THE Wimmera community will gather next month to mark 10 years since the Remlaw fire.
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A power pole in Remlaw Road, Horsham, sparked a bushfire on February 7, 2009 – the day now known across Victoria as Black Saturday.
The Remlaw fire destroyed multiple homes and Horsham Golf Club.
Haven’s Sue Exell said a commemorative event in Haven on February 2 would be a chance for the community to reflect on the fire.
She said Victorian Governor Linda Dessau would unveil two remembrance gates, which will bear commemorative locks from people in the community.
“The governor will be coming in the afternoon, and our plan is to take her on a bus trip around the fire site to look at the golf club and the homes that have been rebuilt,” she said.
“The event will coincide with the Haven Market. There will be extra kids activities and afternoon tea at Haven Hall. That night we will have a concert with All The Kings Men.
“We wanted to make it a family event that was open to anyone.”
Mrs Exell said the commemoration would also highlight the progress the community had made since the fire, including a range of projects at Haven Recreation Reserve.
“My absolute priority was to get a playground for the kids, as their playground was destroyed,” she said.
“We’d been trying for years to get an electric barbecue, and we were able to get that and some shade sails and landscaping.
“We also got funding to do a picnic gazebo, and within that we've been able to do information boards with Haven’s history and bushfire story.
“We’ve got new public toilets as well.”
Mrs Exell said memories of the bushfire would live on in the community forever.
“It’s a horrible thing to happen to a community, and it affects everyone,” she said.
“Every person has a story of that day and what they were doing.
“Everyone gets going again, but in different ways. It’s been a real journey.”