By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A SITE that sheltered the Hills’ most vulnerable during the devastating Ash Wednesday fires was unveiled to the Cockatoo township last weekend.
The soon to be completed Cockatoo Memorial was opened up to the public on Saturday, 4 July for a public inspection.
The former kindergarten holds a precious place in a lot of locals’ hearts, with the site acting as a life-saving refuge for around 300 residents as they escaped the tragic Ash Wednesday fires that ripped through the township in February 1983, destroying more than 300 buildings.
Sadly, six lives were also lost during the fatal blaze.
But the memory of those people and the hardship faced by the town will be remembered in at the Cockatoo memorial which will include plaques, bushfire education displays and artwork.
The construction progress to date was put on display by the Ash Wednesday project committee.
It will be a place of reflection and remembrance for the community.
Landscaping is soon due to take place, including a garden showcasing a flowering gum planted by the late Princess of Wales and Prince of Wales during their visit to the site in March 1983.
Pictures of their visit, along with other significant images captured during the wake of the blaze, were on display during the event.
The memorial event has been jointly funded by the Australian Government ($500,000), Cardinia Shire Council ($300,000) and the Victorian Heritage Restoration Fund ($100,000).
Cardinia Shire Mayor Leticia Wilmot said the memorial not only remembered those lost in the blaze, but paid tribute to the fire-fighters and other emergency services who worked to help the devastated town.
“It will also raise visitors’ awareness of how to protect themselves against the threat of bushfires, which is very important in this geographical area,” Cr Wilmot said.
