherurther ddetails:etails: wwww.newzealandsandcastlecompetition.co.nzww.newzealandsandcastlecompetition.co.nz sausage sizzle and live music. oorr comecome downdown toto NewNew BBrightonrighton BeachBeach andand seesee thethe sculptures,sculptures, foodfood stalls,stalls, bounciebouncie castlescastles The next picnic will be in Latimer aandnd pponyony rides,rides, a funfun dayday fforor aallll thethe familyfamily Square in central Christchurch between 4pm and 6pm today , and $2500 cash prize and trophy for the overall winner on Saturday they will continue every day until January 15 at parks in different suburbs, including Aranui, Dallington and Brooklands. New Zealand classic films on inflatable screens, including Under Brought to you in the Mountain and Boy, started association with: screening on New Year’s Day and will continue from tomorrow in Alfresco delights: Rose Annear, left, Wynita Kennard and Michael Grey went to Edmonds Park in Woolston to watch the first Cera- eastern suburbs. sponsored outdoor pop-up movie, Tongan Ninja. Right: Mya Fisher, 6, keeps her egg on the spoon throughout a race at a picnic at

4287550AA428755428428754424287287228755287528875887558775575755550AA00AAAAA ❏ See bethere.co.nz for details. Scarborough Park in Sumner. It was one of several picnics to be held around Christchurch. Photos: DEAN KOZANIC/FAIRFAX NZ