Thousands of Australians mourn victims of bushfires
AP
Published: February 22, 2009, 08:50
Melbourne: Thousands of Australians turned out for a national day of mourning on Sunday to commemorate the victims of a this month's bushfire disaster.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the hellish blazes of "Black Saturday" on Feb. 7 had tested the nation's character, and the response was courage, compassion and resilience.
"In recent days we have witnessed unspeakable suffering," Rudd said at a mourning ceremony broadcast nationally. "We have lost mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, we have lost brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, the tiniest of children.
The 90-minute main ceremony was held at an arena in Melbourne, capital of the disaster-hit state of Victoria and broadcast across Australia.
Rudd said governments at all levels had failed communities hit by tragedy in the past, and this must not be allowed in the fire-devastated towns.
He promised "a solemn contract with each of these communities to rebuild, brick by brick, home by home, school by school, church by church, street by street."
He also announced the tragedy would be marked each Feb. 7 by the lowering of flags on government buildings to half-staff and a moment's silence.
Queen Elizabeth's daughter Princess Anne flew to Australia to attend the ceremony and hundreds of survivors were brought on busses from the stricken region.
Smaller ceremonies were held across the country, with survivors and city residents gathering at parks and in public areas where giant screens broadcast the ceremony.
Forensic investigators in the disaster zone took a break from their grim search for more bodies among the ruins.
Published: February 22, 2009, 08:50
Melbourne: Thousands of Australians turned out for a national day of mourning on Sunday to commemorate the victims of a this month's bushfire disaster.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said the hellish blazes of "Black Saturday" on Feb. 7 had tested the nation's character, and the response was courage, compassion and resilience.
"In recent days we have witnessed unspeakable suffering," Rudd said at a mourning ceremony broadcast nationally. "We have lost mothers and fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers, we have lost brothers, sisters, sons and daughters, the tiniest of children.
The 90-minute main ceremony was held at an arena in Melbourne, capital of the disaster-hit state of Victoria and broadcast across Australia.
Rudd said governments at all levels had failed communities hit by tragedy in the past, and this must not be allowed in the fire-devastated towns.
He promised "a solemn contract with each of these communities to rebuild, brick by brick, home by home, school by school, church by church, street by street."
He also announced the tragedy would be marked each Feb. 7 by the lowering of flags on government buildings to half-staff and a moment's silence.
Queen Elizabeth's daughter Princess Anne flew to Australia to attend the ceremony and hundreds of survivors were brought on busses from the stricken region.
Smaller ceremonies were held across the country, with survivors and city residents gathering at parks and in public areas where giant screens broadcast the ceremony.
Forensic investigators in the disaster zone took a break from their grim search for more bodies among the ruins.
