Page 912 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 24 February 2009
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
government did. The talk on the bus on the way back was that they did not want anything in the way of thanks, but a number of them actually said that a little clasp on the medal might be nice. Currently it says “Canberra 2003”. Minister, perhaps the department might consider “Victoria 2009”.
They like to be acknowledged. They do not money; they do not want in-kind. They get their satisfaction and their reward from what they do. Most of them, I think, are incredibly fulfilled by what they do because it is very real and very practical because to get the thanks and to see the joy that you bring to people in their community when you are there as a visitor is very rewarding. It is with much pleasure that the opposition will support his motion today.
MS HUNTER (Ginninderra—Parliamentary Convenor, ACT Greens) (5.20): This Assembly notes with gratitude the outstanding efforts of ACT emergency services and police personnel providing dedicated assistance in dangerous conditions to bushfire stricken communities in Victoria and further notes the efforts of, and congratulates, the broader ACT community in donating financial assistance and essential goods to these communities. I would like to thank the minister for this opportunity for the Assembly and the ACT Greens to officially thank our ACT emergency services and police personnel for their remarkable work in Victoria over the past few weeks.
More than 500 people from the ACT went to Victoria to help in its time of need. The ACT personnel included ground and remote area firefighters from the ACT Emergency Services Authority, fire-fighting rangers from Parks, Conservation and Lands, volunteer firefighters, intensive care paramedics, mechanics, radio support staff and more. We have an experienced workforce in these areas and, of course, many of these personnel undertook these same jobs here in the ACT in 2003. As a well-resourced community and given our proximity and the experience of our personnel, it is imperative that we help our neighbours in any and every way we possibly can.
Many of these people were deployed as ACT staff; some were volunteers. But they all shared one goal—to help Victoria in a time of crisis. They willingly took on a dangerous task and left the safety of the ACT in those weeks knowing that they would be put in situations of extreme danger. The sad death of ACT firefighter, Mr David Balfour, is a stark reminder to us all that our emergency services personnel regularly put their lives on the line in their daily work. It is extraordinary that people die in their service to the community and we acknowledge this with great respect and admiration.
Today the Australian Federal Police are wearing their peaked caps in the ACT as a tribute to the service that Mr Balfour gave in carrying out dangerous work on behalf of the community. This is a very meaningful gesture that also acknowledges the service given and the sacrifices made by emergency services every day. As a community, we are extremely grateful for the bravery that people show in their jobs and while volunteering, and we know that the Victorian community were very thankful for the assistance.
As a community which only six years ago survived an extreme bushfire, we Canberrans relate to the Victorian disaster with heartfelt sympathy. As a community,
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .