Remembering Walter Hales, killed in Inangahua earthquake

About this image

Description24th May 1968....
My mum Noreen Hales was at home sleeping I believe, with her mum Margaret Hales, her dad Walter Hales and two sisters, Maxine Hales Saunders and Barbara.
My dad Peter Westwood was working driving his taxi, his mum Julia Westwood was home alone.
Julia lived in Runanga and Walter lived in Cobden.
The earthquake hit and the town was experiencing one of its worst disasters in history.
Dad and Walter communicated that morning to see who would go and check on Julia. Walter said dad could finish his shift and he would go.
During the course of the trip, Julia was fine and Walter headed home to his family, he hit the end of a bridge which the earthquake had brought down, at speed and was in a coma for 6 weeks, passing away on his 40th birthday.
My grandfather would have been 90 this year on the 50th Anniversary of this terrible event.
Thank you to the community who came together for each other and in particular, those who were there for my Grandma with her three daughters.
To my mum, I love you and my heart is with you. I know your dad is proud of you and the amazing woman you are. Date of PhotoBetween 1st January 1968 and 31st December 1968Map^[1]ContributorMel Marquis

Shown in this image

Location (city or town)GreymouthPersonWalter HalesEventRemembering Walter Hales, killed in Inangahua earthquakeInangahua Earthquake

Category Information

Category Tagearthquake

From Facebook

LinkFacebookDate Created24th May 2018CommentsPatrick Casserly I sure remember that I work in the Dobson mine with Wally and Alfie hales
2
Manage
Like · Reply · 21h
Margaret Campbell
Margaret Campbell I remember wally he played bowls at Cobden with my father don Campbell real nice fella .neville .
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 21h
Heidi Hawke
Heidi Hawke Mel Marquis i remember you and yoyr sister Leah yoir mum and dad whem you were a little girl livibg 2 doors away from us in Marlborough St Greymouth and then in Halswell. I have been in contact with your dad through this page a couple of years ago. B...See More
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 20h
Mel Marquis
Mel Marquis Were you in Oaklands
Manage
Like · Reply · 17h
Laura Mills Detlaff

Write a reply...

Choose File
Pat Dooley
Pat Dooley I remember it well too. I was working at Molloy Bros in Ward Street Cobden
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 20h
Glenn Tomlinson
Glenn Tomlinson We were living in the Park Hotel. Remember that shake, first big one I experienced
2
Manage
Like · Reply · 19h
Kerry Keating
Kerry Keating The Greymouth taxi fraternity was shaken badly by this tragedy. The R I P Wally.
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 19h
Joycelyn Pulley
Joycelyn Pulley Great guy Wally, remember him well...such a tragic thing to happen ‼️
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 19h
Diane Baird
Diane Baird I specialled him on the night of the accident and the following night. So sad
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 19h
Josephine Wesley
Josephine Wesley Remember this so well....so sad even now.
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 19h
Judy Collins
Judy Collins Remember it so very well.❤️❤️
1
Manage
Like · Reply · 19h
JaniceMike Bonner
JaniceMike Bonner Yes this has always stayed with me even now if we have a small shake the memory returns.I was a shaking mess for months afterwards I lived in Shakespeare St then.My Dad worked in the Toll Exchange in those days.I remember him saying the whole switch board lit up lights every where and he was the only one working the doggo shift as we called it.Was very proud of him he was in control.Janice ( nee Briggs )

OCR Text Transcription Edit Edit +-Close

Editing is temporarily disabled

Cancel Edit

Start typing here to find a location	Latitude	Longitude	Zoom	Actions

loading google map....

Save Cancel

Menu

Remembering Walter Hales, killed in Inangahua earthquake

Editing is temporarily disabled