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

Tomorrow is a 41st anniversary of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, some of the deadliest bushfires in Australian history. It is a tragedy seared into the landscape and into the memories of Victorians and South Australians. Ash Wednesday came about because of some of the driest conditions on record at the time. Seventy-five people died that day. Some were found having tried to escape these fast-moving bushfires, others defending their homes. Of the 75 people who died, 41 were Victorian CFA firefighters and three were South Australian firefighters.

I want to pay tribute to the five members of the Panton Hill CFA who lost their lives in the service of our community: Bill Marsden, 39, Peter Singleton, 41, Maurice Atkinson, 39, Stuart Duff, 24, and Neville Jeffrey, just 18. On the eve of this anniversary I want to encourage members of our community to join me tomorrow in visiting the Panton Hill memorial, where the names of the fallen have been fittingly immortalised.

Especially this week, with fires and storms raging across our beautiful state of Victoria, I want to pay tribute to all of our emergency services workers who put their lives on the line for us. I've talked before in this place about their bravery and their heroism. These average Australians rise to become heroes who protect us and protect our communities. To those who have left their families to serve today and to those who responded on Ash Wednesday, the members of Albanese government say thank you.

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