Tuesday, 2 August 2022

 Mr RICHARDSON (Mordialloc) (13:20): It was a privilege to visit Keysborough CFA recently and join volunteer members of the Springvale and Keysborough CFA brigades—wonderful, dedicated volunteers led by Keysborough CFA captain, Paul Townsend, and Springvale CFA captain, Daniel Petrovic—to hear about the incredible service that they provide to not only the City of Greater Dandenong region but also outside their areas in times of need.

It is fitting to pay tribute to our CFA at this time because it is nearly four years to the day that we celebrated the completion of the Edithvale CFA station redevelopment. Of course it was John Hennessy who gave his land next door on a long-term lease—and then gave up his house—to secure the future of the Edithvale CFA. The four-bay fire station led by volunteers has an innovative business hub and an emergency medical response vehicle. The professionalism there is outstanding. John is no longer with us, but his dedication to this project and his legacy will live on forever through those volunteers and the values of our local firefighters in the City of Kingston and particularly at the Edithvale CFA brigade. I want to give a big shout-out to Captain Graham Fountain, who is an outstanding leader in our community across a number of different areas but whose leadership at the CFA is really important. It goes with all of our work to support volunteer emergency services—whether it is the redevelopment of the Chelsea SES, the Mentone Life Saving Club, the Edithvale Life Saving Club or the Aspendale Life Saving Club, we are supporting our emergency services for the future.