Aaron Violi (Casey, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today is the anniversary of the Black Saturday bushfires. These fires occurred 14 years ago, and the day is etched in the memory of all in my community and many across Victoria. On this anniversary, we remember the 173 lives lost and we remember their families and loved ones, who still struggle with the events of that day. We acknowledge and thank our community, our emergency services—the Country Fire Authority, Victoria Police, the State Emergency Service and Ambulance Victoria—and many more who were there on that day, in many cases when their houses burned. They were there in the weeks, months and years afterwards. As a community, we thank and acknowledge the many organisations, from the Country Women's Association, community groups and charities that helped our community rebuild and recover so we could come back stronger, with that true Australian spirit. This is also a day for me and many other survivors of that day to pause, toreflect and to be thankful that we are here. We have a responsibility to live in honour of those who lost their lives on that day.