Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

When the Emu Plains Girl Guides told me they were fundraising for a new street library outside their guide hall, I was very happy to help make that happen. It's a work of art built by members of the Nepean Men's Shed, painted bright yellow and even featuring planter boxes on either side. The official launch was great fun. I love seeing young people valuing the good old-fashioned paper book as an alternative to screen time. The artworks painted on the street library draw inspiration from the local Dharug people, choosing symbols which represent guiding and Emu Plains. They include women sitting, meeting place, teaching, campsite and friends. 'Take a book, read a book, leave a book' is their motto, and I encourage kids in the area to do just that at the Emu Plains Girl Guides street library on Nepean Street.

Each year the Penrith Museum of Fire holds an art competition for primary-aged children. For the 2025 awards, the theme was 'Trailblazers', marking 40 years since women were first formally allowed to join the New South Wales Fire Brigades—as it was then called—as firefighters. As Special Envoy for the Arts, I joined parents, families and children at the official awards event in January, and I admired the artwork celebrating the courage, achievements and enduring legacy of the women who stepped forward, broke barriers and helped shape the modern fire service.

Two of the awards were won by Blue Mountains students. 'My Mum the Firefighter', by Cole Brown, from Leura Public School, won the Highly Commended Award for year 2 students. Cole's artwork depicts his mum in uniform and wearing breathing apparatus, with smoke, a fire engine and an overhead drone. His very proud family were with him when he accepted his award. The People's Choice Award was won by Elsie Kuhn, who's in kindergarten at Blue Mountains Grammar, for her work 'Girls Can Do It'. This was voted for by the public. In her own words: 'Girls can do anything and help each other look after people and animals. Firefighters are brave and strong, especially girls. This is a drawing of my aunty and I saving the day.' It was a beautiful work of art.

The theme for this year's competition at the Museum of Fire is 'Dogs in Firefighting'. I am looking forward to seeing the shortlisted works next January, and I encourage every student in every school around the country to enter. It is open to everybody around the country.

It was a sad day at St Matthew's Anglican Church when we joined the wife of Merv Ward, Narelle, from Upper Colo, and family and friends to honour his life. Merv was 92, and I take this opportunity to recognise the service he gave to our community over many decades. I've known Merv and Narelle through their many community activities over the last 10-plus years, from the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association, the Hawkesbury District National Servicemen's Association and the Upper Colo community, and through bushfires and floods.

Merv's history of service began way back in 1952 when he was called up to national service, choosing to remain in what we would now call the Army Reserve until 1960. He then served as a civil defence warden right through to the early seventies. We also honoured his service as a nasho at last Sunday's National Servicemen's service, which Merv and Narelle have led for many years. Narelle continued to do him proud.

As well as being involved in community organisations like the Upper Colo progress association and the Colo ratepayers association, in the sixties Merv helped form the Hawkesbury Potato Growers Cooperative in an attempt to realign the imbalance of power in the wholesale fruit and vegetable market—something that resonates with us still today. He was part of the bushfire brigade service, giving his shed to firefighting appliances rather than his own tractor because there was no actual brigade. That's the kind of person he was. Merv was also a key member of the Hawkesbury District Agricultural Association, serving as a senior executive for almost 30 years. Merv was well known, well loved. He was a character and he will be missed.

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