Thursday, 20 February 2020

Bushfires

Ms HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (10:00): I would like to join with everyone else in this chamber to express my sorrow and solidarity to all those devastated by the horrific bushfires we have experienced in Victoria and throughout Australia. Residents of the Thomastown electorate again have demonstrated their compassion and generosity. Although it is an area of relatively low income, the community groups and individuals have again dug deep to provide support for our bushfire families.

I would like to thank the organisations that have started to hold fundraisers and donated to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund. Those that I personally know of are: the Thomastown Mosque; the Pakistani Australian community in the northern suburbs; the Australian Shia Gathering Place; the Greek Cypriot seniors of the northern suburbs, who are holding a fundraiser in March; the Masjid Ahlulbait in Reservoir; the Imam Ali Islamic Centre in Fawkner; the Imam Hasan Al-Mujtaba and Bint Al-Huda Iraqi Women’s Association in Epping; the Syro Malabar Eparchy of St Thomas; the Allawi community; the Casa D’Abruzzo Club, who is donating $2 for every meal sold; the Italian community through local churches; the Macedonian Australian community; and the Greek Orthodox community—and this is just the start of a long commitment by the area to support and not forget those that have been harmed, hurt and scarred by the tragedy of the bushfires that we have had this year.