Southern Aurora Memorial Committee, Media Release, 11 February 2023
The people of the small Victorian town of Violet Town are quietly celebrating after being awarded a national art award.
“I feel very honoured that the Southern Aurora Memorial Committee has been awarded the top prize for Street Art in the category of Memorials and Monuments,” said Gary Abley, chair of Southern Aurora Memorial Committee.
“We were excited when we were announced as finalists in January in the Australian Street Art Awards, so to take out a top gong really is icing on the cake.”
“I really want to pay tribute to all the creative people, those who helped guide us through their art and design especially Tim Bowtell, Lach Cumming and Chris Mann. And I want to thank our small but dedicated Southern Aurora committee for their voluntary efforts.”
The Southern Aurora Memorial project commenced in 2018 after many chats between Gary Abley and Bruce Cumming about the need to better remember the Southern Aurora Disaster in February 1969 and its significant impact on many people, and to clearly acknowledge the amazing voluntary efforts at the time.
A call for design ideas, committee members and volunteers generated much momentum. The resulting overall concept was to hold a 50th anniversary event in 2019, and create a well designed memorial garden space on a large piece of unused railway land in Cowslip Street. The overall theme was Helping Hands.
“The garden space has been carefully designed and built as a calm and reflective space providing both artistic interpretations and factual information,” said Bruce Cumming, Southern Aurora Project Historian.
“The committee wanted to create a space to help survivors, volunteers, the public, railway people, emergency services and their families reflect and learn about a national tragedy which was at risk of fading from public consciousness.
“It has been heart-warming to meet visitors to the garden from all over Australia, and to read entries in our Facebook page and our visitors book.
“It’s very gratifying to see the good that has been achieved by our combination of art, design and story-telling:
“Never under-estimate the value of art to touch hearts and minds” said Bruce.
Pam Robinson AM, a strong project supporter and past Shire President of Violet Town and Warrenbayne farmer, was thrilled to hear about the Award while attending an international conference in Canada, “I want to pass on my congratulations to the committee and Violettonians for using the arts to create a wonderful space of reflection, remembrance and respect of peoples response to a huge tragedy.”
The incident involved the head-on collision between the intercity overnight passenger express Southern Aurora and a goods train. There were 9 fatalities and virtually all staff and passengers were injured, although official figures only recorded 117 injured.
Men and women from the train, locals from the surrounding area and passers-by put in a massive voluntary effort to fight fires, rescue people, and provide first aid and other support. Bruce Cumming refers to this as, “hundreds of people helping hundreds of people.”
“Being announced as a finalist has already brought more tourists to the town to see the Southern Aurora Memorial Garden, and look around, ” added Gary Abley.
Quotes from the Awards judging panel
In commenting on Southern Aurora Memorial Violet Town’s win, the judges, “congratulated everyone involved in keeping the memory and history of the Southern Aurora train rescue alive through the development of these memorial Gardens.”
“How the people of Violet Town banded together without delay, and the bravery, kindness and humanity the community exhibited in saving so many lives, is a story that every Australian should know and these memorial Gardens play an important role in that education,” the Australian Street Art Awards judges said.
Related story: Violet Town offers Australia’s best memorial experience
