Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today is the 15th anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires on 7 February 2009. It's a day we remember the 173 lives lost on that day. But we also remember the lives lost in the months and years afterwards as a direct impact of the challenges they experienced on that day. We remember the communities devastated, including mine, and the 2,029 houses that were lost, many never to be rebuilt. We pay thanks to the emergency services, the CFA, the SES, Victoria Police, the ambulance, who were there on that day and the weeks and months afterwards to help us rebuild from the devastating fires. We thank the community groups from all across Victoria and from across Casey who came together to support each other to make sure we could get through as a community and come back stronger.

As a survivor of the Black Saturday bushfires, I have spoken in this House about my experience. I know that for myself and for many other survivors it's a tough day. We go back 15 years in time instantly. So I pay tribute to those survivors that will be struggling today and that will have memories and trauma of that day. Stay strong, reach out to your friends and loved ones. You're not alone. We pause, we reflect, and we continue to live in honour of those that lost their lives on that day.