POLOMKA, MR G

Ms SIMMONS (Morialta) (15:32): I would like to speak today about one of my constituents, George Polomka of Athelstone. This year George celebrates 60 years of outstanding service in the Country Fire Service, and I was pleased to attend a gathering at the Athelstone CFS during April. This was also attended by the Premier, the Minister for Emergency Services (Carmel Zollo), the CFS Chief Officer (Euan Ferguson), the President of the Mount Lofty branch of the CFS Volunteers Association (Roger Flavell), the Athelstone CFS Captain (Eero Haatainen), the Jamestown CFS Captain (Tim Cooper), and many other CFS officials and members, as well as George's family, especially his wife Eileen, who herself celebrates 33 years of CFS service this year.

George became a foundation member of the Jamestown CFS brigade in 1948 (in those days it was known as the Emergency Fire Service), and went on to become the first volunteer regional officer in region 4, the biggest CFS region in the state, which stretched across nearly 700,000 kilometres from Burra to the borders with New South Wales and the Northern Territory. George was instrumental in raising money to build a new fire station in Jamestown in the 1960s, and, following the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983, he played a key role in the development and design of new fire appliances with improved safety features. However, George is best known perhaps for his commitment to training his fellow CFS volunteers. At the function we heard of one particular training camp where the volunteers were suddenly woken from a deep sleep in the dead of night by George's bellow, as he demanded that they haul a 64-millimetre hose across the dormitory roof as part of an impromptu drill.

It is significant that when George and Eileen moved from Jamestown to Athelstone in the 1980s they bought a house just across the road from the Athelstone CFS station. This was George's way of keeping a keen eye on his new brigade, and he took on the role of unofficial groundsman. Should a fire call arise, George is the first there to turn on the lights, bring up the doors and get ready to man the radio.

His fellow officers recognise that another of George's strengths is that he always has the brigade in his thoughts, and should an opportunity arise he makes sure that the brigade takes that opportunity to advance itself. Coming to Athelstone in his retirement, and already in his 60s, he has contributed enormously to this brigade and fulfilled numerous roles, including administration officer, equipment officer, communications officer, driving instructor, cadet coordinator, and, at group level, he is the assistant administration officer.

Over six decades, George Polomka has epitomised the true ethos of our wonderful CFS volunteers who are prepared to risk their lives for our benefit. I believe that the selflessness demonstrated by the CFS generates the sort of spirit that builds communities like Athelstone and Morialta and binds them together.

It is this sort of commitment, energy and generosity of spirit that inspires our communities and makes me very proud to live in this area. On behalf of this house, I add my sincere congratulations and thanks to George Polomka for all his help and support for our wonderful CFS volunteers over the last 60 years.