if an exhaustive list of names could not be read as victims are yet to be identified and even discovered then it is better that no names be mentioned. we cannot speak any names unless we are sure we can name everyone who fell to the flames. I don't think that that guarantee could be offered!

I wholeheartedly agree that at some point in the memorial ceremony, the names of all those who are known to have died so far, should have been read out. I automatically thought this would have happened, but was shocked when I heard that apparently it didn't. I believe this is indeed a gross oversight on the part of those who organised the service. I didn't attend the service in person and have only seen excerpts of it on television - so I had no idea the names had not been read.

Well said Rosslyn. I hate to bring it up but the tragic thing about this whole sorry affair is that much if not all of it could have been avoided if due attention had been given to numerous reports over many years regarding the need for adequate forest management. Time and time again these warnings were largely ignored because hey, the Aussies are thrashing someone at cricket, the latest film is out and of course there is some silly outrage somewhere that we have to get worried about. Stories of responsible forest managment do not rate a mention when the papers can get us all upset about our pet prejudices whether it is a religious minority, Schappele's worries, "bloody Howard or Bush", state government waste or Kylie's new show (no offence Kylie, just not to my taste) Living in this great land we have "life on toast" and with such good fortune we really never have to worry about anything much. We are easily distracted because of our moral affluence, therefore "it can't happen here!". Publishing the photos and names of each of these lost Australians will really drive the message home that these people are just like us and that their loss hurts. We need the stories of tragedy to fully realise the reality of living. By looking at the photos of our departed we will realise that we are not immune from cyclones, bombings, cholera, starvation, despots, wholesale genocide, corruption and senseless murder. And with this message hitting us where it hurts, maybe the steps will be taken to make the changes that are needed to ensure that it won't happen again.

I thought the whole point of the ceremony was to remember those who died. Yes, the music and the flowers were lovely, but it was all a bit hollow.

Vanessa makes a good point. Too early yet to be sure of an accurate list of who died. If Roslyn had stopped to think - she may have also realised this vital point of sensitivity. It's really sad to think that there's always people that will criticise, from the sidelines, the best efforts of organisers and speakers at this ceremony. Would you be able to organise (the entire ceremony) better?

i cannot believe after such a tragic blow to our country people are bickering over the ceromony, no matter what happens not everyone is going to be happy ever. I wish all the effort put into bickering was used for good doings, instead of ppl having to voice opinions on such a sensitive subject. I think its up to those directly affected to be the ones who have right to voice their opinions, instead of ppl who just want to throw in their 5 cents all the time.

I must say i am somewhat taken back by the critisism regarding a memorial event. One's personal expectation of a ceremony should not overshadow the tragic events and the sheer dedication and commitment that was made by individuals and the government to assist those that required assistance. To read a list of names of the deceased without it being complete would be inappropriate to those whom loved ones are not named for either legislative / investigative or other reasons that the general public may not be aware off. In any incidents where there are multiple victims of great scale, a thourough process has to be followed to include all those that were directly effected by that horrendous event and exclude those that are not directly involved in that event. There are many examples i can give to support this process, however the main focus of this article should be that the ceremony is about people being able to express their grief and feel united in their expression of grief and this ceremony did just that. It is the first step in a healing process to acknowledge the expression of deep shock and horror and dismay at the occrence of that day. Individual expectations of a names being read out to acknowledge individual is just that, it is an individual expectation and does not neccesserily express a wholistic point of view. Did the writer of that comment care to find out if the effected families were consultated whether or not they wanted the names of the deceased read out?? I respectfully disrespect the authors views and see no benefit in writing an article the way it has been written even for the purpose of discussing possible outcomes and acknowledgement of the contribution that some of the deceased individuals made to Australia at this time so soon post the horrific event of that day. Any person regardless of their statue or contribution to society has a the right to be mourned by their family, friends, collegues and aquintances. To solemly single out people that have had the opportunity to contribute at a greater level then other that dies on that day would not be appropriate nor serve any greater purpose compared to a person that didnt contribute at that level and also died on that day from the fire. I am convinced that if the author had either been on location during the fire event or immideate post event , the author would have experienced that in times of emergency any person regardless of their statue or contribution in society is simply another human being fighting for survival at that time and fear, stress and anxiety doesn not diffirentiate in that either. People will help each other in times of emergency to the best of their ability within their means capable at that time. The most ordinary citizen can be become the most capable person under that circumstance whilst they may not be anyone significant in their daily life as purported by the author. We must never forget that we are all human and no one is greater than any one else for the greatest person is yourself. We all contribute to each other and we all have families or other people that love us and mourn us if we die, that mourning, the loss of a loved is is the same for every human being, let us respect that loss and respect the fact that those loved ones left behind are struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss they have experienced. Lets be sensitive to their feelings and lets not rush in to establish scholarships for one and forget another. Tragic events of this type are indiscriminent as to who gets effected.

