Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On 29 November, I had the wonderful honour of attending the Randwick Botany state emergency service annual awards night, at which wonderful volunteers in our community were awarded for their services.

This year it was reported that 441 requests for assistance were made to the local SES, and a total of 10,708 volunteer hours were put into operational training and community service duties performed by those trusty volunteers in our community in the bright orange overalls. They dealt with a number of important incidents this year, including a tornado in Malabar, which damaged numerous houses and, unfortunately, which disturbed much asbestos in some of the old houses. They dealt with that with the local hazmat officials. They were also involved in local bushfires, particularly the recent bushfires in the Blue Mountains.

Many members received long services awards, including Barry Askew, who was awarded for 20 years service; 15 years for Zayad Mechreki and Andrew Oakley; Peter Struk for 10 years; and five years for Symeon Bourd, Blake Dickson and Peter Vaneris. They achieved 53 new members throughout the year. I want to congratulate and thank all of our wonderful SES volunteers, particularly the local controller, Peter Gray.