Students and staff remember earthquake victims

Chinese staff and students at Southern Cross University’s three campuses were joined by their friends and colleagues yesterday in a vigil for those affected by the devastating earthquake in the Sichuan Province in China.

Silent vigils were held at the Lismore, Coffs Harbour and Tweed Gold Coast campuses to remember the victims of the earthquake, which is estimated to have left more 34,000 people dead and millions homeless.

Southern Cross University’s Association of Chinese Students and Scholars at the Lismore campus set aside time from their studies to remember the plight of their suffering countrymen.

The group posted photos in the University’s central plaza during Tuesday’s lunch time and collected money from staff and students which will be forwarded to the Red Cross to contribute to their earthquake disaster appeal.

“We were shocked when we heard the news and by the high mortality experienced in China,” Xiangzhu Gao, a lecturer in the School of Commerce and Management, said.

“We are so far away and can do so little to help. We are grateful for the sympathy and concern expressed by our Southern Cross University colleagues and have taken this opportunity to make people aware and to give them the chance to make a donation towards assisting the relief efforts.

“We wish peace and health for every person in this world, and particularly at this time we wish peace and health for those in the midst of the disaster.”

Chinese staff and students and other colleagues gathered at the Lismore campus chapel and in the Sacred Garden at the Coffs Harbour campus for three-minutes silence. Candles were lit and then symbolically placed in the shape of a heart with the date of earthquake in the centre.

Photo: Students and staff gather for three-minutes silence to remember those killed in the devastating earthquake which hit the Sichuan Province in China last week. Photo by Du Jing Zhe (Andy).