The 16th Feb 1983 Ash Wednesday busfires claimed 75 lives in total, 47 in Victoria and 28 in South Australia. The largest number of lives lost were in the Upper Beaconsfield fire with 20 deaths. Hundreds of others were burnt or otherwise injured. Twelve volunteer firefighters were killed in the fire at Upper Beac.
The Upper Beaconsfield Community Centre came into being after the bushfires as a form of community support. The Country Women's Association established a drop-in Centre for anyone wanting to have a chat and a cuppa. This focused the increasing sense of community that arose after the fires. In time, a small amount of funding was made available through local and State agencies, which enabled a start to the offering of courses, with five being the initial program offered. These courses were directed at the immediate needs of the community.
From that time the Centre has developed into the busy Community Centre and Neighborhood House that it is today. A group of ladies that started a craft/sewing group at the Community Centre in those dark days is still going today, with most of the original members atteneding every single week.
While you are here, check out the Multi dedicated to the firefighters that lost their lives protecting Upper Beac "Remembering Ash Wednesday" GC4ZX20 at the Ash Wednesday Memorial Park next door.
The cache is a nice, simple park and grab.
There is a kids playground nearby so bring them along for a play. If you come during the day, have a look in the car park on the other side of the building for my white Ford Mondeo station wagon which has a trackable travel bug on the driver's side rear window :)