The devastating bushfires across much of the South East region on Ash Wednesday 1983 were recalled by a gathering of 200 at a public commemoration at Kalangadoo on Thursday afternoon.
They met at the Ash Wednesday memorial near the Kalangadoo CFS Brigade fire station on Railway Terrace.
It was timed to occur 40 years to the day since the tragedy.
A service lasting 35 minutes was conducted by Anglican Church lay reader and former Kalangadoo CFS Brigade captain Howard Young.
As well as leading the gathering in prayer, Mr Young read a message on behalf of Wattle Range Mayor Des Noll.
Mayor Noll was an apology as he was attending a meeting of the Local Government Association of South Australia in Adelaide on Thursday.
In his monthly report to council, he said the Ash Wednesday fires in SA and Victoria were one of the most significant bushfires events in Australian history.
“More than 180 fires occurred on February 16, 1983, including eight major blazes across several towns and communities with many local volunteer firefighters and community members involved,” Mayor Noll said.
“We reflect and remember the loss of life and hardship for those that suffered during this event.
“We acknowledge and remember those community members who tragically lost their lives during that catastrophic event of Ash Wednesday.”
During the service, the memory of the 10 local fire victims was honoured by the laying of wreaths by their kith and kin.
Remembered were Mary Williams and her children Robert, Joanne, Penelope and David along with Gavin Rogers, Peter Howe, Martin Rogers, Gordon Ey and Stephanie Prance (nee Young).
Among the other wreaths was one from the Kalangadoo CFS Brigade which was laid by its captain Mariska Hawke and another from the Kalangadoo Red Cross placed by Leanne Young.
Wattle Range CFS group officer Fred Stent was in attendance along with fellow volunteer firefighters from the Kalangadoo, Mount Burr and Glencoe brigades.
They wore their dress uniforms and medals as a mark of respect.
Kalangadoo Primary School students placed a wreath on behalf of Wattle Range Council while Kalangadoo netballers and footballers also paid their respects.
Lifelong Kalangadoo resident Marion Hawke was present and took to social media to extend her thanks to the organisers of the Ash Wednesday memorial service.
“It was quiet, respectful and reflective,” Ms Hawke said.
The commemoration was arranged by an impromptu committee drawn from the local history group and the Kalangadoo Remembers committee.
Spokesman Peter Savage said it was thought to be appropriate among locals for the Kalangadoo community to mark 40 years since the tragic fires on February 16, 1983.
Mr Savage said the group arranged for the Ash Wednesday memorial to be upgraded.
It had been erected by the Kalangadoo CFS in 1998.
“We were able to make contact with the families of all the fire victims with one exception,” Mr Savage said.
“We were not able to find the family of Peter Howe and so his memorial wreath was laid by Shirley Little, of Tarpeena.
“The attention of the Kalangadoo Remembers now turns to the pre-Anzac Day dawn service on Sunday, April 23 at the cemetery.
“We will be remembering World War II soldiers Des Osborne and Victor Mattner along with Vietnam War veteran Ian Robinson.”
The Kalangadoo Remembers committee was formed over a decade ago with the express purpose of honouring wartime service and sacrifice.
The Kalangadoo RSL sub-branch had gone into recess in the 1990s and their clubrooms sold.
