National Volunteer Week
Michaela SETTLE (Eureka) (09:51): Last week was volunteer week, and it was an absolute delight to get out across the electorate to thank our volunteers, because we could not do it without them. A shout-out to the Little Cupcake in Ballarat, who made over 500 beautiful cupcakes. My first stop was Ballan CFA, and I was really pleased to thank them for the life-saving work that they do. That was quickly followed by a visit to training night at the Bacchus Marsh SES. What a strong and vibrant volunteer group they are. Did you know that the SES is the largest vehicle rescue organisation in the state? A highlight was visiting the Leigh group. This is a CFA group that covers Rokewood and Dereel, and it was a very special opportunity to thank them for their work during the Beaufort fires and of course closer to home in Dereel. The local Dereel community sent a card to all the brigades that attended, and it was so heartwarming to see the impact that a simple thankyou can have on our volunteers. Ballarat Foundation does an amazing job in coordinating volunteer organisations, and their morning tea at Barkly Square was a chance to catch up with so many, from people helping disadvantaged kids to drive through L2P right through to the Salvos. You do a power of work in our community. But we are not stopping just because the week has ended. I cannot wait to catch up with Meredith and Buninyong CFAs and the Pentland group in coming weeks, because I want to say a big, big thankyou to all of our volunteers.