Fire anniversary about solidarity

Organisers of a commemoration service marking 10 years since a Black Saturday bushfire ravaged Horsham’s Haven district will use the occasion to promote community solidarity.

Haven Community Enterprise chairwoman Sue Exell said Saturday’s event, which Victorian Governor Linda Dessau would attend, would acknowledge community resilience and recovery.

“It’s about regeneration and bringing people together – people involved, affected or who helped at the time – in a fun and relaxed way. It is open to everyone,” she said.

Commemorative activities, part of statewide anniversary acknowledgements surrounding Black Saturday fires, start at 1.45pm at Haven Recreation Reserve.

The 2009 Horsham fire started at Remlaw, west of Horsham, on February 7 as a result of a fallen power line.

Intense weather conditions ultimately pushed the fire to the south and east, where it skipped the Wimmera River and outskirts of Horsham proper but hit Haven, south of Horsham.

Of the 11 homes burnt down during the Horsham fire, seven were at Haven.

The toll also included several damaged houses and the loss of several outbuildings, sheds, fences and livestock. It also set Horsham Golf Club ablaze.

Mrs Exell said the fire also had a long-term impact on the community.

“What is often unsaid in this type of scenario is the emotional trauma that followed the fire,” she said.

“There are several heart-wrenching stories that emerged from the incident and people to this day are still struggling to come to grips with what happened.

“People not only lost prized possessions, but also priceless and irreplaceable memorabilia and much-loved pets.

“There were a lot of horror stories and a landscape that people had come to love and appreciate had also suddenly disappeared.

“Of course there was also heavy financial burden and people with a need to put their lives back together.

“This takes a heavy toll on any community. Going through the Royal Commission and a drawn-out class action into the fire was also incredibly stressful.”

Remembrance rails

Mrs Exell said part of the occasion would be Governor Dessau opening Community Remembrance Rails at Haven Community Gazebo.

The opening will be at 3pm after bus tours of recovery areas affected by the fire.

“We’re inviting people to come and place a padlock on the rails. The symbolism in applying a padlock represents an acknowledgement of something personal that was lost or in memory of something and someone since the fire,” she said.

“We will have locks there on the day, but people might like to have them inscribed and bring their own.”

Anniversary events include Haven Market from 9am to 1pm, a Haven Tennis Hotshots workshop from 5pm to 7pm and a free community concert and celebration from 7pm to 10pm.

Horsham Rural City Council has provided support for the event, which mayor Mark Radford said would highlight both the impact from the fire 10 years ago and the progress the community had made since the devastation.

“Everyone has a story to tell about this day in our history. The people in emergency management positions, people on the ground and the surrounding support services did an amazing job,” he said.

“The 10th anniversary community event will provide an opportunity to reflect on the impact of the fires as well as the changes and long-term recovery that has occurred since that time.

“It will be a respectful afternoon of music, memories and afternoon tea and everyone is invited. Some in our community would rather not be reminded of this day and it is important that everyone remains respectful and mindful of that.”

Horsham Golf Club will also present a Black Saturday four-ball best-ball 10-year commemorative event on February 9.