As injured quake survivor Ann Bodkin was pulled from rubble that had entombed her for 26 hours, mayoress Jo Nicholls-Parker was there to comfort her distressed partner.
Nicholls-Parker, wife of mayor Bob, stood with Graham Richardson as they pulled Ann Bodkin from the mangled Pyne Gould Corporation building, touching hisshoulder for reassurance.
Towards the end of the 26-hour ordeal as rescuers become achingly close to retrieving Bodkin, an aftershock hit.
"When the last aftershock came as Ann was coming out I yelled out 'Christ no'. Jo's hand touched my shoulder and she said, 'They'll get her out. I know they will get her out'," Richardson said.
Nicholls-Parker has taken her role as mayoress seriously in the wake of the earthquake, working long hours and returning with her husband late at night to a home still covered with broken glass.
Richardson was grateful for her support. "She helped me through a very difficult time. I really appreciated her being there just talking to me and standing by my side."
Bodkin told the Herald on Sunday how she thought about "how much life I wanted to live" as the mother-of-two remained trapped for more than a day.
Miraculously, rescuers pulled from her from the rubble with only bruising. She too was grateful to the city's first lady for supporting her partner.
