Bushfire Condolence SpeechTuesday, February 24, 2009 It is with a sense of honour but also with great sadness that I rise to support the condolence motion for those who have lost their lives and their homes in the bushfires. I extend my heartfelt sympathy and the sympathy of the whole of the Doncaster electorate to those who have lost family members, neighbours, friends and colleagues. The magnitude of the loss of life is the worst our nation has seen, and all those affected are in our thoughts and in our hearts. I would also like to recognise the widespread devastation caused by the horrific fires. While many Victorians were fortunate enough to survive the inferno, thousands have lost their homes, livelihoods and communities as a result. These families and individuals now face an uphill battle to rebuild their lives and try to replace what they once thought was irreplaceable. But they will not be alone. The generous contributions and assistance offered by thousands of Australians demonstrate that in times of hardship in our nation we band together. It is an honour to pay tribute to the outstanding efforts of Victoria's volunteers. In particular I refer to the members and volunteers of the Country Fire Authority (CFA), who, with the support of their families, have put in tremendous efforts, often at the risk of their own lives and homes. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Red Cross workers and volunteers, Victoria Police, State Emergency Service personnel, staff at DHS (Department of Human Services) and DSE (Department of Sustainability and Environment), army personnel, the ambos, the doctors, the counsellors, the mental health workers, the Salvos, the CWA (Country Women's Association), the ABC and many, many more. Also not to be forgotten is the tireless work and assistance of a number of community groups, individuals and residents from across the country. Their courage and their dedication is truly humbling. They can know that they have made and continue to make this Parliament this state and this nation proud. I am proud to say that my brother-in-law, Steven Barling, was among those who worked tirelessly to protect and safeguard our community. Steve is a CFA captain in Churchill, and he was one of many who experienced the horrors of the fires firsthand. His tale is one of courage, dedication and commitment, although he would not see it that way. The road ahead is long, and it will be challenging. In times such as these Victorians look to their leaders for support and answers. The government has promised a royal commission, and it is pleasing to note that it has incorporated a broad catch-all term so that no stone will be left unturned. The royal commission will highlight failings and make recommendations, but the hard part will be ensuring that the government and the Parliament have the courage to implement the recommendations. The fires took place across the state -- in our west, in Bendigo, in the north-east of Melbourne and in Gippsland. Nearly everyone has been touched by the devastation of the bushfires, and it is that which links our communities and our state so closely together. In my electorate of Doncaster I have been touched by the generosity of individuals, small businesses, school communities, service organisations, Manningham council staff and the Doncaster police, who have all donated money, time and resources to assist those in neighbouring communities. One of the schools in my electorate, Birralee Primary School, experienced a terrible loss as a result of the bushfires. I would especially like to recognise the loss of Charm Ahern and her husband, Leigh, in the bushfires. Charm was a much-loved member of the Birralee Primary School community, and she will be dearly missed by the staff, students and parents at the school. I would also like to recognise the fantastic work of the Warrandyte CFA. Although it is based in the Warrandyte electorate, it also protects part of the Doncaster electorate, including my home in Donvale. Its members reported navigating broken powerlines, incinerated cars and dead animals. My thanks go out to all in the crew. The Department of Human Services has an important responsibility for emergency relief, and it is good to see that grants are being distributed and that relief centres have become hubs of activity across the state in bushfire areas. The challenge is going to be to keep it going. Again and again the message comes through that we need to be there for the long haul. As relief turns to recovery and, from a mental health perspective, as the terror, the loss and the reality set in, we must be there for the long haul to ensure the availability of counselling, support and care. Every Victorian affected by these devastating fires must receive the support they need. There is a clear commitment from this government to rebuild, and essential services such as aged-care services, mental health services, drug and alcohol services and community services need to be restored as soon as possible so that Victorians living in the fire-affected areas can once again access them. I particularly hope this commitment will extend to the rebuilding of the drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Kilmore that was destroyed by the fire. Overdale, a 15-bed drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for young people aged between 18 and 30, was razed. While patients have been relocated to neighbouring facilities, it has placed further demand on a system already under pressure. The government's response to this disaster was swift, but the true test will be in the months ahead when the needs of our bushfire victims will be no less great but no longer on the front pages of the newspapers. The workers and volunteers have our thanks. The affected families and communities have our support and our admiration for their strength and resilience. For those who died, let us ensure that Parliament never forgets and never again fails to act.
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