Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last Sunday, I attended the Kilmore Country Music Festival. This year's festival was certainly a success with amazing country music performances, especially from two local acts: Tim Farren and Kaitlyn Thomas, who is only 14 years of age. There was a large turnout to the event with 400 people taking part in the festivities. The majority of attendees travelled from far and wide from places such as Berrigan in New South Wales, Seaspray, Gippsland and Blairgowrie to name a few. All visitors came to relish the hospitality of our community and to enjoy some great entertainment.

A further bow to the tie for the festival was the excellent local fundraising opportunities made possible with the Kilmore football club running the bar; the local Little Athletics taking the reins of the canteen; the Wandong Primary School holding a cake stall and face painting stand; the Wallan Scouts hosting a barbeque; and the local SES looking after car parking. The festival raffle proceeds went to the Children First Foundation in Kilmore East.

The festival also hosts a ute competition, with categories such as best import, best 4x4, best street ute, best artwork ute and people's choice. It was a pleasure to participate in the competition as a judge, and I thoroughly enjoyed looking at each of the entries and having a great chat to everyone about their 'U beauts'. I wish to commend the organisers for putting on such a successful local annual event: Helen Stewart; Gay and Steven George; Taryn Kneebone; We Cole; and Lorraine Pointer. I have to say that, even if you do not like country music—it might not necessarily be your thing—the country music festival certainly has something for everyone.

I also want to take this opportunity to pay tribute to a man who is a beacon of community spirit, a person who has over the past 33 years put his community first and foremost—Mr Allan Penaluna. Since 1972, when Allan started as a junior cadet with the St John Ambulance Brigade at Broadmeadows, Allan has always given his time to volunteer for the community in the best way he knows how. In 1988 he became a paramedic and in 1996 qualified as a mobile intensive care officer. Allan joined the SES in 1982 and spent 33 years in service leadership positions, including 7½ years as controller and nearly 45 years road accident rescue experience both with St John Ambulance and VICSES. He is Senior Instructor in all rescue disciplines. He developed rescue operational procedures, specifically for Road Rescue

Allan has received many hard-earned awards and commendations including the Emergency Services Medal, Service Medal of the Order of St John, the    VICSES Service Medal and Ambulance Service Victoria Long Service Medal. His service has included the 1983 Ash Wednesday fires, the 2009 Black Saturday fires, the Craigieburn fires of 2013 and 33 years as a member of road accident rescue teams. He was awarded a VICSES Commendation for Service for his actions during multiple car accidents that occurred on two occasions on the Hume Highway.

I first met Allan in 1996 as part of CADAC and the introduction of Craigieburn CERT training. Allan has a very focused approach to training and lifesaving first aid and he ensured that we also followed that path. If Allan were to receive the Hume City resident of the month I think it would be a fitting acknowledgement of a person who, when it comes to community spirit, leads by example.

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