Tuesday, 30 May 2023

 Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:58): I rise to offer my condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the Bochara crash in Western Victoria. It was such distressing news to hear that three teenagers and an adult died and a fourth teenager has been left fighting for life. Hamilton is a town of around 10,000 people. Two local schools, Monivae and Baimbridge colleges, have lost students, and their school communities must be in total shock. In a town of this size there are very few degrees of separation. If you do not know the families involved, you will perhaps know one of the first responders – the police, the paramedics or the SES volunteers. You will know one of the teachers or students at the schools. In the country everyone feels some of the trauma. That interconnectedness is a very precious thing. It means that tragedies are felt deeply and widely, that the tightly woven social fabric will pull together for mutual comfort and support and that the community will remember. I do not seek to politicise this or score points; I only acknowledge that I see the grief and mourn with the people of Hamilton. I have written to the mayor of Southern Grampians shire to express sympathy and offer assistance. My condolences to all who grieve.