Candles for bushfire victims

By Kath Gannaway
A ROLL-CALL of the men, women and children who died in the 1939 bushfires was held at St Marys Anglican Church in Warburton on Tuesday.
Seven decades on from Black Friday, The Reverend Gail Pinchbeck spoke of the tragic loss of life across the state, the impact on families and community, and of the resilience of those who rallied to deal with the disaster.
The commemoration service was part of the week-long 1939 Bushfires event which included a gathering of more than 300 people on Saturday night, films, photo, newspaper and art displays.
As The Rev Pinchbeck read out the 71 names of those who died in the fires, and two who died as a result of injuries received, a candle was lit and placed on the altar.
Georgia McDonald (nee Fitzpatrick), will turn 70 on 12 September. She lit candles for George Fitzpatrick, the father she never knew, her grandfather, James Fitzpatrick and her uncle, Cecil Fitzpatrick. They were among the 15 men who died at Fitzpatrick’s mill at Matlock.
Trixie McDonald was a month pregnant with Georgia when the horrible news came through.
She said she felt the burden of the tragedy all her life but that the commemoration had given her a sense of closure.
“All these years all I’ve heard about was the fires but there was never ever a service.
“I’ve been to my father’s grave in Deniliquin and that has been moving but nothing like that night.
“It was a real comfort to be able light those candles,” she said.
Among the names were:
Charles Demby and John Barling who died at Toolangi.
Kenneth Kerslake, wife Eileen and daughter Ruth, Frank Edwards, Chris Soldaris, Antonio and Peter Igoshus died at Narbethong.
Vivian Argent, James Cain, Joseph Cherry, Arthur Wyatt, Thomas Le Brun, John West, Archibald Payne, Samuel Sims, Baden Johnson, Alfred Neason, Peter Murdock and George Brundrett died at Rubicon.
James, Cecil and George Fitzpatrick, William Illingsworth and son Henry, James Knucky, James Howitt, George Osterman, James Rogers, Michael Rogers, Alexander Kent, Kevin Kearns, Walter Gladigau, John Wallace, Thomas Crowley, Vera Ada Maynrd and Thomas Rusdon died at Matlock.
Ellen O’Keefe died at Woods Point.
Hugh MacKinnon died at Noojee.
Alfred Bentley Saxton, wife Dorothy, and Michael Gorey died at Tanjil Bren.
Frank Poynton, Benjamin Rowley, wife Agnes, sons John and Benjamin and daughter Mary died at Fumina North.
Daniel Cusack died during the construction of a bridge after the fires at Powelltown and Jack Weatherley died as a result of a truck accident after fighting the fires on Mt Donna Buang.
Twenty-two people died in other areas of Victoria.