Premier’s speech delivered at the ecumenical ceremony held at St Mary’s Church, Snug
Today we mark 50 years since the tragic fires of 1967. An event that has become part of the very fabric of our State and who we are.
I wasn't yet born in 1967. Yet an image implanted in my mind – and from a very young age – was of a young mother, holding her infant daughter while pregnant with a second child (my older sisters) in the waters off Kingston Beach, escaping the terrifying danger of the fires engulfing communities in this region; taking property and lives.
Today we remember a catastrophic event. We remember those who lost their lives, and their loved ones who have suffered since. We remember the property and livelihoods lost, and an environment devastated.
Black Tuesday is indeed forever etched in the story of Tasmania, but as a reminder also of the strength of our people, our community, which came together in crisis.
We also remember the bravery of our firefighters and our emergency services; the heroism of the volunteers; all those in our community that bonded in the face of the most catastrophic fires in our State’s history.
And we are reminded of our spirit; our resilience; our sense of community; and of good neighbourliness.
This church is a symbol of that; twice destroyed. First, on New Year's Eve 1897 in fires dubbed the Black Friday fires. Unbeaten, the community built a new church together with a bell mounted on a tower.
Seventy years later history repeated itself. The Black Tuesday bushfires ravaged this district and again, decimated the church and the only thing standing was the bell and its tower.
It has since been a sign of resilience and of hope and today it serves as a reminder to us of the importance of community.
Many faiths came together to rebuild this church, and several used it for a time until their own churches were re-established.
In the spirit of ecumenicalism, whole communities also showed strength and courage.
We take time to remember those who were lost. We share the grief of their families and friends who still suffer. We offer our support and we give thanks for the strength of our community.
And we honour that today by reminding ourselves of the need to be vigilant and to be prepared.