Port Arthur survivors mark 30 years since massacre

0:00Welcome back. Survivors of the Port Arthur Massacre will gather in Tasmania this afternoon to mark 30 years since one of our country's darkest days. Life now to seven news presenter Mike A. Moore at the Historical Site in Tasmania might good afternoon. Now you reported on this horrific tragedy that occurred 30 years ago and our nation at that time had never seen anything like this horrific tragedy. Afternoon Tash. Yes, I was just a young reporter who was sent down here in the aftermath of Port Arthur and I don't think any journalist, any Australian, was prepared for what happened down here, the extreme violence, the pure evil that was brought to this beautiful, tranquil place. Obviously, when I first arrived, the overwhelming grief was quickly evident. The hearts of Tasmanians and the hearts of all Australians broke that day when 35 people were killed in the site just behind me, Tash.

1:03Mike, the tragedy is still so raw, three decades on especially for the victims and also their families that they lost loved ones. Absolutely. You have to scratch the surface to see those emotions come up again. Angus, sadness, trauma. We spoke to one survivor who is coming back for today's memorial service. It will be the first time he's been at a memorial service. He says that the memory is now a little hazier but it still involves dark figures that he's accepted what happened down here is not afraid of it but it still makes him deeply sad. And just over half an hour's time, about 160 people will attend this memorial service in the memorial gardens which has been built in what's left of the broad arrow cafe where 20 people were killed in the space of just 90 seconds. They'll hold a minute silence. I'll hear from locals and survivors and then they'll lay wreaths at a human pine cross that bears the names

2:05of all 35 victims. The Prime Minister has paid tribute to what happened and the bravery of that day. We think of Walter Mika, who channeled his devastating loss in or call for national action on gun law reform. And out of tragedy, it is important to remember that Australia is a better place because the Howard government and the parliament of the day came together to answer Walter's call. And Taj, that's the sentiment. A lot of survivors have told us is they don't want Australians to forget the lessons of something that is so tragic still to this day. Obviously, this side has seen a lot of emotions and we'll see a lot more today, Taj. Absolutely, Mike. We're putting their life for us from Port Arthur.