Page 2026 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 3 June 2015
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teams raced against the clock and each other to dress in the firefighting uniform, roll and connect the hose to the hydrant and knock a drum off a fence with a jet of water. The team was thrilled with the level of community participation from both the men and the women in the village and the enthusiasm shown for learning the drills and absorbing the safety messages from our firefighters.
The final task of the team was to visit a local school, and they thoroughly enjoyed that experience. Again, to quote Mr Batram:
These communities expressed their gratitude. Speeches, presentations and promises to return were made. We left these villages satisfied, feeling we had left some useful expertise behind, knowing we had made many new friends and firefighter colleagues—but also knowing that with a couple more visits and a little more firefighting equipment, we could work with such willing and enthusiastic communities to create a community fire unit the equal of anywhere.
It gives me a great sense of pride to be able to recognise the eight members of our Canberra community and ACT Fire and Rescue and to thank them for their selfless service in this small community in Nepal. Their time and dedication in not only serving our local community but also taking their skills and their passion overseas to enable others to have the skills and the tools to keep their communities safe is, indeed, commendable. I am sure I am not speaking alone in thanking those eight representatives from ACT Fire and Rescue for their visit to this region in Nepal. I am sure they looked on the most recent devastation in Nepal with heavy hearts. But to Geoff, Matthew, Steve, Brian, Aaron, Neil, Mark and Paul, my deepest thanks. I am sure all in the ACT community would like to offer their thanks to you and also to ACT Fire and Rescue for facilitating the donations of equipment.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
The Assembly adjourned at 6.47 pm.
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