Bushfire Memorials Update
Mitchell Shire Council has received funding from the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority to support the creation of memorials and commemorative events.
Community memorials can give people the opportunity to reflect and remember the impact of the bushfires and act as an important step in rebuilding communities.
The funding is subject to guidelines and criteria that must be adhered to.
The funds are available to create community memorials or hold memorial events to:
- Remember the bushfire events
- Recognise the scale, impact and diversity of loss
- Honour the courage and efforts of community members and emergency service workers who risked their lives to help others
- Commemorate the spirit of the community during recovery
There are many different examples of what a memorial could be, for example
- an event to mark the one-year anniversary of the bushfires,
- the development of a place for reflection
- creation of a monument, plaque or signage
- Community artists working with the community to plan, design and contribute to an art installation
Although Mitchell Shire Council is accountable for the funding provided and will be ultimately responsible for the execution of the project they will be working directly with the Mitchell Community Recovery Action Group (MCRAG) and the individual Community Advisory Group (CAG's) and other interested members of the Mitchell Shire.
To date, information about the proposed memorial has been advertised publicly in the local papers in the "Connecting Communities" Mitchell Shire news page, by letter to all known local artists and via the bushfire recovery officers to the local CAGs.
I was pleased to be given the opportunity to directly address the members of the MCRAG at their meeting on Thursday evening 17 September. At that meeting I emphasised that at this stage there has been no decision made about the form, nature or location of any memorial in Mitchell, and ensured everyone that no decision would be taken until further extensive consultation has taken place.
Many artists have already come forward to offer their time and talents to the creation of a memorial and a group of these artists is currently working together and talking with the community to formulate an initial concept which will then be circulated to the CAG's. It is expected that the feedback from a concept plan will assist the group to finalise a design that can then be reviewed and sanctioned by the community as a whole.
One of the really exciting aspects of this process is that the artists are local and in some way were directly affected by the fires. Their ideas seem to grow with every consultation and our intention is that the project be inclusive of all sections of the community. For example the youth of the municipality, who were and still are affected by the fires, will be invited to share their stories and have them incorporated, with their own physical input, into a part of the finished memorial.
First thoughts and comments from the MCRAG emphasised the desire for a memorial of significance that would be able to sustain the test of time, weather and vandalism.
At this stage we are exploring the concept that a significant and symbolic memorial be placed in a yet to be determined location that would reflect and represent not only the events of February 7 but also the days following and the eventual regrowth, rebuilding and reconnecting of the community and the land.
In addition to a significant major central memorial the concept of installing ‘satellite memorials' be located at each of the fire affected areas is also being investigated.
These smaller memorials would probably consist of a representative piece of the major memorial plus something unique to that particular community's story. Artists that have already indicated their interest in participating in this project specialise in a variety of mediums including metal artist and fabricator, wood sculptor, photographer, printmaker, glass and ceramic artist, landscaper and visual artists.
With such a rich and diverse range of skills and talent to call upon there could be few ideas that couldn't be interpreted and incorporated into the memorial.
If you have an idea, a desire to participate of would just like to know more about the bushfire memorial please feel free to contact me directly on 57346 240 or via email chrisp@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au talk to members of your CAG or the Bushfire Recovery Officers, Jo van Dort on mobile 0407 952 529, Jacqui Sims on mobile 0407 944 414.
I look forward to working with you.
Regards
CHRISTINE PAYNE
LIBRARIES, ARTS & CULTURE MANAGER
Tel: 57346 240
Fax: 57346 215
Mobile: 0407 342 018
Email: chrisp@mitchellshire.vic.gov.au