Emma Muir
Bev McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (13:29): My members statement is a richly deserved congratulations to Emma Muir, Moorabool shire Citizen of the Year 2024. Emma has always supported her community through Little Athletics, Myrniong Primary School and local football–netball clubs. She has constantly cared for the environment too – as a farmer, as treasurer of Pentland Hills Landcare and through Grow West, which rejuvenates landscapes through voluntary restoration work by landowners. Recently, however, she has found a new focus for her community spirit: as the founding and current chair of the Regional Victoria Power Alliance. For nearly four years she has fought the Western Renewables Link high-voltage transmission project, which would do so much damage to her farm, community and region. Emma and others have been taken for granted, patronised and ignored by government. MPs and ministers have rarely shown them the courtesy of even talking to them. Despite the stress and effort, Emma has remained fair, kind and reasonable. She has been central to huge rallies, massive fundraising efforts, community information sessions and constant lobbying, and her calm and caring help has done much to keep together a community, despite project proponents who seem happy to set neighbour against neighbour. Congratulations, Emma. It is a privilege to work with you.