Summary

One of 34 pre-printed yellow ribbons placed on 'The Tree of Remembrance' at the 2nd Anniversary Memorial Service to commemorate the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Placed on tree by John Broughton, VICPOL Chaplain.

These 34 pre-printed 'Ribbons of Remembrance' ribbons, were created to acknowledge the various communities from across Victoria including the bereaved, and placed on branches of the 'Tree of Remembrance' by community representatives. The communities identified were: Bendigo, Kinglake Ranges, Drouin West, Cardinia, Flowerdale, Indigo, Yarra Ranges, Boolarra & Yinnar, St Andrews & Christmas Hills, Casey, Mitchell Shire, Strath Creek, Labertouche, Hepburn, Longwarry, Whittlesea, Gormandale, Redesdale, Horsham, Marysville & Triangle, Bowman Murmungee, Toolangi & Castella, Balook, Alpine, Corangamite, Melba Group, Jindivick, Southern Grampians, Yarram, Hazelwood-Jeeralang, Strathewen, Traralgon South & District, Mirboo North, Bereaved Community.

The 2nd Anniversary Memorial Service was held on Sunday 6th February 2011 at Zinc Space in Federation Square, Melbourne. The service was organised by staff of the Victorian Bushfires Reconstruction and Recovery Commission (VBRRA), with input from Community Recovery Committees and the Bereaved Committee Advisory Group. The inter-faith service was led by retired Victoria Police Chaplain, Reverend Jim Pilmer, with the theme of 'Remember, Reflect, Hope'. The service was attended by about 400 people including community representatives, members of the bereaved community, dignitaries and the general public. Poems and musical performances were presented by community members from fire-affected areas, many of these were composed as a result of their experience of the 2009 bushfires.

Those attending the service were invited to participate in a number of symbolic rituals, including the following: 65 hand written ribbons placed on the tree by those attending, to honour the family and friends who died as a result of the 2009 bushfires; representatives from the various faith communities cast flower petals on the tree as a sign of the combined religious blessing; and Christine Nixon lit a 'Candle of Remembrance' in memory of the 173 people who lost their lives and as a symbol of light and hope for the future.

Following the February service, the 'Tree of Remembrance' was exhibited twice at the Rebuilding Advisory Centres at Marysville and Kinglake, with a month in each location. Blank yellow ribbons were available for visitors to write and attach messages to the tree.

Physical Description

Length of yellow ribbon with black embroidered text.

Significance

The 2nd Anniversary Memorial Service commemorating the 2009 Victorian Bushfires encouraged people to actively participate in the service by writing a message on a 'ribbon of remembrance'. These items give form to the grief and the many ways in which symbols and rituals were used to mark this anniversary. The 2nd anniversary memorial service also shows the significant ways in which the impact of the disaster has rippled out into wider circles beyond those who were directly impacted. Where the 1st anniversary service was concerned with commemorating the loss of 173 people, the 2nd anniversary service paid particular attention to the impact of the disaster on locations, towns and broader communities, including the bereaved.

More Information