Melburnians gather to remember those that perished when MH17 crashed out of the sky. 37 Australian citizens and permanent residents died on the flight.
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At 10am a multi-faith public memorial service for the victims of the MH17 plane disaster will begin at St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. We'll be covering the sombre event live as Melbourne pays its respects.
Age journalists Nick Toscano and Tammy Mills are at the scene. Follow their Twitter accounts - @NickToscano1 and @TammyMills1
The parents of three West Australian children who were killed with their grandfather in the MH17 tragedy have released photos of Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis, 8.
In a statement, the children's parents, Anthony Maslin and Marite Norris, described their pain as "intense and relentless".
"We live in a hell beyond hell. Our babies are not here with us – we need to live with this act of horror, every day and every moment for the rest of our lives," the statement reads.
"No one deserves what we are going through. Not even the people who shot our whole family out of the sky.
For those unable to make the service, it is being broadcast on ABC News 24 and will also be shown on the big screen at Federation Square.
The family of Sunbury real estate agent Albert Rizk and wife Marie have arrived at St Paul's Cathedral. Albert's sister carried a bouquet that made out the pair's initials - A, M.
Here are some of the faces of Victoria's MH17 victims - Gary (Why Keong) Lee and Mona Lee from Glen Iris.
They had been on a long cruise and European holiday.
Mrs Lee, an avid supporter of Essendon Football Club, had been looking forward to coming home.
Her husband planned to spend another week with family in Malaysia.
St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne filling rapidly for #MH17 multifaith service. #9news pic.twitter.com/Ol9cDcUA3E — Brett Mcleod (@Brett_McLeod) July 23, 2014
Other dignitaries speaking include Anglican Primate of Australia Reverend Dr Philip Freier and Jewish Community Council of Victoria President Nina Bassat.
As mourners file in, they pay their respects to those who have lost their lives writing messages of love, support and condolence in books at the back of the cathedral.
Members of the Menke family have arrived, including many who returned home from Europe earlier this week, have arrived at the Cathedral.
Shaliza Dewa, Johannes van den Hende and their children Piers, Marnix and Margaux lived in Eynesbury.
He was Dutch and she was Malaysian, and seven years ago they moved to Australia, choosing to raise their three children in Melbourne's suburbs.
On Sunday, about 700 people gathered in the Melbourne suburb of Eynesbury to remember their lives.
Our photographers captured this image of St Paul's this morning. Mourners have been gathering for hours.
St Paul's Cathedral in Melbourne is filling with about 200, half-an-hour before the service is to be begin.Dignitaries of all faiths are attending and speaking.
They include Premier Denis Napthine, Governor of Victoria Alex Chernov AC QC, Dean of Melbourne Reverend Dr Andreas Loewe, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne Reverend Dr Denis Hart, Sheikh Moustapha Sarakibi of the Islamic Council of Victoria and Buddhist Council of Victoria's Venerable Hojun Futen.
Here is a photo from Age photog Justin McManus
Several teammates of James Rizk - son of Albert and Maree Rizk - have arrived wearing their Sunbury football club colours.
The service has just begun with the Australian National Anthem.
"We join our thoughts and prayers this morning with people around the world gathering to mourn those that have died"
"in penitence we reflect on the destructiveness of ancient enmity and bitterness.
"let us promise to overcome all that still separates us from one another"
"light is stronger than darkness. life is stronger than death"
That was the Dean of Melbourne, the Very Reverend Dr Andreas Loewe. The Premier, Denis Napthine, is now speaking
"for those who love, time is eternity", Napthine tells the overflowing gathering
"in all that they achieved, and for all that might have been, in the dawn of day and at the setting of the sun, we will remember them" - Napthine
The Premier was reading the words of Henry van Dyke, an American of Dutch descent
Children who went to school with the van den Hende children are here in uniform
Thirty-seven daffodils have been placed on the steps of the church. The card says:
"Australia mourns the loss of her children, 37 daffodils to represent your beautiful spirits: may you find sunshine on heaven."
Just speaking was Nina Bassat AM, president of the Jewish Community Council of Victoria
When the engines stopped on the two giant transport planes just before 4pm, the silence at Eindhoven Airport was broken only by the soft clinking of flagpoles, one for each of the 17 nations who lost a citizen on Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
Forty bodies from the downed jet were brought here just after 4pm local time in an Australian C-17 Globemaster carrying 24 coffins, and a Dutch plane carrying 16 coffins.
