Ms Catherine King (Ballarat, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Treasury) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On Wednesday during my adjournment speech thanking CFA brigades for their extraordinary work during the recent Victorian bushfires, I listed the brigades in our area that fought in the Grampians fires. There are a number of brigades that fought in the fires at Anakie, Creswick and Mount Misery that I was unable to thank at that time.

In addition to the brigades mentioned in my previous speech, I wish to place on record in Hansard my thanks to the Ascot and District, Balliang, Blackwood, Bungaree, Buninyong, Burrumbeet, Campbelltown, Cardigan and Windermere, Carisbrook, Clunes, Elaine, Franklinford, Glen Park, Glendaruel and Mount Beckworth, Glenlyon, Gordon, Greendale, Guildford, Haddon, Hepburn, Invermay, Kooroocheang-Werona, Learmonth-Addington, Leonards Hill and District, Millbrook, Mollongghip, Morrisons and District, Mount Buninyong, Mount Egerton, Mount Wallace, Mount Warrenheip, Musk, Myrniong, Newlyn-Dean, Parwan, Porcupine Ridge, Rowsley, Smythesdale, Smeaton, Spring Hill, Ullina, Wallace and Waubra brigades, who fought so hard in these fires.

These are totally voluntary brigades, drawing their membership from smaller towns. They put in an enormous effort throughout the year, making sure that they are trained and ready for exactly the events of last month. The fire at Anakie was particularly fierce, and it is a credit to these brigades that, despite the devastation to the area, there was no loss of life. I again acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of the CFA brigades in my district.