Public commemoration to mark Black Saturday 10th anniversary
A public commemoration will be held at Melbourne's Royal Exhibition Building next month to mark the 10th anniversary of the nation's deadliest bushfires, on Black Saturday, February 7, 2009.
The ceremony will be the centrepiece of the 10th anniversary commemoration in Melbourne on Monday February 4, with the rest of the week being set aside for memorial activities in the towns that were ravaged by the fires.
More than 3500 buildings were destroyed and 173 people died as a result of the Black Saturday bushfires.
The fires - which devastated towns east and north-east of Melbourne like Kinglake, Marysville, Strathewen, St Andrews and Hazeldene - are considered among Australia's all-time worst natural disasters and triggered dramatic overhauls to Victoria's emergency management procedures.
The government has announced it has provided funding for community arts programs, local commemorations, teaching and learning support in schools and expanded mental health and psychological health maintenance for those impacted by the disaster.
Full details will be released closer to the date with consultations having taken place with those bereaved following Black Saturday.
“These horrific events still impact on many communities and it is important we allow everyone to commemorate this anniversary in their own way. Holding this commemoration on this day allows for individuals to have time for themselves or attend other community events during the week,” Police and Emergency Services Minister Lisa Neville said.
“We need to honour those who died, those who lost homes and those brave men and women who fought to save lives and homes.
“Over the past few months we have been speaking with, and getting feedback from, family and friends of those who died, the bushfire-affected communities, and emergency services personnel about this commemoration service and other initiatives to ensure they meet community expectations.”
Victorian Governor Linda Dessau AC is patron of the commemorations while former premier John Brumby is chair of an advisory panel into the marking of the anniversary.