Thursday, 6 February 2025

 Jade BENHAM (Mildura) (10:23): I spent Australia Day starting out at the very bottom of my electorate in Donald with the curtain-raiser of the day being an officially unofficial game of backyard cricket before the awards and the Lions Club barbecue. There was notably a very special award presented posthumously to the late, great Pat Allen, who passed away, unfortunately, in November. That was presented to his wife and daughter. Given that I learned a lot off Pat during my journey as a sports therapist, it was very special for me to present that award to them. We ended up in Irymple that night, all the way at the top, 450-odd kilometres later, for the Italian Australia Day celebration. It is a celebration because the Italian community, my community in Mildura, are very grateful that Australia gave them a home post World War II.

I cannot mention all of the award winners because there are over 25 or 30 towns in my electorate, but I do want to point out the CFA volunteers that were recognised for their service to their community, particularly Corey Harrison, who I got to congratulate, from the Wycheproof fire brigade. He won the Buloke Shire Council Citizen of the Year. Emma Hicks from the Manangatang fire brigade won the Manangatang Citizen of the Year, and the Red Cliffs fire brigade won the Red Cliffs event of the year for their centenary dinner, which I also had the pleasure of attending during the year. Many of these firies have been off on deployment as well, so thank you.