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Ash Wednesday MemorialPrint Page Print this page

Ash Wednesday : 17-July-2011
Ash Wednesday : 17-July-2011
Photographs supplied by Graeme Saunders

The plaque on The Sisters War Memorial commemorates the organisations and individuals who offered their assistance during the bushfires of Ash Wednesday in February 1983.

The Ash Wednesday bushfires, known in South Australia as Ash Wednesday II, were a series of bushfires that occurred in south-eastern Australia on 16 February 1983, which was Ash Wednesday in the Christian calendar. Within twelve hours, more than 180 fires fanned by winds of up to 110 km/h (68 mph) caused widespread destruction across the states of Victoria and South Australia.Years of severe drought and extreme weather combined to create one of Australia's worst fire days in a century. The fires became the deadliest bushfire in Australian history until the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009.

In Victoria 47 people died. There were 28 deaths in South Australia. This included 14 CFA and 3 CFS volunteer fire-fighters who died across both states that day.

Location

Address:Mortlake - Framlingham Road, War Memorial, Memorial Hall, The Sisters, 3265
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -38.192217
Long: 142.779484
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Plaque
Monument Theme:Disaster
Sub-Theme:Fire
Actual Event Start Date:16-February-1983
Actual Event End Date:16-February-1983

Dedication

Front Inscription

Ash Wednesday

This plaque was erected by the residents of "The Sisters",

In appreciation of the organizations and individuals, who generously offered their assistance to those in need, during and  after the devastating fire on Ash Wednesday, February 16th, 1983.

Source: MA
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au