Thursday, 6 March 2025

 Daniela DE MARTINO (Monbulk) (10:08): This Saturday 8 March is International Women’s Day, and I have two exceptional first responders joining me here today, captain Deb Weber of Olinda CFA brigade and deputy controller of Emerald SES unit Olinka Edwards.

Deb Weber joined the Kalorama Mount Dandenong Fire Brigade auxiliary in 1998. Her children were at juniors and she assisted with fundraising and meals for the firefighters. In 2004 she qualified as a firefighter. In 2009 Deb fought the Black Saturday fires and was awarded the National Emergency Medal. She has attended several more significant fires, including the Grampians ones just last month. Deb officially joined the Olinda brigade in 2019, becoming a lieutenant in 2021, and last year she was promoted to captain and is now one of only two female captains in Monbulk out of 20 brigades.

Deputy controller Olinka Edwards was an SES mum for four years and then joined Emerald SES in 2020. She is a unit duty officer and is responsible for business and community education. Olinka pioneered and manages the unit’s over-the-counter container deposit scheme, raising $61,000 for Emerald SES unit since 1 November 2023. Emerald SES unit is the busiest unit in the state, attending 1820 jobs last year, and Olinka was there at many of them.

Both women are wonderful volunteers who turn up every day to support their communities. From attending fires to road accidents, fallen trees and beyond, they give up their time to help others. On behalf of the people of Monbulk I want to say a huge thankyou. What great women they are.