Eleven people died, 145 houses & more than 25,861 hectares were destroyed.
The local community was traumatized by the destructive extent of the fires and it seemed that we all knew someone who was affected. Staff members and college families lost property and their homes. We were shocked by the number of deaths. Stories of extraordinary survival were told and retold to friends and family who listened in open mouthed and reverent awe.
And as the days passed and our communities gathered their strength, it became clear that we all had to come together to mark this traumatic event. So, on the first anniversary of what became known as the Churchill Fire, a public memorial took place at the Churchill university hall. Representatives from each of the affected areas came together to comfort one another, pray for strength and honour those who had died.
An Ecumenical Service of Re-Membering was prepared by Lavalla, in consultation with a committee comprising representatives from community churches and local government. The Lavalla Liturgical Choir provided appropriate hymns and Taizé chants.
We will all be familiar with the expression ‘context is everything’… that notion that the deep meaning of an action, word, song or music becomes apparent because of what is happening at the time… meaning is amplified, perception is sharpened and there is a sudden congruence of the moment and the word. There is that explosive moment when our heart surges and we know a deep truth.
Such a moment occurred when the Liturgical choir sang at this public liturgy of Re-Membering
The following passage from St Paul’s letter to the Romans had just been read:
For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
And in the silence that followed… a silence heavy with loss and doubt, a single voice, with the clarity of a silver bell dropped like the dewfall into our midst: The Lord hears the cry of the Poor.
That voice was the pure voice of cantor Amy Wilson. The choir was to the side of the auditorium… not a performance… like a hidden presence confirming the words of Paul… as if heaven had answered with the voice of an angel.
I was present that day and amidst all the comings and goings, prayers and ritual actions, welcomes and thanks, Amy’s voice and its truth remains my most vivid memory and learning of that public event.
You might like to listen to Amy and the Liturgical Choir sing The Cry of the Poor. Click here
I am indebted to Shane Reid who has kept in contact with Amy and he has shared the following information:
Her career has been an incredible one. She initially enrolled in a B.Mus. at Monash but transferred to focus her studies on Science. Dr Amy is now one of Australia’s leading medical researchers. She was funded by the Hudson Institute to complete a Ph.D. and her focus has been on early detection of ovarian cancer. When I last spoke to her, a few years ago, she proudly let me know that she was singing in her parish choir in Melbourne (still serving as a psalm cantor!) before following up to tell me about her research as an aside!
She has become quite the face of her team’s work.
https://www.witchery.com.au/style-collective/amy-wilson/
https://www.hudson.org.au/researcher-profile/amy-wilson/
As I write about this traumatic event in our shared history, I am aware that I am drawing on my deep feelings and shared memories that have largely lain dormant or at best pushed aside.
Fifteen years have passed and though many people are still traumatized by the devastation caused by the fires the forests are recovering, homes have been rebuilt, stock numbers have increased and dark memories slip onto the edge of night. It begs the question: What was it really like?
I came across a Lavalla homeroom prayer that was prepared during the height of the fires (see below). I invite you to read it to get a sense of the impact of the disaster and also to notice the power of hope expressed in the language of faith. I guess that is something our Christian heritage provides. We know the way of shipwreck and can offer words of comfort.
Mike Hansen, archivist 2024
Churchill Bushfires, 2009
Staff & Student Morning Prayer
Eleven people died as a result of the fires, 145 houses were destroyed, and more than 25,861 hectares were ravaged.
Leader: Out of our shock and fear
Leader: Out of our disbelief and denial
Leader: Out of our grief and sadness
God of our hearts,
We are heavy with sadness at the tragedy that has befallen so many people….….
Our minds struggle to come to terms with the horror of these past few days……
Our hearts are like stones in our chests, as we mourn the dead and stand in solidarity with the survivors…..……….
Lord, where is the joy, peace, hope and safety that you promised?
Have you forgotten us, Lord?
Opening Prayer:
Leader: "Protect me, O God, for in you I take refuge." (Psalm 16:1)
God of the mountains and the forests, the awesome power of nature can be both a wonder as well as a source of tragedy. We cry out to you in this time of great need for the people affected by the wild fires in our State.
Almighty and everlasting God, comfort of the sad and source of strength to those who suffer: Let the prayers of your children who are in trouble rise to you. We lift up to you the people of Callignee, Balook, Jeeralang and the local Churchill area… the families of King Lake, Marysville… and in all the places where wildfire has taken its toll.
For those who have lost loved ones, grant your peace; for those who have lost homes, property, livelihood and livestock, grant your resilience; for those who seek shelter and food, grant your comfort; for those suffering terrible burns, grant your healing; for those whose lives have been shattered, grant your strength; for those who have lost everything, grant that we may be their hope.
God of wisdom and strength, guide the hands of those who provide emergency relief. We entrust to you those who fight against the power of the flames, those who care for the bereaved, those with the gift of healing, those who carry the burdens of moving debris, and those who distribute much needed supplies. Give them the endurance that is needed to continue their good works.
God of all consolation, in the midst of things we shudder to think about, tragedy of historic proportions, and grieving too heavy to bear, grant your peace. This is a time when we welcome your Word of hope born into our world. May that hope settle in our hearts.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our comforter and consoler. All: Amen
