Threadbo: 10 years ago today

[roostersgal4eva]

http://au.news.yahoo.com/070729/2/142rk.html

Thredbo disaster remembered 10 years on

Family, friends and colleagues have gathered in the NSW ski community of Thredbo to mark the 10th anniversary of the landslide which killed 18 people.

The landslide, which occurred just before midnight on July 30, 1997, crushed two ski lodges.

At a packed ecumenical service held in the Thredbo chapel, Father Peter Miller said the lives of the 18 would always be honoured by those left behind making the most of their lives.

"We move on, honouring the 18 by loving and caring for each other ... and drinking fully of the cup of life," he said during the service.

"We gather as one of a kind who have been together during a difficult time.

"We come here because of life, because of love and of care.

"May that love and care continue and the memories and the love of the 18 always be fresh."

Eighteen candles burned during the service while the church bell tolled as each name was read out.

In a statement read to the service by federal member for Eden Monaro, Gary Nairn, Prime Minister John Howard said Australia joined with the Thredbo community in remembering the dead.

"Ten years ago Australia mourned, prayed and kept vigil with families and loved ones during that difficult time and today we remember again those who lost their lives," Mr Howard said in the statement.

"We can only imagine the ... grief and loss experienced by families and loved ones of those victims and the continual impact on lives today.

"This 10th anniversary is an opportunity for us to collectively pay tribute to and give thanks for the lives of those 18 people."

Thredbo survivor Stuart Diver was not present at Monday's service.

The resilience of the Thredbo community and the response of emergency services after the landslide are enduring memories of the disaster for Sydney firefighter Paul Rugg.

From the chaos on the night of the landslide to when the last victim was pulled from the rubble, Chief Superintendent Rugg described the response from emergency services and the community as "tremendous".

Chief Supt Rugg, then a superintendent, was called in from Sydney to help coordinate the fire brigade rescue response and arrived at the scene the morning after the landslide happened.

He said the operation faced many obstacles from a blackout which stopped the rescue effort on the night of the landslide to so much of the debris having to be moved off the site by hand because of the shaky ground.

"The main thing for me is the people," he said.

"Everybody supported each other and chipped in to help each other.

"The effort was tremendous."

Chief Supt Rugg, who still spends a couple of weekends a month in the mountains, attended the memorial service on Monday.

"It was a very sad event but it shows how resilient people are," he said.

I remember following it at home - I went to the kitchen to make lunch and I thought I heard that they found a survivor.........I proceeded to drop everything and didnt move from the telly untill Stuart Diver was pulled out.

I did believe how he survived then and I still dont know now

He didnt attend the service rather wanting to spend it with family which is fair enough but I heard from a resident that was interviewed saying how he come back as often as he can.

 

[- PC -]

Stuart Diver
Sole Survivor
Thredbo Tragedy

Stuart Diver
Soul Survivor
How could he be

 

[ClarkeM]

Wow... dont remember it but i remember the memories of others.

Imagine the Beaconsfield Mine Collapse in 10 years!!

 

[- PC -]

Wow... dont remember it but i remember the memories of others.

Ermm ok

 

[ClarkeM]

Ermm ok

Others talking about it and on tv

 

[Dont be a lemon]

I remember this. I was only 9 at the time. Seems so long ago...

 

[MagpieScouser]

what i hated was that stuart diver turned made a lot of money out of a tragedy when he signed with harry m miller ,the dirty scumbag

 

[- PC -]

what i hated was that stuart diver turned made a lot of money out of a tragedy when he signed with harry m miller ,the dirty scumbag

How much did he make?

 

[BomberGal]

what i hated was that stuart diver turned made a lot of money out of a tragedy when he signed with harry m miller ,the dirty scumbag

God forbid he make the best out of a shitty situation.

Anyway I think Stuart Diver has mostly stayed away from being in the spotlight too much.

I was 11 at the time, but I remember it well. I watched them pull him out on TV at the local footy rooms. Everyone was crying!

 

[MagpieScouser]

yeah well i dont belive you should be making money out of a tragedy

do you want keira douglas to make millions on her story while a guy who tried to save her lost lis life for it

 

[- PC -]

yeah well i dont belive you should be making money out of a tragedy

do you want keira douglas to make millions on her story while a guy who tried to save her lost lis life for it

Fair enough

Now Webb and Russell. Are they money hungry scum as well?

 

[BomberGal]

yeah well i dont belive you should be making money out of a tragedy

do you want keira douglas to make millions on her story while a guy who tried to save her lost lis life for it

So for example no-one should ever write books when something bad has happened to them, but only good things?

That would make for some boring autobiographies.

Win a Grand Slam, write a book, make money (even though you have plenty), that's fine...
Get stuck in a landslide, write book about horrific experiences to share it with the world, that's not OK?