Summary

Booklet titled 'Ash Wednesday', jointly published by the Melbourne Age and Adelaide Advertiser in 1983. This booklet records the magnitude of the Ash Wednesday bushfires that took place on Wednesday 16th February,1983. It describes, through newspaper articles and associated imagery, how Victorian and South Australian towns were affected on this day and how they coped with the aftermath. The proceeds of the publication were donated to the bushfire relief in both Victoria and South Australia.

Physical Description

96 paged saddle stitched booklet with 6 page gate fold cover. Printed in combined black and white and full colour throughout. Cover has full bleed image of forest trees on fire. Title text is red and white reversed out of cover image.

Significance

Up until the time of Black Saturday, the Ash Wednesday bushfires were considered the most significant Victorian bushfire event in recent memory. This similar tragedy happened some 26 years before Black Saturday. The booklet documents the effects of bushfires on communities during and post disaster and draws vivid similarities from this experience. This booklet also reveals changes to fundraising publications over time.

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