The NSW Government today announced it will hold a public memorial service next month to honour the memory of the lives lost in the Hunter Valley bus tragedy.
The service, to be held in partnership with Cessnock City Council and Singleton Council, will be an opportunity to acknowledge and bring together those who have been affected by the accident, including family and friends of loved ones whose lives were lost, those who survived, and the first responders, including emergency services personnel, the Government said in a statement today.
The bus crash, which tragically claimed the lives of 10 individuals on June 11 and injured many more, has touched the lives of countless Australians, said Premier, Chris Minns.
“This memorial service will allow us to come together to grieve, support one another and pay tribute to those affected by this unimaginable tragedy,” he said.
“It also provides an opportunity to recognise the courage and resilience of the frontline emergency service workers who attended the scene and treated patients in our hospitals.”
The memorial will be held at the Singleton Showground on Saturday 21 October, commencing at 11am.
“The support that continues to be provided to our community since this tragedy has been overwhelming. Many people’s lives have been affected and it’s important that we stay strong,” said Singleton Mayor, Sue Moore.
“The memorial will be a chance for our tight-knit community to rally together and remember all those lost in the accident and support each other.”
Members of the community are encouraged to attend the public memorial service.
A ticket is not required to attend and the event will be live streamed on the NSW Government website.
Following the service, a free communal barbecue in partnership with local charitable organisations will be hosted at the showground.
“So many people from our communities have been affected by this tragedy. The support shown for the families and victims of this tragedy, not just from locals but all around the nation, has been greatly appreciated,” said Cessnock Mayor, Jay Suvaal.
“A memorial will be an important step in the long healing process, and reminds our residents that they’ll never walk alone, as our community looks after one another.”
The Hunter Valley Bus Tragedy Fund, administered by Rotary, closed yesterday and has received overwhelming support from generous donors raising close to $1.5 million. The NSW Government donated $100,000, with the funds raised playing an important role in assisting those affected.
For the most up-to-date information on the memorial, visit the webpage.
