Josh Wilson (Fremantle, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last Tuesday a bushfire in Aubin Grove in the south-east of my electorate jumped the Kwinana Freeway, driven by a scorching easterly wind. Within minutes, the pall of smoke, ash and raining embers became a serious threat to three local schools. Fortunately, the response of those schools and the courageous work of fire and emergency services ensured no-one was harmed and there was minimal property damage.

I was grateful on Friday to speak with the principals of Hammond Park Primary School, Hammond Park Catholic Primary School and Hammond Park Secondary College. All three principals—Dane Franklin, Andrew Colley and Joanne Willesee—did a fantastic job leading their teachers and staff, engaging with parents and carers and guiding their students to safety in frightening and fast-changing circumstances. When I rang Jo Willesee, she had to call me back because there was fresh smoke coming from the fire ground. Andrew Colley said he'd benefited from previous experience of bushfire-prone areas like Kelmscott and Boyup Brook and was glad for the support from Emmanuel Catholic College next door. Each of these calm, professional school leaders noted that, even with the best preparation, it was confronting to deal with the pressing smoke and heat of an imminent fire and that some kids inevitably experienced panic and distress. I want to pay tribute to those school leaders and their school communities for staying calm and collected and to DFES and the professional and volunteer firefighters who responded to the emergency in those circumstances so well.

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