That was the message of former Warrenbayne resident Pam Robinson, who spoke on behalf of the town at a vigil held on Thursday to coincide with the time the passenger train hit a goods train head-on around 7am .

“This is an opportunity for the younger generations to hear many voices tell individual remembrances of the train derailment 50 years ago,” she said.

Federal MP Damian Drum said it was a chance to thank emergency services and “look at our own lives” and making sure “we’re making every post a winner”.

V/Line chief executive James Pinder was among the 150 who attended the vigil which saw the names of the nine who died in the collision read aloud. 

The memorial ceremony, held at the McDiarmids Road crossing where the trains collided, marked the start of four days of events to mark the 50^th anniversary.

They will culminate with the opening and dedication of a memorial garden on Sunday.