We remember them

By Monique Ebrington
COMMUNITY reflections and a combined church service were held in Marysville on Sunday to commemorate Black Saturday, the official day of mourning for the disaster that claimed 173 lives.
Hundreds of people made their way to Gallipoli Park, a place of refuge a year ago for many residents, for the commemorative event.
Yellow ribbons dotted the chests of the locals, friends, emergency service workers and dignitaries who came out to hear the church service and emotional personal accounts of the fire that razed their town.
The names of Marysville residents familiar to many people on the oval, those killed on Black Saturday, were read out at the start of the service.
Members of the triangle community wiped away tears and comforted one another as poetry, hymns and personal accounts were read out.
Children, too young to appreciate the significance of the day, were kept occupied by a kids’ activities marquee.
CFA captains from Buxton, Granton/Narbethong, Taggerty and Marysville were each invited to place a wreath at the service’s temporary altar and described in the service as ‘our captains’.
The four men were honoured with a standing ovation from the public.
Another highlight of the event was the presentation of a patchwork quilt to the Marysville community, with squares handcrafted by people from across the nation and the world.
Marysville and Triangle Development Group president Graeme Brown said the commemorative event was a day of reflection and relief for the community.
“To get this out of the way has been a big relief for us,” he said.