Thursday, 6 February 2020

Country Fire Authority Truganina and Tarneit brigades

Ms CONNOLLY (Tarneit) (10:04): Today I have a special mention for the tireless efforts of the men and women from the Truganina and Tarneit fire brigades. Over 60 volunteers and 20 career firefighters in my community have spent the summer serving not only in our own community in Wyndham but hundreds of kilometres away—wherever and whenever they have been needed. They have been on the ground across New South Wales and Victoria, on the front line at its worst, close by in support and in the aftermath of recovery, all without compromising their local presence—ready to answer the next call-out when we have needed them at home.

When asked about this by the Age newspaper, Captain Mark Hatton from the Truganina CFA brigade said:

Helping our community—in our local area, that’s what we do all year. And then, when the calls come to help other communities, once we know ours are safe, we go and do it.

Because if we don’t, who else is going to?

Although the haze might have cleared here above our sunny skies in Melbourne, deployments are still very active and the fire season has a long way to go. So I say to all the men and women who make up our local community’s emergency services right across Wyndham—and there are a lot of you—your selfless sacrifice and unwavering commitment to help any community in need has not only made me proud to be your MP but has also made any Australian across our nation very, very proud of you. Thank you.