The people of Burradon together with dignitaries gathered at the village primary school in remembrance of 76 men and boys who were sent to their deaths by the mine owner on 2nd March 1860.
The school service was not about recriminations; its purpose was to honour the memory of our forefathers and to celebrate the traditions of our mining heritage and the village’s unique community spirit.
The real tragedy of the disaster was the death of so many children and it was a sobering thought that had many of the victims been born 150 years later they would have been involved in the events of the day.

In the circumstances, it was appropriate that the commemoration focused on the children of the village and their tribute to the victims of a great injustice. The children performed specially arranged dances and songs and there was a parade of pit banners which the children designed and the names of the men and children were recited which was a very poignant moment.