Spirit on show

Editorial: Jesse Wray-McCann

Photography: Lilli Waters, John Pallot

Ten years have passed since the tragic 2009 Victorian bushfires, and survivors are still showing the remarkable resilience that helped them through the early dark days.

The personal journeys of some of the young survivors and police officers who responded to the fires are now on display in a powerful new exhibition at the Victoria Police Museum.

The Things of Fire and Ash, Remembered exhibition is a revisiting of a 2013 exhibition, which saw 11 young people from Kinglake team with the museum, Wominjeka Kinglake youth group leader Lesley Bebbington and photographer Lilli Waters to share their personal reflections in the wake of the fires.

Now in 2019, six of those young people featured in 2013 have returned to share their stories in the new exhibition, demonstrating their journeys and how their lives have changed and grown.

The exhibition, which is open now and will run throughout 2019, features a photographic portrait and personal reflection from each of them, shining light on the resilience and courage needed, even 10 years on.

Portraits by photographer Lilli Waters of local young people and police officers, including Ayden (above) and Ldg Sen Const Ken Dwight below, who experienced the devastating 2009 Victorian bushfires firsthand have been produced for a new exhibition (below) at the Victoria Police Museum.

It will also include the experiences of four police officers in responding to the fires,

as well as supporting their communities to rebuild and recover.

Ms Waters, an internationally-acclaimed photographer, said she was honoured to be involved in the exhibition again.

“It has been an extraordinary experience for me to be invited back to photograph portraits of these kids five years later, now as young adults, seeing them grown and matured, and rebuilding their lives after such a loss,” she said.

“I also photographed some of the police officers involved and found their stories of humble courage very moving.

“I was mostly struck by the strong spirit of the community and their ability to lift themselves out of such a dark time.”

Mrs Bebbington – who established and ran the Wominjeka Kinglake youth group in the first five years after Black Saturday – said the exhibition was another opportunity to remember and respect the journey the community had been through.

“It is of course impossible to not feel the cost of 7 February 2009, it was and remains immense,” Mrs Bebbington said.

“I take pride when I look around and see the youth group kids, now adults – creative, inspired human beings with careers, good relationships, and hope in the future.”

Museum curator Amber Evangelista said Things of Fire and Ash, Remembered was a remarkable exhibition.

“We wanted the exhibition to reflect individuals’ stories and journeys, so we asked our participants to write about what the 10-year anniversary means to them,” she said.

“We were blown away by what they produced.

“Their reflections show extraordinary creativity, strength and compassion.

“Things of Fire and Ash, Remembered is a demonstration of the incredible resilience, growth and courage of our state and the police that serve it.”

The Victoria Police Museum is located at the World Trade Centre, Mezzanine Level, 637 Flinders St (entrance via Siddeley St), Docklands and is open 10am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Visit policemuseum.vic.gov.au

The 2009 bushfires were a traumatic and distressing event, and anniversaries can be particularly difficult for people. Support services are always available: Lifeline – 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.aubeyondblue – 1300 224 636

Victoria Police Wellbeing Services, for Victoria Police employees and their immediate families, can be contacted on (03) 9247 3344.