Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Sarala Khadka and Areeza Suwal

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (14:09): I rise to pay tribute to two heroic women who were tragically killed on the Hume Highway in Craigieburn last week. Sarala Khadka and Areeza Suwal were helping a kangaroo that had been hit by a car when they too were struck by a vehicle. Sadly, they could not be saved. It has been revealed that these two women had relocated from Nepal to work as nurses at the Alfred Hospital. They were best friends, and at the time of their crash they were on their way to celebrate Areeza’s birthday. I hope that the loved ones of these two women can find some peace in knowing they will be forever remembered for their final kind act. Their compassion speaks volumes about who they are as people. This heartbreaking incident has also sent shock waves throughout the animal rescue community and is a stark and devastating reminder not only that wildlife road strike does harm our animals, it also continues to place human lives at risk. It is a tragedy that it has taken this incident for some to realise this, but I hope now that we can all listen and work with the wildlife rescue community to address this increasing threat to the people and to the animals who call our state home.