Jason Clare (Blaxland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

When there are images of death and destruction on television or in the newspapers some people turn away, others are compelled to act. I have never been more proud of my local community than in the last few weeks. I am proud of the organisations, the companies and the schools that did not turn away and of the people who opened their wallets, their purses and their hearts to the people of Victoria, whether it is the Chinese community in Cabramatta, who raised more than $50,000 in one night, or the Vietnamese communities in Cabramatta and Bankstown, who did the same, whether it is the men and women who organised these events—people like Dr Lu Vinh Binh, Dr Sang, To Kim Chau, Bui Duc Hung, Tania Huynh and Vinh Trang, Quang Van Truong, Truc Quan, Dang Kim Ngoc, Nguyen Xuan Nhi, Nguyen Van Thuat, Than Van and HenryTran—or the woman at Cabramatta railway station who threw $50 at me and said, ‘Make sure it goes to someone who needs it,’ or the man I met at Bankstown railway station who cried as he gave me 60c, saying that that was all he had to give. So many individuals, so many groups and so many businesses gave so much. John Staples and the Yagoona Lions hit the ground and raised $12,500; Ken Chapman and the Cabramatta Lions stood on street corners and raised $6,800; Ted Goetz and the 1st Bass Hill Scouts baked cakes and pulled together over $1,000; the Cabravale Diggers raised $70,000; the Bankstown Sports Club donated $10,000, plus beds, linen, chairs and tables; the Bankstown RSL raised $2,000; and Bankstown Bunnings raised over $9,500. The Red Cross stood at the front of Bunnings and raised $300, and the SES stood inside and did the same.

In every school, students gave of their time, energy and pocket money. The 52 schools in my electorate all together raised over $90,000. The Lansvale Public School collected more than just money; they collected messages from the students in four condolence books: one for the people of Victoria and one each for the schools destroyed in the fires—Marysville, Strathewen and Middle Kinglake. These are just a few of the stories of just a few of the people who opened their hearts. There are many others. Together they raised more than $250,000.

This is the real Western Sydney, not the one that we too often read about in the newspapers or see on television. Julio Grutillini, the President of the Cabramatta Community Centre, turned 73 years of age three Tuesdays ago. Standing with me at the Cabramatta railway station in the rain, he told me that the fundraising he had witnessed was the best birthday present ever. The generosity of so many filled his heart with joy. Nothing that we can do will restore the lives lost, but we can help to rebuild the lives of those that have been broken. The people that I represent know this. So many of them have fled war in search of a new and better life in Australia. They are the proof that we can rebuild and that in the midst of great suffering life can begin again. Their generosity is proof of the unyielding and ever-renewing Australian spirit.

Joanna Gash (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The tragedy of the Victorian bushfires continues to shock all Australians. I would like to record on behalf of all the residents of Gilmore our most sincere condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones. Like many hundreds of communities across Australia, we in Gilmore have been working hard through different initiatives to provide much needed financial support for the survivors. Carolyn and Richard Katon, of Gabby’s at Berri, put on a night for the survivors and raised over $21,000. Staff from my office and from Woolies in Nowra put on a barbecue in Nowra earlier this month, supported by some of our local fireys. I especially want to acknowledge the contribution of Mr Paul Silk and other staff from Woolworths in coordinating the day, organising the donations and cooking up the food. Through that effort, I am pleased to report to the House, they raised over $2½ thousand in just half a day. Hundreds of initiatives like this have taken place right across the country, and they reflect the true Aussie spirit of mateship. I attended a remembrance service in Ulladulla, at St Martin’s Anglican Church, at which a poem lovingly written was recited by local 10-year-old girl Caitlin Bonser. Caitlin has just won the state Apex Public Speaking Competition and will now go on to compete in the Australian championships, to be held in July in Perth. With the indulgence of the House, I would like to share her poem entitled Victoria’s Battle:

It just hit the Victorians

And now trying to battle

The fire gets worse

And their houses rattle

Lots of lives Taken away

And some who fought turned out to stay

Houses, cars and memories turn to ashes

This huge fire just terribly lashes

The sky which is black

And the flames which are orange and yellow

It burns people’s houses and hearts

And it turns to mellow

Fires are flying fast

Along properties and farms

People are worried as

Smoke of the fire is their alarms

Grass, trees and plants

Are shaded brown

Lots of people are crushed about their homes

In and out of town

Fire fighters have been struggling

But doing their best

Some fire fighters are so tired

That they really do need a rest

Reporters and media interviewing residents

Is a really emotional thing to do

It is heart-breaking and tearful

And especially for the new

Now this fire was not naturally made

“No way”

It was caused by an arsonist

And the plan had been laid

Now this is sad

The culprit should be in prison

But this is emotionally bad

This person has risen

So really the Victorians

Are in a fragile state

But that doesn’t mean

That Victoria still isn’t great

You can see why we are very proud of Caitlin—and the community is very, very proud of her indeed.