Wednesday, 18 June 2025

 Steve McGHIE (Melton) (09:56): Today I want to take a moment to recognise and celebrate two outstanding members of our community who have been honoured in the King’s Birthday honours list for their incredible service. In particular I want to acknowledge police inspector Lisa Prentice-Evans on receiving the Australian Police Medal. She is our local area commander, whose leadership and dedication were especially evident during the Exford school bus crash tragedy, a time that tested and showcased her exceptional professionalism, compassion and care for our community.

I also want to congratulate Wayne Barnes from the Bacchus Marsh SES, who has been awarded the Emergency Services Medal. Wayne’s decades of service as a VICSES volunteer, combined with his experience as an intensive care paramedic with Ambulance Victoria, have made him an invaluable asset. His distinguished work in rescue operations with a tireless focus on patient wellbeing has taken him not only across Victoria but throughout Australia and around the world.

Emergency services workers and volunteers do the job not for the accolades or the recognition. We are incredibly fortunate to have people like Inspector Evans and Wayne Barnes serving our community, and I thank them.