A nation pauses to mourn

Just as the search for bodies and remains of the Malaysia Airlines M17 plane bombing is suspended, Australia will take time out today to mourn those whose lives were lost, their families and friends.

Church bells are expected to ring out at midday in each capital city as the nation formally mourns the 38 Australian citizens and residents killed in the senseless tragedy.

Already a national memorial service has been held at Melbourne’s St Patricks’s Cathedral, attended by Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove – who were joined by various premiers and ministers, members of the public, and families and friends of the victims.

A memorial for the Western Australian victims has already been held in Perth last week, but tribute will be paid to them again today as flags are flown half-mast in and around the city.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said earlier this morning that the day was not a time to judge guilty parties, but to honour those who have passed and to grieve with our fellow living.

“We cannot bring them back, but we will bring them home as far as we humanly can,” said Mr Abbott. “And we do rededicate ourselves today to supporting the bereaved, to obtaining justice for the dead and for their families, and to working for a better world.”  Antonino Tati