Memorial held on 30th anniversary of Port Arthur massacre

Memorial service held to remember and reflect on Port Arthur massacre's enduring legacy, 30 years onCBy Clancy BalenTopic:History2h ago2 hours agoTue 28 Apr 2026 at 6:00amSurvivors, families and community members gathered at the Port Arthur Historic Site on Tuesday to mark 30 years since the events of April 28, 1996. (Pool)In short:Around 160 people have gathered at Port Arthur's Memorial Garden to mark the 30th anniversary of the Port Arthur tragedy.On this day in 1996, 35 people were killed, and almost two dozen were wounded by a lone gunman. The ceremony included a speech by survivor Jane Scholefield, followed by a minute's silence and an opportunity for wreath laying.abc.net.au/news/port-arthur-massacre-30-year-memorial-tasmania/106613632Link copiedShareShare articleThirty years on from the Port Arthur tragedy, survivor Jane Scholefield had a simple message for those still bearing the scars of that day. "At the heart of all this, of survival, of remembrance, of change, is something simple, but incredibly powerful: love," Ms Scholefield said."Love for those lost, love for those who stood beside us, and love for the lives we continue to live."Around 160 people gathered on Tuesday at the Memorial Garden at the Port Arthur Historical Site, including survivors, families and community members.Mourners gathered at Port Arthur's Memorial Garden to remember, support and draw strength from one another. (Pool)The quiet ceremony — centred around the concept of "Words of Love" — invited attendees to remember those who lost their lives, recognise survivors and first responders, and to celebrate the community's strength in the decades since.On April 28, 1996, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic weapons would go on to commit the deadliest mass shooting in modern Australian history.Helplines:Lifeline (24-hour crisis line): 131 114Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636Tasmania's Victims of Crime Service: 1300 300 238Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467MensLine Australia: 1300 789 978Thirty-five people were killed and 23 more were wounded, while many witnesses, first responders, and the broader community were left with lasting psychological scars.The gunman was sentenced to life imprisonment with no parole.'A will to protect life'Loading...Speaking at the ceremony, Ms Scholefield urged those in attendance to remember the lives lost."Today, memories live on because we speak about them," she said."By remembering, we honour those people, not just how they died, but how they lived, who they were and how much they meant to those who loved them."In the aftermath of the tragedy, then-Prime Minister John Howard introduced world-leading gun reform laws, the National Firearm Agreement, which included a successful "buyback" scheme.Thirty years on from the Port Arthur tragedy a ceremony was held to remember those who lost their lives, recognise survivors and first responders, and to celebrate the community's strength in the decades since. (ABC News)Ms Scholefield said out of the tragedy, a national determination emerged to make sure such a loss never happened again."That change stands as a reminder that even in the face of profound darkness, there can still be a will to protect life," Ms Scholefield said.She also urged those present to carry the message forward to future generations.They were Port Arthur’s first victims. Thirty years on, their legacy continuesSeascape guesthouse owners Sally and David Martin were the first people murdered at Port Arthur in 1996. On…

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