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Premier's Column
Black Saturday – one year on
Feb 9, 2010
No Victorian will ever forget February 2009. One hundred and seventy-three men, women and children lost their lives in the Gippsland and Black Saturday fires.
Many more lost homes, property and their livelihoods. Entire communities were destroyed.
It was Australia’s worst natural disaster and one of the darkest chapters in Victorian history.
This first anniversary of the Black Saturday fires was always going to be a difficult time for Victorians – especially for the many people who lost family and friends.
And I’m sure I speak for all Victorians when I say that our hearts go out to all of those people who experienced loss during that awful time.
While on Black Saturday we saw the worst of what nature can do, we also saw the very best of human nature. The tragedy brought out the very best in our strong and close-knit community here in Victoria.
The overwhelming public response to Black Saturday was inspiring. Hundreds of thousands of people from across Victoria and around Australia donated money, blood and enough goods to fill the MCG. Others donated their expertise, or simply their time, to help people get back on their feet.
It is this strong sense of community that is helping us to recover and rebuild. This united effort from so many individuals and organisations, including our strong and vibrant Indian community, says a lot about our state. It shows how much we care about our fellow Victorians and how we can come together in a crisis.
In September last year I was privileged to visit the Sikh temple in Blackburn, where I was able to personally thank the Sikh community for their charitable work , including supporting those affected by the bushfires.
Many other Indian community organisations also gave generously to support needy Victorians after the fires.
It is my hope that we can capture something of the spirit shown in the aftermath of Black Saturday as we deal with some of the other big changes and challenges we face as a State, including alcohol abuse and violence. That’s why our Government is working hard to encourage a culture of respect here in Victoria and promoting values such as tolerance, empathy, fairness and respect.
We want to build on our state’s proud tradition of philanthropy, volunteerism and helping those in need, to encourage greater community involvement across Victoria.
Recently I visited Footscray City College to discuss a new program being rolled out in schools this year to promote more respectful behaviour. I firmly believe that our classrooms can be the engine rooms of this cultural change.
It is up to everyone – to all of us – to help build a culture of respect.
Our challenges must be faced together, and not apart. We must face them as a community, because these issues affect us all. The strength of our community spirit should never be taken for granted. It is something which should be nurtured and celebrated.
It was Australia’s worst natural disaster and one of the darkest chapters in Victorian history.
This first anniversary of the Black Saturday fires was always going to be a difficult time for Victorians – especially for the many people who lost family and friends.
And I’m sure I speak for all Victorians when I say that our hearts go out to all of those people who experienced loss during that awful time.
While on Black Saturday we saw the worst of what nature can do, we also saw the very best of human nature. The tragedy brought out the very best in our strong and close-knit community here in Victoria.
The overwhelming public response to Black Saturday was inspiring. Hundreds of thousands of people from across Victoria and around Australia donated money, blood and enough goods to fill the MCG. Others donated their expertise, or simply their time, to help people get back on their feet.
It is this strong sense of community that is helping us to recover and rebuild. This united effort from so many individuals and organisations, including our strong and vibrant Indian community, says a lot about our state. It shows how much we care about our fellow Victorians and how we can come together in a crisis.
In September last year I was privileged to visit the Sikh temple in Blackburn, where I was able to personally thank the Sikh community for their charitable work , including supporting those affected by the bushfires.
Many other Indian community organisations also gave generously to support needy Victorians after the fires.
It is my hope that we can capture something of the spirit shown in the aftermath of Black Saturday as we deal with some of the other big changes and challenges we face as a State, including alcohol abuse and violence. That’s why our Government is working hard to encourage a culture of respect here in Victoria and promoting values such as tolerance, empathy, fairness and respect.
We want to build on our state’s proud tradition of philanthropy, volunteerism and helping those in need, to encourage greater community involvement across Victoria.
Recently I visited Footscray City College to discuss a new program being rolled out in schools this year to promote more respectful behaviour. I firmly believe that our classrooms can be the engine rooms of this cultural change.
It is up to everyone – to all of us – to help build a culture of respect.
Our challenges must be faced together, and not apart. We must face them as a community, because these issues affect us all. The strength of our community spirit should never be taken for granted. It is something which should be nurtured and celebrated.