The Premier John Brumby today announced details of a central multi-faith service to be held on Sunday, 7 February to mark the one-year anniversary of the tragic 2009 Victorian bushfires.
Mr Brumby said the Victorian Bushfires: A Service of Remembrance would provide an opportunity for all Victorians to pay their respects to the 173 people who died in the worst natural disaster in Australia’s history.
He said many affected communities were planning to hold their own local events in their towns to mark the first-year anniversary of the Black Saturday and Gippsland fires.
"We will never forget the people who lost their lives and the communities affected. And we will never forget the courage and kindness of the firefighters and volunteers who helped them,”
Mr Brumby said.
“This service is being held to recognise the national significance of the fires and to give those who lost loved ones in the disaster, and those who may not want to return to affected communities an opportunity to remember and reflect.
“The one year anniversary of the fires will be an incredibly difficult and emotional time and a range of private community gatherings are being planned across affected areas to commemorate the day.”
The Prime Minister has declared Sunday, 7 February a National Day of Mourning for those who died in the 2009 Victorian bushfires with the Australian National Flag to be flown at half-mast.
The Victorian Bushfires: A Service of Remembrance has been organised by the Victorian Council of Churches and the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority and will be held a noon on Sunday, 7 February at St Paul’s Cathedral in Melbourne.
There will be a minute’s silence at noon for Australians to pause and remember the devastating impact of the Black Saturday and Gippsland fires.
The service will focus on remembrance, reflection and the communities affected. It is the only centrally-planned activity in Victoria. Some communities planning their own events have asked Victorians to respect the privacy of these events.
The National Council of Churches is working with all religious denominations to encourage them to incorporate commemoration of the Black Saturday and Gippsland fires into their normal services over the one-anniversary weekend.