Bushfire MemorialPrint Page 
The sculptured fountain commemorates those impacted by the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009. The four metre tall metal scupture of a ghost gum, and includes two drinking fountains. The installation has brass gum leaves, harmonic bells and contributions of text and poetry from local writers, which have been laser cut into the metal.
The 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria were the most devastating in Australian history; 173 people tragically lost their lives, 414 were injured, more than a million wild and domesticated animals were lost and 450,000 hectares of land were burned.
In February 2009, the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments jointly established the $10 million Community Recovery Fund to assist in community development and recovery after the Victorian bushfires. Funding of $2.5 million was allocated for memorials and commemorative events and has supported the creation of 59 memorials across 18 councils through extensive consultation with those communities impacted by the fires. The memorials include walls, sculptures, places of reflection, storyboards, lookout towers, roadside stops, shelters, signage, murals, plaques and seating, commemorative gardens and rotundas.
Location
| Address: | Stanbridge & Duke Streets, Daylesford Community Park, Daylesford, 3460 |
|---|---|
| State: | VIC |
| Area: | AUS |
| GPS Coordinates: | Lat: -37.345957 Long: 144.143517 Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate. |
Details
| Monument Type: | Sculpture |
|---|---|
| Monument Theme: | Disaster |
| Sub-Theme: | Fire |
| Actual Event Start Date: | 07-February-2009 |
| Actual Event End Date: | 07-February-2009 |
| Designer: | Dr Anton Hassell |
| Link: | http://www.rdv.vic.gov.au |
Dedication
| Actual Monument Dedication Date: | Wednesday 5th December, 2012 |
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Raging fire, burning hot
We pray to God, that it will stop,
Destroying much that we hold dear
2009 bush fires happened here
JG
The sun’s eye with tears of sadness, at the destructive burning below.
everything conspired, to review by fire,
The sum of all men’s efforts.
PS
The heavy pall of Black Saturday weighs over us.
Dad’s out there, fighting it.
I call him,
“will we be okay?”
He says, “yes”
LJ
The brutal beauty of the wild flames, like a weaving meanders through trees.
Leaving behind a trail of black landscapes.
Observe.
Exquisite beauty.
PS
Hot embers smoulder,
With searching eyes,
Red like rubies,
Silence of the night,
Snapping twigs on black.
Mark your space now,
stand in remembrance.
EP
