COUNTRY FIRE SERVICE, NARACOORTE

The Hon. R. WORTLEY (14:55): I was so captivated by the integrity of the opposition, I did not hear the call. I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Emergency Services a question about the Naracoorte country fire brigade.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R. WORTLEY: The South-East is a vibrant and important South Australian regional centre. The Country Fire Service has a long and proud history in that region, including in and around Naracoorte. Is the minister able to provide any information about what I understand is a recent milestone for the Naracoorte brigade?

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO (Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Road Safety, Minister Assisting the Minister for Multicultural Affairs) (14:56): I thank the honourable member for his important question. I was delighted to be invited to a dinner last Saturday evening, 20 October, to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of the Naracoorte CFS brigade. The Naracoorte CFS brigade is a great example of the history and tradition of emergency services volunteering in South Australia. The brigade was formed because the community needed protection. As so often happened in the early days of the fire service, ordinary South Australians, in collaboration with local government, volunteered their services.

The brigade has been a leader in the CFS; it was the first brigade to have a stand-alone rescue appliance, which was commissioned in 1981. It now has three very modern fire and rescue appliances. It is a very healthy brigade, with 35 operational members, who are strongly supported by a further 15 auxiliary members. Importantly for the next generation, the brigade has a very healthy cadet group of 12 young future firefighters, and I will continue to promote at every opportunity the development opportunities our emergency services provide for young people.

I understand that the success of the brigade is due in no small part to the fact that the brigade is a very social and active one that supports its volunteers and their families. Brigade members also undertake, aside from incident responses, other community programs, and this is a further example of the commitment by volunteers to their community. The support by local employers in releasing their employees to respond in a volunteer role to emergencies is also to be commended and acknowledged. Our emergency services family is bigger than just our volunteers: it is a partnership with families and the employers that support them. I note that the regional press in the South-East has been very community minded in publicising prevention and preparedness activities by local communities in preparation for the bushfire season. It is a further indication of just how cohesive this community is when it comes to community safety.

The evening was another opportunity to meet with and to listen to the views of volunteers, and it was also a wonderful opportunity to recognise individual achievements, with a presentation of 10 and 15-year service awards, national medals, and brigade, cadet and fireman of the year awards. As well as Chief Officer Euan Ferguson, the Deputy Chief Officer of the CFS, Andrew Lawson (who I understand is an adopted local) was involved in the presentation of some of those awards, which is particularly fitting. As I have said, Andrew himself is viewed as a local lad and was warmly welcomed. The success of the brigade is also due to Mr Rex Hall, a key member, who is known across our state for his long involvement with the CFS, particularly in support of volunteers. Rex's contribution to documenting the history of the CFS in his book Forty Flaming Years—

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Is he? Mr Dawkins interjects to say that he is from One Tree Hill.

The Hon. J.S.L. Dawkins interjecting:

The Hon. CARMEL ZOLLO: Closer to your home—and the recent history of the CFS, Smoke in your eyes, should be required reading for anyone involved in the CFS or, indeed, emergency services. Looking back at the photos and reading some of the stories, one sees that the CFS really has come a long way. One thing does remain constant, and it is probably the most important thing: the willingness of CFS members to dedicate their time to protecting life and property, saving lives and helping out their neighbours is truly extraordinary. I have been asked questions in this chamber about paying our Country Fire Service volunteers, and I think those people clearly need to get out and meet members, such as those who volunteer for the Naracoorte CFS. They do not think of the cost; they volunteer for their area to see a safer community, for the camaraderie and for the training and skills that come with being a CFS volunteer. We will always be indebted to them.

I would like to thank all those involved in organising this very fitting recognition of the success of the brigade. In August last year I met many volunteers and community leaders and employers at an Emergency Services evening at Naracoorte and at a breakfast the next morning. It really was a pleasure to catch up with many of those whom I met then. Also, I wish Darren Murray, the captain of the brigade, and his team a safe fire danger season and every success for the next 60 years of the brigade.