THERE was a deeply religious element to the memorial service for the 11 people killed in the Kerang train disaster 10 years ago.
The service reflected remembrance, recognition, thanks and hope.
At the wishes of the victims’ families, five local faith leaders led the service, including Pastor Bob Field, Father Junjun Amaya, Pastor Russell Drowley, Father John Worrall and Reverend Tawk Kap.
Pastor Field described the service as an occasion to “remember, to remember well… sensitively and warmly in each other’s company”.
As did the families of those killed, Pastor Field paid tribute to all those who rendered assistance on that fateful June day in 2007.
“Today we want to recognise those who turned up in this crisis, and those who continue to turn up with willing hands and open hearts to help us in our distress,” he said.
“Today we say thank you to those who responded to care for the injured, thank you for serving us, thank you for caring us, thank you for stepping up and giving of yourselves to help us.”
Pastor Field urged people to perpetuate the story of the community response in recalling the terrible accident, which he said had become an intrinsic part of the identity of Kerang.
“I would like to encourage that when we tell this story from this day on, the story we will tell is how when called upon in crisis, the people of this town heard that call and rose to the occasion and answered,” he said.
Pastor Russel Drowley spoke about the memories, although painful, that sustained the families of the victims.
“Memories have been given to us as a gift from God; they give us much joy but of course from time to time they bring us much pain, but without this pain there would be no joy and without this joy there would be no pain,” he said.
“There’s a bond, we call it love, and you’ve come today because of your love for those who passed away; today you remember them, you remember the smile, you remember the frown, you remember the good times, you remember the bad times.”
Father Junjun Amaya said that in God, there was hope for all of those who lost loved ones.
“A hope that assures us of two things – that our tears and sorrow will be wiped away, and that we will be reunited with our loved ones beyond death in resurrection,” he said.
All present at the service – more than 300 people – were invited to take part in a ritual of remembrance by lighting a candle for those lost.
Father John Worrall also invited people to undertake a ceremony of release – placing a stone in a bowl of water as a way of releasing grief.
“The stone is a symbol of releasing a burden that you do not need to take home with you, but it does not mean you no longer remember,” he said.
Reverend Tawk Kap concluded the service by leading the audience in a prayer of hope, followed by the Lord’s Prayer.
