Day Of Mourning For Bushfire Victims - Aircraft of World War II

Heinz · 02-21-2009, 07:54 AM

Day of mourning | smh.com.au

Up to 100,000 people are expected to descend on central Melbourne on Sunday to mourn the victims of Victoria's deadly bushfires.

At least 209 people are now known to have died in the massive February 7 fire storms, with most of those from a sweep of towns and villages northeast of Melbourne.

Hundreds of survivors will be shuttled into the city from fire-ravaged rural towns for a memorial service at Rod Laver Arena while the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, will join other dignitaries for the ceremony, officially known as the National Day of Mourning, Together for Victoria.

"It will be an opportunity to have some time to stop and think about those we have lost," said Flowerdale survivor Debbie Shulz, who will represent her community at the service.

Eight people from the tight-knit township lost their lives, public buildings were destroyed and an estimated 80 per cent of the 1,500-strong population made homeless.

Ten buses capable of carrying 570 people will travel to fire-affected communities to collect people who wish to attend the event, which will also be simultaneously broadcast at live sites around Melbourne.

Thousands of people around Australia are also expected to tune in to radio and television broadcasts of the memorial service.

The ceremony will begin at 11am (AEDT) with the ringing of the Federation Bells in Birrarung Marr, followed by a welcome address by Victorian Premier John Brumby.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Murrindindi Shire Mayor Lyn Gunter and Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon will be among speakers to address the service.

The 90-minute event will finish with a minute's silence and a message of hope from the prime minister.

Mr Brumby said the royal family had requested daily updates on the fires, while donations and messages of support had poured in from across the world.

"There are dozens of functions literally across the United States and across the UK as people around the world and expat Australians are coming together to express their support, express their unity and express their grief for those who tragically lost their life," he said.

"This is really an opportunity to say to the world that Australians are united ... coming together to support Victoria at this time of extraordinary need and our greatest natural disaster."

Princess Anne, representing the royal family, was due to arrive in Australia from the UK on Saturday and after Sunday's service will inspect the bushfires Incident Emergency Control Centre in Melbourne before touring devastated areas on Monday

Vassili Zaitzev · 02-21-2009, 07:57 AM

To those lost.

109ROAMING · 02-21-2009, 08:12 AM

Round of applaus + beers to the Firefighters and all Men and Women involved helping the victims

Rest in peace

ToughOmbre · 02-21-2009, 08:47 AM

RIP

TO

Lucky13 · 02-21-2009, 08:55 AM

Rest In Peace my friends....

FLYBOYJ · 02-21-2009, 09:23 AM

RIP

evangilder · 02-21-2009, 09:26 AM

It's a terrible tragedy what has happened there.

Gnomey · 02-21-2009, 12:12 PM

RIP.

Respect to those fighting the fires

Wayne Little · 02-23-2009, 03:00 PM

RIP

We stopped for a minutes silence during basketball on Sunday Alex.

CharlesBronson · 02-23-2009, 04:09 PM

I would like to give my deepest sympathies to all aussie members too.

02-21-2009, 07:54 AM	#1
Heinz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 7,678	Day Of Mourning For Bushfire Victims Day of mourning \| smh.com.au Up to 100,000 people are expected to descend on central Melbourne on Sunday to mourn the victims of Victoria's deadly bushfires. At least 209 people are now known to have died in the massive February 7 fire storms, with most of those from a sweep of towns and villages northeast of Melbourne. Hundreds of survivors will be shuttled into the city from fire-ravaged rural towns for a memorial service at Rod Laver Arena while the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, will join other dignitaries for the ceremony, officially known as the National Day of Mourning, Together for Victoria. "It will be an opportunity to have some time to stop and think about those we have lost," said Flowerdale survivor Debbie Shulz, who will represent her community at the service. Eight people from the tight-knit township lost their lives, public buildings were destroyed and an estimated 80 per cent of the 1,500-strong population made homeless. Ten buses capable of carrying 570 people will travel to fire-affected communities to collect people who wish to attend the event, which will also be simultaneously broadcast at live sites around Melbourne. Thousands of people around Australia are also expected to tune in to radio and television broadcasts of the memorial service. The ceremony will begin at 11am (AEDT) with the ringing of the Federation Bells in Birrarung Marr, followed by a welcome address by Victorian Premier John Brumby. Governor-General Quentin Bryce, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Murrindindi Shire Mayor Lyn Gunter and Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon will be among speakers to address the service. The 90-minute event will finish with a minute's silence and a message of hope from the prime minister. Mr Brumby said the royal family had requested daily updates on the fires, while donations and messages of support had poured in from across the world. "There are dozens of functions literally across the United States and across the UK as people around the world and expat Australians are coming together to express their support, express their unity and express their grief for those who tragically lost their life," he said. "This is really an opportunity to say to the world that Australians are united ... coming together to support Victoria at this time of extraordinary need and our greatest natural disaster." Princess Anne, representing the royal family, was due to arrive in Australia from the UK on Saturday and after Sunday's service will inspect the bushfires Incident Emergency Control Centre in Melbourne before touring devastated areas on Monday __________________

02-21-2009, 07:57 AM	#2
Vassili Zaitzev Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Stafford Springs, Connecticut Posts: 2,484	To those lost. __________________ "Never was so much owed by so many to so few"- Winston Churchill.

02-21-2009, 08:12 AM	#3
109ROAMING Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: New Zealand Posts: 5,869	Round of applaus + beers to the Firefighters and all Men and Women involved helping the victims Rest in peace __________________ RIP Wigram AFB 1916-1995-2009

02-21-2009, 08:47 AM	#4
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,534	RIP TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

02-21-2009, 08:55 AM	#5
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 17,331	Rest In Peace my friends.... __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

02-21-2009, 09:23 AM	#6
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,883	RIP __________________ > I Support Doug Gillis <

02-21-2009, 09:26 AM	#7
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 15,426	It's a terrible tragedy what has happened there. __________________ For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

02-21-2009, 12:12 PM	#8
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 16,540	RIP. Respect to those fighting the fires __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

02-23-2009, 03:00 PM	#9
Wayne Little Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Adelaide Sth. Aust. Posts: 14,860	RIP We stopped for a minutes silence during basketball on Sunday Alex. __________________

02-23-2009, 04:09 PM	#10
CharlesBronson Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cordoba - Argentina Posts: 3,153	I would like to give my deepest sympathies to all aussie members too. __________________ YouTube - Bronson's Videosl

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