By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
THE Black Saturday remembrance cruise is on again this year with another spectacular display of resilience and commemoration from the community.
The event is on Saturday 6 February and will mark seven years since the Black Saturday bushfires devastated towns in the Yarra Valley and five years since the beginning of the cruise.
The cruise allows residents who were affected by this horrific natural disaster to show that their community is as strong as ever and that they have rebuilt and lost none of their pride of place.
The event displays the strength of the Yarra Valley communities while raising money for the local CFAs whose members give their time to protect and serve those communities.
The cruise will depart the Lilydale industrial car park at 3pm and conclude in Healesville railway precinct at 4pm for a remembrance ceremony at 5pm.
“We encourage people to come down and get involved in the remembrance ceremony, see the cars coming in along the highway and give what they can to helping fundraise for the CFA,” event organiser Stacey Kinsmore said.
Ms Kinsmore said that donations would also be accepted at the event for Need for Feed, which will be used to help domestic, farm and wildlife animals in fire-affected areas.
Animal and bird food, cleaning disinfectant, collapsible crates, storage crates, bottled water, cooling gel mats for animals, and domestic animal items such as collars, leads, blankets, beds and brushes will be accepted at the event.
For more information about the event, or about the donations, email smbrocky@yahoo.com.au.
