Carol's Story
Victoria Square and Papanui Library
Carole Evans is a very active 80-year old. She loves getting out and about, catching up with friends and visiting her favourite places in Christchurch. An ex-Councillor for 20 years, Carole has a real soft spot for her hometown.
“Christchurch has always been – in my opinion – one of the most accessible places in Australasia.”
Carole used to love whiling away the day with her late husband, Maurice, at Victoria Square. As Maurice was in a wheelchair at the time, Victoria Square offered a space that was very easy to reach. With lots of parking nearby, and entrances on all sides, she says it was never a hassle to get there.
The park came through the earthquake almost unscathed, so it was also a place that Carole and Maurice felt safe. “You could spend hours there and feel like there had never been an earthquake. That was very comforting for us, as I know it was for many people in the city.”
Maurice was also an avid reader, so Carole was pleased to have Papanui Library a stone’s throw away. With a ramp to the front door and ample space to manoeuvre around the shelves, it was easy for Maurice to choose his favourite books. The library also carried “a great selection of large print books”, as well as a range of audio books that Maurice used when he wasn’t feeling 100 per cent.