Sam Rae (Hawke, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Aged Care and Seniors) Share this | Hansard source

Over the weekend, I had the privilege of joining the volunteers and supporters at the Melton Fire Brigade to celebrate 90 years of volunteer service to the community of Melton and surrounds. Since 1935, this dedicated volunteer service has worked day and night to keep our community safe in some of the toughest conditions you could imagine. From grassfires in Rockbank to bushfires in the region, the Melton Fire Brigade always steps up without hesitation. I extend my deepest congratulations to Stephen Hirt, John Dodemaide, Barry Mattinson and Alan Squires for their dedication and their service to our community over such a long period. I say a special thanks to Captain Anthony Rhodes and Lieutenant Bailey Rhodes for organising this special event and for their leadership of the Melton Fire Brigade over many years.

Last week I saw firsthand proof of what we can achieve when federal, state and local governments work together to deliver better services for our community. Last Thursday, I got the chance to visit the site of the new Copplebank Community Services Hub, where construction is well underway on a project that will transform local services in Melton. Thanks to a $15 million dollar investment by the Albanese Labor government, as well as funding from the Melton City Council and the Victorian government, this hub will be a one-stop shop for community services in Hawke. This brand new, five-storey facility will host a range of education, employment, family violence prevention, health, rehabilitation and refugee services for the Melton community and the broader communities surrounding.

I also had the pleasure of officially opening the newly upgraded Navan Park in Harkness last week, alongside my state colleague Steve McGhie and many representatives of Melton City Council, including the mayor, Steve Abboushi. Once again, this project was a product of local, state and federal governments coming together to deliver better facilities for local families in our community. In a fast-growing community these investments ensure that public spaces are modern, accessible and fit for purpose. Upgrades to local parks are about more than infrastructure. They are about community and wellbeing, and I look forward to seeing Navan Park serve our community for many generations to come.

I was honoured to attend the Vietnam Veterans' Remembrance Day memorial service at the memorial in Melton last week. Veterans, their families and the local community gathered to pay our respects to all those who served in the Vietnam War. We acknowledged their courage, sacrifice and resilience. Thank you to the Melton sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association for their hard work in organising this important service, including Wayne Gillies and Jim Fitzgerald. I also acknowledge fantastic leaders of our veteran community locally—Reg Cook and Russell Pettis, amongst others.

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