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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
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
To those lost.