You have said what needed to be said so compassionately, Rosslyn and thank you from the bottom of my heart. Yes, the dead needed to be lovingly brought to our minds on that Day of Mourning. Perhaps that was not possible this year as not conclusive. But they are NOT a statistic - they are, or were, living, breathing and enjoying life - were devoured by a ghastly "dragon" they could not have anticipated or fought - and are to be perpetually honored. Our daughter and son-in-law lost her home and all they possessed in Kinglake, having battles as many do to turn their modest house into a loving, welcoming home during the ten years they were there. They had an open house policy, and all were very welcome. They escaped with 2 minutes to spare with their autistic child, their friend (whom she had previously driven through a wall of flames to rescue from his home) and their dog. They sheltered under wet towels and blankets in their little olive grove and watched their beloved house burn down in 6 minutes. She could not bear to watch it burn. So many heroes that day - and her and her husband's cool heads in implementing their fire plan when it was obvious all was lost saved them all. They are absolutely broken hearted at their loss, and morseo by the fact that they are now having to live dislocated from the community they love and work so hard for, being re-located 45 minutes away in the suburbs. They have deep grief at having lost many friends. Their little boy's school was lost. She was also injured during their escape, yet has worked non-stop daily, never off the phones, with no thought for herself, to help the community, as as her best friend, whose husband Peter Thorneycroft saved the Kinglake pub and the twenty or so women and children who'd taken shelter in the cool room, by climbing on the roof and bucketing it down, all with an injured unuseable arm. I finally persuaded her to see a doctor, two weeks after the event. She had severe bruising, and an injured knee and neck. Radio 774 last night broadcast from Kinglake - our daughter, a very dedicated voluntary community leader, was not put to air despite my two phone calls to the producers mentioning her and her outstanding work on gaining substantial funding, etc for the benefit of Kinglake over many years via the entity she conceived and runs, KANDO. Or why not interview local heroes such as Peter Thorneycroft? Instead, we were subjected to long interviews about the personal lives of the people belonging to the group who had arranged this event, or listened to people calling in, one of whom said he had invented a new dance, called the "Kinglake Stomp". Is that appropriate - or did it warrant the laugh it got? No, it was in abominable taste, showing no respect for the dead and dispossessed... We also heard a long interview with some American Western band, who finally played a rambling tune they'd composed about "Marysville," and a long chat about their coming performance at Port Fairy, a good free ad.. Another long interview with a couple who had only been in the district for a month or so. And lots of laughter and joking and long drawn out stories about themselves from the people who'd helped organise this broadcast, of whom all but one (I think) whom had not lost their homes, and were fortunate enough to be still living in the district, their lives proceeding as they have in the past. Our daughter and her contribution to Kinglake was totally discounted. She has had no message of concern of compassion from any of the people she knows and works in with, who arranged this broadcast, yet she was responsible for obtaining the major funding which had provided the career opporunity for one of the persons interviewed on this program at such length. On that program too, there was no mention of death, grief, the people lost, or the immensity of the tragedy. Just lots of laughter, and an "Oh well, it's all over now - let's move on" flippancy, so easy for those who are not now re-located and ilolated from their community. My daughter said they feel like refugees, and their whole life has been pulled out from under them. She has had more love and compassion from her new landlady and her friends, who have moved mountaisn to accomodate them and make them welcome, than from any of the people on last night's broadcast. Well, it is NOT time for moving on; it is NOT all over, and moreso for those who have lost homes, and been so cruelly torn away from the happy lives that they led. Not a mention of them!! A friend told me that after the Mourning Ceremony he was off to Government House to meet Princess Anne that evening - "of course, all the VIP's will be there," he said. My reply was that that would be nice, but that no, those people were not VIP's at all; to my mind the VIP's were the dead of Kinglake, (and their forever unknown but magnificent efforts they would have put up to save themselves and their families) and the people who had lost homes and tried to help and save others as they did so. Yes, Rosslyn, this was NOT about VIP's, but about the bravery whiuch will go mostly unsung and unknown amongst those who suffered so, and lost their lives, that unspeakable day. Next year, a ceremony with the reading of all names by then available please. Forget the petty politics and the superflous light-hearted self-interested waffling which constituted much of what we were subjected to by 774 last night, which took no account of the ongoing sufferings and heartache of so many. Thank you again Rosslyn for saying much of what needed to be said. Ity should be noted that most of Kinglake residents so badly effected chose not to attend the ceremony, being still to distraught to leave the mountain, or to face the long mourning process they will have to endure. Last night, for the first time in two weeks, I cried lots of tears, and had little sleep, because I realised that there are some who are so insensitive, and show such lack of compassion for someone who deserves better. The 774 producer was guilty of this, as were most who were behind this program. My daughter was awarded a Pride of Australia Award for her community work, and also a Tattersall's Award. KANDO, previously unfunded, now has some modest funding, thanks to Tattersalls. Self-effacing, she did not seek this kudos. Other had nominated her. There are many many like her in Kinglake - and through them and their efforts, the township will, eventually, recover.

209 deaths but no official names but still 209 people. Yet many of us know a name or have connections. I knew the Aherns, Rex Norris was my father's cousin, Katie Ansett was a dancer, my borther-in-law's school friend - the list goes on. They are people that were known and loved. who have lost their homes and comment "We just got out with the dog" - and they really mean "just" got out. The fear and shock visible in their eyes and here they are back at work - life must be like a surreal painting for these people. We are all terrified that some will never be found, will never be counted, will never be mourned - we see ourselves in these shadows - we will not forget.

When we finally left the mountain (kinglake) on the Sunday I couldn't understand why the rest of the world was going on as normal our lives and our world as we knew it has been destroyed. I feel the Government has now taken the approach that as we are know longer on the front page we are OK, we are not my husband is not coping our marriage is crumbling and the Government is now making us jump through hoops to access the grants from the money that people have donated to us not the government. This money was meant to make our rebuilding easier not harder the new building regulations our pricing us out of rebuilding without these grants. This worry is making our life very difficult.