Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have spoken many times in this place about volunteering. Volunteering is a strong Australian tradition. It is so strong, in fact, that it is estimated to be worth more than $200 billion a year. Each year in my local community more than 16,000 men and women give time back through volunteering, and many place their lives at risk to assist others: from surf lifesaving to marine rescue, the Rural Fire Service, the SES and the Volunteer Rescue Association. I am sure we are all very grateful for their service to our communities.

One of the great joys of being a member of parliament is getting the opportunity to meet and support these volunteers and the organisations to which they belong. I was honoured to have recently attended The Lakes Team Volunteer Appreciation Day, where volunteers from Rural Fire Service units across the Wyong and Lake Macquarie councils are recognised for their hard work, dedication and commitment. It was great to also see the member for Shortland there.

Our local RFS' tireless firefighting is the difference between life and death and having lives forever altered by the unforgiving nature of fire. Not only do our RFS volunteers protect us in times of fire but they also play a significant role in times of other natural disasters, including the recent Central Coast storms, which ravaged the Central Coast in April this year. In fact, it was a particularly poignant ceremony as the volunteers had only recently finished dealing with the April storms. RFS members' contributions are not just measured in the aftermath of natural disaster, they are felt all year round when we know that if we are ever under threat from Mother Nature we can call on them to protect our community. It is important that we acknowledge the bravery and efforts of our volunteer firefighters.

I would like to pass on my congratulations to: Mathew Shoesmith, who received a national medal for 22 years of service; Jason Wade, who received a national medal for 19 years of service; and Glenn Woods, who received a national medal for 17 years of service. I also extend my congratulations to the following long-service medal awardees from the Dobell electorate: Scott Bennett, Albee Vickery, Simon Webster, Leo Smit, Brad Stilton, Joshua Sullivan, Peter Thorn, Paul Smith, Bernard Smith, Lindsay Denton, Christopher McBurney, Tracy Chyla, Byron Dossett, Janice Mackinnon and Scott Gillett. It is also important that Steven Tindall receives acknowledgement for receiving a long-service medal and 1st clasp for 32 years of service—what an extraordinary achievement.

I am extremely proud of all the men and women who volunteer their time to serve the New South Wales Rural Fire Service in Dobell. In Dobell we are proud of our RFS brigades, and I take this opportunity to acknowledge all of them: Berkeley Vale, Charmhaven, Chittaway, Dooralong, Kulnura, Matcham, Narara, Ourimbah, Wadalba, Wamberal, Warnervale and Yarramalong. To all of the above, thank you for your commitment.