Wednesday, 15 October 2025

 Ben CARROLL (Niddrie – Minister for Education, Minister for WorkSafe and the TAC) (09:41): I rise to acknowledge two individuals whose long-term dedication has made a real difference in the Niddrie electorate, John Bates and the late Ray Dodd. John Bates has served the Victorian State Emergency Service for 24 years as a longstanding volunteer at the Essendon SES, where he has been the unit controller. His capability and excellence was put on display throughout the 2022 Maribyrnong River floods, where John acted as the onsite incident controller. In that role he coordinated complex rescue operations under challenging conditions, helping to protect lives and property throughout our local community. Beyond his operational leadership, John continues to be actively involved in emergency responses right across our community. He has been recognised with the SES 20 years long service medal and the national medal, reflecting his ongoing commitment and contribution to public safety.

Equally important to the fabric of our community was the contribution of Ray Dodd, who recently passed away after more than 50 years as the owner of the Keilor Hotel. Ray was a longstanding pillar of our local community. Under his stewardship, the Keilor Hotel became a gathering place for locals, a venue where people came together to socialise, celebrate and support one another. I personally saw Ray’s contribution to the community regularly. Whether it was at the Keilor Football Club, Brimbank Park or Horseshoe Bend Farm, Ray was a cornerstone and a pillar of the local Keilor community. Both John Bates and Ray Dodd served our community in different but equally important ways. Both demonstrated dedication, leadership and commitment to our local community.