Tags:
Black
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fire
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anniversary
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compassion
With Kevin Rudd
The Black Saturday bushfires are indelibly etched in the memories of all Australians.
A year on, the grief is still raw for so many Australians who lost family, friends, homes and livelihoods in this horrific event.
In Bendigo, the Bracewell St fire claimed 61 homes and tragically a life.
The Redesdale fire destroyed 15 houses, hundreds of sheep and cattle and 300 kilometres of fencing.
The people of Bendigo continue to demonstrate the core Australian characteristics of courage, compassion and resilience as their rebuilding and recovery continues.
I would like to commend the local ABC radio for the great service it gave to locals, as well as the local authorities for the magnificent job they did in implementing the city’s disaster plan.
The police, the fire fighters, the emergency services, local health and housing bodies and the City of Greater Bendigo council worked together to restore order and to house families as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Those who volunteered their time should also be commended.
The Australian Government is working with the State Government, the council and local businesses to
rebuild.
The Australian Government has provided more than $455 million to the recovery and
rebuilding efforts across Victoria.
In Bendigo, those efforts include rebuilding the Long Gully Community Centre, revegetating Bracewell Street, and improving water treatment at several properties destroyed in the fires.
We have come a long way together in 12 months.
I trust the future is now looking brighter in Bendigo.
