The Victorian parliament has observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect for the 173 people who died and others who were affected by the Black Saturday bushfires.
Flags on government buildings flew at half-mast and a minute's silence was also observed in government offices on the third anniversary of the worst natural disaster in Australia's history.
Premier Ted Baillieu recalled the morning after Black Saturday, when he was standing at Kangaroo Ground Memorial Tower and surveying the devastation with then-premier John Brumby.
"I will certainly never forget the look on the premier's face who arrived, I think, fresh from Whittlesea," he told parliament.
"Many people and many communities continue to suffer.
"We must never forget. We must never let go. We must be there to support these communities."
Deputy Premier Peter Ryan recalled being turned back on the highway on his way to Melbourne from Sale on the day of the bushfires.
Back at his home in Gippsland he began receiving reports about the devastation they were wreaking.
"I suppose the most awful of them, was that late that evening I did receive a call to the effect that, as the expression was used, Marysville was gone," he told reporters.
"It was a terrible, terrible day, a terrible day, a shocking chapter in the history of Victoria."
Front page
RSS Feed