Violet Town Commemoration
08 February 2019
0n the 7th February 2019 a Vigil was held at the site in Violet Town of the train disaster of 1969 when the Southern Aurora and a goods train collided at 7am. Nine people were killed, and 120 injured. Over 120 people attended the Vigil, including families of the dead and injured, emergency service personnel and members of the local community. Four days of commemorative events will take place, including the opening of a new Commemorative Garden on Sunday morning and the unveiling of a carriage from the Southern Auroa which was found in the old Melbourne railyards and has been given by the Rail Network.
Guest Speaker at the Vigil was ALGWA Life Member Pam Robinson OAM, who as Shire President of the former Shire of Violet Town, presided over the 25th Anniversary in 1994.
The current Mayor of Strathbogie Shire, Cr. Amanda McClaren, presided over the 50th Anniversary event. The photograph of the two women was taken on the community lawns outside the former Shire Chamber in Violet Town.