Bushfire Memorial Unveiled
3 Nov 11
The iconic image of a local fireman feeding a distressed koala, transformed into a magnificent bas-relief sculpture had its unveiling on Saturday morning.
Numerous dignitaries, CFA volunteers past and present, representatives of other community groups, as well as many members of the public were on hand to witness the unveiling.
Universal response to the 2.4 x 1.5 metre bas-relief sculpture by well known artist Michael Mezaros was one of acclaim.
A last minute possible hitch to the event, the discovery Saturday morning the work had been graffitied was met with typical community spirit.
As Ned Dennis, Chairman of the Mirboo North and District Bushfire Recovery Committee told the many present Saturday, once the graffiti was noticed, people quickly banded together to remove at least what was on the sculpture itself.
“Thank you for all of those volunteers,” he said. “It encapsulates a bit of the spirit in the community.”
Council staff are to complete this job .
“I can assure anyone who’s here that the local committee took a long time thinking about what is a good way to use that memorial fund,” he said.
He also emphasised that money from the memorial fund could only be used for that purpose.
An unveiling team of eight were on hand, present CFA Captain Rob Nyhuis and CFA Captain at the time of the 2009 fires Mark Bourke doing the official unveiling.
Other members of the unveiling team were primary school captains Georgia Anton and Ben Phillips, as well as chair of the rail trail committee, and members of the Wednesday Warriors.
A sometimes emotional Russell Broadbent, MHR for McMillan, said in his comments, “This is a momentous occasion. Especially today I would like to recognise all of the volunteer firemen that have
gone before us over the generations of this great nation, not just the David Trees of this world.”