South Australian Country Fire Service Promotions Unit

Raising awareness of the roles, training and activities of CFS Volunteers state-wide


Ash Wednesday Memorial Service - February 16th
Submitted On	Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Submitted By	Pip McGowan

Five years ago, at the formation of the Brigade, the Mt Lofty Fire Tower Brigade assumed the responsibility for a memorial service, remembering 11 volunteer firefighters of SA Country Fire Service who have died whilst on duty with the CFS. Every year at 3.30pm on February 16th, the anniversary of the Ash Wednesday II fires, the Brigade arranges for a service to be held at the Mt Lofty Summit, where there is a small memorial which was placed after the fires. The time for the service was chosen to remind us that it was at that time of the day that fire destroyed the old Summit complex and damaged the adjacent fire tower. The date for the commemoration was chosen because on Feb 16th 1983, the extent of the bushfire across South Eastern Australia saw more Volunteer Fire Fighters on active duty at the fire front at the same time than on any other occasion, - an estimated 150 000 from South Australia, Victoria and Southern New South Wales with unassociated fires in Tasmania and Western Australia The members of the Mt Lofty Fire Tower Brigade extend an invitation to CFS members, members of other emergency services, and members of the public, to attend the service on February 16th, at the Mount Lofty Summit, at 3.30 p.m. The Celebrant for the service is the Rt Rev Gary Weatherill Bishop of Willochra - whose area includes the Eyre Peninsula, which was hit by fire on a day dubbed Black Tuesday. Fire Fighters please wear Yellows with helmet. Decorations to be worn Any enquiries to George Tinker, Captian, Mt Lofty Tower brigade at tinker1@bigpond.com

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