Published on : Thursday, February 14, 2013
Victorians marked the fourth anniversary of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires at a remembrance event at the Melbourne Museum today. More than 78 communities across Victoria were directly affected. Most significantly, 173 lives were lost on 7 February 2009 in the worst natural disaster in the nation’s history. Black Saturday followed the major fires that occurred in Gippsland in the preceding days. Premier Ted Baillieu said the event was an important opportunity for Victorians to come together, remember loved ones and reflect. “As a community we mourn those lost during the tragic events of that day, but together we can also reflect on the recovery journey and share our thoughts for the future,” Mr Baillieu said. “Bushfires have had an enormous and lasting impact on communities and families in our state. Black Saturday is a time that we will never forget. “There is not a single Victorian who wasn’t touched by this disaster, but also inspired by the resilience of our communities as they continue to rebuild and recover.” Mr Baillieu said this summer Victoria had experienced significant fires across the state, from the south-west near Dartmoor, to central Victoria at Chepstowe, the north-east around Mt Hotham and the Alberfeldy fire in Gippsland. “What we do know is that Victorians look after each other, and the incredible stories of bravery and compassion in the aftermath of Black Saturday is a good example of that,” Mr Baillieu said. “The determined efforts of Victoria’s amazing volunteers and professional emergency service workers to protect and support our communities continues today.” The Government has committed to implementing the 67 recommendations from the Bushfires Royal Commission final report. It recently released the Victorian Emergency Management Reform plan to ensure action is continuously taken to make Victorian communities safer and more resilient. Last week, the government also released the Victorian Bushfire Recovery Four Year Update, which provides a summary of the recovery and rebuilding effort of communities during 2012. Source:- Premier.vic
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