The horrors of the Ash Wednesday bushfires were recalled last week, as people from across the region gathered to mark the 40th anniversary of the catastrophic blaze that swept through the area.
A special ‘Ash Wednesday 40 Years On’ event was held in Tarpeena on Saturday afternoon for people to reflect and remember the devastating day.
Tarpeena was directly impacted by the Ash Wednesday bushfires, where 22 homes were lost but fortunately no lives.
The fire was heading past Tarpeena until the horrific wind took a turn, which sent the flames straight towards the town.
People gathered at the Tarpeena Memorial Hall on Saturday to chat and listen to speeches before moving to the Tarpeena Football Club to enjoy a barbecue by the Tarpeena Progress Association and view Ash Wednesday newspaper articles and photos.
The event was sponsored by the Tarpeena Progress Association, Grant District Council councillor Karen Turnbull was the MC and the Mount Gambier City Band and Salvation Army Band played music.
Member for Barker Tony Pasin, Independent Member for Mount Gambier Troy Bell and Grant District Council elected members were amongst those in attendance at the event.
Mr Pasin, former Grant councillor Shirley Little and Region 5 CFS Commander Jason Druwitt delivered speeches and event attendees also had the opportunity to share their memories.
Tarpeena Progress Association chairperson and event organiser Rob Berlin said the most memorable aspect of the event was people sharing their personal stories and experiences of Ash Wednesday.
“That made the whole event more meaningful and it allowed other people who may not have been part of Ash Wednesday to participate in their memories,” Mr Berlin said.
“It allowed those who were participating just in coming to get more of a glimpse on how it affected people’s lives personally.
“Given the large amount of property and lives lost, it is important to allow people to grieve and also come together and share their memories as part of that grieving and recovery process.”
Local businesses, organisations and community members laid wreaths outside the hall around the plaque which commemorated the previous Ash Wednesday 25th anniversary.
“They were very beautiful and it is a fitting way to remember Ash Wednesday by using local flora and local plants and flowers that are taken from the local bush here that has recovered and using that to commemorate the ceremony,” Mr Berlin said.
People of all ages attended the event and Mr Berlin said it was important the memories were passed on to the younger generation, who could then tell their children about what happened on Ash Wednesday.
Mr Berlin thanked everyone who helped organise the event.