They are the first recovered passengers of the 298 who flew from Amsterdam in a Malaysia-bound jet most likey brought down by a surface-to-air missile, probably fired by pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine.
St Paul's is filled to capacity, mourners are on their feet lining the back of the cathedral.
"With the stirring of the wind and in the chill of winter under the blue sky and in the warmth of summer, we will remember them" - Napthinenull
The choir is singing the words of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. First line: "How they so softly rest, All, all the holy dead"
They sing to the music of Healy Willan
Reverend Dr Denis Hart, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, is reading from the Gospel of St Matthew
"blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. blessed are those that mourn, because they will be comforted.
The Choir at St Pauls is really beautiful. Sending the poor souls on their way. #MH17 #melbourne — Madame Jules (@RedJules4) July 24, 2014
Next up will be most Reverend Dr Philip Freier, Anglican Primate of Australia who will read the sermon
School students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar have arrived in uniforms to remember the van den Hende children - Piers, 15, Marnix, 12, and Margaux, 8
"A week ago we could not have imagined that we would be gathering here today. A week ago those that bordered flight MH17 had only the ordinary concerns that come with the anticipation of travel."
"Even in death, a proper and dignified response has struggled to find a place amidst a violent separatist war.
"We gather to offer the best that we can be for each other in grief. we gather to show respect for the dead, to do our best to honor them"
"What we can be certain of is the inevitability of God's justice.
"Death does not have the last word about us. May the precious gift of hope be stirred within each of us"
Freier has finished. Now speaking are leaders from Melbourne's various faiths
"Hold them through the pain of grief. Surround them with the gentle care they need. And give them the strength to continue their lives in hope and peace"
"God our refuge and strength, close at hand in our distress, meet us in our sorrow."
Speaking were reverend Jan Joustra, vicar of St Andrew's Brighton, Reverend Wilhelm Stern pastor at St John's German Luthern Church, Reverend Canon Robert Vun, Vicar at St Matthias' Richmond, Canon of St Paul's Cathedral, Reverend Canon Robert Vun, Vicar at St Matthias' Richmond, Canon of St Paul's Cathedra,
Ms Meg Nelson, events manager for St Paul's Cathedral.
"may all beings without exception be released from suffering and find true happiness and everlasting peace" - Venerable Hojun Futen, Buddhist Council of Victoria
"forgive our people who are still alive and those who have passed away." - the D'ua of Janazah read by Sheikh Moustapha Sarakibi, The Imam from the Islamic Council of Victoria
The Mourner's Kaddish roughly translates in part as "May he establish his kingdom in your lifetime and during your days, and within the life of the entire house of Israel, speedily and soon; and say, Amen."
Mourners are now singing the Requiem
The singing translates to: "May the angels receive you in paradise; at your coming may the martyrs receive you, and bring you into the holy city Jerusalem. There may be a choir of angels receive you; and with Lazarus, once a beggar, may you have eternal rest."
We are now hearing Bach's Prelude in C Minor
Elaine Teoh, a Melbourne resident and student, was on MH 17. Anyone looking at Elaine Teoh's social media profiles would agree she was a "beauty with brains". The Malaysian-born, Melbourne resident was not only beautiful, but kind, loving and a dedicated worker. She was also young and in love.
In 2008, Ms Teoh graduated from the University of Melbourne with a bachelor of commerce, in 2008. Two years later, she began working at IG Australia as a finance assistant before being promoted to the position of finance supervisor in June 2013.
"you need not account for what you feel today, nor your grief. God knows it. Know that God seeks to bring you comfort"
Cantor Bruce Levin is singing traditional Jewish prayer for those who mourn. Called the Mourner's Kaddish. The crowd stands.
Here is a photo of the crowd as the Kaddish is sung
Here are several images captured by our photographer at the ceremony...
There are at least 1500 people at the ceremony. They light candles as they leave St Paul's. That seems an appropriate note to finish our live coverage of the service marking a tragic event in Victoria's and the world's history. Our thoughts are with the families, friends and loved ones who have become victims of a war far away.