Shepparton News

Aurora garden fitting tribute

CRASH MEMORIAL OPENED

- By Myles Peterson

A week of commemorat­ing the Southern Aurora train accident ended yesterday with the dedication of a memorial garden.

The opening of the $250 000 project drew politician­s from three levels of government, including Victorian Regional Developmen­t Minister Jaclyn Symes, Federal Member for Murray Damian Drum and Strathbogi­e Shire Mayor Amanda McClaren.

Ms Symes opened the garden, 50 years after one of the worst train accidents in Australian history.

‘‘Community members approached me with their dream of transformi­ng a disused rail site into a ref lective memorial garden and visitor destinatio­n to pay tribute to the lives lost in the disaster, and to remember the contributi­ons from the community who responded and rallied together to assist following the accident,’’ Ms Symes said.

‘‘I have strong roots in Violet Town with my paternal grandparen­ts being raised here, so it is a huge honour as a local MP to be able to give back to this community and acknowledg­e their tremendous sense of selflessne­ss, strength and resilience in responding to an unpreceden­ted disaster.’’

On February 7, 1969, nine people died in a disastrous collision between the southbound Southern Aurora express service train and a northbound freight train.

A further 117 were injured and many first responders and local community members suffered lasting effects.

The garden will act as a permanent memorial to all those killed, injured and affected.

The new site includes a 1 km walking track from the memorial garden to the scene of the crash where a carriage from the train has been preserved.

The Victorian Government provided the largest contributi­on of $150 000, followed by Strathbogi­e Shire Council funding the project with $50 000.

V/Line, The Australian Rail Track Corporatio­n and the Federal Government contribute­d $20 000, $16 500 and $13 000, respective­ly.

‘‘The Southern Aurora Memorial Garden will acknowledg­e those whose lives were forever changed by this tragedy and its aftermath and will serve as a reminder of the strength of community in overcoming adversity,’’ Cr McClaren said.

 ??  ?? Proud: A large number of signatorie­s gathered at the Southern Aurora Memorial Park yesterday for the site’s opening. Pictured are John Mason, Malcolm Little, Steve Crawcour, State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes, Strathbogi­e Shire Mayor Amanda McClaren, Mick Williams and Debra Bower.
Proud: A large number of signatorie­s gathered at the Southern Aurora Memorial Park yesterday for the site’s opening. Pictured are John Mason, Malcolm Little, Steve Crawcour, State Member for Northern Victoria Jaclyn Symes, Strathbogi­e Shire Mayor Amanda McClaren, Mick Williams and Debra Bower.
 ??  ?? Poignant: An original Southern Aurora Carriage being craned into position at the memorial garden, which commemorat­es the 1969 crash in Violet Town.
Poignant: An original Southern Aurora Carriage being craned into position at the memorial garden, which commemorat­es the 1969 crash in Violet Town.

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