State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston St
Melbourne Victoria 3000
MEDIA RELEASE
3 February 2010
State Library of Victoria receives 2009 Bushfire Message Books
Melbourne, Australia – Today the Honourable John Brumby MP, Premier of Victoria formally handed
over the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Message Book Collection to the State Library of Victoria.
The 2009 Victorian bushfires disaster led to an enormous outpouring of generosity and support from
individuals, communities and organisations. The people of Australia were invited to express their
sympathy and support by writing messages on pages that were made available at many venues
throughout the country (including the State Library of Victoria). Together with messages sent from
individuals in other parts of the world, these pages were assembled to form the 2009 Victorian
Bushfire Message Book Collection.
The 2009 Victorian Bushfire Message Book Collection contains 60 bound message books and
objects and documents including: yellow ribbons, bells and wreaths from the 2009 National Day of
Mourning and ‘Together for Victoria’ memorial service; teddy bears from the United Kingdom;
illustrations from Japanese students; posters from Hawaiian school children; a copy of a bushfire
book presented to Her Majesty the Queen; a DVD copy of the ‘Sound Relief’ concerts; letters from
Australian government officials; consular letters from around the world; and blog entries submitted to
Channel Nine’s ‘Today’ show during the period of the 2009 fires.
A selection of message books and bushfire material will be on public display in the Library’s Cowen
Gallery from 4 February until 17 March 2010. All of the 2009 Victorian Bushfire Message Book
Collection is available to view by request through the Library’s Heritage Reading Room.
CEO and State Librarian, Anne-Marie Schwirtlich, said that it was an honour for the State Library to
receive the message books into its collections
‘The State Library has documented the story of Victoria for more than 150 years – who we are, what
we have seen and what we’ve experienced together. The messages in these books will be preserved
for generations to come. They will be read and remembered. The State Library is proud to house
them for the people of Victoria,’ she said.
State Library collections contain bushfire material dating back to the Black Thursday fires of 1851 and
include information, reports (including Royal Commissions), and pictures of every major Victorian
bushfire event since.
Immediately after the 2009 Victorian bushfires State Library staff created a guide to bushfire
-ENDS-
State Library of Victoria
328 Swanston St
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Media inquiries:
Matthew van Hasselt, State Library of Victoria
Ph: 03 8664 7263 Email: mvanhasselt@slv.vic.gov.au
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