Prime Minister Tony Abbott will join other national leaders at a memorial service in Melbourne today, to remember the 38 Australians among the 298 victims.
Mr Abbott said flags would be lowered around Australia, while more than 500 staff continue working overseas as part of Operation Bring Them Home.
“Today is a day of mourning, and we will remember the 298 innocent people who died on Flight MH17,” he said.
“We grieve for all of them, but particularly for the 38 who called Australia home.
“Today we will remember them and we will honour them.”
In Brisbane, St John’s Anglican Cathedral will ring its bells at noon and a candlelit vigil will be held at St George’s Anglican Cathedral, in Perth, from 5pm (WST).
Among the victims were the three children of Perth couple Rin and Anthony Maslin – Mo, Evie and Otis – who were remembered at a separate memorial service on Sunday.
More than 500 Australians are overseas working to investigate the crash site and repatriate the victims’ remains.
A joint team of Australia, Dutch and Malaysian officials are combing the site for bodies, personal items and other evidence.
The national memorial service will begin at 10.30am (AEST) on Thursday and will also be broadcast at Federation Square in Melbourne and at King George Square in Brisbane.
source: sbs.com.au
STUDIO 3 NEWCASTLE AUSTRALIA 