Almost a month after losing loved ones when flight MH17 was shot down, an Australian family is relieved the remains of their relatives have been identified.
Now they want to bring them home soon.
Mary and Gerry Menke, from the small coastal Victorian town of Mallacoota, were among 38 Australian residents who died when the Malaysia Airlines passenger jet was shot down over eastern Ukraine on July 17.
Their family on Friday confirmed the couple, who were returning home from a holiday, had been identified.
It is the first public confirmation of Australian passengers being identified.
"We wish to thank all those who have helped in this process," the family said in a statement.
"We look forward to receiving Mary and Gerry again soon in the place and the community they loved so much and which loved them."
It is unclear whether other remains have been identified as Australian because the federal government insists details remain private until family members give permission.
As well, Dutch authorities in charge of the identification process have been ordered not to release details of Australians.
So far they have identified 127 people including passengers from Malaysia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium and Germany.
"I want to reassure all of the Australian families that everything is being done to ensure that remains are being treated with respect and people are being identified as quickly as possible," Prime Minister Tony Abbott told reporters on Friday.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said formal identification came as a bittersweet form of closure for the Menke family.
The Menkes ran an abalone pearl company and Mrs Menke also operated a hairdressing and beauty studio with her daughter.
They were among 298 people on board the Boeing 777 which was downed over insurgent-held territory.
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