Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

February 16 this year will mark the 25th anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires which devastated parts of Victoria, especially in my electorate of La Trobe, and of South Australia. So I just want to acknowledge the great work of our CFA volunteers who this year, as always, have been exceptionally vigilant. The great news is: we have not had a major bushfire in Victoria, including in my electorate of La Trobe.

I would like to showcase some of our brigades—in particular, the Sassafras-Ferny Creek brigade, which has been a great advocate, not only ensuring the safety of residents in La Trobe and especially in Ferny Creek and Sassafras, but also lobbying to ensure we resolve the car-parking issue down at the base of the 1,000 Steps walk, with the captain of the Ferny Creek CFA, John Schurink, and Jeff Harboard as the first lieutenant and Sarah Krumins as the secretary. I thank all the committee members and all the volunteers who go out each Wednesday and Sunday to train, just waiting for that event. They also attend between 80 and 100 call-outs each year. So, again, I thank all the CFAs in La Trobe, but also Victoria- and Australia-wide, for the great service they do to our country in making us safer in the fire season. (Time expired)

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