Christchurch surgeon Hayley Waller talks to Fleur Mealing about being at work on the day of the horrific mosque attacks and her young son’s poignant message to his mum.
On the sideboard in Hayley Waller’s hallway sits a bright orange card. The hand-made thank you from her son stands proudly amongst treasured family photos. Written inside, “Dear Mummy. Thank you for doing your best in the attack. I’m really happy now. Thank you for keeping me safe. Love from Finn.”
Hayley’s eight-year-old son may not fully comprehend the horror that occurred on March 15 in his home town of Christchurch but he does know that his mum saved lives that day.
“I think they are proud,” Hayley says, smiling at her boys – Finn and his five-year-old brother Arlo – in the room next door.
“They knew something had happened. Finn understood that a whole lot of people had been killed so we did have to talk about it – obviously not in too much detail, but you have to be honest with them as well.”
That Friday started as a regular day at work for consultant general surgeon Hayley. A morning of endoscopies was followed by a class with fourth-year med students, teaching them about the endocrine system. She had also been looking forward to celebrating her husband Ryan’s 40th birthday that night. But the events that followed changed all of that.
Less than 2km away, a man entered Al Noor Mosque on Deans Avenue, opening fire on more than 300 Muslims attending Friday prayers. The shooter then drove to the Linwood Islamic Centre across town, killing in total 51 men, women and children during their time of worship.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described it as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” and like many Kiwis, Hayley never thought it would be something she would ever see in her lifetime.
“I think one of my first thoughts was that I couldn’t believe this is happening in our country.
この記事は Australian Women’s Weekly NZ の June 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は Australian Women’s Weekly NZ の June 2019 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
PRETTY WOMAN
Dial up the joy with a mood-boosting self-care session done in the privacy of your own home. It’s a blissful way to banish the winter blues.
Hitting a nerve
Regulating the vagus nerve with its links to depression, anxiety, arthritis and diabetes could aid physical and mental wellbeing.
The unseen Rovals
Candid, behind the scenes and neverbefore-seen images of the royal family have been released for a new exhibition.
Great read
In novels and life - there's power in the words left unsaid.
Winter dinner winners
Looking for some thrifty inspiration for weeknight dinners? Try our tasty line-up of budget-concious recipes that are bound to please everyone at the table.
Winter baking with apples and pears
Celebrate the season of apples and pears with these sweet bakes that will keep the cold weather blues away.
The wines and lines mums
Once only associated with glamorous A-listers, cocaine is now prevalent with the soccer-mum set - as likely to be imbibed at a school fundraiser as a nightclub. The Weekly looks inside this illegal, addictive, rising trend.
Former ballerina'sBATTLE with BODY IMAGE
Auckland author Sacha Jones reveals how dancing led her to develop an eating disorder and why she's now on a mission to educate other women.
MEET RUSSIA'S BRAVEST WOMEN
When Alexei Navalny died in a brutal Arctic prison, Vladimir Putin thought he had triumphed over his most formidable opponent. Until three courageous women - Alexei's mother, wife and daughter - took up his fight for freedom.
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START
Responsible for keeping the likes of Jane Fonda and Jamie Lee Curtis in shape, Malin Svensson is on a mission to motivate those in midlife to move more.
