Australians mourn tsunami victims

MELBOURNE - From a mother's broken heart to rings of remembrance formed by surfers in waters around the country, Australians today stopped to mark the devastation of the worst natural disaster in recent history.

A minute's silence was observed across the country as part of the National Day of Mourning and Reflection for the 163,000 victims of the Boxing Day Asian tsunami.

Australia's leading political figures, including Prime Minister John Howard, gathered at Sydney's St Andrew's Anglican Cathedral for a special service.

Sydney Anglican Archbishop Peter Jensen told the congregation Australians had been "dramatically summoned to love our neighbour".

"Our instant response has been to do so, we are now challenged to keep on doing so, since the effects of this tsunami are going to be with us for so long," Dr Jensen said.

Governor General Major General Michael Jeffery said in an address the tsunami had united the world "in a spirit of unprecedented generosity".

"Today Australians mourn together. Tomorrow we continue to rebuild," he said.

Thousands of surfers formed rings of remembrance at up to 30 locations around Australia, which Surfrider Foundation chairman Geoff Withycombe said was organised as a gesture of respect to victims.

Evanna Giardina, who lost her 16-year-old Down syndrome son Paul in the tsunami in Phuket, attended a Melbourne service with about 4000 others.

"I don't think anything will ever help a broken heart -- but it was very comforting," she said of the gathering.

About 4000 West Australians of all ages and nationalities gathered on the shores of the Indian Ocean this morning for a multi-faith memorial service. The City Beach gathering was attended by Premier Geoff Gallop and other services were held in regional areas including Albany, Geraldton, Kalgoorlie and Broome.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie attended one of five ceremonies held across Brisbane and, on the Gold Coast, Sandra Sweeny laid the first flowers on a giant wreath in memory of her 37-year-old son Craig Baxter, who died saving his pregnant wife when the tsunami hit Thailand's Phi Phi Island.

In South Australia, Premier Mike Rann used today's mourning to pay tribute to the medical staff helping victims of the tsunami and to remember the nine people who lost their lives in the devastating Eyre Peninsula bushfire last week.

The 900 Australian troops in Indonesia helping with the tsunami relief effort also stopped work today to pay their respects to victims of the disaster and Indonesian ambassador Imron Cotan used today's national memorial to thank Australians for their help and generosity.

Seventeen Australians have been confirmed dead, another six deaths have been reported by relatives and the federal government holds grave concerns for 16 other people.

- AAP