Bridget VALLENCE (Evelyn) (19:37): Victoria has suffered catastrophic bushfires in all corners of our state since early January, and our deepest sympathies are with the people who have lost homes, pets, livestock, crops, wildlife, small businesses and livelihoods. Despite the ferocity of the fires, our emergency services courageously went to the danger. We thank them for their tremendous efforts: Forest Fire Management Victoria, FRV, police, ambulance and of course the volunteers of our CFA and SES. We have been fortunate so far in the Yarra Ranges, with only a few fires that were contained swiftly, such as at Seville East. While ensuring trucks and volunteers are on standby and monitoring risks in the Yarra Valley and the Dandenong Ranges, we have seen exceptional efforts by our local CFA volunteers of the Yarra Valley and Maroondah groups deployed on strike teams to help contain fires across the state, including at Longwood, Alexandra, Walwa, Cudgewa and the Otways. We thank them for their work, and we thank their families for their support. This includes Gruyere, Coldstream, Lilydale, Mount Evelyn, Silvan, Seville, Wandin, Montrose, Mooroolbark and Chirnside Park CFAs. Thanks also to volunteers from Lilydale SES, deployed to help, including after the floods at Wye River. From volunteers of Wandin CFA, doorknocking in Alex to help evacuate people in danger, to volunteers of Gruyere CFA, giving respite to the Terip Terip CFA, manning their station and cleaning their trucks, and to Montrose and Lilydale CFAs, delivering food and supplies in the weeks after, they are our true heroes.