Ten years after one of Victoria’s worst train disasters, victims were remembered at a memorial service in Kerang on Monday.
More than 300 people, including Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and former Premier Steve Bracks, attended the Kerang Memorial Hall to commemorate the 11 train passengers who were killed when a semi-trailer ploughed into a Melbourne-bound V/Line train, 6km north of Kerang, on June 5, 2007.
Families of the victims cried as they lit candles and reflected on how their lives had changed shortly after 1.30pm on that day.
Pastor Bob Field reminded the congregation to continue to support one another.
“We’re here to remember and remember well, to mark this occasion sensitively and warmly,” Pastor Field said.
Pastor Russell Drowley, from Eternity Kerang Centre, said those gathered shared something in common, but not what they wanted in common.
“Memories are a gift that I believe has been given to us by God, which inevitably brings us great joy but we would never understand true joy unless we had experienced sadness and grief,” he said.
“We gather with something in common, but not what we might want in common.
“Without joy we wouldn’t know the pain, and without the pain we wouldn’t know the joy.
“We come together because of love…we remember the smiles, the frowns and share a few words.”
Vanessa Reid’s grandfather Harold Claude Long, 93, was killed in the crash, and she said the last decade had been tough for her family.
“The memorial plaque that they have out up near the scene is a beautiful and means a lot to us and the victims,” Ms Reid said.
Gannawarra Shire Council Mayor Brian Gibson said it was a significant day for the community to give respect back to the victims and their families.
“It gives us the opportunity to share some memories and move forward and share some moments of importance over the last 10 years that we have missed with them,” Cr Gibson said.
“When you have such a significant impact on a disaster in your area, it’s going to impact on your local community.
“Our community was a major part of the response and recovery phase.”
Family and friends of the victims laid flowers at the memorial rock following the service.
More stories and photos in Wednesday’s edition of The Guardian (June 7, 2016).
