Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Since 8 November this year, my electorate of Cowper has suffered greatly from the fires which have raged for the past three weeks. We have lost some 60 homes in Nambucca Shire, 61 homes in Kempsey and 22 in the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council area. Even more sadly is the loss of Barry Parsons, a man from Willawarrin. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Through the devastation, I must commend a number of people and organisations. Firstly, I commend the local councils, who were so good in communicating with the people around the electorate. I commend Liz Campbell, Rhonda Hoban, Peta Pinson and Denise Knight, who are all mayors of various councils, and their efforts through the fires. I also note the emergency centres at Maxwell RSL, Kempsey Showground, Bowraville Anglicare, Willawarrin pub and Bellbrook pub. Thank you to everybody who attended those centres and all those people who donated to those centres. Most importantly, thank you to Charles Stuart University, which has housed, since 8 November, 150 firefighters, providing over 3,000 nights of accommodation at its own expense; to Priceline for donating goods and equipment; and to many, many more. I say thank you to you all.