From New Zealand via Australia-
As Prince William and Prime Minister Julia Gillard put the finishing touches to their speeches to a shattered city, the people of Christchurch are readying themselves for something altogether more confronting.
"They are getting ready to mourn the death of their city. It's as simple as that," Christchurch's Anglican Bishop Victoria Matthews said on Wednesday.
"This event will be a moment to finally and corporately remember and grieve for a very dear loved one," Reverend Matthews said.
Tens of thousands of the city's 380,000 residents are expected to turn out on Friday for the national memorial service to remember the 182 people who died in the February 22 earthquake, and the city that crumbled down around them.
Among the mourners will be Prince William, Ms Gillard, federal Opposition Leader Tony Abbott, Australian Governor-General Quentin Bryce and a raft of other international dignitaries.
Prayers will be heard from representatives of each of the five major world religions followed by speeches and a "stark and shocking" film showing the devastation in the city streets.
More here-
http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/prince-pm-to-share-christchurch-grief-20110316-1bx5d.html
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