Emma McBride (Dobell, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Hansard source

This summer's bushfire crisis has touched everyone. My deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives saving others and protecting property. To those 33 people who bravely gave their life, and to the 3,000 people who have lost their homes, all of us are with you. In my electorate of Dobell, the communities of Kulnura, Charmhaven and Blue Haven were directly impacted. Strong RFS and emergency services leadership and brave volunteers saved most of the Central Coast from the devastation experienced in other regions.

I want to recognise our RFS director manager and Central Coast Australia Day Ambassador, Superintendent Viki Campbell, and her team at the Charmhaven fire control centre for their tireless efforts, which continue. RFS Central Coast contained the eastern edge of the Three Mile Fire before Christmas, protecting the coast. Since then, they have helped many other communities across New South Wales battling blazes in their own fire crisis. According to Viki: 'The New South Wales Rural Fire Service Central Coast district has deployed a total of 1,809 firefighters and 76 incident management personnel and specialists to date. Deployment locations include Glen Innes, Armidale, Tamworth, Casino, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Wauchope, Taree, Foster, Bulga, Lower Hunter, Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains, Lithgow, Warragamba, Nowra, Batemans Bay, Bega and Cooma.' Viki continues: 'We should focus on what an amazing, tireless effort our volunteer firefighters from the New South Wales Rural Fire Service Central Coast district, with our partner fire and support agencies, have been doing for many months to protect the Central Coast and other communities across the state. Every single firefighter, incident management team member and other specialist has made a significant contribution to protecting life and property in some of the worst and most challenging fire conditions ever experienced in New South Wales.'

As I mentioned, the community of Kulnura was directly impacted. Captain Mark Towell of the Kulnura brigade said there was one day before Christmas when every single Central Coast brigade had a team fighting the Three Mile Fire, stopping it breaking its containment lines along George Downes Drive. Several strike teams from Fire and Rescue NSW, the Hunter and Northern Beaches joined these efforts, stopping the fire from spreading to Dooralong, Yarramalong and areas like Jilliby. We are so grateful.

Throughout this crisis, the selflessness and the generosity of Australians has shone through in all communities. I'd like to thank everyone in Gorokan who dug deep for this year's Santa visit, helping Charmhaven RFS help the Rainbow Flat RFS, who lost their station in the Hillview Fire last November. The people of Gorokan were very generous, as the Charmhaven RFS said, 'Generosity was definitely on the community's mind, with $6,500 being raised on the day.' The Charmhaven brigade was also on hand on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, when a terrifying fire bore down on parts of Charmhaven and Blue Haven in my electorate. A mighty effort resulted in the fire being contained to 335 hectares. Our community is also grateful that Fire and Rescue NSW Station 509 Wyoming escaped injury and made it home safely after their truck was overrun by a fire front south of Nowra.

To each of the RFS brigades in Dobell, thank you. Wamberal, Matcham-Holgate, Berkeley Vale, Tuggerah, Ourimbah, Wadalba, Warnervale, Charmhaven, Yarramalong, Kulnura, Dooralong, Wyong Operational Support Brigade, Wyong Rural Fire Catering Support Brigadeand Central Coast Communities Brigade. I want to mention Michael Kennedy, a local seafarer from Long Jetty, who was on board the MV Sycamore, which went to Mallacoota to assist in the rescue. A big shout out to the kids of Anniversary Place in Tuggerah, who were busy and used their pocket money to support the local RFS brigade in Tuggerah.

This summer has seen so many Australians give selflessly to help others—people like Dave of Wyoming. Dave was so compelled to help that he crowdfunded a van and travelled over 2,000 kilometres, taking supplies to Snowy Valley communities. Last weekend he travelled to South Arm, west of Nambucca Heads, to deliver food, water and tents to residents who can't use their tank water and don't have town water. Dave has heard and is concerned that this community doesn't have access to counselling services. I'd liked to finish on this point. I welcome the strong commitment to mental health and bushfire relief that the minister has just mentioned in the chamber. The mental health and wellbeing of all Australians impacted by this crisis must be a national priority. Communities, firefighters, first responders—there are long weeks, months and years ahead, and their welfare must be a priority.

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